REGULAR BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 14, 2004, 10:00 A.M.
TUMALO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
64697 COOK AVENUE
BEND, OREGON 97701
BOARD: Bill Martin, Bob Morrow, Steve Putnam, Jim Schlueter, Gary Blake
STAFF: Elmer McDaniels, Shelby Smith, Jan Wickham, Ken Rieck, Bob Varco
ATTORNEY: Bill Hopp
ENGINEER: Kevin Crew
GUESTS: Roger Prowell, Joe Rosa
Chairman Martin called the meeting to order at 10:00 A.M. and appointed Shelby Smith scribe.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Vice-Chairman Morrow made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 10, 2004 Regular Board Meeting and August 10, 2004 Executive Board Meeting, seconded by Director Schlueter, motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF VOUCHER LIST
Director Putnam made a motion that the September 2004 Voucher List be approved, seconded by Director Schlueter, motion carried unanimously.
CRESCENT LAKE WATER REPORT
Manager McDaniels said that Crescent Lake has 29,250 acre-feet. See attached copy of Crater Creek/Soda Creek drainage for 2004.
CITY OF BEND, ROGER PROWELL
Mr. Prowell said the annual watershed inspection/tour at Crater Creek crossing will be Friday, September 17, 2004, at 7:00 A.M. He said if the Crater Creek/Soda Creek drainage for 2004 could be converted, it would give the city the ability to pump about 7 million gallons a day for 90 days.
BOB VARCO’S TRUCK
Manager McDaniels said Bob Varco’s new truck will be ready late October/early November. His old truck needs considerable repair work, but he will try to get by until the new truck is delivered.
TOUR WITH COMMISSIONER KEYS, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
On August 20, 2004, Manager McDaniels, Attorney Hopp, and Kevin Crew met with Gail Norton, Secretary of the Interior, and John Keys, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, at the Water 2025 meeting held at Central Oregon Irrigation District, regarding COID’s fish screens. A tour of Tumalo Irrigation District’s project followed, with John Keys, Bill McDonald, Regional Director of the Bureau of Reclamation Boise Office, Ron Eggers, Area Manager of the Bureau of Reclamation Portland Office, and other BOR personnel. See attached copy of Commissioner Keys’ note to Manager McDaniels dated August 25, 2004, regarding the tour of the Bend Feed Canal and Tumalo Feed Canal.
-2- Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, September 14, 2004
VERIZON LETTER
See attached copy of e-mail from Ed Fournier with Verizon Wireless, dated August 27, 2004. Manager McDaniels told Mr. Fournier the District probably would not be interested at his price.
DELINQUENCLIES
Ms. Smith said she mailed thirty-five certified letters to delinquent accounts. As of today, there are six accounts who owe the first and second half, and three accounts who owe the second half, for a total of $5,300. Director Putnam made a motion that Notice of Right to Lien be filed on these accounts, seconded by Vice-Chairman Morrow, motion carried unanimously.
MITIGATION
Ms. Smith said the office has received several calls from water users, asking if they could use District irrigation rights for mitigation credits for irrigation wells. The office has told them “no”. The question is, can the District continue to deny these transfers, and will we eventually be forced allow these transfers by the Oregon Water Resources Department? The answer is that the District will continue to deny these requests, but Director Blake said the water users can go over the District’s head. Central Oregon Irrigation District is working on a formula to compensate the District for lost revenues in that case.
LETTER FROM ANITA WINKLER
See attached copy of e-mail from Anita Winkler with Oregon Water Resources Congress dated August 26, 2004, regarding the National Wetlands Coalition.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ HEARING SEPTEMBER 22, 2004
See attached copy of Notice of Road Legalization Hearing, at the end of Tumalo Reservoir Rd.
LETTER TO RON EGGERS
See attached copy of letter to Ron Eggers with the Bureau of Reclamation dated August 16, 2004, regarding the District Water Conservation Project and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office Consultations. Manager McDaniels has not received a response.
WATER TRANSFER
Tracy to Tracy – 0.15 acres
Mr. Rieck explained that this is basically a paper transfer. Judy Tracy is doing a lot line partition, and the property is in escrow. In order for her to get her permits, she has to show the County that a water transfer is in process. The water is being moved to an area that has overspray, so the water has been proved up this year. Director Putnam made a motion that this transfer be approved, seconded by Director Blake, motion carried unanimously.
-3- Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, September 14, 2004
ELECTION
See attached copy of e-mail from Anita Winkler dated September 8, 2004. The proposed changes are (1) one vote for every 40 acres of water rights, which would affect ten of our water users, or (2) keep weighted vote, but add a vote for every increment of 160 acres, which would affect three of our water users.
JIM TUCKER
Mr. Tucker is a District water user, who has used a District ditch road to access his property for twenty + years. The ditch road is on a neighbor’s property, and the neighbor has decided he does not want Mr. Tucker to use the road. Attorney Hopp said the District has an easement, but cannot grant an easement to Mr. Tucker. If the District gave Mr. Tucker a license to use the road, and the owner of the property objected, the District could be subject to a lawsuit. The Board agreed that they have no objection to Mr. Tucker using the road, but the issue must be resolved between the two neighbors. Manager McDaniels will write a letter to Mr. Tucker, explaining the District’s position.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next Regular Board Meeting will be Tuesday, October 12, 2004, at 10:00 A.M., at the District Office.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Putnam made a motion that the Regular Board Meeting be adjourned at 11:10 A.M., seconded by Vice-Chairman Morrow, motion carried unanimously.