Sterling, Colorado, August 8th, 2011
MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Directors of The North Sterling Irrigation District held at their office in Sterling at 12:30 P.M., August 8th, 2011.
Directors David Hernandez, David Breidenbach, James Aranci, Secretary James Yahn, and Leon Rose were present. Charles Hix of Hix Insurance Associates, Inc. arrived at 2:05 P.M.
The group immediately left for lunch. After lunch the group arrived at the office at 1:30 P.M.
Minutes of Board meeting held July 8th, 2011 were approved as received.
Expense for the month of July was allowed in the total amount of $108,911.20 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.
Secretary Yahn presented the board with a legal update from our attorney. Mr. Yahn also stated that he had reviewed this month’s water court resume and did not see any cases of interest to the District. Secretary Yahn stated that the Interim Water Committee met in Denver and heard the Division Engineer, Dave Nettles, discuss some of the reasons for high groundwater in some areas. This came about as a result of complaints to the State Engineers Office and elected officials from people in certain areas, including Sterling, with flooded basements. Much of the blame for the increase in groundwater has been put on increased recharge, however, Mr. Nettles stated that one of the main reasons for higher groundwater is increased precipitation which also results in more water available for diversion from the river. With more water available for diversion, the ditches have been running more water which can also cause the groundwater to rise. Mr. Yahn stated that he would continue to monitor the possibility of legislation attempting to address these complaints.
Charles Hix of Hix Insurance Associates addressed the board concerning the District’s insurance package. He stated there is an increase in the insurance premium due mainly to additional equipment and vehicles purchased this past year by the District. Mr. Hix answered questions asked by the board and Secretary and then left the meeting at 2:20 P.M.
It was moved by Director Breidenbach and seconded by Director Aranci 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 6th day of December, 2011, 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 8th day of August 2011, by the Board of Directors of the North Sterling Irrigation District.
This being the meeting advertised for the hearing upon certain petitions for EXCLUSION AND INCLUSION OF LAND, action was taken by the Board of Directors of the North Sterling Irrigation District as follows:
Upon petition of Thomas P. Griebel for the EXCLUSION of land and the petition of David A. Hernandez and Veronica Hernandez for the INCLUSION of land, said petitions being attached to the minutes of the Board Meeting held July 8, 2011, having been legally advertised and there having been no objections filed with the Board, it was moved by Director Breidenbach, seconded by Director Aranci, and duly carried, all voting aye, that the following described land in Logan County, Colorado, containing 5.00 acres under the North Sterling Irrigation District be now EXCLUDED from said District;
5.00 acres in the Northeast Corner of the Northeast Quarter (NE ¼) of the Northeast Quarter (NE ¼) in Section Eighteen (18), Township Ten (10) North, Range Fifty (50) West of the Sixth (6th) P.M., Logan County, Colorado for a total of 5.00 acres within the District.
And in lieu thereof, the following described land in Logan County, Colorado which currently contains 28.04 acres in the District be now INCLUDED to a total of 33.04 acres within The North Sterling Irrigation District, as follows:
The Northeast Quarter of
the Northeast Quarter (NE ¼ NE ¼) – – – – – – – 33.04 acres
in Section Nine (9), Township
Ten (10) North, Range Fifty (50)
West of the Sixth (6th) P.M., in
Logan County, Colorado.
The President and Secretary of the Board were authorized and directed to place the proper certificates of exclusion and inclusion on record in the office of the County Clerk and Recorder one month from the date of August 8th, 2011.
Secretary Yahn brought to the board that during the recent high water in the river, one of the radial gates was damaged. Mr. Yahn stated that the radial gate was one of three old gates, all three of which were thin and in need of replacement. Mr. Rose obtained bids from Luft Machine and Industrial welding for both stainless steel and mild steel. After some discussion is was moved by Director Aranci and seconded by Director Breidenbach to have Luft Machine construct three radial gates with mild steel at a cost of $5,420 per gate. Upon being put to a vote the motion passed.
Mr. Yahn updated the board on the potential office building addition. Mr. Yahn stated that he had contacted Rob Hamil to get an updated bid on the building with the changes that had been proposed and that he was waiting on his response.
Mr. Yahn stated the employee health insurance renews in September and that the cost of the current plan will increase by 17%. After discussing alternatives, it was moved by Director Breidenbach and seconded by Director Aranci that the District
increase the deductible from $2,000 to $4,000 which will lower the increase to 4.4%. 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 23-25. Mr. Yahn stated that the cost of attending would be approximately $800 including hotel. It was the consensus of the board to allow Mr. Yahn to attend the convention.
Mr. Yahn informed the board the he had hired Jed Frank as the inlet ditch rider to replace Herman Neiman who decided to move to the River Dam as a replacement for Jim Schippert who retired on July 31.
Secretary Yahn informed the directors that current storage is 54,889 acre feet (74%) and 430 cfs is currently being released from the reservoir to satisfy 358.5 cfs of orders today and 368.5 cfs tomorrow.
With no further business to come before the Board the meeting was adjourned at 2:50 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
James T. Yahn, Secretary