Corcoran Irrigation District
November 12, 2024
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corcoran Irrigation District was held on Tuesday, November 12, at the office of the District, 1150 6 ½ Avenue, Corcoran, California at 9:00 a.m.
Directors Present:
- Matthew Gilkey
- Erik Hansen
- Michael Boyett
- Beau Howard
- Frederick Holt
Directors Absent:
- None
Others Present:
- Devin Eagle, General Manager
- Vilay Lee, California High Speed Rail (CHSRA)
- Misty Vasquez, Financial Officer
- Kuyler Crocker, CHSRA
- Michael Martinez, Operations Manager
- Soo Lee, CHSRA
- Calvin Monreal, Provost & Pritchard
- Nathalie Birac, Laketricity
- Roger Reynolds, Summers Engineering
- Saran Kumar, Laketricity
- John Gaugel, Wonderful Orchards
- Josh Fox, Legal Counsel
There were no additions or deletions.
There were no announcements.
Upon motion of Director Hansen, seconded by Director Howard, 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 $1,027,126.12.
Upon motion of Director Howard, seconded by Director Boyett, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the minutes of the October 8, 2024 regular District Board of Directors meeting as presented.
Mr. Eagle reported the General Fund checking account balance of $725,337.86 beginning October 1, 2024 and $459,762.68 ending October 31, 2024.
Mr. Eagle reported on certificate of investments at Kings Federal Credit Union, having an October 1, 2024 balance of $290,761.20, earning interest of $543.29, resulting in ending balance of $291,304.49. The Kings County Treasurer investments balance beginning October 1, 2024 was $1,993,302.48, gaining no interest. The District’s total investments, reported as of October 31, 2024, amounted to $3,037,606.97.
Mr. Eagle reported on the accounts receivable aging summary, with one grower being delinquent.
Mr. Eagle reported on October 2024 water deliveries of 3,294 acre-feet and canal use of 0 acre-feet. Combined water deliveries and canal use for October totaled 3,294 acre-feet. October water supplies were provided by groundwater and surface water from the Kings and Kaweah River systems. October rainfall totaled 0.00 inches. 2024-2025 Water Year-to-date rainfall totaled 0.00 inches.
Mr. Eagle reported on the state of the District’s well field, with two wells in need of repairs. The current total well production was 70 CFS, with a potential of 122 CFS.
Mr. Eagle reported the Cost of Operations at $112.00 per acre-foot for the year.
Mr. Eagle asked the Board to consider adjusting the water toll rate to reflect current water conditions. The Board took no action. The current water toll rate remains at $100.00 per acre-foot.
Ms. Birac and Mr. Kumar gave a presentation of their proposed 120 MW floating solar project to be installed in CID Reservoir 1-D. Ms. Birac explained that in 2021 the Board had granted Laketricity an Option to Lease (OLA) for the surface of the water in the reservoir. Ms. Birac explained that the OLA was set to expire at the end of the year and that Laketricity would need an extension. After some discussion the Board took no action on the current form of the agreement and asked Laketricity to amend the proposed OLA extension agreement to add a clause requiring Laketricity to pay the cost of dredging Reservoir 1-D.
Mr. Reynolds from Summers Engineering presented to the Board his evaluation of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (CHSRA) West Branch Canal design. Mr. Reynolds explained that he and Mr. Eagle had worked extensively with CHSRA and that the design was acceptable. Upon motion of Director Hansen, seconded by Director Holt, and unanimously carried, the Board authorized Mr. Eagle to send a letter to CHSRA stating that the District accepts the design so long as the project design does not impede District operations.
Ms. Lee from California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) presented to the Board an encroachment permit that would allow CHSRA and its contractors to begin construction on its West Branch Canal project on December 20, 2024. Mr. Eagle informed the Board that this permit would function as a vehicle for reimbursement of costs incurred by the District as a result of CHSRA’s West Branch Canal project. Upon motion of Director Hansen, seconded by Director Holt, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the encroachment permit with the additional text to be added to Section 9 of the permit: “In the event that District, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines that using its facilities in the manner permitted by this section would cause undue harm, Permittee shall be responsible for the cost of any ameliorative efforts undertaken by the District, and agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the District from and against any claims, costs, or any other liabilities in any manner related to activity or events associated with this permit which take place after February 28, 2025.”
Mr. Eagle informed the Board that the October El Rico GSA Board Meeting was scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Monreal from Provost & Prichard informed the Board that on November 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM, he and Mr. Eagle publicly opened and tallied all eligible contractor bids submitted for the CID Recharge Basin project. Mr. Monreal explained that after all bids were tallied, the bid from Wood Bros, Inc. was found to be the apparent low bidder with a low Base Bid of $890,840.70. Mr. Monreal suggested the Board award the project to Wood Bros, Inc. Mr. Eagle provided the Board with draft Resolution 2024-4 which would award the project to Wood Bros, Inc. Upon motion of Director Howard, seconded by Director Holt, and unanimously carried, the Board approved Resolution No. 2024-4, awarding the CID Recharge Basin project to Wood Bros, Inc.
Mr. Eagle and Mr. Monreal provided the Board with a status update on the USDA Water-Savings Commodities Program (WSCP). Mr. Eagle presented to the Board a Notice of Grant and Agreement Award for the WSCP. Mr. Eagle explained that the District would need to authorize signature of the document in order to move forward with the WSCP. Upon motion of Director Howard, seconded by Director Boyett, and unanimously carried, the Board authorized Mr. Eagle to sign the Notice of Grant and Agreement Award for the USDA Water-Savings Commodities Program.
Mr. Eagle informed the Board that there was no new information on legislation.
The Board, Mr. Eagle, and Mr. Fox went into closed session at 11:39 a.m.
Director Howard left the meeting at 11:40 a.m.
Director Gilkey reconvened open session at 11:58 a.m.
Mr. Gilkey reported that during closed session, upon motion of Director Boyett, seconded by Director Holt, and passed with four Aye votes and zero Nay votes, the Board authorized legal counsel to send a Notice of Action on Claim to attorneys for J. G. Boswell Co., rejecting in its entirety their claim for equitable indemnity with regard to Superior Court Case No. 24CU0099.
Aye: Directors Gilkey, Hansen, Boyett and Holt
Nay: None
Absent: Director Howard
Next Board meeting was set for December 10, 2024.
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 12:02 p.m.