MINUTES OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT SUBDISTRICT OF THE CENTRAL COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
April 16, 2024
The regular monthly meeting of the Groundwater Management Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the office of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District located at 3209 W. 28th St. Greeley, Colorado. The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M. by Chairman Ralph Anders and the following Directors were present: Ralph Anders, President; Chad Schafer, Vice President; Frank Eckhardt, At Large; Steve Bruntz; Doug Dill; Dan Kammerzell; Everett Kissler; Randy Knutson; John Mark; Alan Mazzotti and Don Rosenbrock. Dave Bernhardt, Gary Herman and Bret Schmidt were absent.
Others present were Randy Ray, Executive Director; Billy Mihelich, District Engineer; Evan McCurnin, Water Resources Analyst; Danyelle Hart, Financial Analyst and Lynn Kramer, Contracts Manager. Special guests were Brad Grasmick of Lawrence Custer Grasmick Jones & Donovan and Ed Armbruster of White Sands Water Engineers attended by video conference.
ACCEPT INTO THE RECORD THE CONSENT CALENDAR, FINANCIALS, AND MINUTES OF MARCH 2024 AS PRESENTED.
MOTION: DOUG DILL
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
Public Discussion
Margaret McWeeney from Gallagher Insurance gave a presentation to the board regarding a renewal offer for insurance coverage.
Lauren Hix from Hix Risk Consultants gave a presentation regarding insurance coverage.
Randy Ray presented a Water Lease Agreement between Noble Energy, Inc, Paul Sater and GMS. Jarred Sater addressed the board to describe the project and discuss the details of the agreement. Brad Grasmick reviewed the process required to allow the wells to pump for industrial uses.
JC York of J&T Consulting reviewed slurry wall bids. Chris Leone of J2 Contracting discussed his recommendation and the construction schedule. Discussion followed.
Legal Action Items
There were none.
Legal/Legislative Reports
Brad Grasmick discussed with the board the process for Public Discussion.
Brad gave a legal report including the Rangeview case, the Morgan Quality case settlement and the Western Ditch change case.
Brad updated the board on current legislation.
District Action
MOVE TO ACCEPT THE HALL IRWIN BID FOR THE SLURRY WALL INSTALLATION AT SWEET VALLEY.
MOTION: STEVE BRUNTZ
SECOND: DOUG DILL
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE WORK ORDER NUMBER 008 FOR THE SLURRY WALL INSTALLATION AT SWEET VALLEY.
MOTION: RANDY KNUTSON
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED
Chris Leone reviewed the Progress and Overall Budget Summary for the Sweet Valley project.
MOVE TO ACCEPT THE INSURANCE PROPOSAL FROM HIX RISK CONSULTANTS.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: STEVE BRUNTZ
MOTION CARRIED
The board discussed the Water Lease Agreement requested by Noble Energy and Sater.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE WATER LEASE AGREEMENT WITH NOBLE ENERGY AND PAUL SATER WITH A 50/50 SPLIT OF THE PROCEEDS.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: STEVE BRUNTZ
MOTION FAILED
President Anders asked for any other proposals. No other proposals were made.
Lynn Kramer presented a summary of the 2023 pumping.
Subdistrict Action
Randy presented a request from PureSky Energy for a community solar project located at the Ewing Farm. The board asked for more information.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED WATER LEASE WITH HOSHIKO FARMS INC AND HOSHIKO WATER LLC.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: JOHN MARK
MOTION CARRIED
Randy presented the Colorado Water Conservation Board Lease for Use of Storage Space in the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE CWCB LEASE FOR USE OF STORAGE SPACE IN THE CHATFIELD STORAGE REALLOCATION PROJECT.
MOTION: FRANK ECKHARDT
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED
Randy described a proposal from the Bijou Irrigation Company and Bijou Irrigation District. Director Bruntz discussed previous agreements. Discussion followed. The consensus was to pursue additional negotiations with Bijou.
Danyelle Hart presented the Colorado Water Conservation Board Loan Contract Amendment #1 for Pioneer Reservoir.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE CWCB LOAN CONTRACT AMENDMENT #1 FOR PIONEER RESERVOIR.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: DON ROSENBROCK
MOTION CARRIED
Billy Mihelich presented the Restated Intergovernmental Agreement between the City and County of Broomfield and GMS for joint operation of water storage and use of augmentation water.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESTATED IGA BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF BROOMFIELD AND GMS FOR JOINT OPERATION OF WATER STORAGE AND USE OF AUGMENTATION WATER.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: JOHN MARK
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO INCREASE THE GMS ANNUAL QUOTA TO 65%.
MOTION: DOUG DILL
SECOND: CHAD SCHAFER
MOTION CARRIED
Staff Action
There was none.
Presidents Report
President Anders discussed a conversation he had with John Rusch of Northern Water.
Subdistrict Report
Billy Mihelich provided the operational reports and precipitation outlook.
Secretaries Report
Randy described a court decision for Aranci v. Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District regarding mill levy increases. Brad provided further explanation.
Randy provided the board with the application and resume for a potential board member.
July 2024 Committee Meetings will remain as scheduled.
The GMDA Summer Conference is being held in Omaha, NE on July 17th – 19th.
Randy reviewed the CCWCD calendar.
New Business
There was none.
MOVE TO ADJOURN.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
The regular meeting was adjourned at 2:58 P.M.