Office of Secretary
Minutes of Regular Meeting
November 3, 1998
The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on November 3, 1998. Directors in attendance were Chairman Paul Weaver, Vice Chairman Urban Eberhart, Larry Bland, John Scott and Jim Schnebly. Also, in attendance were Ben George, Paul Harrel, Well Bartsma, Janeice Jump, Jack Carpenter, Barbara Pettit and Legal Counsel John Gilreath.
A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by John Scott approved the agenda with the addition of an Executive Session. The motion passed unanimously.
The minutes of the October 5, 1998 meeting were approved as corrected with a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by John Scott. The motion passed unanimously.
Moving to Water Update Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board there are increased concerns and research regarding voids and soft spots at Lake Keechelus. The Boise and Denver safety of dams personnel will be discussing this concern on November 23-24 in Boise. Rick Parker, USBR Yakima Project Area Manager, suggested District Managers attend the meetings.
Continuing under Old Business Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board October 6, 1998 KRD staff attended the Irrigation Water Supply Modernization in Sunnyside. October 8, 1998 he conducted a concrete liner contractor site tour. October 19, 1998 Joint Board worked on Stanford "Reaches" contract wording. Roza/Sunnyside Board of Joint Control Work Group met in Sunnyside. October 20, 1998 Mr. Carpenter attended the Kittitas County Road abandonment public hearing. October 21, 1998 WSWRA met in Sunnyside. October 22-23, 1998 Mr. Carpenter attended the Joint Board Meeting. October 26, 1998 Mr. Carpenter attended the SOAC meeting. October 27, 1998 Joel Pearson, Segwick Insurance met with Mr. Carpenter and Mrs. Pettit to review the KRD insurance policy. October 28, 1998 Al Nielson conducted a Fire and Life Safety Survey of the KRD facilities. October 29, 1998 Joint Board met with USBR on Stanford Reaches Contract wording. October 29, 1998 Tri County Water Resources Agency met in Ellensburg. October 30, 1998 Joint Board met in Yakima.
Moving to Taneum Hydro update Mr. Carpenter requested input regarding information distributed at prior meetings. Mr. Carpenter explained he received a call from Universal Electric Power Corporation of Ohio expressing an interest in the license. Discussion followed with the recommendation the letter of intent not be signed with Cascade Pacific Power and other options be pursued.
Mr. Carpenter distributed a letter from Claudia Cumming to the Board requesting KRD not close the KRD gate at Koffman Road. Discussion followed with the consensus a one year extension is authorized.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board Urban Eberhart was the only petition of nomination received for Director Division #1 and John Scott was the only petition of nomination received for Director Division # 2. Both petitions were submitted within the time specified and contained the appropriate signatures. As no other petitions were received, the Board declared Urban Eberhart elected to Director Division #1 and John Scott elected to Director Division #2 with certificates of election presented.
Moving to Spider Update Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board a letter directing Spider to address the issues in a timely manner was sent with no response as of this date.
Mr. Eberhart presented a Tri County Water Resources Agency update explaining a preliminary planning meeting was held in Yakima with a facilitator hired to lead the group through a process of coming up with the direction for the group and establishing goals.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the Draft Comprehensive Water Conservation Plan should be available this month. Mr. Carpenter explained an additional part of the plan will need to be a District Water Quality/Quantity Program. Mr. Carpenter suggested Jim Jesernig be invited for a presentation on the Salmon Recovery Program and an invitation be extended to all water districts in the Kittitas Valley. Chairman Paul Weaver appointed a committee of himself and Urban Eberhart to work with Mr. Carpenter on a letter to Governor Gary Locke supporting local government developing water quality and water quantity programs and funding from the state to support these programs.
Deviating to New Business Mr. Carpenter presented a draft drawing prepared by John Dyk for a flow meter turnout explaining this type of construction could satisfy the requirements for turnouts through main canal banks. Mr. Carpenter explained the proposed flow meter turnout could be a beneficial and safe construction technique. Discussion followed with the consensus turnout requests using the above construction technique could be approved.
Returning to Old Business Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the Northwest Power Planning Council is accepting fish and wildlife project proposals to be considered by BPA during fiscal year 2000 and suggested KRD submit a funding request for water quality projects. Discussion followed with the consensus the fiscal year 2000 funding request be submitted.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board three bids were received on the Concrete Liner Repair Program. After careful consideration of the below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation forecast the removal of 750 feet of main canal liner on the north facing slope was too much of a risk. The decision was to not accept any of the bids and rebid the project in 1999 and plan for an early shut off to minimize the weather impact.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board he was contacted by Joe Mentor, representing Trend West, explaining he is planning to approach the City of Ellensburg with a long term lease proposal on approximately 2,000 AF of water. Mr. Mentor has asked how he could mitigate the use of the water with KRD.
Moving to New Business Mr. Carpenter presented a notice for the Board of Equalization. A motion from John Scott and seconded by Urban Eberhart authorized the Board of Equalization be held on December 1, 1998. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter requested approval for payment of compensatory time, in excess of authorized carry over and in accordance with the Bargaining Agreement and use of vacation in excess of the authorized carry over be used Jan. - March 1999 with pay at 1998 rates. A motion from Larry Bland and seconded by Jim Schnebly approved the compensatory and vacation time request as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented a Puget Sound Master Crossing Agreement Sec. 29 Twn. 20 Rng. 14 for review and approval. A motion from John Scott and seconded by Larry Bland approved the Puget Sound Master Crossing Agreement. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented a turnout request from Victor Strand Sec. 18 Twn. 17 Rng. 18 A motion from Larry Bland and seconded by John Scott approved the Victor Strand turnout request. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented a turnout request from John Dyk Sec. 22 Twn. 18 Rng. 17. A motion from Larry Bland and seconded by Urban Eberhart approved the John Dyk turnout request. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter requested authorization to send a KRD maintenance employee to the Water Management Workshop in Denver. It was the consensus one KRD maintenance employee be authorized to attend the Water Management Workshop in Denver.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board that during the Fire and Life Safety Survey the Fire Marshall requested KRD place a locked box on the exterior of the building with information on materials stored on site and a key to the facilities locked in the box. Discussion followed with the recommendation research of other options and the request be placed on the December agenda.
Upcoming Meetings:
November 12 Cascade Transp. Services Wenatchee
Power Planning Council Toppenish
Conservation Field Service Yakima
November 17 KC Conservation Growers Ellensburg
November 18-20 WSWRA Spokane
November 23-24 USBR Boise
December 3 Tri County Water Yakima
December 9 WSWRA Tri-State Mtg. Portland
The 1999 Budget proposal was distributed for review and discussion. Lengthy discussion followed regarding individual budget categories with the recommendation the proposal be reviewed and placed on the December 1, 1998 agenda. Mrs. Pettit distributed a 1998 financial recap showing revenue and expenses through September 1998. Discussion followed regarding Army #3 revenue. Mrs. Pettit requested guidance on investment. Discussion followed with the consensus the Army #3 revenue be invested in the Washington State Investment Pool.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 3:50 p.m. for 15 minutes to discuss legal issues with a motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by John Scott. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Paul Weaver announced a 10 minute extension at 4:05 p.m. The Board returned to Regular Session at 4:15 p.m. with a motion from John Scott and seconded by Urban Eberhart. The motion passed unanimously.
Summary Vouchers for the month of September 1998 expenses, Vouchers #15306 & 15421-15484 & 15508 & 15546 &15485 - 15522 in the sum of $ 147,324.41 were presented for approval. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland approved the Summary Vouchers as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
The Directors monthly Payroll Vouchers were presented for signatures and checks distributed accordingly.
All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.
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Jack W. Carpenter - Secretary-Manager
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Paul Weaver - Chairman