Flathead Irrigation District Meeting, May 13, 2019
Lake County Community Development Center, Ronan
407 Main Street SW., Ronan. 1:00 PM
Attending Commissioners: Paul Guenzler, David Lake, Dave Vincent & Janette Rosman.
Absent: Bruce White, excused absence.
Pledge:
Recording: Gene Erb for David Passieri and Janette Rosman for FID.
April Minutes: Dave Vincent made motion to approve April Minutes, David Lake, second, passed.
Financial package from Whaley Accounting was presented, Profit and Loss Budget vs. Actual, November 2018 through March 2019.
2019 Budget was tabled.
Warrants: Dave Vincent made motion to approve Warrants, David Lake Second. Passed.
Flathead District Warrants: Access Montana $38.30, Blackfoot $65.49, Five Valley Law, P.L.L.C. $60.00 (Cassie Dellwo, consulting). FID State Fund $361.86, Janette Rosman, reimbursement $126.68. Mission Valley Power $143.38, Republic Services $19.66. Whaley & Assoc., $479.40. Total expenses $1,294.77.
Paul talked to Ray this AM, Mission and Jocko are going to start covering the power, water/sewer. In the future FID would like Mission and Jocko to pay Access Montana, Mission Valley Power, Republic Services (garbage) and St. Ignatius water/sewer. Sewer/water was the only charge FID did not have to participate in this month. We will move forward this month and participate in the monthly bills and Paul will call Ray and request that they pay the monthly bills themselves other than Blackfoot telephone. Janette stated, Fid email is serviced thru Blackfoot telephone. Could it be that M&J pay their long distance phone charges?
Flathead Irrigation Admin: $650,254.00 as of 3/31/19. Flathead Irrigation O&M $848,769.00.
Review Election process: Paul said we should be at the point that we can move our election forward. David Lake stated Senate Bill 116 passed. Paul asked are we going to send ballots to everyone, how are we going to handle the designee? Susan Lake suggested we send the ballots out to the property owners and not designee. It was suggested that FID put a note in the ballot that only one irrigator can vote the irrigated acres. Janette commented that if we are sending a letter out with the ballot it has to be in by a certain time. More discussion and general agreement that the ballots will go out to the property owner with a letter stating only one person can vote the number of acres. It was suggested someone call Karen Peterson to write an article for the paper. David Lake will call her. Paul said, 60 days from the end of May we will have an election.
Next agenda item is formally extending David Lake and Janette Rosman as commissioners until election results are final. Paul stated that was the recommendation of Steve Eschenbacher. There was discussion on By-law Article V, Section 2. A commissioner shall hold office from the first Tuesday in May to the first Tuesday in May following the next election for that position when a qualified successor is seated.
Paul Guenzler made the motion to reinstate Dave Lake as a commissioner until the election is finalized. Dave Vincent Second. Paul Guenzler, Dave Vincent and Janette Rosman voted Yea. Passed. David Lake abstained. (Bruce was absent). Paul Guenzler made motion to reinstate Janette Rosman as commissioner until election is finalized. David Lake second. Paul Guenzler, Dave Vincent and David Lake voted Yea, Passed. Janette Rosman abstained.
Paul commented about Admin account having $650,254.00. As we move forward we are going to need an Admin Budget. It would be good if the irrigators would start discussing what the Admin rate should be and let commissioners know their thoughts. It’s important to the commissioners that we have your input.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Paul Greico said the By-laws should reflect how to proceed if there is a delay in the election. Cassie suggested if we state: commissioners will serve from the second Tuesday in May until the Second Tuesday in May unless there is a delay in the election. Dave Vincent stated, the board can appoint someone regardless if they are elected or not. Cassie said if we had something in By-laws it would be an automatic procedure should this happen again. Cassie said she can draw up draft language
There was no other public comment, Janette made motion to adjourn, Dave Vincent second. Passed.