The regular monthly meeting of the Groundwater Management Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was held on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at Central’s office located at 3209 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 P.M., and the following Directors were present: Gary Herman, President; Frank Eckhardt, Vice President; Vern Kammerzell, Treasurer; Tom Brown, Everett Kissler, John Tuttle, Don Rosenbrock, Ralph Anders, Jim Reasoner, Randy Knutson, Doug Dill, Don Rosenbrock and Bill Schmidt.

Others present were: Randy Ray, Interim Executive Director; Ruthanne Schaffer, Senior Water Accountant; Kathy Parker, Public Information/Education Officer; Lynn Kramer, Contracts Manager; Justin Bieri, Water Quality Program and Information Resources Manager, and Kim Lawrence of Lawrence, Jones, Custer and Grasmick. Special guests were Maria Secrest with Senator Cory Gardner’s office, GMS members Judi Alexander and Robert Geisick, Ed Armbruster with Leonard Rice Engineers and Matt Reddy with Ducks Unlimited.

ACCEPT INTO THE RECORD THE CONSENT CALENDAR, AND MINUTES OF MAY AND JUNE AS PRESENTED.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: John Tuttle
MOTION CARRIED

PUBLIC DISCUSSION

There was none to discuss.

ACTION ITEMS

Lynn Kramer presented 2 GMS Class D Irrigation Allotment Contracts for board approval.

APPROVE THE TRANSFER FROM JOSEPH AND MACHIKO NAKAGAWA AND JAMES AND MICHELE VETTING, CONTRACT #760 TO MILFORD AND MARGARET COPELAND, CONTRACT #1046.
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Frank Eckhardt
MOTION CARRIED

APPROVE THE TRANSFER FROM EMR FAMILY FARMS CONTRACT #358, HHR FAMILY FARMS CONTRACT #380, AND EMANUEL ROTHE FAMILY FARMS CONTRACT #682 TO WIGGINS FARMS, LLC, CONTRACT #1047
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Frank Eckhardt
MOTION CARRIED

APPROVE THE NAME CHANGE FOR BRADLEY DEBUS, CONTRACT #521.
Motion: Randy Knutson
Second: John Tuttle
MOTION CARRIED

Lynn gave a presentation on the new member login website. This will enable contract holders with a password to access information about their quota allotment, pumping figures, and allow them to report their meter readings online. There is also a page dedicated to conservation tools. At least 35 contract holders have already signed up for the website.

Kim Lawrence is seeking approval to file a Change of Diversion on the Box Elder Decree to the new point of diversion on the Burlington Headgate.

PROCEED WITH FILING A CHANGE OF DIVERSION ON THE BOX ELDER DECREE TO THE NEW POINT OF DIVERSION ON THE BURLINGTON HEAD GATE.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: Frank Eckhardt
MOTION CARRIED WITH RANDY KNUTSON VOTING NAY

Justin Bieri gave the board background on the Water Quality grant that Colorado State University (CSU) is submitting. There will be a best practice management clearing house as an end result. Central’s contribution will be in-kind, in areas such as posting information on our website, in our newsletter, and perhaps hosting some meetings.

PROCEED WITH A LETTER OF COMMITMENT AND PARTNERING WITH CSU, CORN GROWERS, LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION AND THE COLORADO DEPT OF AG, ON THE 319 WATER QUALITY GRANT.
Motion: Ralph Anders
Second: Everett Kissler
MOTION CARRIED

Discussion moved to the Ducks Unlimited/Haren recharge project. The project has several funding partners for this 50+ acre site. Central has an easement agreement with the landowner. DU estimates the cost of the project to be $435,020. Central is the water provider for the project. Central’s cash contribution requested by DU is $142,020. Matt Reddy with Ducks Unlimited spoke next. He explained that $65,000 of Colorado DOW funds would disappear if action were not taken at the meeting tonight. He stressed that the DU/Central funding agreement has to be signed tonight or the project will terminate.

ADJOURN FOR DINNER AND THEN RECONVENE.

DIRECT KIM LAWRENCE TO MAKE THE CONTINGENT CHANGES TO THE HAREN AGREEMENT AND THE DUCKS UNLIMITED AGREEMENT ON THE HAREN WETLAND PROJECT BY NOON ON JUNE 22 AND IF AGREED TO BY HAREN AND DUCKS UNLIMITED, THE BOARD AUTHORIZES THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENTS.
Motion: Randy Knutson
Second: Bill Schmidt
MOTION CARRIED

There was discussion on the Jackson Lake Reservoir and Irrigation Company recharge agreement. It has been approved by committee and staff consultants.

APPROVE THE JACKSON LAKE RESERVOIR AND IRRIGATION COMPANY RECHARGE AGREEMENT.
Motion: Bill Schmidt
Second: Everett Kissler
MOTION CARRIED

Randy Ray had a copy of the revised Rural Land Company recharge agreement for board approval. It is the furthest from the river of all Central’s recharge projects. It is part of the C-REP application.

APPROVE THE REVISED CONTRACT WITH THE RURAL LAND COMPANY.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: Frank Eckhardt
MOTION CARRIED

Next was discussion on two other recharge agreements that have been approved by the Water Projects and Project Development Committees.

APPROVE THE SLATE DITCH COMPANY RECHARGE AGREEMENT.
Motion: Jim Reasoner
Second: Ralph Anders
MOTION CARRIED

APPROVE THE GREELEY IRRIGATION COMPANY RECHARGE AGREEMENT.
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Tom Brown
MOTION CARRIED

Central has an agreement with Union Ditch to deliver augmentation well water. There was a clerical error on the running and maintenance fees explained by Randy.

PAY UNION DITCH THE PAST DUE AMOUNT OF $5,757.73.
Motion: John Tuttle
Second: Doug Dill
MOTION CARRIED WITH TOM BROWN ABSTAINING

OFFER TO SELLING COLORADO WATER (JOE O’BRIEN) A CONTRACT AT 4% SALES COMMISSION FOR A PRICE OF $15,000/SHARE TO SELL CENTRAL’S 50 SHARES OF FULTON DITCH WITH AN 180 DAY TERM.
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Everett Kissler
MOTION CARRIED

There is an opportunity for staff to acquire additional Colorado Big Thompson (CBT) water units for this year’s augmentation plans.

AUTHORIZE THE STAFF AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO ENTER INTO ADDITIONAL CBT LEASE AND STORAGE CONTRACTS FOR THIS IRRIGATION YEAR.
Motion: Jim Reasoner
Second: Ralph Anders
MOTION CARRIED

Staff has designed a two-phase plan for land restoration work at the Orchard Recharge site.

APPROVE PHASE ONE OF THE ORCHARD PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE APPLICATION OF ROUNDUP HERBICIDE AND PLANTING OF SORGUM.
Motion: Frank Eckhardt
Second: Everett Kissler
MOTION CARRIED

Randy Ray spoke to the board regarding Employee Policy changes. Staff and their supervisors have been asked to monitor over-time; all staff must have supervisor approval before working any over-time, and any accrued over-time must be used in a reasonable time period.
There will also be a few minor changes to the current vacation time policy.

APPROVE THE REVISED OVERTIME POLICY.
Motion: Vern Kammerzell
Second: Jim Reasoner
MOTION CARRIED

APPROVE THE REVISED VACATION POLICY.
Motion: Everett Kissler
Second: John Tuttle
MOTION CARRIED

REPORTS

Randy Ray discussed the Colorado Water Congress Summer Conference set for August 23-25. Randy Knutson, Gary Herman, Randy Ray, Ruth Schaffer, and Kathy Parker will be going. Justin Bieri is tentative. Everett Kissler indicated he would also like to attend.

Central hosted a tour for Senator Cory Gardner last week. Randy Knutson, Gary Herman, Randy Ray, Chris Schall, Kathy Parker and the Senator’s Representative Maria Secrest were on the tour. Central Federal lobbyist Christine Arbogast assisted in setting up the tour and was also present. The tour stops were Siebring Reservoir, a recharge pond and well telemetry at Vern Kammerzell’s, and then to the maintenance shop and V. Frank Recharge by Gilcrest. Rod Asmussen talked about the meter program and telemetry. The tour was very successful.

I MOVE TO ADJOURN THE OPEN MEETING AND GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL ISSUES, ACCORDING TO COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, SECTION 24-6-402(2)(F) AT 9:25 P.M.
Motion: Frank Eckhardt
Second: Jim Reasoner
MOTION CARRIED

OFFER RANDY RAY THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH THE SALARY PACKAGE THAT THE SELECTION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, ALSO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE FOR OTHER STAFF’S SALARY PACKAGE.
Motion: Randy Knutson
Second: Don Rosenbrock
MOTION CARRIED

Randy Ray accepted the job position and salary offered.

The regular meeting was adjourned at 10:06 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Parker
Public Information/Education Coordinator