Office of the Secretary Manager
Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors
Meeting
September 9, 2019 Minutes
The Board of Directors of
the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on September 9,
2019 at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Three Director and
Chairman Fred Schnebly, Division One Director and Vice Chairman Mark Hansen,
Division Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Division Four Director Larry Bland, Secretary
Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Treasurer Stacy Berg,
Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Sara Vickers, Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower.
The amended agenda was
approved with the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Hansen and the second
was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.
The minutes for the August
6, 2019 Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Bland and the
second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comment: There was
no public comment.
Water Master Report: As
of September 8, 2019, the five reservoirs were at 24% capacity which is 61% of
average. The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) increased the pro-ration
level to 70%. Mr. Eberhart will continue to work with the USBR to ensure that
the KRD will get as much water as possible.
Maintenance Report: Mr.
Eslinger reported that the crews are continuing to move fences that are blocking
access to the North Branch right-of-way (ROW), clear brush on the north side of
the canal as well as spraying and mowing the ROW. There are crews working at
Easton Dam on concrete work and painting.
Secretary Manager’s
Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart reported that Mark Limbaugh was given a tour on
August 27th of the Upper Yakima Basin and the KRD system.
On September 4th,
Mr. Eberhart attended the 70% Check-In Meeting at the Department of Ecology in
Yakima.
Mr. Eberhart attended the
Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Federal Agencies Regional Executive Updates in
Portland, OR on September 5th-6th.
There are several meetings
and a speaking engagement that Mr. Eberhart has been asked to participate in
with Family Farm Alliance in Washington D.C. on September 22nd–26th.
The Marine Fisheries Advisory Counsel Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force is
meeting in Portland, OR on September 25th–26th.
Director Wakkuri made a motion to allow Mr. Eberhart to travel to
Washington D.C. and Portland, OR. A second was made by Director Bland, the
motion passed unanimously.
Director Bland made a
motion to allow Mr. Eberhart to travel to Rogers, AR to accept the Trout
Unlimited Conservation Professional of the Year Award on October 4th.
A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.
Legal Counsel Slothower
presented an agreement that allows Trout Unlimited to grant the KRD $500,000.00
of funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Program of Bonneville
Power Administration. The memorandum of agreement states that the KRD will
conserve water that is included in the agreement. Director Hansen made a motion
to accept the agreement and memorandum of agreement. A second was made by
Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.
Director Hansen made a
motion to approve the two-year lease agreement for the SPRAT Training Facility.
A second was made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
The Upper Yakima System
Storage Committee is waiting for a draft of the Appraisal Phase II Developing
Budget.
The WaterSmart Water
Marketing Committee has a meeting next week.
The team is continuing to
work on the Yakima Basin Focused Managed Aquifer Recharge Assessment Project.
The Tributary
Supplementation program is in effect and the KRD is receiving reports that there
are several species that are finding the program to be beneficial. The water is
expected to be supplemented through October 15th for this year. If
needed, a fish salvage will be scheduled before the water is turned off.
The bid opening results for
the South Branch Phase I Reach 2-5 Construction project was awarded to N.A.
Degerstrom, Inc. as the low bidder. Director Hansen made a motion to approve the
Notice of Award for Construction for the South Branch Reach 2 and the task
authorization for Construction Management. A second was made by Director
Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.
Director Hansen made a
motion to accept the WaterSmart Main Branch Conservation FY19 Agreement No.
R18AP000254 from the USBR in the amount of $75,000.00 with a match from KRD. A
second was made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
Director Wakkuri made a
motion to accept the task authorization in the amount of $646,500 for South
Branch Phase II Construction. A second was made by Director Bland, the motion
passed unanimously.
The North Branch Phase III
B Construction Project is scheduled for this winter and will go out to bid when
we know we have the grant funding to cover it.
Treasurer’s Report: The
Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary
Vouchers for the July 2019 expenses and the August 2019 payroll which included
check numbers 43484-43562, direct deposit numbers 9901717 through 9901733 in the
sum of $365,668.61 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri. The
second was made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
Old Business: After
discussing it, the board agreed that Mr. Lopeman would no longer have access to
the canal access road and that Mr. Treat would have the crossing permit that was
granted revoked after a finite amount of time which would allow him an
opportunity to build a separate driveway.
The 2018 Accountability and
Financial Audit conducted by the Washington State Auditors Office will conclude
with an exit meeting on September 11th. There was a brief overview of
the expected results that will be discussed at the meeting.
Legal Counsel Slothower
reported that the Certificate of Delinquency was just completed for the 2019
Foreclosure List. Currently there are five landowners that are on the list, the
litigation guarantee will be ordered and the process will continue.
Lands Clerk Vickers and Mr.
Eberhart attended the Ellensburg City Planning Meeting on August 22nd.
The understanding of the KRD staff is that the Kittitas Street Lot zoning will
remain the same, and the Water Street Lots will become Central Commercial.
New Business: Director
Bland made a motion to pay the invoice for the 2019 Yakima River Basin Coalition
in the amount of $32,638.10. A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion
passed unanimously.
Director Hansen made a
motion to accept the 2019-10 Resolution for WaterSmart Resolution which is in
relation to the South Branch Phase II. A second was made by Director Bland, the
motion passed unanimously.
Legal Counsel Slothower
advised the board that the KRD is having a professor from Central Washington
University review and consult on human resource issues for the employee
handbook. The draft is expected to be ready for the board to review no later
than the November board meeting.
Mr. Eberhart requested a
motion to allow the 1987 John Deere 210C Loader/Backhoe VIN/
T0210CA742684, 1986 GMC ˝
Ton Pick-up LIC/C65734, 1986 Toyota Pick-Up LIC/52727C, 1979 International Dump
Truck LIC/C49675, 2001 GMC Sonoma 2 Wheel Drive Pick-up LIC/52747C, 2002
Chevrolet S10 2 Wheel Drive Pick-up LIC/61036C, 2000 GMC Sonoma Truck R/C LWB
LIC/49567C with Raven Cab High Canopy, Tiger Three-point PTO Offset Flail Mower
and Dump Truck Box with Hydraulic Lift for a 1 Ton Truck to be declared surplus
and sent to the Kittitas County Surplus Auction. Director Hansen made a motion
to approve the request and a second was made by Director Bland. The motion
passed unanimously.
There was a
brief overview on the status of the work group that is recommending the best way
for irrigation districts to elect their board of directors.
Other Business: The Board
adjourned to Executive Session at 2:12 p.m. for 15 minutes per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Wakkuri and a second
made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to
Regular Session at 2:27 p.m. with a motion made by Director Bland, and the
second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.
All business having been
concluded the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________________
Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of
Directors Chairman
______________________________________
Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary
Manager