MINUTES OF THE CENTRAL COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
January 16, 2024
The regular monthly meeting of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was held on Tuesday, January 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; Bret Schmidt, Treasurer; Frank Eckhardt, At Large; Dave Bernhardt; Steve Bruntz; Dan Kammerzell; Everett Kissler; Randy Knutson and Alan Mazzotti. Doug Dill, Gary Herman, Vern Kammerzell and Don Rosenbrock attended by video conference. Alan Axton was absent.
Others present were Randy Ray, Executive Director; Billy Mihelich, District Engineer; Evan McCurnin, Water Resources Analyst; Danyelle Hart, Financial Analyst; Courtney Sandoval, Water Quality Coordinator 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 NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2023 AS PRESENTED.
MOTION: STEVE BRUNTZ
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
Public Discussion
Todd Snidow from RBC Bank attended to review Central’s projects and funding.
Legal Action Items
There were none.
Legal/Legislative Reports
Brad Grasmick had no recommendations for opposition.
Five Board of Director’s terms expire in February 2024. Brad explained the process of applying for a director position and informed the board that five resumes were received, Dan Kammerzell, Everett Kissler, Doug Dill, Alan Mazzotti and Jonathan Mark. The Weld, Morgan and Adams County judges will make the appointments within the next two weeks. It will be necessary to hold board elections and make new committee appointments at the February board meeting.
Brad then gave a Water Court update including Chatfield, the Castle Rock case, Rangeview and change cases for Western shares and Farmers Independent shares. Brad also informed the board of a bill being proposed that will modify Conservancy District’s ability to lease water outside the district’s boundaries.
District Action
MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION REGARDING AUTHORIZATION FOR REPRESENTATION AND TO VOTE SHARES OF STOCK.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
Danyelle Hart presented a Vendor Change policy.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE VENDOR CHANGE/NEW ACH PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS POLICY.
MOTION: STEVE BRUNTZ
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
Randy presented the 2023-2024 fiscal year Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company membership list and assessments.
Randy opened three sealed bids to lease 28 shares of Farmers Independent Ditch.
MOVE TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING BIDS TO LEASE THE 28 SHARES OF FARMERS INDEPENDENT DITCH COMPANY –
• ECKHARDT FARMS 11 SHARES AT $451 PER SHARE
• JAMES EWING 5 SHARES AT $450 PER SHARE
• DONNA EWING 5 SHARES AT $450 PER SHARE
• MARDELLE EWING 5 SHARES AT $450 PER SHARE
• RCS FARMS 2 SHARES AT $325 PER SHARE
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: ALAN MAZZOTTI
MOTION CARRIED WITH CHAD SCHAFER AND FRANK ECKHARDT ABSTAINING
MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2024 GRAZING LEASE AGREEMENT ON THE ORCHARD PROPERTY WITH TIM PEGGRAM.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: STEVE BRUNTZ
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2024 GRAZING LEASE AGREEMENT ON THE WALKER PROPERTY WITH JOSEPH HAWKINS.
MOTION: BRET SCHMIDT
SECOND: CHAD SCHAFER
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE THE MEINING CORRAL LEASE AT $1200 PER YEAR AND STRIKE THE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE NUMBER OF CATTLE ALLOWED.
MOTION: RANDY KNUTSON
SECOND: CHAD SCHAFER
MOTION CARRIED
Randy reviewed sponsorship requests and membership renewals.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING SPONSORSHIP REQUESTS –
• COLORADO AG IN THE CLASSROOM $2500
• WATER EDUCATION COLORADO $2460
• FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE $500
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: RANDY KNUTSON
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE LEASING THE CLEMENT FARM TO ECKHARDT FARMS IN 2024.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED WITH FRANK ECKHARDT ABSTAINING
Staff Action
There was none.
Presidents Report
President Anders discussed a recent illness and expressed his gratitude for the ability to be presiding over the board meeting today.
Education Report
There was none.
Water Quality Report
Courtney Sandoval presented her report on 2023 monthly river sampling data including five years of historical data. Discussion followed.
District Report
Randy discussed a meeting being held next week with the Town of Gilcrest regarding the Sweet Valley Reservoir project. J.C. York has recommendations regarding the mining permits. Randy is drafting a letter to neighbors of the project hoping to address concerns and extending an offer to host a meeting.
Secretaries Report
Randy reviewed the CCWCD calendar.
New Business
There was none.
MOVE TO ADJOURN.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED
The regular meeting was adjourned at 1:09 P.M.