Highlights of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Raymond Irrigation District held Wednesday December 16, 2015 commencing at 9:00 AM in the RID Board Room.
Attending: Byron Wilde Chairman, John McKee Vice Chairman, Craig Palmer Director, Gordon ZoBell, General Manager and recording clerk, and Kelvin Kado, Office Manager as required. Mark Jensen Operations Manager was absent due to work schedule.
IRP Project Update given by G. ZoBell
IRP 2307 – W#5 phase 4 – The pipe installation is continuing at a comfortable pace.
IRP 2308 – Ortho Photo’s – Gordon noted that the photos have not arrived yet.
Maintenance report – There was no report on maintenance this meeting.
Irrican Power – Byron reported that a board meeting was held December 2 at the SMRID board room. A proposal from URICA was discussed and will be studied further by management. URICA may be able to assist Irrican in increasing revenues due to their management technics and forward selling of power and recs. The Irrican AGM will be held January 21, 2016. All RID board members are invited to the AGM. Accountants are currently auditing the books.
RID Financial – By K Kado – We have received a report of how our new benefit package is working. We are building up a good reserve fund, mainly due to underutilization of medical expenses, but we are over our target spending on dental claims. This will continue to help keep benefit costs (premiums) down over future years. This year we were able to keep the increase down to 4%. The administration savings are going into the reserve fund rather than Blue Cross profits.
RID Account receivables are coming in steady, balance due is $105,138.37. I am currently in the process of ensuring assessment the roll is correct for year-end. There have been a number of changes this fall. Now that Irrican books were handed to the accountants this month, it is time to start closing 2015 for RID.
Expansion Plebiscite in the RID – The board would like to meet and have a special meeting concerning this issue. They instructed the manager to set up a meeting with BRID Manager Richard Phillips and Jennifer Nitschelm of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. This meeting would assist the board in educating them regarding the plebiscite process. A statement would then be issued to the water users regarding the board’s intentions.
Bill #6 – It was noted that Bill 6 was approved by the Legislator of Alberta.
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry – IRP 2016 application for funding was signed sealed and sent to the Irrigation secretariat Dec 8, 2015
Household Purposes Agreement – Marc P Ascione and Tiffany Ascione of Box 418 Raymond AB T0K 2S0 Plan 9813105 Block 1 Lot 7 – approved on motion by John McKee, carried.
Application to Transfer Irrigation acres – From; 10 acres – SW-25-6-20-W4 To: SW-13-6-21-W4 – approved on motion by John McKee, carried.
Application to Transfer Irrigation acres – From; 5 acres –NE-11-6-21-W4 parcel #10629 To: SW-13-6-21-W4 – approved on motion by John McKee, carried.
Next meeting date – January 20, 2016.
Note:
Following the meeting the board toured the Stirling area, particularly the New Dayton Lateral and Craddock to Stirling areas. They also inspected the W#5 IRP 2307 project.