GUESTS

Mrs. Traner addressed the Board regarding her request to use the easement through her property for a wildlife habitat restoration project. Mrs. Traner’s property is located at 5N2826B 200. Mrs. Traner explained to the Board that this easement is not very drivable and has vegetation that has overgrown in that location. She has spoken with Chet Hadley of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and is looking into the USDA’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. She originally requested that the District write a letter stating that it would not use or clear any habitat located on the 20’ easement located on the south side of the canal unless it is an urgent need. She believes that the 30’ easement on the opposite side of the canal is sufficient for the District’s use.

Field Manager Eicher was asked and responded that the District does not commonly use the south side of the canal. A potential problem is the overgrowth of the locust trees interfering with the canal’s stability and operations.

Mrs. Traner stated that she has no problem with the locust trees being trimmed back. However, she does not want them cut down. She mentioned that they would try to help keep the tumbleweeds and debris out of that area of the canal.

Manager Wilcox explained that the District could not legally write a letter for Mrs. Traner stating that they would not maintain the Bureau’s easement. This would be a violation of our contract with the Bureau. Currently that easement is not being utilized, but the District cannot write a letter stating that it would not be in the future.

Manager Wilcox included that NRCS will not do a habitat improvement project on an easement. Mrs. Traner said that they are not intending to make any improvements to the land. However, the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for conservation-minded landowners who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat on agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest land, and Indian land.

Mrs. Traner left at 4:40 p.m.

After further discussion, Chairman Miller suggested that the District write a letter to the Traner’s stating that the District does not currently intend to clear the area, but will do so as it becomes necessary to maintain or make improvements to the canal/easement. The letter should also include that the Traner’s should keep in mind that there is a possibility of the District piping the canal in the future.

MINUTES 

The Board reviewed the minutes of the August 19, 2009, Regular Board Meeting. The minutes were not approved. Director Jeppeson stated that the Campbell Motors matter needs to be revised to read better.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & VOUCHERS

The Board reviewed the Profit & Loss Reports for August 2009. The Board reviewed and signed the August/September 2009 Vouchers Report. Vouchers Numbered 36081 through 36134 were reviewed and approved. The Board also signed expense checks.

OLD BUSINESS

DROP STRUCTURE: Manager Wilcox reported that an inspection of the drop structure was held on August 27, 2009. This inspection was attended by BOR personnel, HID personnel, Jeremy Morris with Anderson-Perry & Associates and Swaggart Bros, Inc. (SBI) personnel. Mr. Morris wrote a letter to SBI on behalf of the District. This letter included a list of warranty items. The main concern listed is the repair of the unsound shotcrete. The District has not received a response from SBI yet. Mr. Morris will contact SBI to find out how they intend to proceed if he has not received a response by September 21, 2009. The work must be completed by the November 1, 2009 deadline. In order for the District to be qualified to receive exchange credits it must be able to receive water.

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT: Manager Wilcox reported that there has been no progress in this matter.

CAMPBELL MOTORS-EASEMENT ENCROACHMENT: Manager Wilcox reported that the fence still has not been removed. Bureau personnel has been unable to contact Mr. Campbell this week, but are continuing to follow the matter.

POTENTIAL ELM STREET PROPERTY LAND SALE: Manager Wilcox reported that he spoke with Jari Boechter from the Hermiston FFA Resource Center, Inc. (HFRC). Mr. Boechter stated that HFRC has not met since last month. Manager Wilcox reiterated that the Board agreed last month to do a property line adjustment splitting the property into two equal sized pieces and to sell one parcel the first year and the second parcel the following year.

Mr. Boechter also wanted to know what percentage of the appraised value the District would want. He also stated that they were interested in purchasing the river portion first. Manager Wilcox mentioned that the property line adjustment should be done so that HFRC has legal access to the property from the Linda Avenue side and the Elm Street Extension side.

After some discussion, the Board decided to just have the appraisal done on the river side parcel that is being sold first and to sell it for the appraised value.

MAGNACIDE H: Baker-Hughes Petrolite (BHP) has sent out a notice that they will no longer be distributing Acrolien, the moss killer that the District uses, to the agricultural sector after this season. There has been an effort by irrigation districts throughout the Northwest to try to get them to extend the sales of the product to the ag community for at least another year or two. This would give districts more time to try to find an alternate product.

There was a meeting held by BHP in San Diego, CA regarding the matter. BHP primarily sells Acrolien to the oil field industry. In the oil field industry, BHP has total control of the product. BHP sells, delivers, applies and stores the product. That is not the same in the ag industry. They are concerned about the liability of not having total control of the product and the expensive EPA requirements to re-register the product for ag use.

Manager Wilcox is continuing to research other products that can be used by the District.

BURNS DEVELOPMENT: Paul Burns and Manager Wilcox have had numerous conversations. Mr. Burns is concerned about the costs of the development agreement and piping needed for his development. Mr. Burns indicated to Manager Wilcox that he was going to address the Board, but has decided not to. Mr. Burns was given copies of the 2008 HID Board minutes in which his development was discussed by the Board. However, Mr. Burns never completed the agreement that was in discussion last year. He has now broken ground on the development and is under some time constraints to complete the agreement.

The current issue is that of billing development fees by phases instead of entire developments being billed in full. Manager Wilcox believes that the current open canal should be piped with the first phase since there are lots along the canal. Also, Mr. Burns would like for the District to provide installation for the pipe he purchases for the open portion of the D-Line. The Board was in agreement to billing the development fees in phases as the project progresses and that piping the must occur for the first phase. However, they did not believe it to be a District obligation to install the pipe.

NEW BUSINESS

GARCIA REQUEST FOR EASEMENT ABANDONMENT: Carmelo Garcia wrote a letter to the District requesting a formal abandonment of the old irrigation pipe just North of 705 N. 1^st Place in Hermiston. Manager Wilcox explained that the Bureau does not show the easement on its maps. It is not pipeline used by the District. The Board agreed to inform Mr. Garcia that the District has no interest in the pipe and no objection to him building his fence.

MANAGER’S REPORT

WATER REPORT: There is currently 20,066 af in CSR. We are currently running 134 cfs through CSAO. ALTO is running at about 30 cfs and the Maxwell canal is running at about 34 cfs. Live flow from the river through the MAXO is 4 cfs. The District has about 7,154 af in exchange credits. The remaining duty for this season is 4,087 af. Continuing near this same rate, there will be water through October 1^st.

UMATILLA BASIN COALITION UPDATE: Manager Wilcox reported that there has not been a meeting since the last Board meeting.

DOG-ACROLIEN: Manager Wilcox reported that he received a report of a sick dog. The owner says that the dog appears to have chemical burns on its hide, in its mouth and on its ear. The owner believes that it is due to Acrolien in the irrigation water leaking from a riser. They have not made any claims against the District at this point. This is the first report of damage to livestock from Acrolien that Manager Wilcox has ever heard of.

BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS: Manager Wilcox requested that the Board approve transfers of $25,000 from Account 7080-Employee Health Insurance split as $20,000 to Account 7015-Wages, Temporary Employees and $5,000 Wages, Seasonal. $2,000 from Account 8075-Mapping Expense to Account 8025-Rental R&M, 4^th St House. Director Locke moved to make the adjustments as presented. Director Jeppeson seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, it passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Miller at 5:54 p.m.