- The agenda for the meeting was approved on motion by John McKee and carried.
- Approval of the Minutes of the December 18, 2024 board meetings were approved on motion by Craig Palmer and carried.
Business Arising
- O&M Report and AIM Project Update:
Jason shared a slideshow of pictures taken over the last month of repairs & maintenance and pipelining activities. Jason reported on the status of each project as follows:
9 Mile & North (IRP) – Construction is taking longer than expected because the trench is 4.5-5 meters deep. The crew also hit a town water line, which has slowed our construction progress. The water line was not where the town had marked it and we will now be parallelling it for a few hundred meters.
Gravity Pressure Pipeline System (“GPS”) (AIM) – WBES met with Stantec again to review some project specifics, including location of the PRV stations. Stantec has not yet completed the transient analysis. Our goal is to have the transient analysis back from Stantec and the design finalized enough so that we can order pipe by March 31. This coming fall we plan on installing the inlet structure in the AGI canal and installing 1,000-2,000 m of pipe.
New Dayton CPR Crossing (IRP 2393) – The final engineering report has been submitted to CPKC. Our engineering consultants and CPKC’s engineering consultants have signed off on the project. We are now waiting on invoices from CPKC.
8-2 (Internally Funded Project) – Nothing to report.
Chin Chute Rehabilitation (IRP 2392) – Nothing to report.
Aerial Photos – The photos have been received and our GIS system has been updated to incorporate them as a layer. We will prepare the progress certificate and finalize this IRP project.
- Snowpack Report / Water Supply Forecast / RID Diversions:
The Board reviewed the snowpack and reservoir graphs on the Alberta Rivers website. The reservoir levels are looking great, but the snowpack is below the average quartile range.
- Irrican Update:
The Irrican operators are continuing to complete regular maintenance during the off season. The Chin controls are also being changed. Pronghorn controls is the contractor installing the new controls and everything is going well.
We are working on our year end work and arranging our audit field date. Amanda is also following up on outstanding accounts receivable. The auditors are scheduled to complete field work on February 25 or 27.
Following up from our last meeting, Jason prepared a report on the RID cost/acre. SMRID asserted that the RID cost per acre is $32/acre. Jason reported that SMRID did not include RID costs recoveries from IRP and AIM programs. Since the RID completes its own construction on IRP and AIM projects, the RID is able to recover funds for our labor and equipment time. This significantly reduces the RID’s cost per acre. Over the last 4 years, the RID’s average cost per acre is $19.18. SMRID’s report shows that the RID’s average cost is $29/acre. In addition, the RID has additional sources of water related revenue that exceeds our current $20/acre for permanent irrigation rights, including, household purposes agreement revenue, other purposes water revenue, municipal water conveyance revenue, annual agreement revenues. We also have interest income and Irrican income that help the RID complete internally funded capital projects, such as the 8-2 pipeline.
The Board was pleased with the analysis and will review our rates with the annual budget in March or April.
- Equipment Update:
We just received the JD 470 excavator. It is significantly larger than our current lead excavator. We expect this machine to help us in the deep cut we are currently working in, but the primary purpose for purchasing the larger excavator is for the GPS project.
- AEPA Water Act Review Update:
John attended the latest townhall meeting held by AEPA in Lethbridge. He reported that there was a good turnout and the format was better than the format of the Fort MacLeod townhall. AEPA provided some information and then had a question and answer period. AEPA reported that they are not pursuing reducing irrigation district licenses and they would like to reduce the 10% claw back on license transfers. Unfortunately, the questions and comments from the attendees focussed on coal mining in the eastern slopes rather than on irrigation.
New Business
- Directors’ Items:
Craig noted that he is presenting at the AIDA conference. The rest of the Board is looking forward to the presentation and the conference.
- World Water Day:
A local homeschooling group presented to the Board a presentation about a project they are working on. They are fundraising for World Water Day to raise funds to help bring clean drinking water to areas in the world that do not have access to clean drinking water. The group did a great job on their presentation.
On motion made by John McKee and carried, the RID Board approves donating $500 to the World Water Day project.
- Director Election for 2025 – Raymond Area:
Jason reminded the Board of the Raymond area director election. It was advertised in the Westwind Weekly and on the RID website on January 9, 2025. Nomination forms must be submitted to the district by February 13, 2025. If an election is required, it will be held on March 6, 2025.
- Annual Agreements for 2025:
Jason reported that he has already received multiple requests for new annual agreements for the 2025 season. The Board discussed annual agreements and if they should be made available for the upcoming season. The Board decided to defer making a decision until more information about the snowpack is available.
- 100th Anniversary:
Jason reported that the district has planned on the following:
- RID 100th Anniversary Book
- Drone video of the district and irrigators to be presented at the AGM
- Service Awards at the AGM
- BBQ planned – tentatively for June 27
- Seminar and AGM Preparations:
Jason presented the draft agenda for the seminar:
| 9:00 am | Welcome from the RID Chairman, John McKee | John McKee |
| 9:05 am | Irrican Battery Storage System | David Westwood |
| 9:35 am | GPS Status Report | Darin Wilde |
| 10:00 am | Refreshment Break and Door Prize Draws | |
| 10:15 am | Technological Advancement in Irrigation Equipment | DeLon Crapo |
| 10:30 am | Commodity Price Outlook | Mark Donegan |
| 11:30 am | Water Outlook for 2025 | Jason Shaughnessy |
| 11:45 am | 125 Years of Irrigation: 100 Years of RID SERVICE AWARDS/RECOGNITION | Jason & RID Board |
| 12:00 pm | Roast Beef Lunch & 100th Year Celebration Cake | Joan and Lisa ZoBell |
| RID ANNUAL MEETING TO FOLLOW THE SEMINAR AT 1:00 | ||
Jason will follow up with the presenters, with the exception of Mark Donegan and DeLon Crapo. John will follow up with them.
- Next Meeting Date
The next meeting is set for February 19, 2025
Motion to adjourn – There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 pm on motion by Craig Palmer.