Hermiston Irrigation District

Board of Directors

July 12, 2007

Regular Board Meeting Minutes

CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Charles Miller called the July Regular Board Meeting of the Hermiston Irrigation District (District) Board of Directors to order at 3:30 p.m.  The meeting was held in the District office building.  Also present at the meeting were Board Members Mike Bergstrom, Len Jeppeson, John Lybrand and Craig Coleman; District Manager, Chuck Wilcox; Secretary, Annette Rambel and Bureau of Reclamation personnel Barb Hill & Chet Sater.

GUESTS:  Chet Sater addressed the Board about the property owned by the BOR known as the Oxbow Property.  The BOR is not currently maintaining this property and is concerned about maintaining the water rights on this property.  The BOR is interested in obtaining an in-stream lease for the water rights on this property.  This would serve as beneficial use of the water rights within a five year period as required.

The BOR’s Management Plan encourages the local field office to obtain an in-stream lease.  The lease can be for up to 5 years.  The BOR can cancel the lease at anytime within the 5 years, if needed.  They could also request a lease on an annual basis for up to 5 years.  About 2 cfs of water would be left in the river instead of being diverted through the Maxwell Canal.  The water that goes on that property is mostly just drain water.  It would have very little effect on the operations of the District.

After some further conversation, the Board decided that this issue needed more research, especially regarding the State’s requirements.  This item was postponed until the next meeting.

Director John Lybrand joined the meeting at 3:52 p.m.

Barb Hill and Chet Sater left the meeting at 4:07 p.m.

MINUTES:  The Board reviewed the minutes of the June 14, 2007 Regular Board Meeting. There were some grammatical changes noted.  Director Bergstrom moved to approve the minutes with the known changes.  Director Jeppeson seconded the motion.  There being no further discussion the motion carried unanimously.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & VOUCHERS:  The Board reviewed the Profit & Loss Report for June 2007.  The Board reviewed and signed the June 2007 Voucher Report.  Voucher Numbers 34451 through 34506 were reviewed and approved.

OLD BUSINESS

KEITH MORGAN-DRAIN FIELD REQUEST:  Manager Wilcox reported that DEQ approved the site on the HID property as a drain field for the Morgan’s.  The Board discussed the matter further and concluded that the Morgan’s can have an easement for their drain in exchange for an easement that allows HID access to our property.

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT:  Manager Wilcox reported that there has still been no written progress made on the Agreement.

DROP STRUCTURE:  Manager Wilcox did not have any updated news to report.

ELM ST PROPERTY:  Manager Wilcox has spoken with the appraiser Doug Barrack and he hopes to have an updated appraisal by August’s meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

CROSSING AGREEMENT-MARY NEWMAN:  Mary Newman submitted a request for a crossing agreement.  Ms. Newman has a 40 acre parcel which the Maxwell and A-Line Canals run through.  She wants to gift a 4 acre parcel and needs a crossing agreement for two bridges that have been in place for many years.  There have been no problems in the past.  This land division gives the District an opportunity to update its crossing agreements.  Director Bergstrom moved to approve the Crossing Agreement for Mary Newman.  Director Lybrand seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

DELORES GLYNN ACCOUNT:  Ms. Glynn currently has liens filed against her property for past due assessments.  Ms. Glynn would like to transfer her water rights, but they are not recognized by the state.  She lives on the coast and has not taken the steps needed to process the transfer.  District staff has helped her as much as possible.  We have explained to her many times that the account must be paid in full in order to process any transfer.

Ms. Glynn requested that Manager Wilcox ask the BOD for leniency in regards to her account.  She has not made a payment since 2005.  She still owes for 2006 assessments and fees.  She does not to pay her account and wants the District not to file a 2007 lien.  The Board denied her request.

KACZMAR-CONTRERAS DISPUTE:  Manager Wilcox explained to the Board that patrons John Kaczmar and Miguel Contreras, located on Reed Road, are both currently awaiting a legal decision regarding water getting on each other’s property.  Manager Wilcox’s suggestion was to shut off the water to both patrons until the courts have issued a decision.  The Board agreed.

MANAGER’S REPORT

WATER REPORT:  Manager Wilcox reported that as of today there is 14,560 af in CSR.  We are currently running 160 cfs through CSAO.  ALTO is running at about 25cfs and the Maxwell canal is running at about 38 cfs.  Live flow from the river through the MAXO is 13 cfs.

NULL SPILL WASHOUT:  Manager Wilcox reported that there was a wash out at Null Spill.  He showed pictures to the Board.  It appeared that water had eroded way the earth from under the canal and the canal finally collapsed on June 25, 2007.  There was a hole about 10’x10’ that had to be filled in.  It was difficult to bring in machinery due to the location of the break.  We did borrow an excavator from West Extension Irrigation District and the crew work long hours to repair the break quickly.

HID CENTENNIAL:  Manager Wilcox informed the Board that HID is coming up on 100 years in service.  HID began running water on March 8, 1908.  Manager Wilcox wanted to know if the Board wanted to do anything for our anniversary.  The BOR’s public relations department will help if we want to publicize our centennial.

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Miller at 4:50 p.m.

Charles Miller                                                                    Annette V. Rambel

Chairman                                                                             Recording Secretary

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