WAS Minutes 3.16.2010
MINUTES OF THE
WELL AUGMENTATION SUBDISTRICT OF THE
CENTRAL COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
March 16, 2010
The regular monthly meeting of the Well Augmentation Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was held on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at Central’s office located at 3209 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado. The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M., and the following Directors were present: Gary Herman, President; Frank Eckhardt, Vice President; Vern Kammerzell, Treasurer; Tom Brown, Everett Kissler, Randy Knutson, John Tuttle, Doug Dill, Don Rosenbrock, and Bill Schmidt. Jim Reasoner and Ralph Anders were absent.
Others present were: Tom Cech, Executive Director, Randy Ray, Operations Manager/Subdistrict Coordinator; Kathy Parker, Public Information/Education Coordinator; Justin Bieri, Information Resource Manager; Danyelle McCannon, Chief Financial Officer; and Kim Lawrence of Lind, Lawrence & Ottenhoff. Special guests were Joe Frank of Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, Jim Yahn with North Sterling Irrigation District, Mike Groves with Bijou Irrigation Company and Jim Hall, Division 1 Engineer.
CONSENT CALENDAR
ACCEPT INTO THE RECORD THE CONSENT CALENDAR, COMMITTEE MINUTES, AND FINANCIALS: ITEMS 1.1 – 1.7 OF FEBRUARY, 2010 AS PRESENTED.”
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Everett Kissler
MOTION CARRIED
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Joe Frank, Jim Yahn and Mike Groves gave a presentation to the board on a recharge credit exchange idea they have been working on. They have met with many groups both up and down river. The idea is to better share credits between augmentation plans and has been named the Lower South Platte Water Cooperative. Initial work on this is being accomplished through a grant from the South Platte Roundtable. Central could be a potential end user for these excess credits. Jim Hall, Division 1 Engineer commented that his office supports the idea conceptually.
The board thanked the group for coming and asked to be kept informed of progress.
Jim Hall gave a report to the board on a variety of issues. He discussed snowpack, which is right on target for this time of year but could use a boost from spring storms. Another positive to the 2010 water year is that reservoirs are in the best shape that they have been in the last ten years. Jim further commented that recharge really does help the river and keeps the river level up all summer. In 2011 there could be a big change to the river as Aurora will start putting water in its pipeline for the Prairie Waters Project.
The water accounting audit at Central from the Division office is nearing completion.
There was also discussion about expanded use issues and the fact that the State Engineer will be focusing more on gravel pit augmentation in the near future.
ADJOURN FOR LUNCH AND THEN RECONVENE.
ACTION ITEMS
As Lynn Kramer was absent, Randy Ray presented 1 Class D Irrigation Allotment Contract for board approval.
DELETE VEEMAN & SONS DAIRY CONTRACT #232.
Motion: Randy Knutson
Second: Frank Eckhardt
MOTION CARRIED
The Policy Committee is asked to investigate the contract forms and the requirements surrounding stock certificates. They are also to look into issues concerning wells on non-taxed land when the well is dropped.
Randy Ray presented an agreement concerning the use of easement that runs across the top of an inlet structure to Bernhardt Reservoir.
APPROVE THE PUBLIC SERVICE LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH BRAD GRASMICK’S CHANGES AND GIVE AUTHORITY TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO SIGN THE CONTRACT.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: John Tuttle
MOTION CARRIED
Justin Bieri reported on a member who has asked to do a quota trade to cover over-pumping. The trade would be from one zone to another that normally would not be allowed. However, there was an error on the list that this member received.
ACCEPT STAFF’S RECOMMENDATION AND ALLOW THE QUOTA TRADE FOR CONTRACT # 475 TO CONTRACT # 478.
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Everett Kissler
MOTION CARRIED
SPECIAL NOTE IS MADE OF THE FACT THIS WAS CENTRAL’S ERROR AND THIS TRADE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
Ruth Schaffer is taking over determining the annual quota, saving considerable engineering expense. She has done projection scenarios and gave a presentation to the board. This is a preliminary recommendation. Staff hopes to obtain a couple of new leases by next month.
There was discussion about a WAS quota. As of this time, there will be no quota announced for them. Staff continues to pursue leases and other water sources to enable to allow WAS to pump in the future.
Next were action items recommended from the Board committees and the Project Development Committee. The Policy Committee had a recommendation on Bas Chavez’s contract.
The next motion has to do with school districts and small municipalities. There are several entities that want to move a WAS well to GMS, with the provision that they will fully cover the pumping.
REFER TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A POLICY REGARDING A “SPECIAL DISTRICT CLASS” WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT IN GMS FOR TAX EXEMPT ENTITIES.
Motion: John Tuttle
Second: Randy Knutson
MOTION CARRIED
Randy Ray presented a new recharge contract for approval with the request that all future recharge agreements be worded the same; to state that the grantor will be responsible for half of most operations and maintenance costs.
APPROVE THE RCS FARM RECHARGE CONTRACT WITHOUT THE NEW LANGUAGE.
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Bill Schmidt
MOTION CARRIED
Danyelle McCannon explained how all three districts have multiple funds. There are no incoming funds to the capital projects accounts anymore. By combining these accounts into other existing accounts, staff would eliminate three bank accounts, three Colotrust accounts and make the budget easier.
DIRECT STAFF SO THAT THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS IN EACH DISTRICT BE COMBINED INTO THE OPERATING FUNDS FOR EACH DISTRICT.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: John Tuttle
MOTION CARRIED
REPORTS
Gary Herman asked if the board wanted to not hold a July board meeting again this year. It did not seem to cause any problems last year.
BY CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD THERE WILL BE NOT A JULY BOARD MEETING.
Ruthanne Schaffer presented slides about the first water going into the west ponds at Orchard, and the first water going into Pond C at Shores from Pond A.
Randy Ray discussed the idea of more work being needed at Pond C. This is about the Firestone drainage. It will cost $276,000 to build a structure across the floodway. It will allow 115 cfs a day of more water to enter it, when the water is available. Randy found sources in the existing budget for funding from WAS, and the majority from District. This structure will go across the current floodway. A silt pond will be built, and will be Central’s responsibility to keep the pond clean.
AUTHORIZE RANDY RAY TO PROCEED WITH CONSTRUCTING AN INLET STRUCTURE AT POND C.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: Doug Dill
MOTION CARRIED
Bernhardt inlet is another proposal. There’s a 55 cfs pipe that would cost $195,000 and a 50 cfs pipe that would cost $168,000. There’s already budgeted money in both District and GMS for inlets and outlets. There’s also $117,000 available in retainages which was budgeted but has already been paid.
PROCEED WITH THE $195,000 CFS FLOW RATE INLET AT BERNHARDT.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: Frank Eckhardt
MOTION CARRIED
There are repairs needed to LaPoudre Pond because it’s leaking from the bottom. It’s going to cost $97,600 to repair La Poudre. It is a District project, and there’s $100,000 in the Shores budget that will not be used and is available.
APPROVE THE LA POUDRE REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR $97,600.
Motion: Randy Knutson
Second: Everett Kissler
MOTION CARRIED
Tom Cech gave a report on an employee. Melanie Schneider has been fired after it was discovered that there had been misuse of her company credit card. The Greeley Police Department has been called, charges have been filed and Charles Hix Insurance will cover any losses to Central, with a $500 deductible. Interviewing for a new administrative assistant will begin on Wednesday, and new policy and procedures will be implemented to help prevent anything like this in the future.
Frank Eckhardt reported that the Colorado Farm Bureau asked if Central is interested in contributing money to a project that will put together a report on all the wells that have been monitored along the South Platte. This was a depth to well measurement. All the facts will be put together and brought to the state to prove that aquifer levels have risen. Colorado State University has done the research for this. The results will be brought to Ag Commissioner Stulp. The Farm Bureau and the Colorado Corn Growers have both contributed to this.
Gary Herman asked the Legislative/Education Committee to look into this request at their next meeting and report back to the board.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:34 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Parker
Public Information/Education Coordinator
