Office of Secretary
Minutes of Regular Meeting
November 6, 2001
The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on November 6, 2001. Directors in attendance were Chairman Larry Bland, Vice Chairman Ed Wakkuri, Urban Eberhart, Jim Schnebly and Brad Haberman. Also in attendance were William White, Rusty Gigstead, Janeice Jump, Fritz Glover, Steve Lathrop, Jack Carpenter, Barbara Pettit, Carol Ready and Legal Counsel John Gilreath.
The Agenda was approved as presented with the addition of an Executive Session.
Deviating to New Business Mr. Carpenter presented the William & Suellen White Crossing Permit for access to property located off the Cabin Creek Road utilizing the western edge of the KRD right-of-way. Mr. White distributed pictures and addressed the Board explaining the crossing permit would be for a single residential access and their purchase of the property is pending the likely hood of a crossing permit. Discussion followed with a motion from Ed Wakkuri and seconded by Urban Eberhart approved a future crossing permit request for William & Suellen White that would address all impacts to KRD. The motion passed unanimously.
Returning to Old Business Steve Lathrop presented a Trendwest update explaining water mitigation requirements are beginning to be finalized by Washington State Department of Ecology. Mr. Lathrop further explained the applications are pending on the transfer of the Yakima River Main Stem water at the Kittitas County Water Conservancy Board with no tributary reference and the main stem transfer is not contingent on the tributary transfers to the Trust Water Program. The tributary transfer applications are pending at the Washington State Department of Ecology with public notice publications to start this week. The tentative schedule is to have the main stem applications heard by the Water Conservancy Board in March, 2002 and processing of the tributary transfers concurrently through DOE. Mr. Lathrop continued explaining tentative operational modeling in conjunction with mitigation. Mr. Lathrop left the meeting at this time.
Continuing under Old Business and moving to P&H Morris Material Handling update, Rusty Gigstead apprised the Board he is here to answer questions and provide information. Mr. Carpenter explained there is a difference of opinion regarding the P&H billing and how the material and labor costs were arrive at. Discussion followed regarding P&H Morris Material Handling fulfilling the contract in that the present equipment does not satisfy the operational requirements presented at the time of purchase. It was the consensus of the Board Mr. Carpenter write a letter of response addressing the above issues for Board and Legal Counsel review.
Returning to the agenda, the minutes of the October 2, 2001 meeting were approved as presented with a motion from Brad Haberman and seconded by Ed Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.
Moving to Water Update Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board October was a good precipitation month with good inflows into the reservoirs. Mr. Carpenter further apprised the Board it appears ESA issues are getting resolved on the Keechelus Dam Repair project with onsite contractor tours and the bid process proceeding with work tentatively scheduled to begin in 2002 and completed in 2004.
Carol Ready presented a KCWP update explaining the current DOE water quality grant will be completed in March, 2002 with a new DOE grant in the sum of $245,000.00 beginning in 2002 with other grants and funding pending at this time. Carol apprised the Board the USBR contracted with Dr. Charles Burt for a Water Balances Study of the Kittitas Valley and will be here November 20th to review the study data.
Jack Carpenter presented a Tri County update explaining he participated in the water supply reliability subcommittee explaining final draft copies of the water reliability and instream flow documents will be sent to the steering committee for comments.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board DOE is offering up to $200,000.00 in drought relief monies to be used for drought related projects including the reimbursement of water purchased. Additional directions are for projects to be an enclosed conduit distribution system and KRD would agree to the YRBWEP 2/3-1/3 formula for saved water from the projects with completion of the project as soon as possible. Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board he is currently engineering the Skyhook for costs.
Discussion followed with the consensus KRD is interested in proceeding pending wording of the final agreement.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board WSWRA is coordinating getting an engineering report done that will address a part of the NPDES process. Each irrigation district will also need to complete an individual vegetation management plan. WSWRA will be hosting a water quality workshop addressing NPDES management and field monitoring issues on December 18th in Spokane.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board he is working with Taneum Creek natural flow users and the various fish agencies on long term and short-term solutions for all water management and ESA issues impacting Taneum Creek.
Moving to Tucker Creek Fish Passage update, Mr. Carpenter apprised the board that Mr. Gilreath was reviewing the USBR contract documents. Mr. Gilreath’s comments will be forwarded to the Board.
Mr. Carpenter presented a USBR 1146 Public Safety Proposal update explaining the USBR short and long term proposals to address the USBR Public Safety Issues in the Yakima River at 1146 wasteway.
Mr. Carpenter presented petitions of nomination received by the time specified with the required signatures for Urban Eberhart, Ed Wakkuri and Brad Haberman. As no other petitions were submitted a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Brad Haberman declared Urban Eberhart elected. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Urban Eberhart declared Brad Haberman elected. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Brad Haberman declared Ed Wakkuri elected.
The motions passed.
Moving to New Business Mr. Carpenter request approval to send Ron Jarmin and Dave Hosmer to the USBR Dam Operator Training December 3-5th in Burley Idaho. It was the consensus of the Board Ron Jarmin and Dave Hosmer attend the Dam Operator Training. Mr. Carpenter presented the following segregations for approval subject to guidelines being met: Eberhart Etal Sec. 2 & 11, Twn. 16 Rng. 19; Howard Clerf Sec. 18 Twn. 17 Rng. 20; Parolva/Miller Sec. 20, Twn. 17
Rng. 14; Rainier Estates Div. I Sec. 2 Twn. 17 Rng. 19. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Ed Wakkuri appoved the Eberhart Etal, Howard Clerf and Parlova/Miller segregations with the stipulation guidelines are met. The motion passed with Urban Eberhart abstaining.
Discussion followed regarding the Rainier Estates Div. I with the consensus it is not necessary for them to complete a water distribution plan as the private ditch servicing the property has not been maintained and the acreage is not accessible to irrigation water. It was suggested Rainier Estates be provided with suggested options for utilizing the current water transfer policy.
Mr. Carpenter presented a notice for the Board of Equalization.
Chairman Larry Bland announced the Board of Equalization will be held on December 4th starting at 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board that there is much confusion regarding the Kittitas County Irrigation Franchises and more information was needed from the County. Mr. Carpenter and Urban Eberhart will follow the Kittitas County Irrigation Franchises process to determine if there will be impacts to KRD right-of-ways.
Mr. Carpenter distributed a letter he drafted regarding the Cascade Field and Stream Club SEPA application explaining they will be building on the East side of Hayward Hill Rd. North of the KRD canal and requested comments.
Upcoming Meetings:
November 7th WSWRA NPDES Ellensburg
November 9th Joint Board Yakima
November 14-16th WSWRA Conference Richland
November 19th River Ops. Yakima
November 20th Dr. Burt KRD
November 21st WSWRA
December 18th WSWRA NPDES Spokane
With a motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Jim Schnebly the Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:43 p.m. to discuss legal and personnel issues for 30 minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board returned to Regular Session at 3:13 p.m. with a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Urban Eberhart. The motion passed unanimously.
The Summary Vouchers for September expenses Vouchers #20002-20141 in the sum of $ 1,092,069.80 were presented for approval. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Ed Wakkuri 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.
Larry Bland – Chairman
Jack W. Carpenter – Secretary-Manager