Highlights of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Raymond Irrigation District held Thursday January 26, 2017 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 2321 W#5 phase #5 – All complete in NW-33-6-21-W4, crew is working from the extreme north end of project and are now working south to connect.
Maintenance report – Mark showed the board a slide presentation of work completed under the district’s IRP program over the past month.
Irrican Power – Accountants have completed the Audit of the 2016 books. They indicate that they have not found any irregularities. There will be an exit meeting on January 26 at 11:00 am. Joyce and I will present a report to the ICPC board at the board meeting. The auditors will do a financial report at the ICPC AGM in the afternoon.
RID financial – by Kelvin Kado – Another year has quickly come and gone. As things stay the same, we have seen a number of changes happen this year.
Assessment roll is correct and reconciled for year-end. There have been 26 changes this year.
I am now in the process of preparing RID books for our accountant. Along with the books will be a review of our budget.
A further review of our books will be ready for our next board meeting, as well as any considerations for the budget.
Rate enforcement: 7 letters were sent out January 10, 2017.
Expansion Plebiscite in the RID – Len Ring has on behalf of the RID made application to have modeling completed at 10 and 20%.
Moving Forward 2 grant application from RID – The manager noted that informal approval of the application has been received, nothing in writing yet.
Terminable Irrigation agreements – The manager showed the board on an aerial plan where all the current terminable agreements are located and their locations and distance from the last permanent user. Consideration is being given to changing these agreements to annual. The manager was asked to determine if an assigned volume can be given to annual agreement users on years where water is in shorter supply. The board discussed this matter at some length and asked to have the item added to the February 2017 board agenda for further discussion and possible decision.
RID Seminar and Annual meeting date will be March 23, 2017 – The Seminar agenda was also discussed. The board requested the following speaker topics be added to the seminar agenda if possible, 1) Aerial map tour and explanation of where water originates and flows to the RID, Also an explanation of the management of the water between the US and AB Environment. 2) Cavendish Farms potato plant expansion and if this might assist water users in the RID. 3) Actual cost of farm production study. 4) Irrigation scheduling 5) explanation of how and ID works.
Rotary dinner dance February 11, 2017 – 8 tickets were distributed to board members.
Town of Raymond south drainage proposal – delegation 10:00 AM, Darin Wilde and Curtis Pratt from the town. Curtis noted that the town needs an agreement in principal by way of a letter to be sent to Alberta Environment confirming that the RID is aware and agrees in principal with the proposed project. On motion by John Mckee the board agreed to sign the memorandum of understanding regarding the proposed drainage works to be constructed by the town of Raymond south of the town-site. The motion was carried.
Employee Vacation schedule – The board reviewed the vacation schedule as presented showing unused holiday and available holiday as at year end 2016 for all full time RID employees.
RID winter party – The board approved the date of February 6th to hold the annual party. A suitable venue will be found and all RID employees, board members and their spouses will be invited.
Next meeting date – Thursday, February 27, 2017 commencing at 9:00 AM in the RID board room.
Motion to adjourn and time meeting ended. – There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 2:55 PM on motion by Byron Wilde.