MINUTES
Of the
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS
Of the
BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2
Terry, Montana
December 10, 2025
The Eighth Regular Meeting of the members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was held on the Tenth day of December, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
There were present and participating at the meeting:
Barry Rakes
Jackson Dion
Lance Kalfell
Also present and participating were: Tim Kortum, Secretary, and Jessica Schott, Treasurer.
President Barry Rakes called the meeting to order at 1:21 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 November 12th, 2025, Regular Board Meeting were approved without corrections and, or additions, on a motion made by Lance Kalfell and seconded by Jackson Dion at 1:22 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. Ms. Schott informed all present that expenditures included the purchase of the liner material from Vindex Liners, Inc. for the Shirley Main Canal Rehab. project in the amount of $67,071.00. She also reminded the board that this is a reimbursable expense from the DNRC grant for the Shilrey Main Canal Rehab Phase II project.
A list of invoices to be paid was submitted and a form for the Prairie County Treasurer to transfer funds in the amount of $128,126.93, to cover payroll and invoices was signed. December 15th estimated payroll with Year-End Bonus: $25,472.34, December invoices: $84,681.52, and December 31st estimated payroll: $17,973.07. This transfer authorization was approved on a motion by Jackson Dion, seconded by Lance Kalfell at 1:35 p.m. All in Favor. Motion Carried.
An additional transfer authorization was presented to transfer $1,301.85 from the System Rehab Reserve account to the District 2 Cash O & M account for the MDOT Fallon Pipeline 2025 Expense. The Reserve account transfer was approved on a motion made by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Jackson Dion at 1:37 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 $476,077.92 with the Prairie County Investment Pool. Warrant numbers from November 14, 2025 to December 11, 2025 range from 29291-29345.
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.
There was a brief discussion among all present regarding the 2026 Wage Increase of 3% for all full-time/permanent employees. No changes to the contracted standard increase were proposed.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
At 1:41 p.m., Tim Kortum reported to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that all pumps for Fallon River had been serviced, repaired, and re-installed. The repairs to the pump pulled from Shirley are currently in progress. He also mentioned that the meters and headgates from Fallon and Shirley requiring repairs were being worked on as well.
Tim Kortum then provided an update on the Shirley Main Canal project to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board, stating that the canal preparation and reshaping was still currently underway.
Mr. Kortum then informed all present that as of January 1, 2026, there would be a rate adjustment to the Pick-Sloan Project Use Power, increasing the rate per kWh from $0.025 to about $0.041. There was a brief discussion regarding the need to account for the increase on the upcoming 2026 budget, and Mr. Kortum reminded the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board of the Ability to Pay clause in the PUP contract that would offer the District some protection against unaffordable plant power costs.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:03 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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