MINUTES
Of the
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS
Of the
BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2
Terry, Montana
June 12, 2024
The Second 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 June, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
There were present and participating at the meeting:
Barry Rakes
Lance Kalfell
Jackson Dion
Also present and participating were: Tim Kortum, Secretary, and Jessica Schott, Treasurer.
President Barry Rakes called the meeting to order at 7:11 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 and Resolution from the May 8, 2024, Regular Board Meeting were approved without corrections and, or additions, on a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Jackson Dion at 7:13 p.m. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Jessica Schott presented current
budget figures which included payroll and expenditures through June to all
Board members for their review. A list
of invoices to be paid was submitted and a form for the Prairie County
Treasurer to transfer funds in the amount of $65,658.07, to cover payroll and
invoices were signed. June 15th estimated payroll: $16,469.29, June
invoices: $33,107.03, and June 30th estimated payroll: $16,081.75. This transfer authorization was approved on a
motion by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell at 7:27 p.m. All in Favor.
Motion Carried.
Ms. Schott reported to the Board that $209,263.52 had been received as reimbursement from the ARPA and RRG grants for Lateral 1.6 Pipeline expenses, and that another request had been submitted at the end of May for $240,732.92 for reimbursement from the ARPA grant. Upon providing this report, two additional transfer authorizations were presented to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board to reimburse the reserve accounts for the Lateral 1.6 and Operating Expense transfers previously made. Transfer authorization forms presented included $58,166.05 from District 2 Cash O & M to the Equipment & Emergency reserve account, and $76,422.05 from District 2 Cash O &M to the System Rehab reserve account. These transfer authorizations were approved on a motion by Lance Kalfell seconded by Jackson Dion at 7:30 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 $504,131.66 with the Prairie County Investment Pool. Warrant numbers from May 10, 2024 to June 13, 2024 range from 28326-28388.
Jessica Schott informed the Board that the audit for FY 2023 had been completed by Strom & Associates, P.C., and that one finding was noted. Expenditures incurred in November and December, 2023 were not posted until January 2024 when they were paid, causing inaccurate accounts payable and Due To/From Other Governments statements. Aside from the one finding, the auditors noted that the accounts were in good keeping.
Ms. Schott then reported to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that she had increased billable rates for employee labor items and welding services. The machine shop labor rate was increased to $80.00 from $50.00; employee labor rate was increased to $55.00 from $40.00; plastic welding rate was increased to $65.00 from $45.00; and the steel welding rate was increased to $65.00 from $55.00.
The treasurer's report was approved at 7:42 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 Rob Neihart with Performance Engineering was on-site on June 4th and completed the final inspection on the Lateral 1.6 Pipeline to complete the as-built drawings and begin the final closeout report documents. Mr. Kortum reported that a gate valve on the pipeline has a broken bar preventing adequate pressure for charge up, but that the issue should be fixed by Friday. Aside from that, so far there have been no issues with the newly constructed pipeline.
Mr. Kortum provided an update on the Fallon Relift discharge lines, reporting that they had been repaired internally with hydraulic concrete patching. He advised that the District should consider relining or replacement of the discharge lines in the next few years, and that he was looking into slip-in poly. liner options in order to get a price point.
Mr. Kortum then explained to the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that there were some electrical issues with a pump at Fallon River. An electrician from TAB Electronics in Glendive is working on installing a relay for the 300 HP temporary pump. He also reported that on of the other pumps had a coupler break, which required pumps to be shut down for a short time while it was replaced.
Mr. Kortum also stated that he was still watching for pump motors and a lowboy trailer to purchase for the District.
President Barry Rakes stated that the Leafy Spurge in the ditches in Fallon is quite thick; there was some discussion on ideas to curb this.
Mr. Lance Kalfell reported that there was a water shortage in Shirley following one of the recent power outages. It was discovered at this time that only one of three pumps at the Shirley station are connected to the SensaPhone. Mr. Kortum stated that while the electrician from TAB Electronics was here to work on the Fallon River pump, he would have him take a look at the Shirley SensaPhone to get the other two pumps connected as well.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 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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