April 12, 2024 District No. 2 Board Meeting Minutes

 

MINUTES

Of the

MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS

Of the

BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2

Terry, Montana 

April 12, 2024

 

The Twelfth 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 April, 2024 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 1:16 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 March 13, 2024, Regular Board Meeting were approved without corrections and, or additions, on a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Jackson Dion at 1:18 p.m.  All in Favor.  Motion Carried. 

The Minutes from the March 13, 2024, Annual Meeting were approved without corrections and, or additions, on a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Jackson Dion at 1:19 p.m.  All in Favor.  Motion Carried.

            FINANCIAL REPORT:

Jessica Schott presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures through March to all Board members for their review.  Ms. Schott informed the board that she had met with the new ARPA Grant program manager from DNRC and had learned that multiple documentation items were missing from the contract file that are usually furnished by the engineering firm.  Ms. Schott reported that she had submitted the missing documentation items and caught up the quarterly reports for both the ARPA and the RRG grants and was awaiting reimbursement in the amount of $268,509.09 from both of those grants.  The finance department at DNRC/Dept. of Revenue has reported understaffing and high workflow issues, and is still two weeks out on their expected reimbursement schedule.  The delay on this reimbursement will create a funds deficit this month without a transfer from Reserve Accounts.  A list of invoices to be paid was submitted and forms for the Prairie County Treasurer to transfer funds in the amount of $51,917.23, to cover payroll and invoices were signed. April 15^th estimated payroll: $17,164.20, March invoices: $17,410.44, and April 30^th estimated payroll: $17,342.59.  After some discussion, a second transfer authorization was presented to transfer $43,658.17 from the Equipment & Emergency reserve account to District 2 Cash O & M for Operating Expenses, to be reimbursed upon receipt of grant reimbursement.  These transfer authorizations were approved on a motion by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell at 1:30 p.m.  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 $136,978.06 with the Prairie County Investment Pool.  Warrant numbers from March 15, 2024 to April 13, 2024 range from 28214-28269.

            Jessica Schott then informed the board that the audit for FY 2023 had been rescheduled to May 28, 2024, the Tuesday following Memorial Day.

The treasurer's report was approved at 1:33 p.m. on a motion by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell.  All in Favor.  Motion Carried.

 

            MANAGER’S REPORT:

            Tim Kortum reported to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that all pumps are in and ready for use when the District is ready to start operations for the season, and Josh is working on a headgate to replace at Rakes’.

            Mr. Kortum provided an update on the Lateral 1.6 Pipeline project, stating that they were only 300 feet from the end of the lateral where they will tie into the existing concrete pipeline, and concrete was poured for thrust blocks and turnouts on April 11^th.  There is one alfalfa valve left to install at Robert Dolatta’s, and four spigots to install at the Fairgrounds.  Mr. Kortum also explained that he and Gene Davis would be traveling to Plevna on Monday, April 15^th, to pickup up rig mats to place underneath the excavator tracks on the soft bank of the slough to prevent sinking while digging across.  The pipeline is still on schedule to be finished before operations will need to be turned on for the season.

            Mr. Kortum then explained to the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that the swing bearing bolts on the 200LC excavator are broken making the cab unstable and unsafe to operate.  One Schott Mobile Service and Repair was on-site to assess damage, and believes the cab may need to be lifted off the tracks in order to replace the housing bolts.  Mr. Kortum stated that he would get price estimates from RDO and One Schott for this work to be performed and decide which would be the most feasible option.

            Tim Kortum also reported to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that the bucket cylinder on the 120C backhoe had been damaged from concrete scarring and was damaged, needing replacement.  Mr. Kortum reported that a new after-market cylinder with six-month warranty had been ordered from AMS Construction Parts.

             Additionally, Mr. Kortum reported that Prince Inc.was giving Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 the millings from the interstate construction project agreed to place some of them at the Fallon approach, as well as the driveway and the back lot of the office and shops as payment for the use of the well to fill their water trucks.

            President Barry Rakes then presented a request from Doug Hjorth to move the drainage ditch currently on a parcel where he has recently had a pivot installed to across the county road by placing a culvert beneath the county road.  Different options were discussed, but the consensus was that if the drain was to be moved, Mr. Hjorth would need to discuss placing the culvert with the County Road department, and he would be financially responsible for the labor and materials to have the culvert installed.

            Mr. Lance Kalfell briefly mentioned an Equip. program through the NRCS that may be an option for funding the repair or new drilling of the leaking artesian well shared by Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 and the Prairie County Grazing District.  Jessica Schott stated that she would check with Sandy Brown at the NRCS office to inquire about the program and the District’s eligibility to apply.

            Additionally, Jessica Schott reported that the renewal proposal for the employee dental insurance policy had been received, and there was again no increase in rate. 

Finally, Ms. Schott also provided a reminder about the upcoming election for the Terry Division Commissioner running in tandem with the school board election on May 7^th.

            The meeting was adjourned at 2:17 p.m. on a motion by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell.  All in Favor.  Motion Carried.

 

            ATTESTED:

 

________________________________                    ____________________________________

Tim Kortum, Secretary                                               Barry Rakes, President