Office of the Secretary Manager
Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting
May 2, 2017 Minutes
The Board of Directors of
the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on May 2, 2017.
Attending the meeting were Division One Director and Chairman Mark Hansen,
Division Four Director and Vice Chairman Larry Bland, Division Three Director
Fred Schnebly, Division Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Division Five Director Paul
Weaver, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower,
Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Office Manager and Treasurer Barbara Pettit,
Incoming Treasurer Stacy Berg, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender and GIS
IT / Water Quality Specialist Roger Satnik. Also attending were land owners
Janeice Jump and Ralph Kratz.
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
Ed Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed
unanimously.
The minutes of the April 4, 2017 meeting were approved with a motion made by
Director Weaver and the second made by Director Bland. The motion passed
unanimously.
Water Update: Mr. Eberhart presented the current water supply information from
the United States Bureau of Reclamation. As of May 1, the storage is at 72%
capacity. The in-flows are
approximately 3715 cfs. with releases of 1400 cfs.
We expect those to increase significantly due to the increased
temperatures. KRD is currently diverting 367 cfs. Water orders have been slow
however they have started picking up today and we expect that to continue to
increase as the land owners are able to get their fertilizer on and the land
begins to dry out.
Maintenance Update: Mr. Eslinger reported that the Rock Trap is progressing
nicely and is near completion. Spraying and maintenance have been going
smoothly.
Public Comment: There were no
comments from the public.
Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart updated the Board on
Integrated Plan information and reviewed multiple meetings that he attended over
the past month.
Mr. Eberhart also reported that he participated in the latest quarterly Columbia
Basin Partnership (CBP) Meeting. The CBP Group is working on coming up with a
cohesive salmon recovery plan for the Columbia River System. The Yakima Basin
Integrated Plan Process could provide a good example for the entire Columbia
River System. The group requested a
presentation on the Yakima Plan at the next CBP Meeting in June.
Mr. Eberhart requested approval for travel to Denver for the USBR P3 Meeting on
May 9, 2017. A motion made by
Director Weaver and a second made by Director Schnebly approved the travel. The
motion passed unanimously.
Personnel: Mr. Eberhart introduced
new employee Stacy Berg who is the Incoming Treasurer.
Robby Main who is a new employee is currently working as a ditchrider and
is filling in for Bob Fralick who is still out sick due to serious health
problems. Bob Fralick has used all of his sick leave and permission was
requested to allow other employees to donate sick leave hours to him if they
chose to do so. A motion was made by Director Bland and a second made by
Director Wakkuri to allow the transfer of sick leave.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Eberhart reported that the 2017 Ford F550 Service Truck has arrived.
Director Bland made a motion to approve the $66,675.23 to pay the balance due on
the truck, and a second made by Director Schnebly approved the payment. The
motion passed unanimously. There was a note by Treasurer Pettit stating that the
payment would be reduced by $200 because the payment would be received within 20
days.
Mr. Eberhart reported that further inquiries would be made with an engineering
firm regarding the Easton Dam Drum Gate Cathodic Protection Project due to a
high cost estimate from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Mr. Eberhart reported that Jacobs Engineering is continuing to work on the South
Branch Canal Lining Project and it is at 90% completion.
Mr. Eberhart reported that work continues on the Whiskey Creek connection to
Reecer Creek that will result in multiple benefits. The focus continues on the
west flank pathway to the Naneum.
Mr. Eberhart reported that the first phase of the North Branch Lining Project is
coming to a close. Mr. Satnik and Mrs. Pettit have been working to complete the
final cost break down. There was also discussion of attempting to obtain
additional funding to assist with further canal lining.
Mr. Eberhart discussed the Request for Qualifications for 2017 through 2022
On-call Roster. The committee has received responses from several firms and it
will be making recommendations for those that will be included on the list.
Mr. Eberhart reported on the Manastash Operations discussion involving the
Kittitas County Conservation District, US Bureau of Reclamation and the Kittitas
Reclamation District. The goal is to come up with a method to continue with
successful operations of the Manastash System.
Mr. Eberhart reported that on April 17th the first Mid-Columbia Steal
Head was reported above the former Reed Diversion Site in the Manastash. The KRD
is continuing to work with the appropriate agencies on the amount of water that
will be distributed to the tributaries this year.
Mr. Eberhart reported on the Manastash Ridge Trail project. Currently the
cultural resources portion of the project is in progress. We are working on a
materials estimate and our contribution for the piping portion of the project.
There will be a continued collaboration with Kititas County and Washington State
Fish & Wildlife to come to a consensus on the funding.
Mr. Eberhart reported that discussions continue with the Bureau regarding Taneum
Heart K and the informational sign that will be put at the parking lot. KRD is
also working on how to accommodate them with the installation of a bridge.
Mr. Eberhart discussed the termination of the inter-local agreement with
Kittitas County. KRD no longer qualifies under the same classification for the
initial agreement. KRD will continue to participate under the agreement for fuel
purchases since that is done under a different system.
Moving to New Business: Mr.
Eberhart presented the application for the Water Smart Grant. The grant allows a
consulting group to explore the concept of water marketing in the Yakima Basin.
Director Schebly made a motion to
approve the application to the Bureau of Reclamation to fund the Water Smart
Application, and the second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed
unanimously.
Mr. Eberhart discussed the resolution to declare an emergency to repair the
slide that occurred near Turbine Lateral 14.3 which is impacting the operation
of Division One. Director Weaver made a motion to approve the declaration of
emergency, and the second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed
unanimously.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:05 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW
42.30.110(1) (g) and 42.30.110 (1) (i):( i) with a motion made by Director
Wakkuri and a second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.
The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:35 p.m. with a motion made by
Director Bland and the second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed
unanimously.
Deviating from the agenda to public comment: Ralph Kratz introduced himself as a
landowner in the area who was interested in the workings of KRD. He did not have
anything specifically to discuss.
Summary Vouchers for the March, 2017 expenses and the April, 2017 payroll that
included check numbers 41066 through 41156 direct deposit numbers 9901092
through 9901109 in the sum of $1,218,620.27 were approved with a motion made by
Director Wakkuri and the second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed
unanimously.
The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures and checks
were distributed accordingly.
All Business having been concluded the meeting was adjourned.
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Mr. Hansen KRD Board of Directors Chairman
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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager