Hermiston Irrigation District

Board of Directors

February 21, 2008

Regular Board Meeting Minutes

 

CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Charles Miller called the February Regular Board Meeting of the Hermiston Irrigation District (District) Board of Directors to order at 4:00 p.m.  The meeting was held in the District office building.  Also present at the meeting were Board Members Len Jeppeson, Mike Bergstrom, Craig Coleman and Wes Locke; District Manager, Chuck Wilcox; Field Manager, Greg Dell; Secretary, Annette Rambel; Jeremy Morris representing Anderson-Perry; and Don Brewer, for part of the meeting.

GUESTS:  Jeremy Morris representing Anderson-Perry distributed and explained the revised Plans for the Drop Structure.

DROP STRUCTURE:  Mr. Morris gave the BOD a 12-sheet Plan set that has been revised and updated.  Director Bergstrom asked for the Plan set to be available electronically and Mr. Morris agreed to send an electronic copy to the District.  The Plan set went from the demolition to the proposed new construction of bays 3 through 8.

A NEPA will be required and Jerry Cheek with the BOR is working on that.  Manager Wilcox stated that we are unsure that the District will need permits from the Corps. 

Field Manager, Greg Dell suggested putting drains between the bays.  After some discussion on the matter it was agreed that a couple of about 2” drains between the WEIR wall would be a benefit.

There was a cost increase in the Plan due mainly to changing the dewatering portion of the proposal to hourly as opposed to a lump sum.

If they get the approval of the BOD today, Anderson-Perry will need the Plan to be signed by HID.  They will begin advertising for contractors to bid on the work next week and that will run for 1 month.  The BOD will have time to review the proposals and will award the job at the April board meeting.  The award and agreement will probably be signed in May and work above bay 2 can begin as soon as August 1, 2008 and work below bay 2 is scheduled to begin September 1, 2008.  Completion of the project is expected October 31, 2008 to allow the District to be able to accept exchange credits or water by November 1, 2008.

MINUTES:  No Minutes were presented to the Board.  They will be available at the next regular Board meeting.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & VOUCHERS:  The Board reviewed the Profit & Loss Report for January 2008.  The voucher report for January was not ready for Board approval.

OLD BUSINESS  

ELM ST PROPERTY:  Manager Wilcox reported that the last he heard from the Hermiston FFA Resource Center, Inc. (FFA) was that they would probably not partner with the school district.  The FFA is going to try to purchase the property themselves and would leave a portion for sale to Hermiston School District.

The District will probably do a lot line adjustment and determine a price for the portion of the land to be sold to the school district.  Manager Wilcox asked the Board how they would like to proceed, since this process would have to go through the County and would take some time.  Director Bergstrom moved to allow Manager Wilcox to proceed with a lot line adjustment if needed.  Director Jeppeson seconded the motion.  There being no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT:  There has still been no written progress made on the Agreement.

HID 100 YEAR CELEBRATION:  Manager Wilcox reported that he is working on a chronological history of the District, staff has gathered a number of historical items and we are getting assistance from the BOR’s public relations person, Dave Walsh.

KLOEPPER EASEMENT:  The District’s attorney sent a demand letter to the Kloepper’s known attorney of record.  The letter indicated that since the Kloepper’s have not complied with the court’s judgment and removed the fence that we would be filing documents for a contempt hearing.

NEW BUSINESS  

RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT-CHERRY:  Michael & Alynn Deann Cherry purchased property in the Sather-Burns subdivision and were not informed that a fence needed to be installed on the easement.  Per Mr. Burns’ request, they are now requesting to use an alternate fencing agreement with the District.  Director Locke moved to approve the Irrigation Right-of-Way Protection Agreement between the Cherry’s and the District.  Director Bergstrom seconded the motion.  There being no further discussion, motion carried unanimously.

FORT VANNOY CASE:  Ft. Vannoy Irrigation District has been involved in litigation that involves an application by a landowner to transfer the point of diversion for some water rights from the district’s facility to a point that is outside of the district.  Thus, removing the water rights from the district’s delivery system and removing the landowner from the district’s assessments.  Oregon Water Resources Commission approved the application.  The district appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals, who reversed the Commission’s decision.  Petitions have now been filed with the Oregon Supreme Court.

Oregon Water Resources Congress’ (OWRC) Board has authorized legal counsel to file an amicus brief.  The Board’s goals are for OWRC to use its unique position representing irrigation districts in Oregon to urge judicial restraint because of the diversity among Oregon irrigation districts and to limit the lower Court’s decision to the Ft. Vannoy case.

TRUCK BIDS:  The District received two bids.  One was from Tom Denchel Ford for $18,780.  The other was from Sherrell Chevrolet for no more than $18,516.  The difference between the two trucks was that the Ford only came in a V-8 and the Chevy comes in our standard, V-6.  Director Bergstrom moved to accept the bid and purchase a truck from Sherrell Chevrolet for no more than $18,516.  There being no further discussion, Director Locke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

TRACTOR-MOWER PURCHASE:  Manager Wilcox explained to the BOD that it was our intention to purchase a tractor with a 3-point mower and to later purchase a boom mower and attach it.  However, the manufacturer wants to factory mount the boom mower, and both factories are in the mid-west.  That intended purchase has been changed to buying a tractor with a 10’ 3-point mount mower.  It will take a few months before it will be received by the District since the suppliers do not have them in stock.

STORAGE BUILDING:  Manager Wilcox showed the BOD pictures of a 12 x 16 storage building that Greg Dell is selling.  The District has discussed the need for extra storage in the yard and this building would suit those needs.  Mr. Dell is asking $2,000 for the building.  Director Locke moved to purchase the storage building from Mr. Dell for $2,000.  Director Bergstrom seconded the motion.  There being no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.

GUEST:  Don Brewer joined the meeting at this point.

MANAGER’S REPORT  

WATER REPORT:  Today the Feed Canal is running at 219 cfs, with 190 cfs making it into CSR.  CSR contains 12,198 af as of this morning, compared to 21,926 af this time last year.  Conversely, we have about that difference in exchange credits.  This could benefit the district in regards to the Drop Structure project.

PERSONNEL CHANGE:  Chairman Miller, Manager Wilcox and Director Bergstrom conducted interviews to fill the position of Field Manager.  Rick Hlawek was promoted to the position of Field Manager.  Jeff Eicher was hired as the Lead Man and to share in the duties.  The intention is that one of the two men will be able to fill the District Manager’s position when it becomes available. 

PIPING PROJECT PROGRESS:  The L-Line project is essentially done.  The next project will be Klaus Lane and it will not take long.

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS OF SB1069:  SB1069 has not passed yet, but is looking very hopeful and is moving forward through the legislature.

DROP STRUCTURE:  Director Bergstrom moved to allow Manager Wilcox to sign the Plan Coversheet, Specs Coversheet and Ad for Bid for the Drop Structure Project.  Director Jeppeson seconded the motion.  There being no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Miller at 6:10 p.m.

Charles Miller                                                                    Annette V. Rambel

Chairman                                                                             Recording Secretary

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