Office of the Secretary Manager
Kittitas Reclamation District Board of
Directors Meeting
October 11, 2018 Minutes
The Board of Directors of
the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on October 11,
2018 at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Four Director and Chairman
Larry Bland, Division Two Director and Vice Chairman Ed Wakkuri, Division One
Director Mark Hansen, Division Three Director Fred Schnebly, Division Five
Director Paul Weaver, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin
Eslinger, KRD Field Supervisor Bob Main, KRD Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli
Bender, KRD Treasurer Stacy Berg, Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower. Also, in
attendance were KRD land owners Mark Charlton and Colleen McQuary.
The agenda was approved with
the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with RCW
42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Hansen and the second was
made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.
The minutes for the
September 4, 2018 Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director
Schnebly and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed
unanimously.
Public Comment: Landowner
Colleen McQuary inquired about when the District was planning to pressurize
lateral 9.9. Mr. Eberhart explained that the current focus was to line the main
canal from Robinson Canyon Rd and going upstream. The lining project is expected
to take several years but once this is complete the District will begin working
on the laterals to pressurize them.
Water Master Report: As
of October 11, 2018, the storage capacity is at 24%, the canal diversion was cut
by 100 feet today. We are down to 529 feet overall, 385 of that is for
consumptive use. There has not been a lot of demand. Storage is at 96% of
average. Precipitation to date is 6.25 inches. Director Weaver made a motion to
set the cut off date for water deliveries on October 15, 2018.
A second was made by Director Wakkuri,
the motion passed unanimously.
The KRD will continue
supplementation of the upper Yakima tributaries with either pass-through water
or Bureau Conservation Water for as long as needed. Once the construction starts
on the South Branch, the supplementation will stop for Manastash Creek. We may
need to organize a fish salvage event with various groups who will assist with
the relocation of the fish.
On Little Creek, which
had previously gone dry, we are passing 12 cfs of water. A spring chinook red
nest has been found at the lower end of the creek. Having this spring chinook
return to the creek is encouraging and reinforces that the efforts we are making
are having a positive impact on improving salmon runs.
Maintenance Report: Mr.
Main reported that the maintenance crews have continued to work on hunter gates
and canal access roads. They are continuing the clearing and working on
undershots along the main canal. The spraying is complete. There were some
concrete tiles that had pulled back on the Billeter Spill which are being worked
on. Further repairs are still ongoing to extend it. The shop building had all
the brick mortar repaired.
Secretary Manager’s Activity
Report: In the effort to ensure that each of the political candidates are aware
of the Yakima Integrated Plan and the KRD, Mr. Eberhart has been involved in
several briefings with the candidates.
On September 19th,
the KRD hosted a tour for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The Tri-State Meeting in
Boise, ID was on September 21st. There were Washington, Oregon and
Idaho Water Users in attendance. Mr. Eberhart provided a presentation to the
attendees and reported on the Yakima Integrated Plan and the Columbia Basin
Partnership.
There was a Marine Fisheries
Advisory Committee Columbia Basin Partnership Meeting in Portland, OR on October
2nd and 3rd. In these meetings we making the very credible
and strong argument that investing in the Columbia River System and the Yakima
Basin will result in more Chinook Salmon that will help the southern population
of Orca’s.
On October 8th
and 9th, Mr. Eberhart met with the Columbia River Group in Boise, ID.
Mr. Eberhart attended
Governor Evans Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony in Seattle, WA on October
10th.
The Teanaway Advisory
Committee met in Cle Elum on October 11th.
This was the final recreational planning meeting.
Mr. Eberhart will be
presenting about the KRD and the Yakima Integrated Plan to the Washington
AgForestry Class in Vancouver, WA.
The John Keys Tour will be
conducted on October 15-17th. There will be several additional people
who will be in attendance for the dinner on the 15th.
The USBR Historian, Kelsey
Doncaster is presenting “The Lost Photographs of the KRD”, at the Kittitas
County Museum on October 15th.
On October 26th
there is a Ruckelhaus Meeting in Olympia, WA.
Mr. Eberhart will be
attending a Conservation Advisory Group Meeting in Yakima on November 29th.
Mr. Eberhart will be speaking on the KRD’s conservation program and tributary
supplementation and storage program.
There is a Columbia River
Group Meeting in Seattle on October 29th and 30th.
Continued progress has been
made for the Upper Yakima Storage Feasibility Study that is being done under the
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.
The KRD has an agreement
with USBR for the 2018 WaterSmart Water Marketing Grant. KRD will be working
with Department of Ecology on a signed contract to match the funds.
KRD received a Water and
Energy Efficiency Grant for the South Branch Phase I project. Director Weaver
made a motion to accept the $300,000.00 grant from WaterSmart. A second was made
by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.
KRD comments were sent into
the ORCA Task Force.
There is an issue with
debris flowing down the Naneum Creek and settling above the canal. The KRD and
Kittitas County Public Works will be working jointly to remove the debris. The
project will begin once the permitting process has finished.
North Branch Canal Lining
Project Phase II will be discussed in Executive Session.
The KRD was unable to reach
an agreement under the sole source option for the North Branch Canal Lining
Project Phase III.
The bid opening for the
South Branch Canal Lining Phase I Construction was done on October 5th.
There were several bids that were very close. The low bidder did not conform to
the bidding rules and withdrew their bid because of a bidding error. The next
bidder was N.A. Digerstrum who was awarded the bid. Director Weaver made a
motion to approve the low bidder of N.A. Digerstum in the amount of
$1,923,500.00 and allow Mr. Eberhart to sign the contract. The second was made
by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously. It should be noted that
there was an option in the contract to extend the footage of the project if the
weather and time constraints allow.
The South Branch 13.8
Manastash Water Ditch Association (MWDA) Connection Design Contract Package is
expected to be ready for a bid announcement in early November.
The Yakima Basin Focused
Managed Aquifer Recharge Assessment is $363,052.00 for a comprehensive ground
water storage assessment. The intent for this project is to identify ground
water storage capability. The study is expected to be completed by October of
2019. The funding is coming from the state of Washington Department of Ecology.
Treasurer’s Report: The
Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary
Vouchers for the August 2018 expenses and the September 2018 payroll which
included check numbers 42593-42690, direct deposit numbers 9901484 through
9901501 in the sum of $283,574.64 were approved with a motion made by Director
Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed
unanimously.
Old Business: The
certificate of delinquency was filed for the remaining 4 delinquent accounts. If
it should be necessary to have a foreclosure sale, it is expected to be on the
third Friday in January.
Director Wakkuri asked if
there had been any updates on the Mohar Rd slide. Mr. Eberhart reported that
Jacobs Engineering is evaluating that at this time. No further updates were
given.
Director Weaver posed a
question as to what the KRD policy was for pedestrian traffic on the North
Branch access roads. The canals are for KRD operating and maintenance activities
with special permission granted at times for farmers. Periodically crossing
permits are allowed.
New Business: Mr. Eberhart
reported that the USBR notified KRD that the Storage Cost Allocation for 2018
are projected to be $625,000.00. This was meant to be informational only at this
time. Further information will be forthcoming.
Treasurer Berg is scheduled
to attend a Federal Grants Requirements and Management Training Class on
November 15th which is being presented by the Washington State
Auditors Office in Ellensburg, WA.
Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist
Keli Bender presented two short plats in Division 3. Land owner, Ron Mitchell
who has 4 lots and Kevin Keno who has 4 lots. Director Schnebly made a motion
that KRD approve the short plats under the stipulation that they meet the KRD
requirements. A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed
unanimously.
Field Supervisor Bob Main
asked the board to consider hiring temporary employees for Rope Access Level II
and III. It is required to have Rope Access Level II and III employees on site
when the KRD Level I employees are working in tunnels and siphons. The goal is
to eventually be self-sustainable however it will take several years of
experience to get the hours necessary to advance. The estimated costs for the
two employees for the upcoming construction season was $25,279.00. Director
Weaver made a motion to hire the Rope Access Level II and III Temporary
Employees. A second was made by Director Schnebly, the motion passed
unanimously.
Mr. Eberhart asked the board
to consider leasing a space for a training facility for the Rope Access Team.
There is a potential commercial space that consists of 1600 square feet.
Director Hansen made a motion to lease the property in a one year lease for
$1,200.00 a month. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed
unanimously.
Legal Counsel Slothower
reported that his office has been working on an Administrative Policy Manual
which would allow all the policies kept in one place and accessible to both the
employees and the public. During this process there were some policies that have
been used for some time and it is unclear if the policies were formally adopted.
At a future meeting there will be a series of policies that will be presented
and the board will be asked to review and formally adopt them.
Other Business: The Board
adjourned to Executive Session at 2:18 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Hansen and a second made
by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to
Regular Session at 2:48 p.m. with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the
second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.
Director Hansen made a
motion to hire, Larsen, Berg, Perkins PLLC to represent KRD. A second was made
by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.
Director Hansen made a
motion to change the date for the upcoming board meeting to November 6, 2018 at
1:00 p.m. A second was made by Director Schnebly, the motion passed unanimously.
All business having been
concluded the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________________
Mr. Bland KRD Board of
Directors Chairman
______________________________________
Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary
Manager