February 27, 2014 District No. 2 Special Meeting Minutes

MINUTES Of the MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS Of the BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2 Terry, Montana FEBRUARY 27, 2014 The Special Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the twenty-seventh day of February, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. There were present and participating at the meeting: Barry Rakes Lance Kalfell Also present and participating were: Raymond Strasheim, Secretary; Pat Davis, Treasurer; Steve Davies, Bureau of Reclamation Montana Area Office (BOR); Sheri Fredrickson, BOR; Fern Thompson, BOR; Nick Bunting, BOR. President Barry Rakes 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 Barry Rakes announced that legal notice had been given and a quorum was present so that the meeting was legally and lawfully ready to transact business. Mr. Steve Davies presented an agenda for the meeting. The meeting was held to discuss, with the Bureau of Reclamation, the issue of a power increase for the District. A brief background and discussion of the issue was held to bring everyone involved current. Items discussed were the Project use of power and the contracted rate of delivery for the District. The members of the Board and the Bureau of Reclamation reviewed the power rates, assigned costs, and the process that is necessary to increase the power and contract rate of delivery for the District. Ray explained that the power usage over the last water season was documented to show, through the time line of events that occurred through the season, that the Shirley Fish Screens were the cause of power overage incurred with subsequent fines for the District. The representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation explained to District No. 2 the process and the costs associated to any power increase for Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2. Any power would be paid at an increased rate and would have to be metered separately. The Board and the Bureau of Reclamation discussed a possibility of having preference power from Western Area Power Administration. Ray indicated that he would approach Western Area Power Administration concerning the issue. The Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board and all present discussed at length the upcoming water season and the installation of the fish screens at Shirley. Ray informed the Bureau of Reclamation representatives that if the contract rate of delivery is not increased, or a similar solution to the power issue is resolved, before the upcoming water season the District could not install the fish screens due to budget reasons. The Board also discussed with the Bureau of Reclamation the issue of extending the syphon for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad siding to be installed this spring. The Board reviewed a letter and preliminary drawings presented to them from the Bureau of Reclamation pertaining to the modifications of the lateral 1.6 syphon at Terry. The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Barry Rakes. All in Favor. Motion Carried. ATTESTED: ________________________________ ____________________________________ Raymond Strasheim, Secretary Barry Rakes, President