November 14, 2018 District No. 2 Meeting Minutes

MINUTES Of the MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS Of the BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2 Terry, Montana NOVEMBER 14, 2018 The Seventh Regular Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the fourteenth day of November, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. There were present and participating at the meeting: Barry Rakes Lance Kalfell Scott Sackman Also present and participating were: Scott Aspenlieder, Performance Engineering & Consulting, Tim Kortum, Manager, and Pat Davis, Treasurer. 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 and Resolutions from the September 12, 2018, and October 12, 2018 Board Meetings were approved without corrections and, or additions, by Lance Kalfell seconded by Scott Sackman. All in Favor. Motion Carried FINANCIAL REPORT: Pat Davis presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures through November 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 $39,106.96, to cover payroll and invoices were signed. November 15th estimated payroll: $11,843.18; November estimated invoices $16,241.58; November 30th estimated payroll: $11,022.20. Investment transfer was signed to invest the remaining monthly District No. 2 cash balances in the amount of $333,898.64 with Prairie County Pool. Warrant numbers from September 13, 2018 to November 15, 2018 range from 24725 to 24815. Pat presented to the Board a worksheet for year-end bonuses for the employees. All members present agreed that the bonus amount looked accurate and should be distributed to the employees on the December 15th payroll. Pat also asked the Board if they would like to have a Christmas party with the employees. It was determined that Tim Kortum will ask the employees if they would like to have an appreciation party before or after the holiday season. On a motion made by Scott Sackman and seconded by Lance Kalfell the treasurer’s report was approved. All in Favor. Motion Carried. MANAGER’S REPORT: The Board discussed the proposed Managers contract for Mr. Timothy Kortum. The contract has no changes made except dates updated to current years terms. The Board agreed to accept the proposed Managers contract for a one year term for Mr. Timothy Kortum with a net salary of $1,600.00 (ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS) payable twice per month. On a motion made by Scott Sackman and seconded by Lance Kalfell is was RESOLVED, To accept the proposed Manager’s contract, for a one year term, for Mr. Timothy Kortum. All in Favor. Motion Carried. The Board discussed the proposed employee contract. No revisions were made to the contract other than updating to reflect the current year and tenure. Mr. Kortum informed the Board that the employees had no wish to make any changes to the terms of the contract. Pat Davis concurred with Mr. Kortum as a representative of the employees of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2. On a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Scott Sackman it was resolved to accept the proposed contract between Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 and the Employees of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2. All in Favor, Motion Carried. RESOLVED, To accept the contract agreement between Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 and the Employees of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2. All in Favor, Motion Carried Mr. Scott Aspenlieder, Performance Engineering & Consulting, was present to speak with the members of the Board concerning the power increase proposed for the District. Mr. Aspenlieder stated that he had traveled to Denver and spoke with representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation concerning the issue. He stated his concerns with the new proposed contract for power between the Bureau of Reclamation and Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2. He did feel that it would be best to join forces as a whole with other irrigation districts that are involved in the negotiation of a new contract with the use of Pick/Sloan Power. He also fielded questions from the members of the Board and gave his opinion as to the best route to take and explained any questions presented by the Board. Mr. Aspenlieder and his associates will be traveling to Washington D. C., and will be speaking with delegates on the issues concerning the District. Mr. Aspenlieder agreed to represent Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 and speak in behalf of the District. Scott Aspenlieder updated the Buffalo Rapids District No. 2 Board on the Grant projects that the District has applied for. The Shirley Main Canal Lining Grant will be funded for the District most likely by the end of the year. The project is slated to be started in the Fall of 2019. The District has a Grant proposal submitted for Lateral 1.6 Pipeline Project, and are expected to receive the ranking of that proposal shortly. Mr. Aspenlieder and Tim Kortum spoke with the Board about starting the engineering and proposals on other projects that the District would like to see funded in the future. Tim Kortum attended a Yellowstone River Conservation District Council meeting and was advised that the District perform preliminary engineering on future projects. Those projects would then be easily accessible to submit for funding if the opportunity arose. Tim also stated that he spoke to all present at the meeting concerning many issues that are affecting the Irrigation Districts and Projects on the Yellowstone River. Tim Kortum and Pat Davis met with Bureau of Reclamation representatives, Mark Beatty and Ryan Randol on October 09, 2018 for a Contract Compliance Review for Contract No. 14-06-600-1217. The interview was conducted for the Water Year 2017, which included, but was not limited to, water deliveries, water records, water use, beneficial use of the water, and water rights of the District. The interview went well with all water records and deliveries easily submitted for their review. The interview will be submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation, Denver office. No correspondence has been received by the District to date with any concerns. Mr. Kortum presented the Board of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 with correspondence from Abigail Brown, Farve & Brown Law, concerning updates on the Water Rights of the District. The Board reined maps and document drafts presented by Abigail and explained what was needed from the Board. The Board agreed with what was presented and advised Mr. Kortum to move forward with all finalizations to be submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation. Mr. Tim Kortum gave an update, to the Buffalo Rapids District No. 2 Board, on the subject of McAuley Ranch and the excavation of US Drain 49-10-I. Mrs. Abigail Brown sent correspondence that the members of the Board reviewed concerning the issues. Mr. Kortum was advised by the Board of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 on how to proceed with any issues or concerns from McAuley Ranch. The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Scott Sackman All in Favor. Motion Carried. ATTESTED: ________________________________ ____________________________________ Tim Kortum, Secretary Barry Rakes, President