Office of Secretary
Minutes of Regular Meeting
December 4, 2001
The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on December 4, 2001. Directors in attendance were Chairman Larry Bland, Vice Chairman Ed Wakkuri, Urban Eberhart, Jim Schnebly and Brad Haberman. Also in attendance were Gary Benedict, Janeice Jump, Paul Harrel, Paul Bennett, Carol Ready, Jack Carpenter, Barbara Pettit and Legal Counsel John Gilreath.
The Agenda was approved as presented with the addition of Executive Session by a motion from Ed Wakkuri and seconded by Urban Eberhart. 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 declared closed. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Ed Wakkuri declared the Board of Equalization open. The motion passed unanimously.
The minutes of the November 6, 2001 meeting were approved as corrected with a motion from Ed Wakkuri and seconded by Urban Eberhart. The motion passed unanimously.
Deviating to Kittitas County Public Works Department, Paul Bennett, Kittitas County Public Works Director, presented information on the Kittitas County Irrigation Franchise process. Mr. Bennett explained Kittitas County is responsible for rebuilding roads explaining irrigation water runs in various Kittitas County road right-of-ways. Mr. Bennett explained irrigation water currently running in Kittitas County road right-of-ways will be allowed to continue. However any landowner requests for changes or additions to existing irrigation water in right-of-ways will now be asked to sign a franchise acknowledging it is landowner maintenance responsibility. Mr. Bennett further explained he has requested the Kittitas County Commissioners to consider no conveyance of irrigation water in right-of-ways on any new roads within Kittitas County. Mr. Bennett explained Irrigation Franchises will be presented for approval by the Kittitas County Commissioners. Mr. Bennett apprised the Board there is no franchise fee for an irrigation easement. Mr. Bennett explained existing irrigation district facilities are grandfathered and will not be required to have a Franchise Agreement. Kittitas County will be responsible for maintenance of existing irrigation district crossings. Discussion followed with Mr. Eberhart requesting KRD be apprised of, and make available for comment, the Comprehensive Right-Of-Way Plan referenced in the Irrigation Franchise Agreement.
Paul Bennett left the meeting at this time.
Returning to the agenda, Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the year to date precipitation is 133% of normal with November at 107% of normal with the inflows at 1289 cfs and outflows at 404 cfs.
Carol Ready presented a KCWP update explaining the BPA Grants will be awarded for different purposes than first thought over a specified time period. Carol continued explaining there are a lot of unknowns regarding the BPA grants. Carol apprised the Board there will be no increase in the KCWP contribution rate for 2002 and she is continuing work on the 2002 DOE Grant.
Moving to Tri-County Update Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board Tri County is trying to get funding for instream flow studies on Taneum Creek. It is up to the creek water right holders to decide if they want to participate in the Tri-County instream flow studies.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board there has been no response from P&H Morris Materials Handling.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the contracts on Tucker Creek were presented for review by Legal Counsel and there has been no response from the USBR.
Moving to Taneum Creek Update Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board a meeting was held with the Taneum Creek natural flow users and the various resource agencies involved. Mr. Carpenter further explained NMFS spokesman, Dale Banbrick, will have a hydrologist walk the creek to determine a figure for adult fish passage.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board Irrigation Sales has prepared a materials cost estimate for piping of SB 16.7 (Skyhook). The estimate is $220,000.00. Mr. Carpenter further explained DOE has authorized the purchase of materials with the $200,000.00 DOE Drought Mitigation Grant as well as $11,500.00 from the Grant to reimburse for the purchase of the Lamb Estate water. Discussion followed with a motion from Ed Wakkuri and seconded by Urban Eberhart authorizing KRD enter into an agreement with DOE for Drought Mitigation Grant Funding. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board Trendwest Trust Water Rights Change Application Public notice has been referred to Legal Counsel.
Moving to 2002 budget. it was suggested a Special Board Meeting be scheduled for December 13th at 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Carpenter requested authorization for himself, Carol Ready, Roger Satnik and Marty Haberman to attend a WSWRA Water Quality Workshop, with a registration fee of $125.00 per person, to be held in Spokane on December 20th. It was consensus of the Board they be authorized to attend the WSWRA Water Quality Workshop and travel to Spokane on the 19th.
Mr. Carpenter presented an agreement for payment of Keechelus Dam Repairs.
Moving to New Business Mr. Carpenter presented the second half USBR CDR payment in the sum of $56,892.78. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Ed Wakkuri authorized payment of the USBR CDR payment in the sum of $56,892.78. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented a segregation from Dennis Jensen Sec. 8 Twn. 16 Rng. 20 between WPA and Badger Pocket Roads for approval subject to guidelines being met. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Ed Wakkui approved the Dennis Jensen segregation with the stipulation guidelines are met. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter requested approval for carryover of vacation hours in excess of the authorized carryover to be used in January and February for Paul Green. A motion from Ed Wakkuri and seconded by Brad Haberman approved the excess vacation hours carryover for Paul Green. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented the KRD Drought Payment of $4,130.68, KRD Landslide/Debris Flow Payment of $38,142.77 and LID payments of $10,114.05 for a total of $52,387.50. A motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Brad Haberman approved the DOE payments in the sum of $52,387.50. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the KRD Business office will be closed for the Christmas Holidays December 24th – 28th.
Mr. Carpenter presented the Joe & Billie Jo Sorenson Crossing Permit Sec. 27, Twn. 17 Rng. 19. A motion from Ed Wakkuri and seconded by Brad Haberman approved the Joe & Billie Jo Crossing Permit as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Upcoming Meetings:
December 3rd Manastash Cr. Mtg. Ellensburg
December 4th KRD Board Mtg. Ellensburg
December 7th Joint Board Yakima
December 12th Tri-Co
December 12th Gun Club Hearing Ellensburg
December 20th WSRRA NPDES Workshop Spokane
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:20 p.m. for 15 minutes to discuss Legal Issues with a motion from Ed Wakkuri and seconded by Brad Haberman. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board returned to Regular session at 2:35 p.m. with a motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Brad Haberman. The motion passed unanimously.
The Summary Vouchers for October expenses Vouchers #20142-20173 & 20200-20300 in the sum of $113,830.81 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.
As there were no objections to the 2002 Assessment Roll, a motion from Urban Eberhart and seconded by Brad Haberman closed the Board of Equalization and approved Resolution 3-2001. The motion passed unanimously.
All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.
Larry Bland – Chairman
Jack W. Carpenter – Secretary-Manager
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