- The agenda for the meeting was approved on motion by Craig Palmer and carried.
- Approval of the Minutes of the June 18, 2025 board meetings were approved on motion by John McKee and carried.
Business Arising
- O&M Report and AIM Project Update:
Cody shared a slideshow of pictures taken over the last month of repairs & maintenance and pipelining activities. Cody and Jason reported on the status of each project as follows:
9 Mile & North (IRP) – The 9 mile line is working great.
Gravity Pressure Pipeline System (“GPS”) (AIM) – Our plan is to commence removal of the topsoil from our easement as soon as possible in the fall. Cody will regularly check the field so see when it is harvested. He is anticipating it will be harvested by mid September. Jason and Cody have spent considerable time planning for the construction process to install the 60” pipe. Cody has also watched LNID and some contractors install 60” pipe. After watching them, RID admin feels are very capable of installing the 60” pipe. To help with the installation Jason and Cody recommended purchasing a v-bucket for the JD470, a bedding box, a hydraulic ram to push the pipe together that will mount and be inter-changeable between the JD200 and Cat250, and a grappling claw or logging sling to move the pipe.
On motion made by John McKee and carried, the RID Board approves the purchase of a v-bucket for the JD470, a bedding box, a hydraulic ram, and a grappling claw or logging sling.
Still outstanding for the project is approval from AGI for the structure in the AGI canal and easements signed by Keelers and Steeds.
8-2 (Internally Funded Project) – We will be receiving pipe for this project later this week.
- Snowpack Report / Water Supply Forecast / RID Diversions:
The Board reviewed the snowpack and reservoir graphs on the Alberta Rivers website. The reservoir levels are in good shape thanks to the July rains curbing demand.
The plants are up and running well. There have only been a few shut down moments. Unfortunately, power pool prices for the last 30 days only averaged $37.22/MWh.
- RID financial –Jason reported:
The Board reviewed the recent bank, Mastercard and payroll reconciliations.
Jason noted that Darin Tanner and Tyler Simms from ATB Investments stopped by for a visit and dropped off our most recent portfolio statement. Jason invited them to come to the November Board meeting and present on our ATB investments.
Amanda will be working on sending out our 2025 billings over the next 3 weeks.
- Past events:
The Board discussed following events over the last 6 weeks: inter-district tour, Irrican’s eBar ribbon cutting ceremony, the RID’s 100th anniversary BBQ, and the SMRID BBQ. All the events when well.
- Strategic Plan:
Culminating from our trip to New Zealand last fall and because of our 100th anniversary the RID Board had asked Jason to prepare a 100 year high level strategic plan. Jason presented the first draft of the strategic plan to the Board. They had several questions and suggestions. Jason will incorporate the suggestions in a second draft to be presented at the next Board meeting.
New Business
- Directors’ Items:
None were brought forward.
- Irrigation Acre Transfer Request:
Jason presented the following irrigation acre transfer request:
- 10 irrigation acres from SW18-6-20-W4 to NE12-6-20-W4
Jason noted that there are no other irrigation acres on the parcel and that he advised the landowners that should the transfer be accepted by the Board, the RID is not prepared to offer them annual acres. Instead, they will have to find additional acres to purchase, find someone to rent acres from, or only irrigate 10 acres.
On motion made by Craig Palmer and carried, the RID Board approved the transfer of 10 irrigation acres from SW18-6-20-W4 to NE12-6-20-W4.
- HPA Requests:
Jason presented the following requests for HPAs:
- Jeff & Anie Nelson – on the Anne Hirsche homestead parcel
- Kesto Sudo – SE11-6-21-W4
- Graison Clark – Stel Fox area
On motion made by Craig Palmer and carried, the RID Board approved the above noted HPA requests.
- New Dayton Lateral:
Jason reported on the changes to the New Dayton Lateral (NDL) since replacing the culverts that cross the CPKC track. Flow has slightly improved, but the SE5-6-19-W4 parcel that the NDL goes through needs to be cleaned and reshaped. It will be a difficult project because the canal becomes very flat and wide through the parcel. The parcel was recently sold to Visser Farms Ltd. and the district is working with them to get access to clean the drain this winter. It will have to be done during winter when the ground is frozen so that we can get an excavator to the canal.
There are also several culverts, stop log structures and eroding areas along the NDL that need to be addressed.
There is high demand for the district to be able to provide new irrigation acres in the future in the New Dayton area. Unfortunately, the CPKC culvert replacement project did not increase the district’s ability to convey water along the NDL. As we clean the lateral and fix some of the other infrastructure issues, we hope to be able to add additional users onto the NDL, but we will have to run the system for at least a year after the maintenance is completed to see if additional users can be added.
- Cross Coulee:
The Cross Coulee pipeline was designed to include the parcel located at NW12-6-20-W4. The owner of the parcel was facing health challenges when the project was completed so he opted not to participate at that time. Instead, the owner asked to participate when his health improved. The owner’s health has improved, and he has inquired about participating. Jason noted that the owner would have to pay the $1,100/acre infrastructure fee and the line would have to be extended to his parcel, which would involve installing 800 m of pipe. The $1,100/acre would cover the cost of the pipe and installation. The other challenge is that the RID does not have new acres for the additional pivot so an annual agreement would have to be used until irrigation acres become available. This would be similar to several other parcels on the Cross Coulee pipeline that also have annual agreements.
The Board briefly discussed this matter and decided to table it until the next Board meeting.
- Keeler Drainage:
The Keeler’s own a parcel located at NE4-6-21-W4. The Welling main canal runs parallel to the southern border of the quarter. There is an underdrain in the canal that conveys natural run off from the south to the north through NE 4-6-21-W4. The runoff is supposed to run to the west and then along the borrow pit of range road 214. Instead, the runoff runs through the parcel. The Keeler’s have spoken with the County, and while sympathetic, they are not willing to make any changes to the borrow pit; however, they are agreeable to the RID reshaping the borrow pit. Jason has asked WBES to look at the borrow pit and see if it is possible to be reshaped to convey the water.
- Staff BBQ – Aug 25:
The annual staff BBQ is scheduled Monday August 25 at 5:30pm. Dave will be smoking brisket for the BBQ.
- Next Meeting Date:
The next meeting is set for September 17, 2025
Motion to adjourn – There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 2:15 pm on motion by Craig Palmer.