Hermiston Irrigation District

Board of Directors

June 14, 2007

Regular Board Meeting Minutes

CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chairman Len Jeppeson called the June Regular Board Meeting of the Hermiston Irrigation District (District) Board of Directors to order at 3:34 p.m.  The meeting was held in the District office building.  Also present at the meeting were Board Members Mike Bergstrom, John Lybrand and Craig Coleman; District Manager, Chuck Wilcox; and Secretary, Annette Rambel.

GUESTS:  Keith and Edie Morgan attended the meeting to discuss a drain field easement. Mr. Morgan explained to the Board that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) suggested that the Morgan’s get an easement from the neighboring landowner which is the District.  The Morgan’s had holes drilled on two sites, but DEQ would only test one site per visit, so they tested the HID lot.  The excavator that would be doing the work asked for a 200’ x 200’ easement.

The Morgan’s have an easement up Wexler’s driveway and down the fence line to access their property.  Director Coleman suggested a lot line adjustment.  There was also discussion of the District obtaining an easement to access its property which is currently land locked.

Mr. Morgan said that they would prefer a lot line adjustment for their drain field and would agree to an easement with the District, to access its property.  The Board wanted to take a field trip and look at the location before making any decisions.

The Morgan’s left the meeting at 4:15 p.m.

MINUTES:  The Board reviewed the minutes of the May 10, 2007 Regular Board Meeting.  Director Lybrand moved to approve the minutes as presented.  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 May 2007.  The Board reviewed and signed the May 2007 Voucher Report.  Voucher Numbers 34376 through 34450 were reviewed and approved.

OLD BUSINESS

HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL:  Per the Board’s instruction, Manager Wilcox has met with the employees numerous times to discuss the health insurance plan.  The employees indicated that they preferred not to add any dental or vision plans.  They are agreeable to switching to a health plan with a higher deductible with a Healthcare Reimbursement Account (HRA).

An HRA would entail the District setting up an additional reserve account.  One example of the HRA plan would be if an employee (or employee family) was to meet their deductible the employee would pay up to the amount of the current deductible, which is currently $500, and the District would pay the difference between the current deductible and the new higher deductible.

The Board agreed not to make a decision on switching health insurance plans at this time and instructed Manager Wilcox to gather more information on HRA’s and that they will review this matter further in the future.

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT:  Manager Wilcox reported that the District’s attorney David Filippi gave Tim Personius with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) an updated version of the Exchange Agreement.  Attorney Filippi will be out of the office until September, but he has a colleague that is familiar with our negotiations.

DROP STRUCTURE:  Manager Wilcox reported that he does not have an update from Anderson-Perry recently.

He also reported that he has not received any word back from BOR’s Pacific Northwest Region Director, Bill McDonald as to whether or not the District has to pay for the BOR’s review of the Drop Structure.

DISPOSABLE VEHICLE BIDS:  Manager Wilcox opened and read the three bids that were received due to public notice of vehicle sale of the District vehicle #19, a blue ½ Ton Chevy Pickup Truck.  The first bid was from Curt Buwalda for $400.  The second bid was from Dennis R. Kaneaster for $400.  The third bid was from Dennis D. Kaneaster for $650.

Director Bergstrom moved to accept the highest bid of $650 from Dennis D. Kaneaster.  Director Lybrand seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLUTION FOR DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS PROPERTY:  Manager Wilcox read the Resolution aloud.  Director Bergstrom moved to approve the Resolution.  Director Lybrand seconded the motion.  There being no further discussion the motion carried unanimously and the Board members signed the Resolution.

ELM STREET PROPERTY:  Per the Resolution for Disposal of Surplus Property, Manager Wilcox requested in writing that the Board allow for the disposal of the unused surplus District property known as 4N28C lots 9000 & 9090.  The two lots consist of +\- 38.50 acres on the west side of Hermiston and is a continual source of problems for the District.  A non-profit organization known as Hermiston FFA Resource Center has expressed an interest in purchasing the property.

“ME” PIPELINE:  The patrons on the ME-Line currently pump from a pond.  They each have 4-5 acre parcels and water at the same time.  The load on the canal is great when they are irrigating and a problem when they are not.  No one shuts the gate and the pond overflows when it is not in use.  The Board suggested putting them on a schedule to help control the demand problem.

“MA” PIPELINE:  The MA pipeline was installed two years ago and all of the patrons were told that they would have to convert to sprinklers.  There is one last patron, Dorothy Brangham, that has not complied yet.  Manager Wilcox has went above and beyond helping this patron to obtain grants and she still has not had the sprinklers installed.

UMANA RIGHT-OF-WAY PROTECTION AGREEMENT:

FIALKA-USE OF EASEMENT FOR ACCESS:

MANAGER’S REPORT

WATER REPORT:  Manager Wilcox reported that as of today there is 30,817 af in CSR and 13,491 af in exchange credits.  We are currently running 117 cfs through CSAO.  ALTO is running at about 29cfs and the Maxwell canal is running at about 35 cfs.  Live flow from the river through the MAXO is 6 cfs.

SANTOS:  Mrs. Santos sent a letter to the District demanding that the District pay her for a claim involving a vehicle accident.  That vehicle accident claim has been denied by SDAO, sighting that the District was not at fault.  A copy of the letter was forwarded to SDAO and Manager Wilcox has spoken with their office and was told to just forward any correspondence regarding this matter to their office.

GRANT APPLICATION:  Manager Wilcox informed the Board that a grant application was submitted to Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.  We should know if it has been approved by September 2007.

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Vice-Chairman Jeppeson at 6:00 p.m.

Len Jeppeson                                                                    Annette V. Rambel

Vice-Chairman                                                                    Recording Secretary

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