May 13, 2026 District No. 2 Board Meeting Minutes

 MINUTES

Of the

MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS

Of the

BUFFALO RAPIDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 2

Terry, Montana 

May 13, 2026

 

Before the meeting could be called to order, the following nominations and appointments needed to be made:

            At 1:35 p.m., the meeting was turned over to Lance Kalfell who declared nominations for appointment open for President of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2.  Jackson Dion was nominated for the position by Barry Rakes.  At 1:40 p.m., Barry Rakes made a motion, seconded by Lance Kalfell, that all nominations cease, and a unanimous ballot be cast for Jackson Dion.

            A unanimous ballot was cast for Jackson Dion, and it was,

            RESOLVED, that Jackson Dion be and is hereby elected and appointed to the position of President of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, to hold office until the twelfth regular meeting to be held in April of 2027, and/or until his successor is elected and qualified.

            Mr. Dion accepts his position.

            At 1:41 p.m., the meeting was turned over to President Jackson Dion.  President Jackson Dion declared nominations open for Vice President of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2.  Barry Rakes was nominated for the position by Jackson Dion.  At 1:41 p.m., Jackson Dion made a motion, seconded by Lance Kalfell, that all nominations cease, and a unanimous ballot be cast for Barry Rakes.

            A unanimous ballot was cast for Barry Rakes, and it was,

            RESOLVED, that Barry Rakes be and is hereby elected and appointed to the position of Vice President of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, to hold office until the twelfth regular meeting to be held in April of 2027, and/or until his successor is elected and qualified.

 

Mr. Rakes accepts his position.

            Nominations were then open for Secretary of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 with Tim Kortum being nominated for the position by Lance Kalfell.  At 1:42 p.m., Lance Kalfell made a motion, seconded by Barry Rakes, that all nominations cease, and a unanimous ballot be cast for Tim Kortum.

            A unanimous ballot was cast for Tim Kortum, and it was,           

            RESOLVED, that Tim Kortum be and is hereby elected to the position of Secretary of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, to hold office until the twelfth regular meeting to be held in April of 2027, and/or until his successor is elected and qualified.

            Mr. Kortum accepts his position.

            President Jackson Dion then announced that nominations were open for Treasurer of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, with Jessica Schott being nominated by Barry Rakes.  At 1:42 p.m., Barry Rakes made a motion, seconded by Lance Kalfell, that all nominations cease, and a unanimous ballot be cast for Jessica Schott.

            A unanimous ballot was cast for Jessica Schott, and it was,

            RESOLVED, that Jessica Schott be and is hereby elected to the position of Treasurer of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, to hold office until the twelfth regular meeting to be held in April of 2027, and/or until her successor is elected and qualified.

            Ms. Schott accepts her position.

            All nominations being made and accepted, the First Regular Meeting of the Members of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2, at Terry, Prairie County, Montana, was called to order, held on the 13^th day of May, 2026, at 1:43 p.m. 

            There were present and participating at the meeting:

Jackson Dion

Barry Rakes

Lance Kalfell 

Also present and participating were: Tim Kortum, Manager, and Jessica Schott, Treasurer.

            President Jackson Dion 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 Jackson Dion 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 April 8, 2026, Board Meeting, were approved with no corrections or additions, on a motion made by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Barry Rakes at 1:44 p.m.  All in Favor.  Motion Carried.

            FINANCIAL REPORT:

Jessica Schott presented current budget figures which included payroll and expenditures through May 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 $70,390.12, to cover payroll and invoices were signed at 1:50 p.m.  May 15^th estimated payroll: $19,453.26; May total invoices: $32,781.54; May 31^st estimated payroll: $18,155.32.  This transfer authorization was approved on a motion made by Barry Rakes, seconded by Lance Kalfell at 1:55 p.m.  All in Favor.  Motion Carried.

An investment transfer was signed to invest the remaining monthly District No. 2 cash balances in the amount of $474,647.05 with the Prairie County Investment Pool.  Warrant numbers from April 10, 2026 to May 14, 2026 range from 29552 to 29615. 

Jessica Schott reported that the investment interest amount was higher than usual, as this report included the March interest disbursed in April which also included some carryover from the February disbursement, as well as the April interest disbursed this month, one day prior to the meeting.

Ms. Schott also informed the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 board that there was a reconciliation discrepancy in the amount of $0.43 on April’s month-end cash report, due to an error made by Stockman Bank when depositing an employee’s check to their account, for $0.43 less than the check was written for.  Ms. Schott explained she notified the Prairie County Treasurer of the discrepancy, who in turn made Stockman Bank aware of the error.  The error was rectified on May 5, 2026 by Stockman Bank who debited the $0.43 to the warrants clearing account, and credited that amount to the employee.  This correction will be stated on the May cash report.

The treasurer's report was approved at 2:01 p.m. on a motion made by Lance Kalfell, seconded by Barry Rakes.  All in Favor.  Motion Carried.

MANAGER’S REPORT:

            Mr. Tim Kortum informed all present that water had been turned on in all divisions as of May 8, 2026, with a new ditch rider in Fallon.

            Mr. Kortum then reported that pumps in the Shirley division were turned off today to repair a large tear that was discovered in the older portion of the canal liner.

            Tim Kortum additionally explained to the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation District No. 2 Board that a representative from the Bureau of Reclamation would be on site on May 20, 2026 for a routine inspection of the pumping stations and facilities, and that another B.O.R rep would be on-site in July for a routing inspection of the irrigation canals.  Mr. Kortum also reported that an insurance adjuster would be on site on May 27, 2026 to view the Fallon River pumphouse in an investigation for the claim submitted for the Fallon River No. 1 pump breakdown on August 10, 2025.

            There was then a brief discussion by all present regarding a few issues with ditch burning and weed removal that occurred prior to pumps being turned on for the season.  Some ideas for changes to the burn crew and schedule were offered to be better prepared for the start of season in 2027.

            The meeting was adjourned at 2:44 p.m. on a motion made by Barry Rakes, seconded by Lance Kalfell. All in Favor.  Motion Carried.

 

            ATTESTED:

 

________________________________                    ____________________________________

Tim Kortum, Secretary                                               Jackson Dion, President