Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

April 3, 2018 Minutes

 

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on April 3, 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 One Director Mark Hansen, 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 were land owners Janeice Jump and Mark Charlton.

 

The agenda was approved with the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1)(b), 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 March 6, 2018 Board Meeting and March 22, 2018 Special Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Public Comment: No comment.

 

Water Master Report: As of April 3, 2018, the reservoirs are at 75% of capacity and storage is 120% of average. Precipitation at the reservoirs from April 1, 2018 to date is .75 inches which is 82% of average and 5% of the months average. Precipitation for the water year to date is 200.12 inches, or 109% of average. The NRCS Snotel sites are reporting 100% of average in the upper sites and 101% of average on the lower sites.

 

Mr. Eberhart recommended that the water turn on date at Easton would be set for Saturday April 14th and that the ditchriders would be available to take orders on April 18th. The suggested water allotment is 2.5 cfs per acre. Director Schnebly made a motion to set the turn on date and water allotment as recommended. The second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.

 

Maintenance Report: Mr. Main reported that the crews are in the process of completing the emergency repairs. The grout work and vertical shaft work is complete at the Yakima Pressure Tunnel and the welding is being done presently in the outlet. The Sheep Dip Siphon is completed and the vacuum truck is working on the Hayward Siphon. Reclaim Company has completed the first pass through on the NB Lining Project and is working on the second pass going in the opposite direction at this time.   

 

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart reported that he participated a tour for Northern California Irrigation Districts on March 7th and 8th.

 

The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) requested KRD participate in a tour on March 15th for a prototype program. The KRD participants provided input to better the program for future use.

 

The 2018 Tributary Supplementation Meeting was held on March 19th at Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue. There was a good turnout and conversation at the meeting focused on the past successes and preparing for the 2018 year.

 

Mr. Eberhart spoke on a panel at the Bill Lane Center for the American West from Stanford University on March 23rd in Yakima, WA.

 

On March 24th, Mr. Eberhart participated on a panel for the Kittitas County League of Women Voters which was held in the Hal Holmes Center in Ellensburg.

 

Mr. Eberhart requested that KRD provide a sponsorship for the Central Washington University Earth Day Salmon Run on April 21, 2018 in the amount of $150.00. Director Hansen made a motion to approve the sponsorship. The second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.

 

The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Outreach Position has been filled by Kelsey Green. She will be at a later meeting to introduce herself to the board.

 

KRD has been awarded $2.5 Million from the water infrastructure for improvements to the nation (WIIN) Act for the Upper Yakima System Storage Phase II. Mr. Eberhart will be working with the State on matching funds.

 

Separately, $300,000.00 of federal funds will be matched with $300,000.00 in state funding for the 2018 WaterSmart Drought Resiliency Project.

 

Mr. Eberhart had a meeting with Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD) and the USBR on the Manastash Project. A letter was submitted to USBR for additional materials that are needed. There will be an upcoming meeting in Portland, OR on April 11th for further discussions.

 

Change Order #3 extended substantial completion for the North Branch Canal Lining Project Phase II to April 10, 2018. 

 

North Branch Canal Lining Project Phase III is the section that will be started in the Fall of 2018.

 

KRD is continuing to work on the informational kiosk for the South Branch Canal Lining Project.

 

The South Branch Canal Lining Phase I Design Contract Package is being developed and the bid announcement is expected by June 1, 2018.

 

KRD has asked Jacobs Engineering to provide a scope of work and engineering the costs for the South Branch Canal Lining Phase II project.

 

The Easton Dam Drum Gate Carthodic Protection report was provided. Mr. Eberhart requested permission to send the assessment to USBR, which was granted by the KRD Board.

 

Change Order PO # 2018 1.3 was presented for Global Rope Access to extend the time frame of work on the Yakima Pressure Tunnel to April 10, 2018.

 

Mr. Eberhart informed the KRD Board that the USBR has sent a notification that their Operation and Maintenance Costs for 2017 had a $202,931.75 deficit which is due June 30, 2018 in addition to the 2018 invoice.

 

Director Weaver made a motion to approve, Resolution # 2018-03 declaring an emergency, that amends Resolution 2018-2.0, Change Order PO # 2018 1.3  for emergency repairs to the Yakima Pressure Tunnel and Change Order PO # 2018 2.1 for Hayward / Sheep Dip Siphons. The 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 February 2018 expenses and the March 2018 payroll which included check numbers 42058-42154, direct deposit numbers 9901355 through 9901370 in the sum of $734,693.91 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously. There was an error for the January 2018 Payroll which was presented as the January 2017 Payroll. The correction to the 2018 Payroll was in the amount of $11, 667.06. Director Hansen made a motion to approve the correction, the second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.  

 

Old Business: Mr. Eberhart reiterated that the debris removal at Hayward and Sheep Dip Siphons are in progress. 

 

New Business:  Director Hansen made a motion to approve the Certificate of Records Destruction. The second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.  

 

Other Business: The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 1:35 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(b), 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. Executive session was extended for 2 minutes. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:07 p.m. with a motion made by Director Hansen and the 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