MINUTES
of the
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS
of the
BUFFALO RAPIDS BOARD OF CONTROL
Terry, Montana
December 10, 2008
The Eighth Regular Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Project Board of Control, at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the Tenth day of December, 2008, at 3:00p.m.
There were present and participating at the meeting:
Ray Roethle
Jim Finneman
Clark Cameron
James Whitmer
Wayne Haas
Barry Rakes
Also present and participating were David Schwarz, Secretary, and Pat Davis, Assistant Secretary. Mr. Allen Gierke and Mr. Tim Kortum were present to represent the employees of Buffalo Rapids Project. Mr. Brian Whittmayer was present for the meeting as the new District I member on the Board of Commissioners for Wayne Haas.
President Roethle called the meeting to order, stating that all necessary and advisable business be conducted during this time and that notice had been received by each Board Member.
Thereupon, President Roethle announced that legal notice had been given and a quorum was present so that the meeting was legally and lawfully ready to transact business.
The Minutes from the November 12, 2008 meeting were approved with out correction. Resolutions were approved without corrections.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Pat Davis presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures for December. A list of invoices to be paid was submitted and forms for the Prairie County Treasurer to transfer funds to cover payroll and invoices were signed. S.T.I.P. investment transfers were also signed to invest the remaining monthly District I and District II cash balances.
James Whitmer made a motion, seconded by Ray Roethle, to approve the Treasurer’s report and the transfer of $65,853.74 for District I. Barry Rakes made a motion, seconded by Jim Finneman, that the Treasurer’s report and the transfer of $46,621.39 for District II be approved. Motions carried.
Pat presented the 2009 Budget. On a motion made by Barry Rakes and seconded by Wayne Haas it was
RESOLVED, that the 2009 Budget be approved.
Motions carried.
Pat Davis also advised that assessment be raised for the 2010 operating year in both Districts. It will be discussed more at the June 2009 meeting.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
Tim Kortum reported that they have completed the pipelines for Getz, Whitmer, and working on Dukarts’s. They will work in Lateral 34.5 pipeline in the Spring and Summer of 2009. The crew has cleaned the canal from Glendive to Sand Creek. When things start to freeze up the crew will start to take their vacation and compensation time off. The part time employees will be laid off until they can continue working on pipelines. The rest of the time the crew will be working in the shop.
It was reported that Buffalo Rapids had a pickup, tools, and equipment in the bed of the pickup, were stolen out of the yard on Sunday, December 07. The incident is under investigation by the Prairie County Sheriffs Department.
The crew is working on the Getz pipeline project. The pipeline should be completed by the end of the week if weather permits. They will then go on to work on the Whitmer pipeline, and then the Martinson pipeline. Tim Kortum, Dave Schwarz, and the crew have shot more E.C.C. cement for the canal lining project. The project worked well until the shotcrete machine broke down. They will try again with a rented shotcrete machine if the weather holds.
Allen Gierke reported that valve number three is back in in Glendive 1 pumping plant. They will work in number 1 valve next year. They are continuing to work on pumps in the Machine Shop. The Terry pump that was switched to water lube was checked, and it worked great. They will make plans to switch all of them from grease lube to water lube.
Dave informed the Board that the crew had built new steps for the office. The old stairs were in such bad shape they were becoming a hazard.
Dave passed, some photographs for the Board to inspect, of the siphon at Crackerbox. The floor is completely gone up to the siphon on the exit side, and the rebar is exposed on the sides. He hopes to get it repaired in the Spring.
Dave reported to the Board that there may be an opportunity for some funds to control Russian Olive trees through the N.R.C.S.. Dave will look into the program further.
Dave informed the member of the Board that Fish Screening Project engineering is completed and have been sent to Denver for final approval.
Dave passed to James Whitmer and all other commissioners a letter that he had drafted to Mr. Hagen concerning a pump that he has in the canal. Buffalo Rapids has a concern that the pump will cause problems for the District.
Dave talked with the Board about Grant funding for the upcoming year. The majority of the funding seems to be going to Cities and Towns due to the public benefit. It is uncertain at this time if Buffalo Rapids will receive any funds in Grant money for any future projects.
Jim Finneman expressed that he would like to look into a different company to do an audit on Buffalo Rapids. He would also like to look into the possibility of a more in depth audit. He also expressed that he did not want to do this without the Board’s approval.
Mr. Wayne Haas announced his resignation from the Board of Commissioner for Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project. He recommended Mr. Brian Whittmayer for his position. On a motion made by Ray Roethle and seconded by James Whitmer for District I it was
RESOLVED, that Mr. Brian Whittmayer will be the new commissioner for District I.
Motions carried.
Buffalo Rapids would like to recognize Mr. Wayne Haas for his years of dedicated service to the project. Wayne has served on the Board of Commissioner in many capacities for over 30 years.
James Whitmer talked with the Board about Mr. Pepalinski’s water overage. Mr. Whitmer read the meter in question. The reading is correct and the matter will be looked into further on the water books.
Next meeting will be held on January 14, 2009, at 3:00p.m.
There being no further business to be considered, and no objection, the said meeting of the Commissioners of the Buffalo Rapids Project Board of Control adjourned.
ATTESTED:
________________________________ ____________________________________
David J. Schwarz, Secretary Ray Roethle, President
of the
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS
of the
BUFFALO RAPIDS BOARD OF CONTROL
Terry, Montana
December 10, 2008
The Eighth Regular Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Project Board of Control, at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the Tenth day of December, 2008, at 3:00p.m.
There were present and participating at the meeting:
Ray Roethle
Jim Finneman
Clark Cameron
James Whitmer
Wayne Haas
Barry Rakes
Also present and participating were David Schwarz, Secretary, and Pat Davis, Assistant Secretary. Mr. Allen Gierke and Mr. Tim Kortum were present to represent the employees of Buffalo Rapids Project. Mr. Brian Whittmayer was present for the meeting as the new District I member on the Board of Commissioners for Wayne Haas.
President Roethle called the meeting to order, stating that all necessary and advisable business be conducted during this time and that notice had been received by each Board Member.
Thereupon, President Roethle announced that legal notice had been given and a quorum was present so that the meeting was legally and lawfully ready to transact business.
The Minutes from the November 12, 2008 meeting were approved with out correction. Resolutions were approved without corrections.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Pat Davis presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures for December. A list of invoices to be paid was submitted and forms for the Prairie County Treasurer to transfer funds to cover payroll and invoices were signed. S.T.I.P. investment transfers were also signed to invest the remaining monthly District I and District II cash balances.
James Whitmer made a motion, seconded by Ray Roethle, to approve the Treasurer’s report and the transfer of $65,853.74 for District I. Barry Rakes made a motion, seconded by Jim Finneman, that the Treasurer’s report and the transfer of $46,621.39 for District II be approved. Motions carried.
Pat presented the 2009 Budget. On a motion made by Barry Rakes and seconded by Wayne Haas it was
RESOLVED, that the 2009 Budget be approved.
Motions carried.
Pat Davis also advised that assessment be raised for the 2010 operating year in both Districts. It will be discussed more at the June 2009 meeting.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
Tim Kortum reported that they have completed the pipelines for Getz, Whitmer, and working on Dukarts’s. They will work in Lateral 34.5 pipeline in the Spring and Summer of 2009. The crew has cleaned the canal from Glendive to Sand Creek. When things start to freeze up the crew will start to take their vacation and compensation time off. The part time employees will be laid off until they can continue working on pipelines. The rest of the time the crew will be working in the shop.
It was reported that Buffalo Rapids had a pickup, tools, and equipment in the bed of the pickup, were stolen out of the yard on Sunday, December 07. The incident is under investigation by the Prairie County Sheriffs Department.
The crew is working on the Getz pipeline project. The pipeline should be completed by the end of the week if weather permits. They will then go on to work on the Whitmer pipeline, and then the Martinson pipeline. Tim Kortum, Dave Schwarz, and the crew have shot more E.C.C. cement for the canal lining project. The project worked well until the shotcrete machine broke down. They will try again with a rented shotcrete machine if the weather holds.
Allen Gierke reported that valve number three is back in in Glendive 1 pumping plant. They will work in number 1 valve next year. They are continuing to work on pumps in the Machine Shop. The Terry pump that was switched to water lube was checked, and it worked great. They will make plans to switch all of them from grease lube to water lube.
Dave informed the Board that the crew had built new steps for the office. The old stairs were in such bad shape they were becoming a hazard.
Dave passed, some photographs for the Board to inspect, of the siphon at Crackerbox. The floor is completely gone up to the siphon on the exit side, and the rebar is exposed on the sides. He hopes to get it repaired in the Spring.
Dave reported to the Board that there may be an opportunity for some funds to control Russian Olive trees through the N.R.C.S.. Dave will look into the program further.
Dave informed the member of the Board that Fish Screening Project engineering is completed and have been sent to Denver for final approval.
Dave passed to James Whitmer and all other commissioners a letter that he had drafted to Mr. Hagen concerning a pump that he has in the canal. Buffalo Rapids has a concern that the pump will cause problems for the District.
Dave talked with the Board about Grant funding for the upcoming year. The majority of the funding seems to be going to Cities and Towns due to the public benefit. It is uncertain at this time if Buffalo Rapids will receive any funds in Grant money for any future projects.
Jim Finneman expressed that he would like to look into a different company to do an audit on Buffalo Rapids. He would also like to look into the possibility of a more in depth audit. He also expressed that he did not want to do this without the Board’s approval.
Mr. Wayne Haas announced his resignation from the Board of Commissioner for Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project. He recommended Mr. Brian Whittmayer for his position. On a motion made by Ray Roethle and seconded by James Whitmer for District I it was
RESOLVED, that Mr. Brian Whittmayer will be the new commissioner for District I.
Motions carried.
Buffalo Rapids would like to recognize Mr. Wayne Haas for his years of dedicated service to the project. Wayne has served on the Board of Commissioner in many capacities for over 30 years.
James Whitmer talked with the Board about Mr. Pepalinski’s water overage. Mr. Whitmer read the meter in question. The reading is correct and the matter will be looked into further on the water books.
Next meeting will be held on January 14, 2009, at 3:00p.m.
There being no further business to be considered, and no objection, the said meeting of the Commissioners of the Buffalo Rapids Project Board of Control adjourned.
ATTESTED:
________________________________ ____________________________________
David J. Schwarz, Secretary Ray Roethle, President
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