Office of Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

October 4, 2016 Minutes

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on October 4, 2016. Attending the meeting were Division Number Three Director and Chairman Fred Schnebly, Division Number Five Director and Vice Chairman Paul Weaver, Division Number Four Director Larry Bland, Division Number One Director Mark Hansen, Division Number Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Office Manager & Treasurer Barbara Pettit, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender, Field Supervisor & Water Master Bob Main, USBR Yakima Field Office Manager Chad Stuart and landowner Janeice Jump.

The Agenda was approved with the addition of Executive Session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1) (b) and RCW 42.30.110(1) (i) and (i) through a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

Chad Stuart USBR Yakima Field Office Manager addressed the Board regarding operational and structure changes within the USBR Yakima Field Office which will include hiring an O & M Manager to assist with the operations.   He also presented an overview of the current operations of the USBR Yakima Field Office.

The minutes of the September 6, 2016 meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Bland and the second made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

Under Water Update, Mr. Main presented information on the USBR October 2016 system status report. Mr. Main apprised the Board the new water year started October 1, 2016 with KRD receiving 100% of entitlement for the month of October. Precipitation was 111% of average for the 2016 water year.

The next agenda item was Public Comment. No Public Comments were presented.

On the agenda item Maintenance Update, Mr. Main explained the summer maintenance projects are being completed and KRD crews are preparing for the fall projects.

The Secretary Manager’s Activity Report was presented. It contained reports on meetings that occurred during the month of September, 2016. It was stated that work continues on the Integrated Plan. Mr. Eberhart presented information on the Washington D.C. meetings that he participated in during the second and third weeks of September. Mr. Eberhart presented information on the field tour and meetings scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2016. Mr. Eberhart presented information on the Manastash Trail explaining hikers use the KRD right-of-way and footbridge to cross the KRD canal. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources received a grant to conduct a planning process for the Manastash trail area.

On the agenda item Grant Updates Mr. Eberhart spoke about the status of current grant applications and funding.  Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower presented information on the timing of reimbursement for grant expenditures.  Discussion followed with the consensus that KRD use O & M short term investments to pay the expenditures until reimbursement is received.

Under the agenda item Request for Proposals (RFP) for Engineering of the SB Canal Lining Project. Mr. Eberhart explained that Gray and Osborn, Jacobs and Tetra Tech have been selected to submit a RFP for the SB Canal Project.

On the NB Canal Lining Project, Legal Counsel apprised the Board the construction contract prepared by Tetra Tech has been reviewed and ready to be implemented.

In the 2016 Tributary Supplementation report Mr. Eberhart apprised the Board the Tributary Supplementation Program will be continuing into October.

On the agenda item Rock Trap Project Mr. Eberhart presented information explaining the Project has been approved by all agencies and is scheduled to begin as soon as water is off.

Under By-Laws Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower presented proposed changes to the By-Laws for review and discussion. Lengthy Discussion followed regarding suggested changes to the By Laws.  Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower will prepare a draft for review at the November meeting. 

Moving to Personnel Practices and Procedures Manual Mr. Eberhart requested the   draft Personnel Practices and Procedures Manual be reviewed and placed on the November meeting agenda.

Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower presented an update on delinquent accounts that have met the foreclosure criteria and the foreclosure process is proceeding as directed.  He also apprised the Board Tax Title Property was sold by the Kittitas County Treasurer and the KRD assessment and interest was not collected.  Discussion followed with the recommendation the Kittitas County Treasurer is to be directed to collect KRD assessments and interest with interest calculated through the date of sale of the property.

Moving to New Business Mr. Eberhart presented information on a request for exclusion from Dumitru Dirdala Sec. 27 Twn. 20 Rng. 14. Discussion followed with the recommendation the request will be reviewed when an application for exclusion is submitted.

A Certificate of Record Destruction was presented for review and approval. Discussion followed The Certificate of Record Destruction was tabled until a subsequent meeting with a motion made by Director Hansen and a second made by Director Weaver.  The motion passed unanimously.

A Turnout Permit for Mark Moore Sec. 30 Twn.18 Rng.19 was presented for approval. A motion made by Director Hansen and a second made by Director Bland approved the Turnout Permit as presented. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Eberhart requested approval to purchase a new service truck for $65,124.04.   The purchase was approved as presented by a motion made by Director Bland and a second made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

Moving to Other Business Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower apprised the Board Kittitas County is terminating their Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with Kittitas Reclamation District because they are joining Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC). He continued explaining Kittitas Reclamation is not eligible for membership with MRSC. He also presented information on State Parks and access to the John Wayne Trail and suggested submitting a permit application for access to the Trail.

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:15 p.m. for 15 minutes Per RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) (i) to discuss potential litigation and sale or lease of real estate with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second made by Director Hansen. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:30 p.m. with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

Summary Vouchers for the August 2016 expenses vouchers #40526-40599 in the sum of $237,662.93 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

The Directors monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures and checks distributed accordingly.

All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.

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Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of Directors Chairman

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager