August 10, 2005 Minutes-Board Meeting
The regular monthly meeting of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District Board of Directors was held on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at 10:00AM, at 801 Swink Avenue, Rocky Ford, CO 81067.
Chairman Singletary announced a quorum was present.
DIRECTORS PRESENT:
John Singletary-Chairman
Pete Moore-Vice Chairman
Loretta Kennedy
Leroy Mauch
Melissa Esquibel
DIRECTORS EXCUSED:
Wayne Whittaker-Treasurer
Ollie Ridley-Secretary
DISTRICT STAFF:
Jay Winner-General Manager
Bart Mendenhall-Attorney
Kim Chavez-Financial Coordinator
Randa Morlan-Administrative Assistant
MOTION TO ENTER INTO WATER ACTIVITY ENTERPRISE:
Director Esquibel moved that the Board convene into the Water Activity Enterprise, seconded by Director Kennedy. Motion unanimously carried.
At the conclusion of the Water Activity Enterprise meeting Director Moore moved to reconvene the District Meeting at 10:05 A.M., seconded by Director Esquibel. Motion unanimously carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
July 13, 2005 Monthly Board Meeting Minutes- Chairman Singletary asked if the Board members had reviewed the minutes for the July 13, 2005 Board Meeting, and whether there were any corrections or additions. Director Esquibel moved to approve the July 13, 2005 Board meeting minutes, seconded by Director Moore. Motion unanimously carried.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
The financial report for the month of July was included in the Board's Monthly Meeting Packet. July total revenues were $348,082.62 and total expenditures were $51,158.45. Director Esquibel moved to accept the July Financial Statement, seconded by Director Kennedy and carried unanimously.
AFFIRMATION OF BUDGET OFFICER:
Director Esquibel moved to appoint Financial Coordinator Chavez as Budget Officer for 2005, seconded by Director Kennedy. Motion unanimously carried.
INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS:
Chairman Singletary welcomed each of the visitors to the meeting, asked them to introduce themselves and identify the organization which they represent.
VISITORS PRESENT:
Rodney Baird, La Junta Tribune Democrat; Timothy Gates, Civil Engineering Department-Colorado State University; Chris Woodka, Pueblo Chieftain; Lawrence DePriest, Media Specialist-Colorado State University-Pueblo; Brenda Fillmore, AGUA; Kelly Roesch, High Plains A&M; Bill Yohey, Kiowa County Commissioners Office; Allison Cortner, Senator Salazar's Office; Patrick Mangan, Bureau of Reclamation; Keith Riley and Gary Bostrom, Colorado Springs Utilities.
PRESENTATIONS:
• Pat Mangan- Pat Mangan, Bureau of Reclamation briefly reported on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). He presented a map of proposed study areas in Colorado and added that they have been working with Colorado Springs on the Southern Delivery System. He added that studies will probably need to be done and that they anticipate that by December of 2005 they will hold workshops in the valley and Colorado Springs area. They anticipate studies and a draft report will be finished by mid-year 2006. He left a handout for the Board of Directors of a scope of work. Additional discussion followed on the study areas.
• Keith Riley, Colorado Springs Utilities briefly reported that they are working on creek crossing drainages and noted that they will act upon upgrades to the drainages within the next year.
General Manager Winner questioned Mr. Riley what Colorado Springs would do in the event that a spill would happen not during a storm situation.
Mr. Riley answered that they are looking into many possible solutions, one being that they would try to block the contaminated water from the spill downstream and pump it back into their sewage system.
Additional discussion followed between the Board, Mr. Riley, Gary Bostrom and General Manager Winner.
• Tim Gates - Tim Gates, Colorado State University gave a PowerPoint presentation discussing the ongoing efforts to develop a database and modeling platform for improving water management decisions along the Lower Arkansas River Valley.
A few of their goals are to optimize water management in the valley and enhance water quality and water conservation. He reported on the difference of field data upstream and downstream of John Martin Reservoir and that they are monitoring selenium and iron. He then explained the different abilities of his model.
• Peter Nichols - Peter Nichols, Water Attorney briefly reported on the Preferred Storage Option Plan (PSOP) and added that in the negotiations they are making significant progress and hope to have a draft by the end of the month to present to each of the individual entities. He added that the attorney's have been meeting at the offices in Denver and that Chairman Singletary, General Manager Winner and he have been meeting on the progress.
Chairman Singletary noted that a few difficult issues remain on PSOP.
GM REPORT:
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General Manager Winner reported that the District has eight conservation easements in progress and that the Norwood easement with dry land is 95% finished. He added that the easements pending are the Jordan easement with wet land, Kennedy easement with land and water, Hansen easement with land and Fort Lyon water, Zacher easement with land and no water along with two other easements one with land and wells in Lamar and the other with land and a well in Horse Creek near Sugar City.
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He reported that a tour will be held on Biodiesel in Lamar on August 19, 2005 of the seed crushing plant.
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General Manager Winner noted that he would like to start an outreach program with the District where staff members are able to volunteer time to the communities a couple times a month. All Board members agreed to the Outreach program.
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General Manager Winner reported that the District is liable of all the damage on Marshall Road with the Larkspur Ditch. He announced that he has called the insurance company and believes they will take care of the damage problem.
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He added that the Conservation Innovation Drip Irrigation Grant has been tentatively approved.
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He noted that a tour will be held on August 25th through August 26th for the Colorado Water Conservation Board in Steamboat Springs, CO and that any Board members wanting to attend should contact the staff.
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Chairman Singletary reported that the District is pro-active on the Biodiesel project.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel- Director Kennedy moved to approve the revised employee handbook, seconded by Director Moore. Motion unanimously carried.
Chairman Singletary gave appreciation to Director Kennedy and General Manager Winner on the work with the employee personnel handbook.
Legal -Director Esquibel noted that the attorney's are working on a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program for attorneys on conservation easements.
Liaison- Director Kennedy reported on the ballot issue for authority to bond and added that brokers will need to be looked at to determine the appropriate interest rate to the strategy. Additionally, we would be competing with Referendum C.
She suggests putting the issue on the ballot for next year's general election to bond.
Director Kennedy asked the Board to have Attorney Mendenhall continue with the project of the ballot issue for authority to bond.
Director Esquibel would like Attorney Mendenhall to continue.
LEGAL REPORT:
Attorney Mendenhall reported that a specific problem arose with the Norwood Easement on minerals but has been resolved. He added that he is working on a handbook and CLE program for issues on conservation easements.
The Jordan easement is waiting out the notice period to the ditch company, but there do not seem to be any problems with the easement.
Attorney Mendenhall reported that he has prepared an Exercise of Option for presentation to Community Banks for the purchase of the building.
Director Esquibel moved to exercise the option to purchase the building from Community Banks and for staff and Counsel to proceed with the closing, seconded by Director Moore. Motion unanimously carried.
Mr. Mendenhall briefly reported on the bond issue.
Chairman Singletary suggested including the real estate industry on the Continuing Legal Education (CLE).
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Bill Yohey, Kiowa County Commissioners Office questioned the Board on any new issues concerning the Conduit.
Brief discussion followed on the progress of the Conduit.
Allison Cortner, Senator Salazar's Office reported that the Conduit is moving along. She added that there is concern that communities are not getting their local match.
ADJOURNED:
Chairman Singletary asked if there were any other matters to come before the Board. Hearing none, motion was made by Director Esquibel, seconded by Director Moore to adjourn the meeting. Motion unanimously carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:41 A.M.