Flathead Irrigation District Agenda Special Mtg 8.15.25 (005)
Flathead Irrigation District Special Meeting
Place and Time: August 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM
Being held by phone:
+1 321-235-6116
Phone conference ID: 646 582 504#
Attending Commissioners:
Absent Commissioners:
Recording: Five Valleys Law
Please keep public comments to 2 minutes per subject
Resolution to revise O&M for A & B Basic Acres to be:
Basic Per Acre- A Rate to be $39.00 for 2025 and 2026
Basic Per Acre – B Rate to be $19.50 for 2025 and 2026
Minimum Per Tract Charge $75 for 2025 and $200 for 2026: Action Item
Public Comment:
Adjourn:
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
Northwest Regional Office
911 Northeast 11th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97232
Mr. Boone Cole, Chairman
Jocko Valley Irrigation District
P.O. Box 639
St. Ignatius, Montana 59865
Mr. Ray Swenson, Chairman
Mission Irrigation District
P.O. Box 639
St. Ignatius, Montana 59865
Mr. Paul Guenzler, Chairman
Flathead Irrigation District
P.O. Box 639
St. Ignatius, Montana 59865
Dear Chairmen:
On December 26, 2024, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published in the Federal Register (89 FR
105090) its annual notice of proposed rate adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects. We proposed
adjustments to the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project’s (FIIP) 2026 rates. The public comment period
closed on February 24, 2025, and BIA did not receive any comments on FIIP. Our notice with final 2026
rates will be published in the Federal Register soon, which will defer the proposed rate increase for
FIIP’s “A” and “B” acres. We are not deferring or changing the proposed increase to the Minimum
Charge Per Tract. Here is the relevant information in the soon-to-be published notice:
Project Name Rate Category Final
2025 Rate
Final
2026 Rate
Flathead Irrigation Project Basic per acre – A $39.00 $39.00
Basic per acre – B $19.50 $19.50
Minimum Charge per tract $75.00 $200.00
We understand you are facing Montana’s annual deadline to determine assessments to be levied against
each tract. While our final rate notice has not been published yet, we trust this provides you with
sufficient information to meet the State’s deadline.
If you have any questions, please contact Bear Hughes, Acting Project Manager, FIIP at
Gene.Hughes@bia.gov.
Sincerely,
Kurt Fredenberg
BIA Northwest Regional Director, Acting
RESLOUTION 2025-6
RESOLUTION DECLARING FLATHEAD IRRIGATION DISTRICT
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AND FEES
FINAL 2025 RATE AND PROPOSED 2026 RATE
This resolution is to rescind and replace Resolution 2025-2 and Resolution 2025-5. The rescission and replacement is based upon updated information from Kurt Frdendberg, BIA Northwest Regional Director, Acting changing the Basic Rates from the BIA to the irrigation districts.
Based upon said notice, it is resolved that for the Flathead Irrigation District the following rates shall apply:
Basic Per Acre- A Rate to be $39.00 for 2025 and 2026
Basic Per Acre – B Rate to be $19.50 for 2025 and 2026
Minimum Per Tract Charge $75 for 2025 and $200 for 2026.
Passed and adopted this 15th day of August, 2025.
Flathead Irrigation District:
___________________________________
Paul Guenzler, Chairman & Commissioner
____________________________________
David Lake, Commissioner
___________________________________
Bruce White, Commissioner
___________________________________
Janette Rosman, Commissioner
Attest:
Janette Rosman, Secretary of Flathead Irrigation District
