CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Miller called the January Regular Board Meeting of the Hermiston Irrigation District Board of Directors to order at 3:30 p.m. at the Hermiston Irrigation District office. Also present at the meeting were Board Members Len Jeppeson, Mike Bergstrom, John Lybrand and Craig Coleman; District Manager/Board Secretary, Chuck Wilcox; and Recording Secretary, Annette Rambel.

OATH OF OFFICE-DIVISION 3: Manager Wilcox read aloud the Oath of Office for the position of Director of Division 3 of the Hermiston Irrigation District for the term of one year, ending December 31, 2007. Craig Coleman agreed to the Oath as read, signed it and it was subscribed by the Board Secretary, Chuck Wilcox.

GUESTS

No guests were present at the meeting.

MINUTES 

The Board reviewed the minutes of the January 10, 2007, Organizational Board Meeting. Director Jeppeson pointed out that there was no second on the motion to the City of Hermiston. After checking the notes from that meeting, it was found that Director Bergstrom seconded the motion. There was also a spelling correction noted. Director Lybrand moved to approve the minutes as amended. Director Bergstrom seconded the motion. There being no further discussion the motion carried unanimously.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & VOUCHERS

The Board reviewed the Profit & Loss Report for January 2007. The Board reviewed and signed the January/February 2007 Voucher Report. Voucher Numbers 34105 through 34186 were reviewed and approved.

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT: There has still been no written progress made on the Agreement. Manager Wilcox did say that Ron Eggers with the BOR met with the District’s attorney David Filippi. Mr. Eggers had a few grammatical changes, which Mr. Filippi will change, but no significant changes or suggestions were mentioned.

ERICKSON EASEMENT: There is no progress to report on this matter.

OWRD WATER RIGHT CERTIFICATE: The District received a new proposed certificate from Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD). There is a difference of about 420 water right acres from what the District is assessing for and what OWRD says that we have.

DROP STRUCTURE: Anderson-Perry is focusing on looking for funding sources for the project. So far, the District has applied for two grants and did not qualify for either one. Anderson-Perry is looking into funding from Ducks Unlimited and the Department of Fish & Wildlife.

CASCADE NATURAL GAS (CNG)-CROSSING AGREEMENT: Cascade Natural Gas is requesting a crossing agreement crossing at the bridge at the Maxwell Canal on SE 9^th St. They are tying together two existing 2" gas mains to enhance pressure in that area. The City of Hermiston is currently replacing a bridge in that area. CNG would like to coordinate their installation with the City’s in order to lessen the impact of construction and excavation in that area. Manager Wilcox had no objections to this crossing agreement. Director Jeppeson moved to approve crossing agreement for CNG at the 9^th St crossing and to recommend the approval to the BOR. Director Lybrand seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

JOE DELGADO-EASEMENT ABANDONMENT REQUEST: Joe Delgado submitted a letter requesting that the District abandon the easement on the property identified as 5N2834C 109, located at 80462 Sagebrush Rd, Hermiston OR. Manager Wilcox explained that it is the old Z-Line that has not been used in the last 10-12 years. He does not see any reason not to grant the request. Director Jeppeson moved to approve to abandon the easement and that the District recommend to the BOR that the easement be abandoned. Director Coleman seconded the motion. There being no further discussion the motion carried unanimously.

GREG & JEANETTE COOK-POLICY VARIANCE REQUEST: Manager Wilcox received a letter from Mr. & Mrs. Cook stating that they have divided their two lots to three. They plan to sell two of the lots in the future. They are requesting that the District grant them a variance to District policies which would allow them to postpone installing pipe and to continue to flood irrigate the two parcel until such time that the parcel are sold. After some discussion on the matter, Director Bergstrom moved to deny the variance request and uphold the District’s policy. Director Lybrand seconded the motion. The being no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

ANNUAL MEETING: Manager Wilcox confirmed that Anita Winkler, Executive Director of Oregon Water Resources Congress will be giving her presentation on Water Rights Ownership.

CONGRESSIONAL STAFF MEETING: Manager Wilcox attended a Congressional Staff Meeting in Salem. There were representatives of irrigation districts from all over the state. The congressional staff members wanted to know what the Districts needed and what their concerns were. Manager Wilcox felt that it was a worthwhile meeting.

WATER REPORT: Manager Wilcox reported that as of today there is 20,128 af in CSR. The Feed Canal is back on and running at 216 cfs with 185 cfs going into CSR. There are 6,809 af in exchange credits left from 2006 and 16,790 af have been earned for 2007.

FINDLEY WATER RIGHTS: Manager Wilcox received a call from Attorney David Filippi. Mr. Filippi informed him that Findley’s are applying for a limited license to irrigate an additional 131 acres on the Findley/Marks property.

9^th STREET BRIDGE: The City has the old bridge torn out and has the area prepped for the new bridge.

MAINTENANCE REPORT: The maintenance crew has completed the L-line project.

MANAGER’S MEETING: Manager Wilcox attended a Manager’s Meeting in Lincoln City. There were informal discussions amongst the District Mangers regarding topics such as urbanization, easements, rights-of-way and personnel.

VEHICLE BIDS: The District received 5 bids for a new truck. Sherrell Chevrolet submitted two bids, one was for a 2007 V8 for $18,520, the second was for a 2007 Classic Chevy truck for $17,519; Tom Denchel Ford’s bid for a 2007 truck was $17,499, however they could order one for $16,499, but the delivery date was 90 to 120 days; Campbell Motors submitted a bid for Dodge truck for $19,809.

All of the dealers were given the same specifications. After some discussion, Director Bergstrom moved that the District purchase the new vehicle from Ford if it was in stock. If the vehicle meeting the specifications was not in stock then the District would accept the lowest bid from the Chevy dealer due to delivery date. Director Jeppeson seconded that motion. There being no further discussion the motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Miller at 4:49 p.m.

_______________________________             ________________________________

Charles Miller                                                      Annette V. Rambel

Chairman                                                             Recording Secretary

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