Office of Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

December 6, 2016 Minutes

 

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on December 6, 2016. Attending the meeting were Division Three Director and Chairman Fred Schnebly, Division Five Director and Vice Chairman Paul Weaver, Division Four Director Larry Bland, Division One Director Mark Hansen,  Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Office Manager & Treasurer Barbara Pettit, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender, Field Supervisor & Water Master Bob Main, GIS IT & Water Quality Specialist Roger Satnik and landowner Janeice Jump.

 

The Board of Equalization was opened by a motion made by Director Bland and the second made by Director Hansen. Chairman Schnebly asked if there was anyone present seeking equalization. No equalization requests were presented.

 

The Agenda was approved with the addition of Executive Session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) and (iii) through a motion made by Director Bland and the second made by Director Hansen. The motion passed unanimously.

 

The minutes of the November 1, 2016 meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Bland and the second made by Director Hansen. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Under Water Update, Bob Main presented information on the USBR system status report. Storage is currently 43% of capacity which is 114.4% of average. The precipitation in the Yakima Basin, as measured by the USBR is 6.69 inches which is 110% of average for the month. Snotel sites are 67% at the Lower Basin sites and 76% at the Upper Basin sites.

 

On the agenda item Maintenance Update, Bob Main reported that the cleaning of the Pump Lateral is completed, with cleaning currently underway on the Turbine Lateral. As of today the Big Creek Turnout, the Little Creek Turnout and the Turbine Lateral 1.1 Pipeline have all been finished.

 

The next agenda item was Public Comment. No Public Comments were presented.

 

The Secretary Manager’s Activity Report covered meetings that occurred during the month of November 2016, information on the Integrated Plan and an update on the Congressional Energy Bill was given. Additionally there are conversations occurring with the City of Ellensburg and Kittitas County on the Reecer connection to Whiskey Creek which will create the West Flank Pathway to Naneum Wilson.

 

Mr. Eberhart requested approval for payment of $5,948.50 for the 2016 WSWRA Legislative contribution. A motion made by Director Weaver and a second made by Director Bland approved the 2016 Legislative contribution as requested. The motion passed unanimously. 

 

 

Mr. Eberhart requested approval to attend the Family Farm Alliance Annual Conference in Las Vegas scheduled for February 23 and 24, 2017, he then asked if any Directors could also attend. A motion made by Director Hansen and a second made by Director Bland approved the request as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Eberhart presented information on the additional $136,400.00 in grant funding that will be received from Washington State Department of Ecology. This additional funding will be for the Phase I North Branch Canal Lining Project. Discussion followed with a motion from Director Hansen authorizing Change Order #I that authorized Belsaas and Smith to order the product for the additional 450 feet of lining, the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. 

 

Mr. Eberhart presented information on funding received from the Washington State Department of Ecology drought fund in the amount of $66,000.00 for approval and signatures. A motion was made by Director Hansen to authorize signing of the agreement as presented and with a second by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. 

 

Mr. Eberhart presented information on $50,000.00 from the Washington State Department of Ecology for an Initial Water Storage Study to identify potential storage sites in the vicinity of the KRD distribution system.

 

Mr. Eberhart apprised the Board of the petition of nomination with the required signatures received from Director Wakkuri by 5:00 p.m. Monday November 7, 2016. A Certificate of Election was presented for Director Wakkuri.

 

Mr. Eberhart provided information from the Draft Personnel Practices and Procedures Manual review committee.

 

Mr. Eberhart presented the Certificate of Records Destruction for review and signatures. A motion made by Director Weaver and a second made by Director Bland approved the Certificate of Records Destruction as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Slothower gave an update on delinquent accounts that have met the foreclosure criteria. Barbara Pettit apprised the Board that KRD continues to work with the Kittitas County Treasurer on Tax Title Properties.

 

Moving to New Business, Bob Main presented a Crossing License request from Mike Forman Sec. 3 Twn. 17 Rng. 20. A motion made by Director Weaver and a second made by Director Bland approved the Crossing License as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

 

The second half USBR Construction Debt Retirement payment in the amount of $54,882.02 was approved by a motion from Director Weaver and a second made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Eberhart presented the Cities Insurance Association of Washington renewal in the amount of $81,737.34 for approval and signatures. A motion made by Director Weaver and a second made by Director Hansen authorized payment and signature. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Resolution 2016-6 which is the Kittitas Reclamation District 2017 Meeting Schedule was presented for review and discussion. A motion made by Director Hansen and a second made by Director Weaver approved the Resolution. The motion passed unanimously.

 

A motion made by Director Hansen and a second made by Director Weaver approved December 15, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. as the date and time for the 2017 Budget Year Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.    

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:01 p.m. for 15 minutes Per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i)and (iii) with a motion made by Director Bland and the second made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:16 p.m. with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

 

As there were no objections to the 2017 Assessment Roll, there was a motion made by Director Bland and a second made by Director Hansen closed the Board of Equalization and approved Resolution 2016-5 as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Summary Vouchers for the October 2016 expenses and the November 2016 payroll that included check numbers 40679 through 40752 and Direct Deposit numbers 9901003 through 9901018 in the sum of $224,543.65 were approved with a motion made by Director Bland and the second made by Director Weaver. 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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Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of Directors Chairman

 

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager