Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

August 8, 2017 Minutes

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on August 8, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. 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, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Field Supervisor Bob Main, Treasurer Stacy Berg, Treasurer Barbara Pettit and Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender. Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower attended via teleconference. Also attending 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)(b) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Bland and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

The minutes of the July 11, 2017 meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Bland and the second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

Water Update: Mr. Main presented the current water supply information from the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). Presently the reservoirs are at 71% capacity overall which is 110% of average. KRD is currently diverting 1,152 cfs. On August 8, 2017, the recorded precipitation for the 2017 water year is 225.56 inches, 103% of average. There has been no measurable precipitation so far in August. We are expecting temperatures in the low to mid 80’s next week, and water orders are beginning to decrease in demand as customers are cutting hay.    

Summary Vouchers for the June 2017 expenses and the July 2017 payroll which included check numbers 41325 through 41407 and direct deposit numbers 9901160 through 9901178 in the sum of $486,971.44 were approved with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously. The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Director Schnebly made a motion to approve the vouchers, a second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. The checks were distributed accordingly.

Maintenance Update: Mr. Main reported that the crews are continuing to stock pile material for future pipelines. The Freightliner Dump Truck is out of service after 3 injectors stopped working. The vehicle is being repaired at this time. Crews continue to keep up with the spraying and mowing. KRD began construction on the 6-inch steel piping for the Tillman Creek Supplementation Project. A Department of Ecology Grant is covering the cost of the piping. Preparation for the North Branch Phase II Lining Project has begun. Work on the Taneum Bridge Project has started.  

Public Comment: No public comment.

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: An agreement has been made with Roza Irrigation District for the purchase of a single axle dump truck. Director Weaver made a motion to approve the purchase of the dump truck for $4,000.00, the second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Eberhart reported that he participated in the KXLE AM talk show on August 1, 2017.

With the support of KRD staff the first session of the John Keys Tour was successful. The participants will be back again in October for the second session. KRD has been receiving positive feedback from the attendees.

The furnace and air conditioning unit had a complete failure and a new unit was purchased. KRD obtained three bids from various businesses and Bid Mechanical provided the most reasonable bid at $7,600.00. They were able to install the unit relatively quickly and there have been no further issues since the installation. Director Weaver made a motion to approve the purchase of the heating and cooling system, and a second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Eberhart continues to work with the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Columbia Basin Partnership. The group is focusing on recovery prototypes for the Mid-Columbia Steelhead as well as four other fish species. One of the goals is to achieve Mid-Columbia Steelhead delisting through efforts that include work through the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan in the Upper Yakima Basin.

On June 28, 2017 KRD received an email notice from the USBR Regional Office, authorizing KRD to proceed on the North Branch Canal Lining Project Phase II Grant. The agreement is still being written and is expected to be received by August 30, 2017. In the agreement, it is anticipated that 1 Million dollars will be allocated for this year. An additional 2 Million dollars should then be awarded. The Salmon Recovery Funding Board has approved $290,000.00. Currently there should be approximately 3.3 Million dollars available for construction this winter. KRD is also working on a grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). If the state capital budget passes there would be an additional 2.1 Million dollars available to KRD. With the funds currently available KRD will continue with the North Branch Lining Phase II Project. After prioritizing the most important sections to line first it was determined that the next portion to be lined would be from the pumping plant back up stream to, just short of the tunnel. The additional 7000 feet of lining is estimated to cost $179,268.00 for engineering services. Director Schnebly made a motion to approve the engineering work and the second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously. The advertising will start the first week of September for the bidding process.

Jacobs Engineering has begun the engineering portion of the Phase II South Branch Canal Lining Project.

The task agreement is complete for the Easton Dam Drum Gate Carthodic Protection. Jacobs Engineering will begin the work as soon as the water is shut off for the season.

The initial phase of the Water Storage Assessment is complete. Next the sites will be narrowed down to around three sites and it is hoped that construction will be possible within the next five years. Jacobs is developing the scope of work for phase II of the storage study.

Jacobs Engineering is developing a plan for Phase I of the Pressure Tunnel work. A General Engineering Support Task and a General Environmental Support Task with a limit of $25,000.00 each has been established. This allows KRD the ability to call Jacobs on a particular issue without having to bid each process individually for general items. Director Bland made a motion to approve the General Engineering Support Task and General Environmental Support Task at $25,000.00 each, a second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

Whiskey Creek- The City of Ellensburg is moving forward with the purchase of some of the property. The project is continuing with discussions that include the city, county, KRD and others.

Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD), United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and KRD continue conversations on Manastash. Mr. Eberhart reported that an agreement is continuing to be worked on and it is hoped that KRD will be participating in 2018.

KRD has scheduled the 2017 Tributary Supplementation Program Committee Meeting in August. The report will be given and the committee will make recommendations to the USBR.

Manastash Ridge Trail has nothing new to report.

Legal Counsel Slothower has issued the first and second letters for the delinquent accounts and they have been sent to the landowners. Treasurer Berg is working with Legal Counsel Slothower to obtain the remaining funds. In September, a list will be provided with the dollar amounts to determine whether the accounts are appropriate for continuing collection action.  

The Memorandum of Understanding between KRD and Kittitas County is being developed. Assistant Manager Eslinger and Treasurer’s Pettit and Berg met with Kittitas County Treasurer Brett Wachsmith. Payments have been made to KRD on the property’s that were previously sold. There are several properties that are pending, and Kittitas County has agreed to pay KRD the assessments for those if the properties are sold. The agreement will continue to be developed and then presented to Kittitas County and KRD to be signed.

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 1:45 p.m. for 20 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) and 42.30.110(1) (i):(i) with a motion made by Director Schnebly and a second made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously. The executive session was extended by 10 minutes. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:15 p.m. with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

Other Business: Director Weaver requested that Mr. Eberhart and Legal Counsel Slothower develop a protocol to help Ditchrider’s and other employees to respond to difficult situations.   

All business having been concluded the meeting was adjourned.

______________________________________

Mr. Hansen KRD Board of Directors Chairman

______________________________________

Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager