Office of Secretary
Minutes of Special Meeting
December 15, 1997
The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Special Session on December 15, 1997. Directors in attendance were Chairman John Scott, Vice Chairman Laurin Mellergaard, Urban Eberhart, Jim Schnebly and Paul Weaver. Also in attendance were Jack Carpenter, Barbara Pettit, Janeice Jump, Ben George, Larry Bland, Paul Harrel, Don Dyk and Legal Counsel John Gilreath.
The agenda was approved by a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Urban Eberhart.
The motion passed unanimously.
This meeting having been convened and reorganized as the Board of Equalization as advertised in the Daily Record will be recognized as the Board of Equalization until declared closed. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Laurin Mellergaard declared the Board of Equalization open. The motion passed unanimously.
Next on the agenda Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the Taneum Board requested to be placed on the agenda to discuss the billing of $1,281.63 for the April, 1997 slide repairs to the Taneum Ditch. Mr. George addressed the Board explaining the Taneum Board does not feel it is their responsibility as they feel when KRD water is turned on it becomes the KRD responsibility. Lengthy discussion continued with the consensus the KRD Board felt they had been more than fair with the billing by absorbing all KRD labor and equipment costs and sharing the Smith Excavating bill equally with Taneum Board. Mr. George stated that Paul Harrel, on behalf of Taneum Board, provided the fill dirt which should be considered in the overall cost. Lengthy discussion followed. Legal Counsel John Gilreath apprised the Board there is a contractual provision for arbitration if an agreement cannot be reached. Discussion followed with the consensus of the KRD Board arbitration be recommended to reach an agreement. Mr. Carpenter requested Taneum advise him of their decision regarding settlement of the billing.
The Board then proceeded to canvass the December 9,1997 Director Division #4 Election returns and Chairman John Scott opened the absentee ballots. John P. Wheatley Jr. received 728 regular votes and no absentee votes for a total of 728. Dale Dyk received 727 regular votes and 308 absentee votes for a total of 1,035. Larry Bland received 1,167 regular votes and 296 absentee votes for a total of 1,463. Total votes cast 3,226. Mr. Bland was presented with a Certificate of Elections. John Gilreath left the meeting at this time.
Moving to 1998 Budget Proposal Mr. Carpenter presented three copies of the Union Contract for signatures following review as requested. Mr. Carpenter also presented the Columbia Northwest Engineering Agreement for signatures. Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the 1998 Budget Proposal draft dated December 15, 1997 reflects expenses through November 30, 1997 and updated 1998 cost proposals. Mr. Carpenter discussed the December 15, 1997 draft of the 1998 budget proposal explaining line items which have been updated and why they have changed. Lengthy discussion followed with a detailed review by line item. Mrs. Pettit presented updated revenue and investment information with a 1998 projection draft based on no increase and $1.00 per acre increase in assessments. Discussion followed regarding investments and designation of interest with the consensus interest earned on the USBR Emergency Fund be returned to and reinvested in the USBR Emergency Fund. Following lengthy review and discussion a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Paul Weaver the 1998 O & M Budget was approved at $2,158,139.00 and the 1998 CDR Repayment at $115,770.00 for a total of $2,273,909.00 with 95% O & M and 5% CDR. The motion passed unanimously.
The 1998 Assessment rate was approved with no increase by a motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Paul Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.
As there were no objections to the Assessment roll for 1998 a motion from Paul Weaver and seconded by Laurin Mellergaard closed the Board of Equalization and approved Resolution 1997-5. The motion passed unanimously.
All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.
_________________________________
Jack W. Carpenter - Secretary -Manager
______________________________
John Scott - Chairman