MINUTES
Of the
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS
Of the
BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2
Terry, Montana
October 11, 2023
The Sixth Regular Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the Eleventh day of October, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
There were present and participating at the meeting:
Barry Rakes
Lance Kalfell
Jackson Dion
Also present and participating were: Tim Kortum, Secretary, and Jessica Schott, Treasurer.
President Barry Rakes called the meeting to order at 1:23 p.m., 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 from the September 13, 2023, Regular Board Meeting were approved without corrections and, or additions, on a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Jackson Dion at 1:25 p.m. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Jessica Schott presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures through September 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 $68,896.93, to cover payroll and invoices were signed. October 15th estimated payroll: $13,587.95, October invoices $39,042.64, October 31st estimated payroll: $16,266.34. Additional transfer authorization forms were presented to transfer a total of $35,242.84 from Reserve accounts as follows: $5,847.00 from System Rehab Reserve account to District 2 Cash O & M for the expense of painting the exterior of the main office building by Mark Soderquist.; $13,377.08 from Equipment & Emergency Reserve account to District 2 Cash O & M for expenses incurred for the Terry No. 3 pump motor rebuild by Prairie Mountain Electric; $8,500.00 from Equipment & Emergency Reserve account to District 2 Cash O & M for the purchase of the Bobcat 7753 Skid-Steer and two (2) Coats 5040A Tire Changer Machines from the State Surplus Program; and $7,518.76 from Equipment & Emergency to District 2 Cash O & M for operating expenses, due to unforeseen expenses. At 1:40 p.m., all transfer authorizations and an investment statement were signed to invest the remaining monthly District No. 2 cash balances in the amount of $323,071.51 with the Prairie County Investment Pool on a motion made by Jackson Dion and seconded by Lance Kalfell. All in Favor. Motion Carried. Warrant numbers from September 15, 2023, to October 12, 2023 range from 27888-27943.
The treasurer's report was approved at 1:43 p.m. on a motion by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Jackson Dion. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
Ms. Schott then presented to the Board the final audit report from Strom & Associates, P.C. for the 2022 Fiscal Year. The report stated two findings, which were previously cited in the exit interview. The first finding was for a Mis-Posted Cash Receipt, and the second finding was for Year-End Adjustments Not Complete. These findings were corrected while the auditors were on site, and a Corrective Action Plan was submitted to and approved by Strom & Associates. A summary of the Fiscal Year 2022 Audit and Findings were published in the Terry Tribune on September 30th.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
Tim Kortum informed the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that the employees of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 were in the process of end-of-season operations, including pulling pumps and draining the discharge lines. A few of the seasonal employees will be coming back to assist with the end-of-season shutdown.
Mr. Kortum then reported that the bore underneath the railroad tracks for the Lateral 1.6 Pipeline conversion had been scheduled with Agri Industries and BNSF for October 25th. The Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 employees who will be on-site at the railroad right-of-way are working to complete their required railway safety courses/certification, and the excavator being rented for this stage of construction has arrived.
Additionally, Tim Kortum noted to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that the main charge account for fuel and gas was being moved to Farmers Union from Cross Petroleum, due to ongoing issues with the station’s pumps, receipts, and charge cards not working properly.
Jessica Schott then informed the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that she had done some superficial research into a remedy for the issues with the beavers in the Fallon canal. Ms. Schott stated that a permit is available to irrigation districts for $1 annually from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks for the regular beaver/muskrat season, which extends from September 1-May 31 each year. Additionally, Ms. Schott stated that according to MCA 87-6-602, there is no penalty for trapping fur-bearing animals out-of-season from June 1-August 31 if “it is shown that muskrats or beavers are causing severe injury to or are a menace to the structures, canal banks, or other works of an irrigation project or district or to a stock water pond”. President Barry Rakes stated he would pass these findings along to Mr. Stickel and Mr. Huber from the Fallon Sewer District.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m. on a motion by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
ATTESTED:
________________________________ ____________________________________
Tim Kortum,
Secretary Barry Rakes, President
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