Sterling, Colorado, August 7th, 2009
MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Directors of The North Sterling Irrigation District held at their office in Sterling at 10:30 A.M., August 7th, 2009.
Directors David Hernandez, David Breidenbach, James Aranci, Secretary James Yahn, and Leon Rose were present. Mike Ursetta and Val Luna were present for Arvada Excavating. Scott Szabo of Lauer, Szabo, and Associates arrived at 12:45 p.m.
Secretary Yahn thanked Mr. Ursetta and Mr. Luna for attending the meeting and stated that the board had asked to interview them since they were second low bid for the Point of Rocks Dam and Spillway Improvement Project. Mr. Yahn opened the interview by asking if they would be doing all the work themselves or if they would be subcontracting some of the work. Mr. Ursetta stated that they would probably do all the work themselves. Director Aranci asked about the riprap quantity in the bid, stating that it appeared to be higher than the other bids. Mr. Ursetta stated that the quantity was given in tons and was not converted to cubic yards. He stated that the number presented in the bid should be divided by 1.5 to obtain cubic yards. Mr. Yahn asked if the unit price given was per ton or per cubic yard. Mr. Ursetta stated they could live with the unit price presented in the bid. Director Aranci asked what the bid would be with the correct riprap amount. Mr. Ursetta stated that it would be right at $1.2 million but was unsure at this time. Mr. Ursetta and Mr. Luna were asked questions concerning the method of construction and time frame. Mr. Ursetta stated that 6 to 8 scrapers would be used and the project would take 3 to 4 months. Mr. Ursetta and Mr. Luna had no concerns with regard to the project. Director Aranci asked whether rock or broken concrete would be used in the gabion baskets. Mr. Ursetta stated that he did not know yet, he said it would depend on the cost which he had not finalized at this time. Mr. Ursetta and Mr. Luna were asked and answered other questions and left the meeting at approximately 11:00 a.m.
Minutes of Board meeting held July 8th and Special Meeting held July 27, 2009 were approved as received. Minutes of Special meeting held August 3, 2009 were read and approved.
Expense for the month of July was allowed in the total amount of $87,807.25 and ordered paid as shown on sheets attached to and made a part of these minutes by due action of the Board, all Directors present voting aye.
It was moved by Director Aranci and seconded by Director Breidenbach and upon being put a vote, unanimously passed, that the following Resolution be adopted:
WHEREAS, pursuant to 1-1-111(2) C.R.S. the Board of Directors of the North Sterling Irrigation District is authorized to designate an election official to exercise authority of the Board in conducting an election, and
WHEREAS pursuant to 1-5-208, C.R.S. the Board can authorize the Designated Election Official to cancel the election upon certain conditions;
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of Directors for the North Sterling Irrigation District that: (1) the Board hereby names James T. Yahn as the Designated Election Official for the regular district election scheduled for the 8th day of December, 2009, and (2) the Board hereby authorizes and directs the Designated Election Official to cancel said election and declare the candidates elected if at the close of business on the twenty-ninth day before the election there were no more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates. The Board further authorizes and directs the Designated Election Official to publish and post notice of the cancellation at each polling place and in the office of the Designated Election Official, Clerk and Recorder of each county in which the district is located, and file with the Division of Local Government. The Governing Body shall also notify the candidates that the election was cancelled and they were elected by acclamation.
Adopted this 7th day of August 2009, by the Board of Directors of the North Sterling Irrigation District.
The group left for lunch at the River City Grill at 11:30 a.m. At approximately 12:30 p.m. the group returned to the office of the North Sterling and resumed the meeting.
Secretary Yahn updated the group on the spillway activities. He informed them that the North Sterling would be receiving invoices from both Wheeler and Associates and Kumar and Associates for there assistance in the bidding process, stabilization of riprap on the dam face, and the writing and submission of the quality control and testing plan. Mr. Yahn stated that the plan needed to be approved prior to commencement of construction.
Scott Szabo arrived at 12:45 p.m. to give an overview of his audit of the District’s accounts for 2008. Mr. Szabo stated that all the accounts were in order and well kept by Vickie Smith. Mr. Szabo left the meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Secretary Yahn updated the board on the status of the river dam headgate construction project. Mr. Yahn stated that the construction had begun and was proceeding as expected.
Mr. Yahn informed the board that the hydroelectric feasibility study had been completed. Mr. Yahn stated that the study showed that installing hydroelectric generators in the outlet is not feasible at this time. Mr. Yahn also stated that Highline Electric would be reimbursing the District for one half of the cost associated with tasks 3 and 4 of the study, which amounts to $3,150.
Secretary Yahn stated that the loan documents had been reviewed by Mike Grauberger as the directors had requested and that the board need to approved the documents and sign them. Mr. Yahn stated that the project was estimated to cost $1,204,450 including engineering through the end of the project and the CWCB loan is for 90% of the cost plus 1% loan fee for a total loan amount of $1,094,845. Mr. Yahn also stated that since the bid came in at $1,201,535 most of engineer costs and the remaining 10% of the project cost will the immediate responsibility of the District, therefore approximately $250,000 will need to be used from our capital reserve fund. After some discussion it was moved by Director Breidenbach and seconded by Director Aranci to sign the documents. Upon being put to a vote the motion unanimously passed.
Mr. Yahn brought before the board the matter of selling the Duncan Property owned by the District. Mr. Yahn stated that he had discussed listing the property with Reck Agri Realty and Auction. Mr. Reck stated that he thought an appropriate price would be $900 per acre for the 82 acres of dry farm ground and $40,000 for the possible building site. It was the consensus of the board to list the property at the above prices, but to make sure that access to our recharge pond was maintained.
Mr. Yahn stated that the Kinder Morgan pipeline, which currently spans over our inlet ditch is scheduled to be placed, by boring, under our inlet ditch the week of August 10, 2009.
Mr. Yahn stated that he had received a letter from Baker Petrolite stating that they would no longer be providing Magnacide H for aquatic weed control. Mr. Yahn stated that Baker is the only supplier of Magnacide. Mr. Yahn stated that he would be investigating alternative algae and pond weed control.
Mr. Yahn stated that the employee health insurance renews in September and that the cost of the current plan will increase by 19%, however if the District chooses generic only prescriptions the cost would increase by 9%. It was moved by Director Aranci and seconded by Director Breidenbach that the District’s plan be changed to include generic drugs only. Upon being put to a vote the motion passed.
Secretary Yahn brought up the matter of attending the Colorado Water Congress Convention in Steamboat Springs on August 19-21. Mr. Yahn stated that the cost of attending would be approximately $650 including hotel. It was moved by Director Aranci and seconded by Director Breidenbach to allow Mr. Yahn to attend the convention. Upon being put to a vote the motion passed.
The matter of choosing a contractor for the construction of the spillway was brought before the board. The two contractors considered were Interstate Irrigation and Arvada Excavating. After much discussion it was moved by Director Breidenbach and seconded by Director Hernandez to enter into a contract for construction with Interstate Irrigation. Upon being put to vote the motion passed on a 2-1 vote, with Director Aranci being the dissenting vote. Mr. Aranci stated that his reason for voting for Arvada Excavating was that he felt they were more experienced and more qualified for the project. Director Hernandez stated that both contractors could perform the work but voted for Interstate Irrigation because they were the low bid.
Secretary Yahn informed the directors that current storage is 50,848 acre feet (68%) and 425 cfs are currently being released from the reservoir to satisfy 377 cfs of orders today and 300 cfs tomorrow.
With no further business to come before the Board the meeting was adjourned at 1:40 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
James T. Yahn, Secretary