Highlights of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Raymond Irrigation District held Thursday, April 24, 2019 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 April 24, 2019 meeting was approved on motion by Rod Wendorff and carried.
The Minutes of the, March 20, 2019 board meeting were approved on motion by Craig Palmer and carried.
IRP Project Update – Mark noted that the Raymond Main IRP 2341 project is completed for the 2019 winter season but will commence again in the fall of 2019. There is still a few culvert crossings and a structure to be expanded before the project is totally complete.
Monthly Maintenance report – Mark Jensen showed the board a slide presentation of work performed over the past month
Irrican Power – There were no extraordinary expenses through this past winter to report about. Plants will have an early start with the canals starting a little earlier, the April production will be deposited by the 25 of May. Our financial software is Simply Accounting 2010 premium and is considered obsolete. It needs to be updated to meet the auditor’s requirements, which will happen in the next month or two to SAGE 50 Premium, at a cost of only $500 – $600.
RID Financial – Kelvin Kado – Rate Enforcement: All past due accounts have had their minimum payments made, so we will not be having to go to court again this year. LNID (Lawrence) has completed a district survey of COLA and Director Honorariums. Budget is completed, we will have a cash surplus this year, due to the ICPC starting to make payments. This will be the first real surplus in many years. A caution; we should set aside as much of the funds for future capital projects as possible. Rate will need to be set at $16.00 per acre. The costs due to inflation and Main Canal maintenance are noted as the reason for the increase. The lighting for the office and welding shop has been changed to LED lighting. Installation was by one of our irrigators (Red Seal electrician), labor in exchange for payment towards his account. I will be following up on Alternate parcel forms, as per your approvals.
Raymond 8-2 pump and pipeline – Gordon noted that staff has reviewed the energy billing process which includes minimum fee for non-irrigation by a user in a given year and an energy fee for domestic users. A list of users has been compiled and they will be billed beginning in 2019. The investigation of the cost to install 3 meters, 1 for each motor is ongoing and more information is required. Gordon hopes by next meeting to have a further report. A proposed solar array is also being investigated for use here to perhaps help offset energy costs. Management was asked to bring this forward in the May RID board meeting.
Directors Items – John McKee suggested that a letter of congratulations should be sent to the new Premier Jason Kenny. He also suggested a letter should be sent to the outgoing Ag Minister Oneil Carlier thanking him for his interest in irrigated agriculture.
Alberta Agriculture Farm Gate forecast for 2019 – SMRID and TID have set their allocations to begin the season at 12 inches. The RID board noted that they also would follow suit and set the 2019 farm gate allocation for RID water users at 12 inches.
AIDA – March 28, 2019 – report of directors meeting – John McKee and Gordon Z attended the meeting held in the former Lethbridge Lodge Hotel. It was noted that a tour of the WID will be sponsored by the organization and will be held June 4 or 11th depending on weather. Other agenda items were also discussed with the board.
RWA District 1 and ID’s mtg – Casa Center March 27, 2019 –John and Gordon attended this meeting and noted that a special committee has been struck that will deal with drainage and bridge issues relating to both municipalities and ID’s. The group will meet again in May.
Approve RID 2019 by-laws
RID By-laws – 2019 – approvals
2019 Budget approval – on motion by Rod Wendorff, carried.
#1 Rate – increased to $16.00/acre – approved on motion by John McKee
#2 Agreements – approved on motion by Craig Palmer
#3 honorarium for the board – no change, approved on motion by Craig Palmer
#4 election date – Welling area – approved on motion by Rod Wendorff
#5 Capital asset charge – no change – approved on motion by John McKee
#6 Capital charges – approved on motion by Rod Wendorff
Resolution to appoint an auditor – Doug Wilde, was approved on motion by Craig Palmer.
Annual agreements – The agreements noted below were approved by the board for the 2019 season. – All but Diane Salmon receive delivery from the Etzikom Coulee. Diane takes delivery just above drop A on the SMRID main canal. Approved on motion by John McKee
| Name: | Acres: | ||
| 1221092 Alberta Ltd. | 180 | ||
| Blue Grass Farming Co. Ltd. | 130 | ||
| Culler Farms | 130 | ||
| Delco farming Co. Ltd. 1 | 380 | ||
| Delco farming Co. Ltd. 2 | 100 | ||
| Delco farming Co. Ltd. 3 | 80 | ||
| Delco farming Co. Ltd. 4 | 50 | ||
| Delco farming Co. Ltd. 5 | 50 | ||
| Raymond Golf Course | 42 | ||
| Rod Nelson 1 | 30 | ||
| Rod Nelson 2 | 30 | ||
| Diane Salmon | 21 | ||
| Gerrad Wauters 1 | 105 | ||
| Gerrad Wauters 2 | 61 | ||
| Gerrad Wauters 3 | 20 | ||
| Gerrad Wauters 4 | 61 | ||
| Gerrad Wauters 5 | 125 | ||
| Total | 1595 | ||
RID employee wage review – On motion by Rod Wendorff, the board approved a 2% wage increase for all RID full-time employees. They also approved a wage increase for Cody Heggie. Cody is to be promoted immediately to the position of Operations Manager in training. Cody will assume the lead under the direction of Operations Manager Mark Jensen on a probationary basis. Cody’s position and work history in the position will be evaluated by the manager and the board in the November 2019 regular RID board meeting.
Alternate parcels agreements – approved by the board on motion by John McKee –
Next meeting date – Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at the RID board room.