Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

November 7, 2017 Minutes

 

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on November 7, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division One Director and Chairman Mark Hansen, Division Four Director and Vice Chairman Larry Bland, Division Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Division Five Director Paul Weaver, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Field Supervisor Bob Main, Treasurer Stacy Berg, GIS IT / Water Quality Specialist Roger Satnik, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender and Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower. Also attending were land owners Janeice Jump and Mark Charlton.

 

The agenda was approved with the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Bland and the second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

 

The minutes of the October 3, 2017 Board Meeting and October 16, 2017 Special Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Water Update: Mr. Main reported that currently the reservoirs are sitting at 37% capacity and filling. Kecheelus and Kachess reservoir storage is 131% of average. Precipitation for the five reservoirs from November 1 to date is 4.92 inches, 60% of average and 12% of the months average. Precipitation for year to date is 47.61 inches, 185% of average. The forecast for the mountains is mostly cloudy with the snow level rising to 4000 ft, highs in the 30’s, with rain and snow mixed for the forecast. Irrigation deliveries concluded on October 15th. The supplementation flows continue and are currently running 113 cfs. These flows are being met by a combination of natural flow and conservation flows.  

 

Summary Vouchers for the September 2017 expenses and the October 2017 payroll which included check numbers 41587 through 41611 and 41631-41693, direct deposit numbers 9901251 through 9901268 in the sum of $325,212.76 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Director Wakkuri made a motion to approve the vouchers, a second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously and the checks were distributed.

 

Maintenance Update: Mr. Main reported that crews have been removing and rebuilding the damaged head gates and weir blades. Matheson Painting has completed some of the Aqualastic application in the Hayward Hill area. The crews have been removing old rock checks and replacing them with permanent concrete checks that debris will not get caught on. KRD crews started a major cleaning project on the turbine lateral, with the goal of completing 4 miles. It takes two machines to achieve this because the KRD trackhoe cannot reach the far side. One machine is working in the canal and the other machine is working up on the canal road.

 

Public Comment: No comments were noted.

 

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart reported that he was interviewed by Austin Jenkins of TVW on the inside Olympia show.  

 

The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Implementation Committee was in Washington DC last week. Multiple federal agencies were in attendance and there was a good discussion in the DC Leadership Group. There were several presentations that provided good exposure for KRD. The new administration is very supportive of KRD projects and the Yakima Basin Plan.

 

We are still working on finding funding sources for the Upper Yakima System Storage Assessment. One opportunity could be through the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN). The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) has indicated that it is possible that the USBR drill crews may be able to schedule and perform the drilling work for KRD. Jacobs presented a description of how KRD could do the next phase of the storage assessment. There seems to be general support for this project. If these projects are successful it will complement projects like the Wymer Reservoir. One of the benefits would be in gravity storage rather than pump storage.

 

Mr. Eberhart will be giving a presentation to Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee on November 28th, 2017 with West Coast Region Administrator Barry Thom and will talk about the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and the KRD. We learned last week that a United States House Subcommittee Meeting has been scheduled for that week as well.

 

The Department of Ecology (DOE) withdrew their water marketing study, KRD will continue with the Trout Unlimited on the WaterSmart Market Study.

 

The North Branch Canal modification adds $600,000.00 to the 2 Million dollars that has already been approved. The USBR said they are expecting an additional $400,000.00 in the first quarter of 2018 to be available. Peter Dykstra, representing Trout Unlimited is working on language for obtaining an additional $300,000. Once there is more certainty on additional funding we will be able to approach the contractor regarding the change orders. There was a discussion regarding the Reclaim Company Construction schedule.

 

Mr. Main reported that all seven tributaries included in the Tributary Supplementation Program are currently receiving water.  In the last couple weeks there have been several tours with various Senators and members of the House. Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD), Anna Lael and Sherri Swanson met the group at Manastash and gave a nice presentation.

 

The Naneum Headworks Flood Protection Project is continuing. There is speculation that flooding problems were influenced by the Bar 14 Bridge. Due to the significant accumulation of debris above the canal, maintenance is needed to keep the flood water directed appropriately. Kittitas County Public Works and KRD are working together on the permitting process so that KRD can clean out approximately 200ft of the creek upstream of the canal. KRD is coordinating with the County to protect our facilities.

 

There was a discussion about diverting water through the South Branch Phase II 13.8 screen rather than using the 13.6 screen which is currently in use.  

 

Mr. Main spoke of a recommendation that was given by Jacobs to pipe 14.3 and no longer use the extension. KRD is exploring this alternative which would allow pressurized water to be delivered to landowners in the area.  

 

A rope team from Extreme Access is scheduled to inspect the Yakima Syphon Tunnel on November 13-14, 2017.

 

Authorization for the Easton Dam Drum Gate CP was discussed.

 

KCCD, the USBR, and KRD are continuing to work on an agreement.

 

The Manastash Ridge Trail project is continuing.  

 

Mr. Eberhart reported that the USBR has specific specifications for bridges and KRD is working on acceptable alternatives for the Heart K Access.

 

There is a meeting scheduled with KRD and the Kittitas County Weed Board for November 12, 2017.  

 

Legal Counsel Slothower advised that he filed the foreclosure lawsuit on behalf of KRD. Notice has been published in the newspaper and each owner has 60 days to respond. It is believed that with the accounts in question there are a number of banks who are now responsible for the properties so he is confident that most of the accounts will be resolved.  

 

KRD and Kittitas County are continuing to develop an agreement to handle tax title properties. The document that Legal Counsel Slothower presented to Kittitas County has been redrafted with substantial changes. KRD will continue to work with the county to resolve this agreement.

 

Mr. Eberhart and Mark Hansen reported that the committee is continuing to work on a draft for the Procurement Policy.  

 

New Business: Mr. Eberhart reported that the USBR Operations and Maintenance Cost allocation for KRD was projected to be $581,000.00 next year. The USBR reported that the reason for the increase was the radial gates project in Cle Elum.

 

Mr. Eberhart reported that KRD staff are drafting the 2018 budget. The staff will coordinate with the Board of Directors to arrange a time to have a budget meeting.

 

Mr. Eberhart reported that Fred Schnebly provided a petition for KRD Director. Director Wakkuri made a motion to accept the petition for the nomination and found that it confines to the statutory requirements. The second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Eberhart requested a change to the December Board Meeting. Director Bland made a motion to move the board meeting to December 8th, 2017. The second was made by Director Wakkuri and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Legal Counsel Slothower discussed the process of the Notice of Board of Equalization. Director Weaver made a motion to accept the notice of board of equalization that was published on November 9, 2017. The second was made by Director Bland and the motion passed unanimously.

 

The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:05 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Weaver and a second made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously. The Executive Session was extended by 15 minutes. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:50 p.m. with a motion made by Director Bland and the second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Other Business: No new business

 

All business having been concluded the meeting was adjourned.

 

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Mr. Hansen KRD Board of Directors Chairman

 

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager