Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

February 6, 2018 Minutes

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on February 6, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Four Director and Chairman Larry Bland, Division Two Director and Vice Chairman Ed Wakkuri, Division Three Director Fred Schnebly, Division Five Director Paul Weaver,  Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Field Supervisor Bob Main, Treasurer Stacy Berg, GIS IT / Water Quality Specialist Roger Satnik, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender and Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower. Also in attendance was land owner Janeice Jump.

The agenda was approved with the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

The minutes for the January 9, 2018 Board Meeting was approved with a motion made by Director Schnebly and the second made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment: No comments were noted.

Water Master Report: Mr. Main reported that as of February 5, 2018, the water storage is at 130% of average and the precipitation is 122% of average for the year. The snow pack in the upper reservoir sites is 91% of average and the lower sites are 93% of average.  

Maintenance Report: Mr. Main reported that due to weather, the work in the upper county was suspended. The maintenance crews are currently working in the lower portion of the valley, cleaning ditches. A check structure was poured in the Badger Pocket area. The maintenance crews who were laid off are being called back. The automated trash racks at the pumping plant have been pulled, one has been rebuilt and the second rack is being repaired at this time.   

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart and Roza Irrigation District Manager Scott Revell gave a presentation to the Idaho Water Users Association. The group was very interested in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and asked a lot of questions.

They also participated in the Water Users Tri-State Meeting in Portland, OR. The snow pack in Canada and Northern Washington is pretty good, Central Cascades is marginal and Southern Oregon is below average, in California and further east has a poor snow pack.

In Mid-January a group of KRD personnel attended the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) training class. There will be continued training in February.

The hiring committee continues to find a viable candidate to fill the outreach position with American Rivers.

KRD reported to the Manastash Steering Committee that it is necessary to connect the 13.8 pipeline to Manastash Water Diversion Association (MWDA) pipeline. This connection will provide for a secondary delivery location which will serve as a backup to the 13.6 MWDA delivery. Funding for this project is being pursued.     

Mr. Eberhart is working with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to schedule a drill crew this year. Jacobs Engineering is preparing a scope of work that could be used in conjunction with a reality company. Funding opportunities are still in progress to pay for Phase II of the project.

KRD continues to work on contracting for the WaterSmart Water Market Study. The portion that is funded through Water Smart is the federal portion. The state water resource section and the Office of Columbia River will also be contributing to the study.

It was reported that KRD purchases fuel under the bid from Kittitas County and has provided A-1 Petroleum with the certificate of state use.      

Mr. Eberhart asked for approval to purchase a Weedmaster Weed Cutting Bucket which is designed to work under water and cut the grass and pull the debris out of the canal. Director Wakkuri made a motion to approve the purchase of the Weed Cutting Bucket and parts for $14,866.96. A second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

After a brief discussion about the backhoe that was in the 2018 budget, Director Schnebly made a motion to approve the purchase of the 2018 John Deere 410L Backhoe for $130,192.73. The second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

There is a drought WaterSmart program that will be coming to a close in the next week, KRD will receive $2,000,000.00 from the state capitol budget. The District would like to leverage those funds with some federal funds. Mr. Eberhart received approval from The Office of Columbia River to use $300,000.00 of the existing funds to match $300,000.00 of WaterSmart funds. Director Weaver made a motion to approve the Resolution 2018-1 to allow KRD to submit the application to WaterSmart. A second was made by Director Schnebly, the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Eberhart requested permission to purchase a rodding machine for $1,000.00, a 1999 Ford F350 4X4 Flatbed Pick-up for $3,000.00 and a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe for $10,000.00. All the items are surplused items from Roza Irrigation District. Director Schnebly made a motion to approve the purchase of all the items. The second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.

Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD), USBR and KRD continue discussions regarding the screens and diversions in the Manastash that are currently owned by Bonneville Power Administration.

Discussions continue with KRD, Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE), USBR, and the Yakama Nation. The request is to utilize funding from the 2015 drought well mitigation fund for the North Branch Canal Lining Phase II which is part of the KRD tributary supplementation program.   

The South Branch Canal Lining Project Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has gone through Cultural Mitigation and KRD will be part of a kiosk at the mouth of the Taneum and another by the Boy Scout Trail to explain the history of the KRD. A Central Washington University History Student will be assisting with the historical photographs to be included as part of the project.

The design is complete from the Swede Tunnel to Robinson Siphon on the South Branch Canal Lining Phase I Construction Project. Mr. Eberhart will be asking for approval to change the integrated plan water use committee wording from North Branch to the South Branch Canal Lining Project since KRD has found alternative funding sources for the remainder of the North Branch. KRD has begun the process of requesting an additional funding for the South Branch Canal Lining Project.

The report from the inspection of the Easton Drum Gate Carthodic Protection is expected to be received by the end of February.

The new well casing is installed and the pump installation is in progress for the Yakima Pressure Tunnel. Global Rope Access is currently developing a plan to complete the repair project.

The Straight Wall Phase I Repairs that were included in the Emergency Declaration are being done by Belsaas and Smith. Director Weaver made a motion to approve the repair work in the amount of $19,256.40. A second was made by Director Schnebly, the motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report: The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary Vouchers for the December 2017 expenses and the January 2018 payroll which included check numbers 41629 and 41852-41965 and 41852-41965, direct deposit numbers 9901042 through 9901054 in the sum of $1,406,212.29 were approved with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

Old Business: Legal Counsel Slothower advised that there is one delinquent account remaining. The landowner, Mr. Shapiro is three years delinquent on KRD assessments and two years delinquent for his property taxes. The legal documents were amended to include the balance due for the property taxes. Mr. Shapiro has contacted Legal Counsel Slothower’s Office and requested to make payments on the account. Mr. Shapiro appeared in court and advised the judge that he was only recently made aware of the delinquent account. After the court hearing he spoke to Legal Counsel Slothower and the Prosecuting Attorney and advised that he had the money to pay the assessments and interest owed, he stated he would call the legal office by the end of day to advise if he could pay the legal fees due. There was no further communication made so Legal Counsel Slothower advised that he intends to move forward on the foreclosure.  

The KRD utilizes the John Wayne Trail to access land and equipment. The Washington State Parks requested that the KRD acquire a permit. Legal Counsel Slothower drafted a letter to submit to Washington State Parks.

New Business:  With the significant exposure that KRD is receiving throughout the country, Mr. Eberhart reiterated the importance for KRD to continue to pay the 2018 WSWRA Irrigation District Dues, $22,000.00 and Legislative Contribution of $5,948.30, the 2018 Yakima River Basin Coalition, $32,638.10 and 2018 Yakima Basin Joint Board dues of $40,000.00. Director Weaver made a motion to pay all the 2018 dues discussed in the total amount of $100,586.40. A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.

Other Business: The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 1:47 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Wakkuri and a second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:17 p.m. with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Eberhart recommended that Heavy Equipment Operator Terry Allred receive a $2.00 an hour pay increase. There was also a discussion regarding the new position of Construction Supervisor and hiring a person for that position. Director Wakkuri made a motion to approve the raise for Terry Allred and hiring for the Construction Supervisor position. The second was made by Director Schnebly, the motion passed unanimously.

Director Wakkuri made a motion to set a Special Board Meeting on February 16, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. to hear the appeal hearing for a terminated employee. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.

All business having been concluded the meeting was adjourned.

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Mr. Bland KRD Board of Directors Chairman

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager