MINUTES
Of the
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS
Of the
BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2
Terry, Montana
March 13, 2024
The Annual Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the Thirteenth day of March, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
There were present and participating at the meeting:
Barry Rakes
Lance Kalfell
Jackson Dion
Also present and participating were: Tim Kortum, Secretary, Jessica Schott, Treasurer, and Producers of Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2.
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.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Jessica Schott presented to all present the 2024 approved budget for District No. 2 and cash account balances, with a five-year comparison, of the year-end fiscal reviews. She also included a list of the last years overview of events along with a list of the upcoming years overview. Ms. Schott explained that Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 had obtained insurance coverage through Marsh McLennan/PayneWest Insurance out of Billings, MT, with Grundy/Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co. Ms. Schott presented a comparison of coverage obtained and annual premium with the previous coverage and premium provided by MACo, as well as the top competing quote received. Ms. Schott stated that the premium was much lower than expected as of the annual meeting in 2023, and did not negatively affect the 2023 budget.
MANAGER’S REPORT
At 2:10 p.m., Mr. Tim Kortum took lead of the meeting, and spoke to all present, providing an update on the District. He stated that the last year ran well for the District, and the producers present agreed that water delivery had gone very well.
Mr. Kortum informed all producers present of the grant projects that are currently in progress, stating that the first of two DNRC Renewable Resource grants for $125,000 for use in the Lateral 1.6 Pipeline Conversion project had been expensed and closed out, while the other is in progress, as well as a $300,000 WaterSMART grant through the Bureau of Reclamation, also for Lateral 1.6, that had been expensed and closed out. Mr. Kortum also advised those present that a fourth grant of $500,000 was now under contract through the ARPA program at the DNRC for the final phase of the Lateral 1.6 project. Tim Kortum also announced that another Renewable Resource Grant from the DNRC has been approved and is now under contract for Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 in the amount of $125,000 to begin lining the second phase of the Jenny Reach Extension on the main canal in Shirley. This work is expected to begin in Fall, 2024.
Mr. Kortum explained that planned future projects include the Fallon 3.1 Canal conversion to pipeline, as well as the installation of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) motor in the Terry pumping plant.
Tim Kortum notified all present that he was aware of 9 new pivots planned for installation within the district for operation in the 2024 season. He also reported that all pumps had been serviced and were installed again, with the exception of Fallon River due to ice remaining in the pump bays. Mr. Kortum further detailed that the motors still needed to be set, but that systems would be ready when the producers were ready to turn their water on for the season, tentatively scheduled for the end of April.
Mr. Kortum advised those present that all division ditchriders would remain the same from the previous year: Josh Hadley as ditchrider for the Shirley Division, Bruce Lantis as ditchrider for the Terry Division, and Mooney as ditchrider for the Fallon division.
Mr. Tim Kortum and the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board discussed and answered questions from all producers present. Multiple producers noted a few turnouts that needed servicing, and Lorin Larsen mentioned that some of the culverts on Maybon and Broadview Bench Road were too short, making the road crossing too narrow for two lanes of traffic. Mr. Kortum explained that the culverts were owned by the County, but Buffalo Rapids would provide their equipment and employee labor to replace them if the County was agreeable to replacing them.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:33 p.m. on a motion by Barry Rakes, seconded by Jackson Dion All in Favor. Motion Carried
ATTESTED:
________________________________ _________________________________
Tim Kortum,
Secretary Barry Rakes, President
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