DEVILS LAKE BASIN JOINT WATER RESOURCE BOARD
Minutes of the regular monthly meeting held Wednesday, February 17th, 2009 in the
Historical Meeting Room of the Ramsey County Courthouse in Devils Lake, ND.
Chairman Ash called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. Roll call of the counties was taken
and Representatives from Walsh, Towner and Pierce were absent.
Cavalier County
Larry Gellner
Eddy County
Mike Tweed
Nelson County
Mike Donohue
Pierce County
Absent
Ramsey County
Duaine Ash
Rolette County
Sherwood Haakenson
Towner County
Absent
Walsh County
Absent
Others present: See list attached to original minutes.
Chairman Ash stated that the minutes were sent out to board members in their premeeting packets and asked if everyone had a chance to read the minutes and if they had
any corrections. Gellner moved to approve the minutes of the January 7th meeting,
second by Donohue, motion passed unanimously.
The following list of bills was presented for payment:
February 2009 Bills
Leever's County Market
Gerrell's & Company
NDTC (Website Registration & Setup)
Britsch & Associates (2008 1099 Prep.)
Ramsey County Auditor: Rent
Ramsey County Auditor: Pstg *
Ramsey County Auditor: Telephone: December - January
Ramsey County Auditor: copies
Ramsey County Water Resource District - Copier Rent
Jeff Frith - Manager's Travel Expenses
Dale Overton - Sub-Basin Meeting
Leo Bittner - Sub-Basin Meeting
ND SWC - 2008 4th Quarter Engineering
ND PERs - Health Insurance
Bartlett & West - Pilot Project
NDSU - 2008 4th Quarter Test Project
Bartlett & West - Test Project
* Includes $20.00 Postage Meter Fee
$32.21
$13.36
$415.00
$20.00
$190.00
$64.08
$59.59
$32.00
$50.00
$429.50
$61.00
$25.00
$2,500.00
$825.76
$2,750.00
$20,350.17
$1,125.00
Gellner moved to pay the bills as listed, second by Donohue, motion carried
unanimously.
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TEST PROJECT UPDATE:
# NDSU Update: Frith stated that the monthly report from Drs. Steele & Hopkins for the
months of January/February is included in the board’s packets for them to go over, a copy
will accompany the official board minutes. Frith asked the board to look at the document
located behind the monthly report, a document entitled “Preliminary Results and
Recommendations Devils Lake Basin Water Utilization Test Project”. Frith pointed out
that this document is a draft of what Drs. Steele & Hopkins research has shown to date in
regards to a flood mitigation tool. Frith stated that he shared this document with James
Landenberger and Jerry Shear from Bartlett and West as well as former manager Mike
Connor and Rick Anderson from North Central Planning and they thought it would be
best to have a conference call with the Drs. to discuss the paper. The Drs. explained their
research and how they came to the conclusion that they did. Frith state that after much
discussion and some concessions they agreed that more work and more testing is needed.
A copy of the “Preliminary Results and Recommendations Devils Lake Basin Water
Utilization Test Project” will accompany the official board minutes.
BENSON COUNTY:
Frith stated that he spoke with Brian Maddock, Benson County Water Board member and
he had stated that they are working on a proposal for the joint board and should have one
before the March meeting.
SWEETWATER/MORRISON STORAGE CONTRACTS UPDATE:
Frith stated that he currently is waiting for the final contracts to come in and didn’t
anticipate any problems getting the contracts returned before water starts flowing in the
spring.
COLLIN HANSON PUMPING CONTRACT:
Frith stated that after the last meeting where the board decided to give Mr. Hanson
$1,100 per year for additional storage and pumping of water he spoke with Mr. Hanson
about what the board had done and Mr. Hanson didn’t think the 10% increase that he
received was fair considering everyone else within the program received an 18% contract
increase. Gellner moved to increase Collin Hanson’s additional storage and
pumping contract by 18%, second by Tweed, motion carried unanimously.
ESAP STORAGE CONTRACT RENEWAL:
Frith stated to the board that the ESAP (Extended Storage Acres Program) 10 year
contracts were set to expire at the end of 2009 and he would like to get started on the
renewal process and the first step would be to gather interest in continuing the program
from both the SWC and the landowner participants. Frith explained that the contracts
varied in price based on the amount of water being stored.
OFFICE FURNITURE PRICES:
Frith stated that he received one price from Hoiberg’s Office Furniture from Devils Lake
and was waiting to hear back from Rough Rider Industries on a price. Frith said that the
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OFFICE FURNITURE PRICES CONTINUED:
price from Hoiberg’s was $2,180 and that if chosen that price would probably increase
slightly as it did not include a keyboard tray that Frith would prefer. Frith asked if the
board would like to go ahead with the price quote from Hoiberg’s or wait until Rough
Rider got back to him. Gellner moved to go ahead with the office furniture from
Hoiberg’s Office Furniture, second by Haakenson, motion carried unanimously.
RED RIVER BASIN RESOLUTION:
Frith stated that since it was tabled at the previous meeting the Red River Basin
Resolution needs to be decided on. Gellner moved not to support or sign the
resolution, second by Donohue, motion passed 3 – 2.
OTHER OLD BUSINESS:
WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE:
Frith stated that he received the update from Mike Noone and proceeded to pass that
information out to the board. Frith asked that the board take a look at what he had passed
out and for them to bring back any comments to the next board meeting and he and
Noone would complete the update by putting together the names of the Subject
Committee members from each county as well as some economic data they are waiting
for from North Central Planning.
NO OTHER OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
SWC & NWS SNOW PACK MEASUREMENTS/FLOOD FORECAST
Frith told the board that the SWC snow pack survey was passed out and he proceeded to
give a power point presentation that he had received from the NWS in Bismarck. The
presentation included a variety of slides that showed the huge increase in above normal
precipitation from August through December with a slight below normal amounts in
January. He also went through the NWS & USGS’s predictions of the lake reaching
various levels.
SWC STATE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE:
Mike Noone stated that the SWC Water Management Plan update is now completed. He
stated that he has copies for the board members but had left them in Bismarck. Frith
stated that he has a copy in the office if anyone would be interesting in reviewing it.
DEVILS LAKE DIKE RE-ALIGNMENT / JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT
Chairman Ash introduced Mayor Fred Bott with the City of Devils Lake. He was asked
to give the board an update on the Devils Lake Dike Re-Alignment. Mayor Bott pointed
out that throughout the past year the Army Corps was studying and holding public
meetings discussing the Devils Lake dike, raising of the dike, re-alignment of the dike if
the raise goes ahead. Mayor Bott stated that the preliminary costs for the project are
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DEVILS LAKE DIKE RE-ALIGNMENT / JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT
CONTINUED:
between 70 & 120 million dollars with the local share somewhere in the neighbor hood of
20% to 30% of that. He stated that the he has been going around to local entities such as
the Ramsey County Commission, the Ramsey County Water Board and will be going to
the Creel Township Board and today with the Joint Board. Mayor Bott stated that the
city is putting together a Joint Powers Agreement between these agencies and would like
to have the Joint Board to give their support for this joint Powers Agreement as well.
Mayor Bott stated that the Joint Powers Agreement isn’t ready as of yet and by joining
the group it will give all agencies a voice on the table when composing the agreement.
He also stated that by joining at this time does not bind any group into a long term
agreement if at some point in time a party would like to bow out of the agreement.
Gellner moved for the Joint Board to support the City of Devils Lake with their
Dike Re-Alignment project and join the Dike Re-Alignment/Joint Powers
Agreement committee, second by Tweed, motion carried unanimously. Gellner asked
if Mayor Bott would be able to bring this presentation to the Joint Board’s next meeting
in Munich so other water board members can hear it, Mayor Bott agreed and stated he
could make it to the meeting.
SWEETWATER/MORRISON OUTLET & CHANNEL REPORT TO STATE
ENGINEER:
Frith presented the board with a letter that is addressed to Dale Frink, State Engineer ND
SWC that explains the work done over the past year on the Sweetwater/Morrison Outlet
& Channel and what work, if any is planned for 2009. It is a letter that is sent to the State
Engineer on an annual basis and a copy will be included with the official minutes.
Gellner moved to approve the Sweetwater/Morrison Report to the State Engineer,
second by Tweed, motion carried unanimously.
7th ANNUAL JOINT BOARD TOUR
Frith went over with the board some possible dates and route for the tour.
Haakenson moved to hold the 7th Annual Joint Board Tour on June 24th, 2009,
second by Donohue, motion passed unanimously.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS:
No other new business.
BASIN BOARD REPORTS:
Cavalier County: Gellner stated that there is not much going on right now, they will be
meeting with ND Game and Fish and affected landowners.
Eddy County: Tweed said that there is a lot of snow in Sheyenne River crossings.
Nelson County: Donohue stated that they met yesterday; they are still trying to remove
sheet water from Northern Nelson County.
Pierce County: Absent, no report.
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BASIN BOARD REPORTS CONTINUED:
Ramsey County: Ash commented that they were reviewing their personnel policy to
review vacation, sick and holiday pay for their office manager. They were also reviewing
legislative issues concerning water boards within North Dakota.
Rolette County: Haakenson stated there is an awful lot of snow in the Southern portion
of the county.
Towner County: Absent, no report.
Walsh County: Absent, no report.
RED RIVER BASIN COMMISSION:
No Report Available
STATE WATER COMMISSION REPORT:
Erwin Curry, P.E. Presented the SWC report for January; a copy of his report is attached
to the official minutes. Curry said that the SWC will be sending out a survey crew in
mid February to do another snow pack survey.
USF&W UPDATE:
Neil Shook was present but didn’t have anything specific to share with the board.
NRCS REPORT:
Becky Clow, Devils Lake Area Office, gave a report/update on the Wet Land Reserve
Program, and the 2008 Farm Bill.
DOWNSTREAM ACCEPTANCE REPORT:
Joe emphasized that things may be quiet now but based on the moisture we have received
and the NWS Lake’s forecast that will be changing. A copy of Joe’s report will be
included in the official Joint Board minutes.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
Frith reviewed the miscellaneous material contained in the Board packets. His report for
the month of January was mailed to the Board with their pre-agenda packet. A copy of
Frith’s report is attached to the official minutes.
There being no further business, Chairman Ash thanked everyone attending.
Date approved: March 17th, 2009
____________________
Duaine Ash, Chairman
______________________
Jeff W. Frith, Manager
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