Highlights of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Raymond Irrigation District held Wednesday March 16, 2016 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, Mark Jensen Operations Manager and Kelvin Kado, Office Manager as required.
IRP Project Update given by Mark Jensen
IRP 2307 – W#5 phase 4 – Construction is completed.
IRP 2308 – Ortho Photo’s – The photos have arrived and will be downloaded into the districts Map Info program.
IRP 2321 W#5 phase #5 – was approved by Irrigation Council in their February 11th meeting. This project will commence in the fall of 2016.
Maintenance report – Mark Jensen showed the board a slide presentation of work completed under the district’s maintenance and the IRP program over the past month.
Irrican Power – Gordon noted that vandals have stolen most of the copper grounding cables at both the Raymond and 4,5&6 plants. Staff are working to replace the cables as quickly as possible, as the plants cannot run without proper grounding in place. Kelvin noted that the three partner districts completed an annual exchange of cheques for deferred amounts due to districts. Loan payments for March 15 cheques were completed on March 15, 2016. March 16, 2016 account balance is $1,533,158.56, which plenty for start-up and June 15 loan payment.
RID financial – Kelvin Kado – Most of the month has been spent completing financial and audit information. A clean bill of health has been given. Our income and expenses were within a few thousand dollars of 2014. Note that a few areas were under budget helping out for some unexpected overages which were the Main Canal and the US exchange rate. It is time to start preparing for 2016 budget. Our income will be similar to past years, I recommend we look at a rate increase. Annual expenses are consistent as well. There will be a few adjustments that we can prepare for; the CPI for January 2016 was 2% which affects annual salaries by $8,992.76, Main Canal $48,000.00, and if the US exchange rate stays high. Increase in payroll since 2013 has been approximately $33,000.00. In order to manage expenses within the budget a $2/acre increase will be proposed.
Expansion Plebiscite in the RID – Gordon noted that he is working toward holding a plebiscite as soon as is possible. It appears it will still be several months however before a meeting and vote will take place.
RID seminar – The board went over the final agenda for the seminar which will be held March 17, 2016 at the Raymond Agricultural Society main building.
RID Annual Meeting – Will be held March 17 at 2:00 PM in the Raymond Agricultural Society main building following the RID Seminar.
Directors Items – Gordon noted that Len Mueller who has a terminable agreement on SW-31-5-15-W4 is selling his parcel to the Bluegrass Hutterian Colony. A new terminable agreement will be issued in the name of the Bluegrass Colony reflecting the new ownership. John McKee noted he had a discussion with a water user regarding the concept of an expansion plebiscite vote and of how the amount of water available at the farm gate will decrease. John McKee is concerned that water users are not grasping the concept, and that more education is necessary. John also noted that the Village of Stirling is changing its method for charging for domestic water use. This is being done to conserve water and meters will be installed. Gordon noted that the Snow south syphon on the main canal will be replaced by a PVC conduit before this water season commences.
Household purposes agreement – Plan 0410483 Block 1 Lot 8 SW-16-6-20-W4 – approved on motion by Byron Wilde and carried.
Household purposes agreement – Plan 0810396 Block 114 Lot 3 – approved on motion by Byron Wilde and carried.
Application to transfer acres section 26 ID Act – From: Baker Land and Cattle customer #1011 – NW-2-7-21-W4 – 113 acres – To: Customer #1067 – East Raymond Hutterite Colony N1/2-14-5-20-W4. The delivery point would be from the Cross Coulee reservoir. Approved on motion by Craig Palmer, subject to East Raymond receiving an easement from Ken Weaver to cross his parcel with a buried PVC irrigation line. Also subject to the RID receiving from SMRID a use of works agreement allowing a constructed electrical pump station and suitable access to and from Cross Coulee reservoir, to be installed. Also subject to a suitable land classification showing the parcel receiving delivery as irrigable. The parcel must also go through the legal steps under the act to include it in the RID. Carried. Note: all of the above must be completed prior to the transfer taking place and all costs associated with the delivery must be paid by East Raymond Colony.
Application to transfer acres section 26 ID Act – From – NE-9-6-20-W4 – 5 acres KD Jen – To: E1/2-6-6-20-W4 East Raymond Hutterite Colony. Approved on motion by Byron Wilde.
Next meeting date – Wednesday April 20, 2016 commencing at 9:00 AM in the RID board room.