REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MAY 9, 2006, 10:00 A.M.
TUMALO IRRIGATION DISTRICT
64697 COOK AVENUE
BEND, OREGON 97701
BOARD: Bill Martin, Bob Morrow, Steve Putnam, Patricia Gainsforth, Jim Schlueter
STAFF: Elmer McDaniels, Ken Rieck, Shelby Smith, Jan Wickham, Bob Varco
ATTORNEY: Bill Hopp
ENGINEER: Kevin Crew
GUESTS: Bendt Brodersen, Rick Silver, Jeff Rola, Karen Hays, Lisa Armstrong, Nancy Colton, Tim Andersen, Susanna Harrison, Greg Mohnen
Chairman Martin called the meeting to order at 10:00 A.M. and appointed Shelby Smith scribe.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Director Putnam made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 11, 2006 Regular Board Meeting and April 11, 2006 Executive Board Meeting, seconded by Vice-Chairman Morrow, motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF VOUCHER LIST
Director Putnam made a motion to approve the May 2006 Voucher List, seconded by Vice-Chairman Morrow, motion carried unanimously.
CRESCENT LAKE WATER REPORT
Manager McDaniels said that Crescent Lake has 25,199 acre-feet, 29% full. We are diverting about 135 cfs out of Tumalo Creek.
TUMALO FEED CANAL FISH SCREEN
Manager McDaniels said the construction is almost complete. The fencing and minor work around the screen’s walkways need to be completed. In testing the silt flushing system, we have created a hazard. In opening the flush gate, we raised the water in-stream about 15 inches, about ½ mile downstream. Mr. Rieck said we will have to wait to see how the silt builds up before we decide how to correct the problem. The contract with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife terminates June 30, 2006, so we need to have all costs accumulated by then, so we can submit a final billing to ODF&W as of June 30, 2006. Costs after that date will be considered operation and maintenance expense.
TUMALO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION/REPORT ON COUNTY HEARING RE LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS
Lisa Armstrong said she attended the County Hearing, at which she understood that the District would be hiring an expert to research the traffic and soil impacts of the District’s proposed lot line adjustments. She asked if the water users’ money would be used to pay for this expert, and if so, she objected to paying someone to contradict her and others opinions. She said if the water users are paying for an expert, they should have a say in who was hired. Director Putnam said, no matter who chose the expert, he or she would be impartial. Susanna Harrison said she wants to be informed of the decisions the Board is making regarding District property. Kevin Crew
-2- Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, May 9, 2006
said his office is working with the Oregon Department of Transportation, regarding what they will require for the connection at Gerking Market Rd. ODOT wants a natural vegetative connection, to give the appearance that it is not an ingress/egress point. Another ODOT official said a fence there might be appropriate, so Mr. Crew is talking to the Fire Department to see if that would work for them. ODOT has asked us to make application for a permit for a connection to the highway, only for purposes of emergency egress. Mrs. Armstrong said she sees a major road linking to another potential major road, and is concerned about a possible future major thoroughfare and overpass there.
Nancy Colton apologized for her e-mail of March 5, 2006 (see attached copy). She said she overreacted, but that she is very concerned about the shift in the District’s focus. Manager McDaniels said the meetings are open to the public. She asked about the property on Mock Rd. which is building a pond (this is the reclaimed pumice mining property the District recently divided and sold). Mr. Rieck said that property sold with 2.14 acres and 3.00 acres of water rights on each of these sixteen acre lots. Mrs. Colton said no information regarding property transactions is in the Regular Board Meeting minutes. Chairman Martin said it is in the Conservation Plan, which is available to the public. Ms. Smith said the financial information is also available to the public on request. Rick Silver asked if more information could be made available on the District’s web site. Mr. Rieck said he could set up a forum for water users’ questions.
CASCADE PUMICE
Manager McDaniels said he spoke to Dugan Pearsall, who said they will be mining into July 2006. Ms. Smith said we have received about $70,000 through April 30, 2006. The budget calls for $75,000, which we should meet and possibly exceed. Director Schlueter said Cascade Pumice is going out of business, due to the economics of getting the material out of the ground, and the low market value of the material. The lease expires on September 30, 2006, and they have to give six months notice to renew. We received a letter dated March 20, 2006 (see attached copy), giving notice that Cascade Pumice wished to discuss their option to renew the lease agreement. Rick Silver asked what are the consequences of Cascade Pumice not notifying the District of their intent to renew. Manager McDaniels referred to the above referenced letter from Cascade Pumice. Director Schlueter said that, as part of the termination contract, Cascade Pumice must restore the land back to its original condition, which has to be approved by the State. They think that will take 4 or 5 months, for which they would like a month to month agreement. Mr. Silver asked if there were any potential hazardous materials concerns on the property. Director Schlueter said not that we are aware of.
DESCHUTES WATER ALLIANCE WATER SUMMIT MAY 22 – 24, 2006, KAH NEE TA RESORT
See attached brochures on the Deschutes Basin Water Summit. This conference is being hosted by the Deschutes River Conservancy, the NRCS, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Deschutes Basin Board of Control, and the Central Oregon Cities Organization. Directors Schlueter and Gainsforth expressed an interest in attending, along with Manager McDaniels. Director Putnam made a motion that the District pay the costs of those people attending, seconded by Director Schlueter, motion carried unanimously.
-3- Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, May 9, 2006
E-MAIL FROM GLENN SMITH, KLAMATH FALLS
See attached copy of e-mail from Glenn Smith. He feels that Tumalo Irrigation District water users have no right to the water in Crescent Lake, and that the District should be required to provide access to the lake for boats by improving boat ramps. Director Putnam said the only reason the water level at Crescent Lake is as high as it is, is because of the dam. Manager McDaniels said the Forest Service is responsible for improving boat ramps.
FARM & RANCH WORKSHOPS
See attached flyer. The workshops will be held at the Redmond Grange on May 16, 2006 at 6:00 P.M., and the Pine Forest Grange on May 18, 2006 at 6:00 P.M. The focus will be on conservation planning for irrigation water management, pasture, weeds, and wildlife.
BEND FEED CANAL PIPING PROJECT – BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AUDIT
Ms. Smith said the Bureau of Reclamation will conduct an audit of the accounting on the Bend Feed Canal Piping Project on July 18 and 19, 2006. Erica Jackson from Boise and Kathy Kihara from Bend will conduct the audit.
HIGHLINE PIPING GRANT
Ms. Smith said the Bureau of Reclamation has billed us for $18,884.80 (through March 31, 2006) of the interest accrued on the Highline Grant money. Kevin Crew is working on the Federal environmental requirements so that we can go forward with this project this fall. The extension is through March 31, 2007.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next Regular Board Meeting will be Tuesday, June 13, 2006, at 10:00 A.M., at the District Office.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Putnam made a motion that the Regular Board Meeting be adjourned at 11:05 A.M., seconded by Vice-Chairman Morrow, motion carried unanimously.