ANNUAL MEETING

This years’ annual meeting will be held February 23, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hermiston Irrigation District shop building on the corner of Hurlburt Ave. and 4^th St. The meeting will include our usual beef and bean dinner followed by a presentation by Bureau of Reclamation, followed by a brief report on maintenance activities this past season. This will also provide an opportunity to meet your ditch riders and other District employees.

Since we will be serving a meal, we ask that you please RSVP by Friday, February 17, 2012, by either returning the attached form at the bottom of this newsletter, emailing us at hid@eoni.com or calling our office at 541-567-3024. We look forward to seeing our patrons at the annual meeting.

Winter Conservation Project:

Our crew has been working on the LA-Line piping project since early December. To date we have removed all of the trees and brush from the easement and the old cement liner from the open canal portion. The pipe installation is now beginning with the project completion scheduled for early March.

We would like to recognize the great cooperation from the property owners along the pipeline easement, it has certainly made the project more enjoyable.

Fall and Winter Maintenance:

As the start of the irrigation season rapidly approaches our crews will be out preparing the delivery system for operation. If you are having any trouble with your screens or headgates please let us know so we can put it on our schedule for repair.

Please keep all easements and rights-of-way clear of obstructions. Most easements and rights-of-way are shared between the Hermiston Irrigation District and the Bureau of Reclamation so any gates, fences, or other encroachments require approval from Hermiston Irrigation District and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Water Rights:

It is very important that you only irrigate land with a water right. Example: If you have 10 acres of land with 5 acres of water right, a map filed with the State shows where on the 10 acres you can irrigate. You must beneficially irrigate your land at least once every five years to maintain this right. The State of Oregon Water Resource Department and the District are watching this beneficial use closely. Again, if you have questions please call the District office.

Water Orders:

Please call your ditch rider 12 hours in advance, if you will not be using your floodwater at your scheduled time. Also, if you have an emergency and have to shut off early notify the ditch rider as soon as possible, so that adjustments may be made to prevent unwanted flooding down stream. Please remember that if you have water leaving your property you are not making efficient use of it. Also, if you receive your water through a pipeline and have a pump of 5Hp or more you need to notify your ditch rider before you start up or shut down. Your use or non-use along with others may require adjustments of the canal that feeds the pipeline. As we strive to be good stewards of this precious resource, your cooperation is necessary.

Assessments & Collection Policies:

Assessments are mailed out in February and are due by March 1^st. The Board of Directors has resolved to allow assessments to be paid in two payments. Under this payment arrangement the first half of the assessment is due March 1^st and, the second half may be paid by June 30^th without any penalties or interest.

Any assessments not paid in full by July 31^st are considered delinquent and are subject to collection procedures as follows:

March 2 HID will begin charging interest plus a $2 per month statement fee on all accounts that do not have at least the first half of the assessment paid.

July 1 HID will begin charging interest plus a $2 per month statement fee on the balance of the account.

August HID will send out Fair Debt Act Notices. Any patron in dispute must submit their dispute in writing within 30 days or the debt will be considered valid as presented.

September A Notice of Claim of Lien is filed with the Umatilla County Court. A $180 lien fee and a $15 certified letter fee is added to the account, plus any other incurred expenses.

November Delinquent accounts are presented to the Board.

December Accounts are forwarded to the District’s attorney for foreclosure proceedings as directed by the Board.

Accounts sent to the District’s Attorney for collections or foreclosure will be charged as follows: A $200 initial attorney contact charge, $150 for Title Search Request Fees, and all other costs incurred by the District. Delinquent statement charges and interest will be added accordingly.

If you are unable to pay the assessment in the timeline given, PLEASE call the Business Manager and make acceptable payment arrangements. We do not want to see anyone have to go to collections. It is costly for yourself and the District.

Jeff Eicher, Field Manager: 541-567-3024 or 541-561-7680

Annette Rambel-Kirkpartick, Business Manager: 541-567-3024

Dawn Henderson, Customer Service Rep: 541-567-3024

Chip Brown, Rob Walls, Knox Tidwell - Maintenance Crew

Board of Directors

Michael Bergstrom, Chairman - Division 2

Charles Miller - Division 5

Len Jeppeson - Division 1

Craig Coleman - Division 3

Wesley Locke – Division 4

Name: ___________________________________________

______ Patron and Spouse will be attending. ______ Patron will be attending alone.

 Home