CORCORAN IRRIGATION DISTRICT
November 14, 2023
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corcoran Irrigation District was held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at the office of the District, 1150 6 ½ Avenue, Corcoran, California at 9:00 a.m.
Directors Present:
- Peter Rietkerk
- Beau Howard
- Matthew Gilkey
- Erik Hansen
- Michael Boyett
Directors Absent:
- None
Others Present:
- Devin Eagle, General Manager
- Misty Vasquez, Financial Officer
- Mike Martinez, Operations Manager
- Fred Holt, Circle T Farms
- John Gaugel, Wonderful Orchards
- Peter Nelson, Wonderful Orchards
- Marla Borges, M. Green & Company
- Manny Gonzalez, M. Green & Company
- Mary Quillin, M. Green & Company
- Carlo Wilcox, Landowner
There were no announcements, additions, or deletions.
Upon motion of Director Hansen, seconded by Director Gilkey, and unanimously carried, the Board approved and authorized Mrs. Vasquez to draw Warrants on the Treasury of the District to pay invoices in the Warrant Register amounting to $785,577.47.
Upon motion of Director Howard, seconded by Director Gilkey, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the minutes of the October 12, 2023 District Board of Directors meeting as presented.
Upon motion of Director Hansen, seconded by Director Howard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the minutes of the October 12, 2023 District Board of Equalization meeting as presented.
Mr. Eagle reported the General Fund checking account balance of $773,537.89 beginning October 1, 2023 and $446,648.39 ending October 31, 2023.
Mr. Eagle reported on certificate of investments at Kings Federal Credit Union, having a beginning October 1, 2023 balance of $284.422.94 earning interest of $531.44, amounting to an ending balance of $284.954.38. The Kings County Treasurer investments beginning October 1, 2023 balance reported was $3,507,068.74, gaining no interest. The District’s total investments, reported as of October 31, 2023, amounted to $4,489,401.19.
Mr. Eagle reported on the accounts receivable aging summary, with three growers delinquent.
Mr. Eagle reported October 2023 water deliveries of 3,188 acre-feet and canal use of 1,845 acre-feet. Combined water deliveries and canal use for October totaled 5,033 acre-feet. October water supplies were provided by surface water from the Kings and Kaweah River systems. October rainfall totaled 0.09 inches. Water Year rainfall totaled 0.86 inches.
Mr. Eagle reported on the state of the District’s well field, with three wells in need of repairs. Current total well production was 0 CFS, with a potential of 122 CFS.
Mr. Eagle reported the Cost of Operations at $103.00 per acre-foot for the year.
Mr. Eagle asked the Board of Directors to consider adjusting water toll rates to reflect current water conditions. Upon motion of Director Hansen, seconded by Director Howard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved and authorized setting water tolls to $100 per acre-foot effective midnight on November 14, 2023. Mr. Eagle asked that water tolls be reevaluated at each regular board meeting going forward.
Mr. Eagle requested the Board adopt Resolution 2023-5, Service Acknowledgment of Director Peter Rietkerk. Mr. Eagle reported that Director Rietkerk has faithfully served 30 years on the Corcoran Irrigation District Board of Directors and will complete his final term on December 1st, 2023. Upon motion of Director Boyett, seconded by Director Gilkey, and carried, the Board approved the adoption of Resolution 2023-5.
Mr. Eagle informed the Board that the District had posted Notice of Vacancy documentation informing the public of the Division 2 vacancy effective November 15, 2023. Mr. Eagle informed the Board that interested parties could obtain a Board Member Application Form from the District office.
Ms. Borges and Mr. Gonzalez from M. Green and Company reported on Corcoran Irrigation District’s (CID) 2022 Financial Audit. Ms. Borges gave CID a “Good Standing” report. Upon motion of Director Gilkey, seconded by Director Boyett, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the financial audit report as presented.
Ms. Quillin from M. Green and Company reported on Corcoran Irrigation District’s 2022 Pension Audit. Ms. Borges gave CID a “Good Standing” report. Upon motion of Director Boyett, seconded by Director Howard, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Money Purchase Pension Plan audit report as presented.
Mr. Eagle informed the Board that there was no new information on Solar Projects.
Mr. Eagle informed the Board that the District was working with FEMA on reimbursement for damages caused by CA-4699-DR.
Mr. Eagle reported that he attended the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Public Workshop held in Hanford on November 8th. Mr. Eagle provided a summary of the event which covered SWRCB’s comments on the Tulare Lake Subbasin’s potential probationary designation. Mr. Eagle informed the Board that if the subbasin is designated as probationary, the District would be required to pay a $300.00 base filing fee per well as well as a $40.00 per acre-foot groundwater extraction fee. Mr. Eagle estimated these fees to amount to a one-time fee of $19,200 as well as an average annual expense of $2,200,000. Mr. Eagle reported that Tulare Lake Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies are working to revise the collective Groundwater Sustainability Plan to address SWRCB concerns and avoid a probationary designation. Mr. Eagle reported that the SWRCB’s probationary designation decision for the Tulare Lake subbasin would be made at a public hearing in Sacramento on April 16th, 2024.
Mr. Eagle informed the Board that the November 14th, 2023 El Rico Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board of Directors (GSA Board) meeting would take place at 1:00 p.m. Mr. Eagle presented the Board with a draft of the El Rico GSA’s Rules and Regulations that were to be a part of the November 14th GSA Board meeting packet. Mr. Eagle presented his response letter, which asked several changes be made to the Rules and Regulations before ratification by the GSA Board. The Board asked Mr. Eagle to present his letter to the GSA Board at the November 14th, 2023 GSA Board meeting.
Mr. Eagle presented to the Board Rob C. Yraceburu’s (Wonderful Orchards) and Gary Stiefvater’s (Stiefvater Orchards) letter to the El Rico GSA Board of Directors. Mr. Nelson and Mr. Gaugel discussed with the Board issues they had with the proposed GSA Rules and Regulations.
Mr. Eagle informed the Board that there was no new information on legislation.
Next Board meeting was set for November 14, 2023.
There being no further business before the Board, meeting was adjourned at 11:29 a.m.