MINUTES OF THE CENTRAL COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
November 28, 2023
The regular monthly meeting of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 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; Dave Bernhardt; Steve Bruntz; Frank Eckhardt; Dan Kammerzell; Vern Kammerzell; Everett Kissler; Randy Knutson and Alan Mazzotti. Alan Axton, Doug Dill, Gary Herman and Don Rosenbrock attended by video conference.
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 OCTOBER 2023 AS PRESENTED.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
Public Discussion
RECESS THE MEETING AND OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED 2024 BUDGETS.
MOTION: RANDY KNUTSON
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED AT 10:01 A.M.
There was no public present to comment.
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2024 BUDGETS AND RECONVENE THE GENERAL MEETING.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED AT 10:02 A.M.
Legal Action Items
There were none.
Legal Reports
Brad Grasmick reviewed the September and October resumes, he is recommending opposition in one case.
MOVE TO FILE A STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION IN CASE NO. 2023CW3125.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
Brad gave a Water Court update including changed shares in the Fort Morgan Ditch and a meeting regarding the Beeline Ditch board. Discussion followed.
MOVE TO FILE A DECLARATORY JUDGEMENT REGARDING THE BEELINE DITCH AND BIG THOMPSON PLATTE RIVER DITCH COMPANY BYLAWS.
MOTION: RANDY KNUTSON
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
I MOVE TO ADJOURN THE OPEN MEETING AND GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A PERSONNEL DISCUSSION ON EMPLOYEE SALARIES UNDER SECTION 24-6-402(2)(F) C.R.S.
MOTION: VERN KAMMERZELL
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED AT 10:40 A.M.
MOVE TO ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RETURN TO THE OPEN MEETING.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: DOUG DILL
MOTION CARRIED AT 11:09 A.M.
MOVE TO APPROVE AN INCREASE OF $83,500 IN THE 2024 EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2024 CCWCD BUDGET.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
GRANT AUTHORITY TO PRESIDENT RALPH ANDERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RANDY RAY TO SIGN THE CERTIFICATION OF THE MIL LEVIES FOR CCWCD, GMS AND WAS IN WELD, ADAMS AND MORGAN COUNTIES.
MOTION: FRANK ECKHARDT
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
GRANT AUTHORITY TO PRESIDENT RALPH ANDERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RANDY RAY TO AMEND THE 2023 BUDGETS AND TRANSFER FUNDS IF NECESSARY.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
District Action
Staff and board discussed the Platte River Beeline request for help with a floodplain permit.
Randy provided an update on the Sweet Valley Reservoir Complex. He reviewed a memo to the committee regarding Hunt Feedyard’s participation and a memo from J&T Consulting regarding pipelines and infrastructure. Discussion followed regarding payments for easements.
Randy presented an Opinion of Cost from J2 Contracting for the Western Mutual Ditch Crossing construction.
MOVE TO APPROVE UP TO $400,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WESTERN MUTUAL DITCH CROSSING AND GIVE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AUTHORIZATION TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED WITH RANDY KNUTSON ABSTAINING
Randy notified the board members of expiring terms and resumes needed.
Randy gave some background regarding the request from Greeley Irrigation Company for ditch rider services. The Greeley Irrigation Company sold their backhoe. They would like CCWCD to provide a backhoe to be used by the ditch rider. Randy presented several options and discussed an additional fee to charge GIC or request GIC to share the cost of purchasing the backhoe. Board members expressed opinions regarding ownership and costs.
MOVE TO APPROVE UP TO $75,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A BACKHOE TO BE USED BY THE GIC DITCH RIDER AND GET AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE WITH GREELEY IRRIGATION COMPANY.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED WITH RANDY KNUTSON ABSTAINING
Randy reviewed cost increases in the Rural and Godding Ditch Services Agreement.
MOVE TO INCREASE THE COST OF THE DITCH RIDER SERVICES BY 28% IN THE RURAL AND GODDING DITCH SERVICES AGREEMENT AND REVIEW ANNUALLY.
MOTION: VERN KAMMERZELL
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED
Danyelle Hart gave background regarding the need for accounting services. She reached out to multiple companies and received three bids.
MOVE TO ACCEPT THE BID FROM TIM CHAVIES & ASSOCIATES INC FOR ACCOUNTING SERVICES.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
Staff Action
There was none.
Presidents Report
There was none.
Legislative/Education Report
Brad discussed a proposed change to the Water Conservancy Act.
Water Quality Report
There was none.
District Report
There was none.
Secretaries Report
Secretary Ray’s report included construction photos of work being done at the Wiggins recharge pond, Pioneer Reservoir and Bernhardt Reservoir, the bill regarding tax breaks and an article featuring Alan Mazzotti.
He then reviewed the CCWCD calendar and notified the board that the January 2024 committee meetings are cancelled.
New Business
There was none.
MOVE TO ADJOURN.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
The regular meeting was adjourned at 1:50 P.M.