August 12, 2015 District No. 2 Meeting Minutes

MINUTES Of the MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS Of the BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2 Terry, Montana AUGUST 12, 2015 The Fourth Regular Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the twelfth day of August, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. There were present and participating at the meeting: Barry Rakes Lance Kalfell Scott Sackman Also present and participating were: Tim Kortum, Secretary; Pat Davis, Treasurer, and Raymond Strasheim. 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. The Minutes & Resolutions from the July 13, 2015 Board Meeting were approved without corrections and, or additions, by Scott Sackman seconded by Lance Kalfell. All in Favor. Motion Carried FINANCIAL REPORT: Pat Davis presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures for August to all Board members for their review. A list of invoices to be paid was submitted and forms for the Prairie County Treasurer to transfer funds in the amount of $42,261.62, to cover payroll and invoices were signed. August 15th estimated payroll: $9,472.44; August estimated invoices $23,713.32; August 31st estimated payroll: $9,075.86. Investment transfer was also signed to invest the remaining monthly District No. 2 cash balances in the amount of $425,219.00 with Prairie County Pool. Forms were also signed to transfer $51,805.25 from System Rehab Reserve account for the Installation of the Shirley Fish Screens and the Variable Frequency Drive. On a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Scott Sackman the treasurer’s report was approved. All in Favor. Motion Carried. Pat stated to all present that she had received notice that the Department of Natural Resources had made its final decision in the ranking of Renewable Resource Planning Grants, and that the Shirley Main Canal Rehabilitation Study would not be funded due to 2015 Legislative cuts. Pat presented to the Board a resolution sent to the District to update the State of Montana Property and Supply Bureau’s authorization to purchase. On a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Scott Sackman it was: RESOLVED, That Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, by its Governing Board, and by its President of the Board, shall obligate its funds to the extent necessary to comply with the terms and conditions of the State of Montana, Property & Supply Bureau. The employees listed have the authority to acquire federal or state surplus property from the State of Montana for Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2. Barry Rakes-President of the Board Tim Kortum-Manager Bill Tusler-Operator Pat Davis-Administration All in favor. Motion carried. MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Tim Kortum notified the members of the District No. 2 Board that a Yaskawa technician traveled to the Shirley pumping plant to restart the VFD that had shut down and was unable to restart. Pat Davis, Ray Strasheim, and Tim Kortum met with attorney Gary Ryder at the Carr Law Firm at the Terry office on July 21st to discuss the water rights of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, and how best to proceed with issue of acres outside of the District boundaries. Mr. Ryder indicated that he would be able to start work on the water rights project later in the fall of 2015. Tim reported that the Terry Pumping Plant has been shutting off on a regular basis again. Tim and the crew have rerouted the fans in the pumping plant to try and blow out the hot air and it has alleviated the problem somewhat. K & S Electric has agreed to come down and inspect the pumping plants to look into all electrical problems and updates for the plants. Tim is also looking into different fans for the Terry plant that would be more effective for moving air. Mr. Kortum stated that he is looking into different companies for a quote for a monitoring system at the Terry pumping plant or canal. The system would notify them when the water levels drop or when the motors shut off. A monitoring system would help so they could restart them faster to ensure the delivery of water for the Division. The monitoring system would notify the ditch rider with an app on their cell phones. The Board and Tim discussed the need to update the existing cell phones for the District to smart phones, and they are acquiring quotes to begin that process. Tim informed the Board that he has ordered the fitting and connections for the Terry Discharge Line Phase 2 Project when he traveled to Billings and met with Steve Beard, of HD Water Supply, to go over the plans of the Terry Discharge Line Project. He has also located a big excavator in Great Falls for rent that may also be able to lift the fish screens out at the end of the water season. The Board and Tim discussed at length the feasibility of purchasing a large excavator for the District to use for such purposes. Work is set to begin on the Terry Discharge Lines the middle of October. Mr. Raymond Strasheim notified the Board of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 of his resignation from the Board and as Manager of the District. Mr. Tim Kortum stated that he would remain the Manager of the District on a permanent basis. All members of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board expressed their gratitude to Mr. Strasheim for his forty plus years of exceptional service to the District. The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Scott Sackman, seconded by Lance Kalfell. All in Favor. Motion Carried. ATTESTED: ________________________________ ____________________________________ Tm Kortum, Secretary Barry Rakes, President