MINUTES
Of the
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS
Of the
BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2
Terry, Montana
December 13, 2023
The Eighth Regular Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the Thirteenth day of December, 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 1:17 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 November 8, 2023, Regular Board Meeting were approved without corrections and, or additions, on a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Jackson Dion at 1:26 p.m. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Jessica Schott presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures through December 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 $68,144.45, to cover payroll and invoices were signed. December 15th estimated payroll: $22,716.78, December invoices $33,190.69, December 31st estimated payroll: $12,236.98. This transfer was approved at 1:30 p.m. on a motion made by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell. All in Favor. Motion Carried. An additional transfer authorization form was presented to transfer $903.66 from the System Rehab Reserve account to the District 2 Cash O & M account for the MDOT Fallon Pipeline 2023 Expense. This transfer was approved at 1:33 p.m. on a motion made by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Jackson Dion. All in Favor. Motion Carried. A final transfer authorization form was presented to transfer $44,710.16 to the Equipment & Emergency Reserve account from the District 2 Cash O & M account for October and November operating revenue reimbursement. This transfer was approved at 1:35 p.m. on a motion made by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell. All in Favor. Motion Carried. Ms. Schott then presented the investment statement, which was signed to invest the remaining monthly District No. 2 cash balances in the amount of $439,048.71 with the Prairie County Investment Pool. Warrant numbers from November 10, 2023, to December 14, 2023 range from 27994-28052.
The treasurer's report was approved at 1:40 p.m. on a motion by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Jackson Dion. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
Jessica Schott then presented to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board a draft of Tim Kortum’s proposed Manager’s Contract for the upcoming year. Mr. Kortum requested no additional concessions, nor proposed any changes to the contract from the previous year. With recommendation, and on a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Jackson Dion, it was
RESOLVED, To accept the proposed Manager’s Contract for Timothy Kortum for a one year term, to expire on December 31, 2024, or until a suitable replacement is found. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
Tim Kortum reported to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that employees had begun working on repairs to the pumps that have been pulled for servicing. Mr. Kortum also stated that some employees would be using some of their PTO prior to the Christmas holiday, and that all employees would be using PTO for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, with operations to resume the first week of January.
Tim Kortum informed the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that the remaining pipe had all been used in making progress on the Lateral 1.6 project, and the additional Feickert Farms/Dolatta pipeline as planned in the final Phase II design had been completed and construction had ended for the season part way across Robert Dolatta’s field to resume in the spring.
Tim Kortum discussed future needs and possible plans of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2. Mr. Kortum reported that multiple new pivots were expected to be purchased and installed by area producers in the Spring. Mr. Kortum explained that this may necessitate the purchase of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) pump for the Terry Division. Due to the Lateral 1.6 pipeline’s anticipated completion and more pivots being installed, the demand for irrigation water will vary depending on the number of pivots running at one time, but will be less overall. Tim Kortum also stated to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that future plans should also include the conversion of Lateral 3.1 in Fallon from open-ditch to pipeline to alleviate persistent overflow and drainage issues in that area of the Fallon division. Mr. Kortum also advised the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that the dirt work for the Jenny Reach canal relining project in Shirley would begin this Summer so the canal could be relined later in the Fall (2024), according to the project schedule outlined within the DNRC grant contract funding that project. Commissioner Lance Kalfell mentioned that Finneman Farms in the Shirley Division would be installing a new pivot in the coming irrigation season, which would cause the neighboring producer, Duane Lassle, to lose access to irrigation water where he is currently obtaining it. There was a lengthy discussion as to what would be the best course of action, and it was ultimately decided that the most feasible solution would to be to create a pipeline access for Mr. Lassle to one of the existing pipelines providing irrigation access to two of his neighbors. Mr. Kortum stated that he would have some discussions with the producers involved to discuss options for providing a remedy to the impending issue.
Jessica Schott then reminded the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that the annual Christmas party would be held at the BD- in Fallon on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:18 p.m. on a motion by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Jackson Dion. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
ATTESTED:
________________________________ ____________________________________
Tim Kortum,
Secretary Barry
Rakes, President
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