Highlights of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Raymond Irrigation District held Wednesday October 31, 2018 commencing at 9:00 AM in the RID Board Room.
Attending: John McKee Chairman, Craig Palmer vice Chair, Rod Wendorff director, Gordon ZoBell, General Manager and recording clerk, Mark Jensen Operations Manager and Kelvin Kado as needed.
The Agenda for the October 31, 2018 meeting was approved on motion by Craig Palmer and carried.
The Minutes of the, September 14, 2018 board meeting were approved on motion by Craig Palmer and carried.
BUISNESS ARISING
- IRP Project Update – Mark noted that the 2341 project is moving along. The poured in place drop structure rehabilitation has begun. Access points have been built to each drop and the first structure east of the SMRID canal is nearly completed. The Romeril pipe drop has been welded together by RID staff (Phil Wilde) and is ready to be installed.
- Monthly Maintenance report – Mark Jensen showed the board a slide presentation of work of work performed this past month.
- Irrican Power – from K Kado – Income for 2018 has been very good, being one of the best in the past 10 years. This was a great surprise compared to the last 2 years. Projected income $7,872,396.00. ATB loan payment to be taken out today for drops 4,5&6.
We are preparing for October 31, 2018 year end.
- RID financial – from K Kado – ED Yantz called and expressed his thanks for the flowers sent to his family in honor of his wife’s passing.
We have had a steady flow of rate payments, both cheques and EFT. Eft payments continue
to increase each year. A Canada Post Mail Strike commenced September 26, 2018:
incoming payments have not been affected by the mail too much. We will see how many
payments come in the next few days. We may need to give some leeway for the discount,
depending on the postage date. We have received about 75% of our assessment and
payments on the irrigation rights purchased.
- 2018 water situation – Gordon noted that we ended the season with at least 110,000 more acre feet of water storage than the same date of the previous year.
- Current and future employee situation – The board asked Gordon to draft a letter to Phil Wilde and Brian Rarick based on legal instruction received from RID Lawyer Jess Wilde. The letters will note that Phil Wilde has agreed to retire December 30, 2019 and that Brian Rarick is to be given working notice with his end date of employment being December 30, 2020. Once these letters are drafted they will be given final approval in the November 2018 RID board meeting. The letters will then formally be given to the noted employees.
- R7-1 – Len Ring joined the meeting at 1:00 PM. He went over his review of the past land ownership and of how the system has changed over the ensuing year due to additions of parcels and subdividing of others. Len gave the board several alternatives to look and consider which could make the energy billing split fairer for all water users of this system. After Len exited the meeting it was determined that the manager will meet with Art Hudson to discuss one possible scenario that could illuminate the need for an entire revamp of the process. The manager will report back at the next meeting regarding this possibility.
NEW Business
- Directors Items – Gordon requested that the board waive a charge owed by RDFM Holdings limited for $4299.80 due to misunderstanding. On motion by John McKee the board approved the waiver as presented and carried.
- Water sharing meeting at Readymade Dec 11, 1:30 PM – The Chairman and Manager are to attend.
- MD of Taber – municipal/irrigation districts relationships – Re: Oct 2 letter – It was noted that more municipalities are interested in joining this initiative. A time for a meeting will be announced later.
- AIPA – report from September 27, 2018 special meeting and directors meeting – GZ – Irrigation Council reminded ID’s to have their three year plans into the secretariats office by January 1, 2019. They also noted that there is 3 council terms expiring in 2019. The AIPA name was changed to the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association (AIDA). Districts were requested to plan monthly board meetings for the first part of week 3 and last part of week 4. This will assist with planning others meetings. It was noted that 31,000 boats were checked in 2018 coming into Alberta and that 11 fouled boats were detected. The eastern provincial border is where the most infected boats are coming from. The AIDA voted to take over intervenor status of the EID concern regarding what constitutes a land owner. The budget was approved for 2019 and will remain at 30 cents per acre. The AIDA conference will be held February 4 to 6, 2018 in Calgary, all ID directors are invited. There was also discussion about drainage entering the ID canal systems and that fall irrigation is an exception and not the norm.
- Max Holt – proposed subdivision in Block X in 19-6-20-W4 plan 1785J. – GZ – Gordon noted that Mr. Holt changed his request and is only subdividing his home and yard from the block X title.
- Next meeting date – Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at the RID board room.
- Motion to adjourn and time meeting ended – Having no further business the board ended the meeting at 4:15 PM on motion by Rod Wendorff