June 15, 2011

CALL TO ORDER:  The Board meeting of the Columbia Irrigation District was called to order at 1:00 pm at the District office by President Jerry Sleater.  Present at the meeting were:

Jerry Sleater, Director                                       Keith Martin, Manager
Jim Berger, Director                                         Russ Pelleberg, Asst. Manager
Gary Hutchcraft, Director                                 Jim Gose, Director

ZELMER REQUEST:  Manager Martin introduced Khris Olsen who appeared at the meeting to request irrigation water where he lives on Collins Road.  His property was accepted into the District with the Belmont area but water was not delivered to his property.  He is very interested in getting water for irrigation purposes.  This creates a place for Zelmer’s water to go if he is allowed to relinquish.  The Board is concerned about the legal repercussions of relinquishing Zelmer’s water rights because he is located within the LID.  Because the District has allowed relinquishment of water rights within an LID the precedent has been set to allow Zelmer’s request to relinquish  He will retain the LID O & M and construction costs.

Jim Gose made a motion to approve the transfer of Zelmer’s water right to the Olsen property contingent on two issues: the exchange being RCW legal and the ability to deliver two acres of water right to the Olsen property with only ¼ acre exchange, this to be determined by JUB.  Gary Hutchcraft seconded the motion and it passed.

GENERAL SERVICE AREA:   Manager Martin presented Resolution No. 2011-02 to the Board concerning the Sunset Ridge General Service Area (GSA).  Discussions followed about the formation of a GSA:  requirements for subdivisions pertaining to irrigation, where and when to implement the GSA, cost of GSA, and defining CID’s responsibility.

PIERT ROAD EXTENSION: Gary Hutchcraft made a motion to accept the proposal for the Piert Road Extension with a six-foot step-down box culvert contingent on Gary Weatherly’s approval.  Jim Berger seconded the motion and it passed.

NEW WEST RICHLAND DEVELOPMENT: Manager Martin requested the Board make a decision on the 350 acre development in West Richland where the developer is willing to pay the cost of the infrastructure in exchange for the cost to be added to the District.  They would also like to waive the assessment charges until the properties are sold.  Jim Gose made a motion that the District allow the developer to pay the cost of the infrastructure, no assessment charged until these properties are sold, with a five year limitation, and no other fees be charged for adding their land into the District boundaries.  Gary Hutchcraft seconded the motion and it passed.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:  President Jerry Sleater moved the meeting into executive session to discuss promotions and mid-year salary adjustments.  He closed the executive session and returned to the open meeting at 3:10 pm.

ADJOURNMENT:  President Jerry Sleater returned to the regular meeting.  There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 3:20 pm.