January 24, 2012

CALL TO ORDER:  President George Janicek reconvened the meeting of January 3, 2012 at 1:35 pm.  at the District office.  Present at the meeting were:
 

Board of Directors Division #3 Appointment Recommendation
Three landowners in Division #3 submitted letters of interest for the vacated Board position.  The Board of Directors privately interviewed Pat Sanders and Neil Martin.  Howard Ellison was not present.

Following the interviews President Janicek moved the meeting into Executive Session at 2:20 pm for the purpose of choosing their recommendation.  At 2:30 pm President Janicek moved the meeting back into the regular session and announced their choice of Neil Martin.  Manager Martin will write a letter to the County Commissioners with a recommendation of Neil Martin for the Director appointment.

Investment Pool
Manager Martin asked the Board if the District wanted to participate in the Investment Pool Duane Davidson, Benton County Treasurer, presented to the Board in an earlier meeting.  Director Janicek questioned if we would be able to get out of the pool.  Assistant Manager Pelleberg stated at the earlier presentation, Davidson told the Board there was a guarantee, if the District wasn’t satisfied it could pull out.  He stated it was a much better return on our money and there was a long history and track record of other entities involved in the pool. 

Jerry Sleater made a motion to join the Benton County investment pool and Jim Gose seconded.  Discussion took place on questions concerning cost, safety and guarantee.  After discussion the Board unanimously agreed with the motion.  

Project Schedule Update
Line Item #61 Project 2012-1 Canal Rehab – Pelleberg reported the portion of canal completed last year enabled the water to move faster through that area and there were no complaints from patrons in that area.  Additional work was added to an area behind Washington School.  Pelleberg explained for several years only weeds have been scraped out of the canal in the area from Washington to 19^th.  The canal got wider and shallower causing the water to move slower.  With the buildup of mud at the bottom there have been problems with the intake leads.  The rehab project for this season is about 65% – 70% done with about half of the projected labor cost.  

Line Item #64 Project 2012-4 Main Canal Lining at Oak &Bowles – The Liner project is done except cleaning up the backside of the ditch to retake the use of it and get equipment in and out.  Pelleberg reported the project came in well under the projected cost, again due to in-house labor.

Line Item #66 Project  2012-6 Reconstruct Hidden Meadows Pump Station LID #37
Pelleberg reported the building was replaced, went to a flood suction pump and modernized electrical controls.  The project is completed.

Line Item #67 Project  2012-7 Reconstruct Concrete Pad at Hitchcock LID #4 – is completed.

Line Item #68 Project 2012-8 SR 240 Right of Way Clean-up – The long reach will continue through the Steptoe area where silt has built up in the bottom of the canal.  Pelleberg stated he plans to put the mower in the ditch at the upper end of the canal in West Richland to cut down the big clumps of canary grass followed by spraying the backside of the canal. 

Pelleberg reported several other jobs have been completed.  The concrete pad where chemical totes are kept has been fenced.  New leads have been installed in both laterals, pumps for LID #46 and #47 are being rebuilt and also damaged fencing throughout the district is being repaired.  
The Settling Basin cleaned with the rental loader and three dump trucks, four and a-half days last year as opposed to the year before with the excavator taking two weeks.

A weed treatment is planned for next month at a higher rate where huge weed problems exist at the bottom end. 

Attorney Miller entered the meeting at 3 pm.

Policy on Forming a General Service Area
Manager Martin presented a revised version of the GSA Policy.  A discussion followed about the areas in the District that would benefit with a GSA Policy and what to do without one.  The Board perused the policy and gave Manager Martin revisions to be corrected for the next Board Meeting on February 7^th. 

 The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 pm.