Office of Secretary
Minutes of Regular Meeting
December 10, 2002
The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on December 10, 2002. Directors in attendance were Chairman Ed Wakkuri, Larry Bland, Jim Schnebly and Urban Eberhart. Also in attendance were Pat Monk, Jack Wheatley, Laurin Mellergaard, Brent Mellergaard, Janeice Jump, Ben George, Carol Ready, Roger Satnik, Jack Carpenter, Barbara Pettit and Legal Counsel John Gilreath.
The agenda was approved by a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland with the addition of an Executive Session. The motion passed unanimously.
This meeting having been convened and being recognized as the Board of Equalization as advertised will be recognized as the Board of Equalization until closed. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Larry Bland declared the Board of Equalization open. The motion passed unanimously.
Moving to Old Business the November 5, 2002 minutes were approved as presented by a motion from Larry Bland and seconded by Jim Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.
Moving to Water Update Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the precipitation from October 1st through December 8th was 22% of normal.
Mr. Carpenter continued explaining the USBR has reduced winter incubation and spawning flows with ESA issues impacting decisions. Pat Monk presented updated information on the Bull Trout and ESA issues relating to winter incubation and spawning flows explaining SOAC presented a recommendation to the USBR, based on a modeling exercise and surveys, for the reduction of flows. Mr. Monk explained within the last month the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Service has come out with the recovery plan for Bull Trout which includes implementation of fish passage at all Yakima Basin Reservoirs as high priority. An additional part of the recovery plan is designation of critical habitat for Bull Trout, which includes the Naches and Yakima Rivers upstream of Union Gap including some tributaries. Pat Monk continued explaining he will be preparing comments to be submitted regarding the recovery plan for Bull Trout and suggested additional comments be submitted. Pat Monk discussed updated information on the Steelhead studies.
Pat Monk left the meeting at this time.
Deviating to New Business Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board Belsaas and Smith has completed work on the Skyhook Pipeline and requested approval for payment in the sum of $80,704.73. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Larry Bland approved the Skyhook Pipeline payment as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Carpenter explained he was very pleased with the work and explained there are some hook ups, cattleguards and other minor work that needs to be finalized in the spring. Fine screening on the inlet of the pipeline was discussed. Mr. Carpenter explained the current policy is the landowner is responsible for their own fine screening. Mr. Carpenter further explained KRD must have a uniform policy that treats all enclosed conduits equitably and the financial impact to the district for maintaining screening devices needs to be considered. Mr. Carpenter presented information on policies of other irrigation districts and an estimate of $15,000.00 from Dick Haapala, CH2Mhill, for hardware for a fine screening device. Mr. Carpenter suggested a LID could be formed by landowners to address the screening. Discussion followed with Laurin Mellergaard explaining they experience a lot of debris in the spring and they were able to screen their water before the installation of the pipeline. It was the decision of the Board that Dick Haapala prepare the total package cost for a fine screening device at the inlet of the Skyhook Pipeline.
Returning to the agenda Carol Ready presented a KCWP update explaining they are working on a water quality policy for return flows.
Carol explained barriers will be removed and a fish screen will be installed for Ellensburg Water Company at Currier and Cooke Creek with grant funds through Bonneville Power Administration. Carol apprised the Board she will be hiring a water quality assistant in January, 2003.
Roger Satnik presented information on the DOE Draft Technical Report on the Fecal TMDL explaining comments are being prepared for submission to DOE.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the CD was reinvested at 1.40% for 90 days at Pacific Northwest Bank.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the Pumping Plant pumps are at Piccati for repairs. Mr. Carpenter explained he had requested financial participation from PUD and PSE and a $15,000.00 check was received from PUD toward repair costs. Mr. Carpenter explained he would continue working with PSE for cost participation on efficiency with new pumps and motors that would be more efficient.
Mr. Carpenter distributed the final Tucker Creek Language explaining it has been reviewed by Legal Counsel John Gilreath and will be submitted to the USBR. It was the consensus of the Board to submit Tucker Creek Language as presented.
Moving to budget workshop dated it was the consensus the budget workshop be set for December 19th at 1:00 p.m.
Moving to New Business Mr. Carpenter presented the DOE Drought/Debris Flow payment in the sum of $52,387.52. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland approved the DOE payment as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented the following segregations for pre approval subject to meeting the general guidelines from: Jimmy Boswell Sec. 10 Twn. 17 Rng. 20; Trinity Farms Sec. 36 Twn. 18 Rng. 19; Rosaia Short Plat Sec. 34 Twn. 20 Rng. 15; Simmons Short Plat Sec. 32 Twin. 19 RNA. 18 . A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Jim Schnebly approved the segregations as presented subject to meeting the general guidelines. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented the Keechelus Dam Payment in the sum of $l84,240.00. A motion from Larry Bland and seconded by Urban Eberhart approved the Keechelus Dam Payment as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented the Eberhart Residential and Utility Crossing Permits Sec.1 Twn. 16 Rng.19. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland approved the Crossing Permits as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented the Ed Miller Crossing Permit Sec. 27 Twn.20 Rng.14. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland approved the Crossing Permit as permitted. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented the Mike Miles Crossing and Turnout Permit Sec. 33 Twn. 19 Rng.18. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Jim Schnebly approved the Crossing Permit as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter distributed the Ecology Water Use Reporting Measurement Form for review.
Upcoming Meetings:
December 18th WSWRA Sunnyside
December 19th Budget Workshop KRD
December 20th Joint Board Yakima
Moving to Other Business Mr. Carpenter requested the KRD Office be closed from December 23rd – 27th explaining employees will be using vacation time. Mr. Carpenter requested approval for Paul Green to carryover vacation hours in excess of the authorized carryover to be used in January and February. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Jim Schnebly approved the KRD Office closure and Paul Green carryover of excess vacation hours. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:48 p.m. to discuss Legal Issues with a motion from Larry Bland and seconded by Urban Eberhart. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Ed Wakkuri announced a 10-minute extension at 3:08 p.m.
The Board returned to Regular Session at 3:18 p.m. with a motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Jim Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.
The Directors monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures and checks distributed accordingly.
The Summary Vouchers for October expenses Vouchers #21198 & 21199 & 21711-21842 in the sum of $ 149,078.21 were presented for approval. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland approved the Summary Vouchers as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
As there were no objections to the 2003 Assessment Roll, a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland closed the Board of Equalization and approved Resolution 2002-1. The motion passed unanimously.
All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.
Edward R. Wakkuri – Chairman
Jack W. Carpenter – Secretary-Manager