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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - North Fork Water Company - 12/22/1981NORTH FORK WATER COMPANY BOARD MEETING DECEMBER 22, 1981 A meeting of the Board of Directors of the North ~ork %~ater Company was held December 22, 19~1, at 7~00 p.m. in the of£ice of 'tile East San Bernardino County Water District, 1155 Del Rosa Avenue, San Bernardino, California. PRESENT: Arnold L. Wright Laird Roddick Victor Ray Ray Keslake Dennis Johnson Elizabeth Kiel Joseph Rowe ABSENT: None The Minutes of November 17, 1951 were approved as submitted. DISCUSSION RE EAST SAN BE~ARDINO COUNTY WATER DISTRICT REQUEST FOR DELIVERY ENTITLEmeNT President Wright expressed his views on the East San Bernardino County Water District's request for delivery entitlement about January 1, 1982. He indicated it would be necessary for the North Fork By-Laws to be amended or changed to accon~odate the District's request for water for spreading purposes. The by-laws state that the water can only be used for irrigation purposes. He indicated the Bear Valley Mutual Water Company had stated their Company policy re delivery of water and submitted the written policy to the Board for 'their review. The policy stated that deliveries shall be made for replenishment use only, when there is sufficient natural water available in the Santa Ana River, not supplemented by releases from holdover storage reservoirs, as determined by resolution of the Board and only at such times as the Company's conduits and related facilities are in operation, and not subject to repair or maintenance; also, that no waters for such deliveries may be drawn from wells making extractions from the San Bernardino underground basin; provided that waters over and above the set delivery may be advanced during non-irrigating months if flows in the Santa Ana River are sufficient to satisfy such advances as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. It appeared the Board felt any shareholder should be entitled to water upon request, however, they were concerned that available water be given to the farmers for irrigation purposes before it was used for spreading. ~r. Edward Jakowczyk, General Manager for the East San Bernardino County Water District, was present and stated it was not the intention of the District to take water from farmers; that there should be a provision made wherein the water would be delivered to the District as long as ~here was a natural flow of water available; that deliveries be ~,ade to the District for their entitlement when na~urai water was flowing, otherwise there would be no call for water from the District. Free flowing water or natural water would be water flowing down the Santa Aha, not water stored in the N.o 96 reservoir. A poll was made of each North Fork Directo~ as to their feelings on the matter, it appeared that the consenses was that stock- holders should have entitlement water made available when they call for it; that the by-laws be amended to provide for spreading, as long as it does not cause a shortage of irrigation water; that an attorney be retained to prepare an a~endment to the by-laws; that water be confined to agricultural use and spreading only; that the provisions in the by-laws prohibiting the use of the water for domestic purposes be re- tained. M/S/C (Johnson-Keslake) that authorization be made for an attorney to prepare an amendment to Section 7.16 of the 1950 Code By-Laws; to confine the amendment to irrigation purposes and spreading; that the portion be left in the present amendment which prohibits domestic use~ that it be presented to the Board for final approval within 90 days. M/S/C (Johnson-Kiel) that Directors Wright and Roddick be appointed as a committee to select an attorney to review and prepare an amendment for the by-laws; to also retain an attorney to represent North Fork Water Company. Mr. Jakowczyk indicated he would check with Attorney Robert Farrell regarding the District's standing the cost of litigation in the event a problem should arise regarding the spreading of North Fork water. SA~ BERNARDINO VALLEY WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REQUEST TO OBTAIN TITLE TO NORTH FOI{K LAND IN WATER SPREADING AREA President Wright referred to a letter received from the San Bernardino Water Conservation District relative to their request to obtain title to approximately 20.8 acres of North Fork land in order to set it aside ~ permanently for water spreading. The land is located southerly of Greenspot Road. It appears they would like title to the land in order to avoid having another entity condemn the property for their use. The question of the East San Bernardino County Water District already having a friendly condemnation suit against North Fork was discussed. It was determined that a letter would be obtained from the East San Bernardino County Water District's attorney indicating what the friendly condemnation suit involved. M/S/C (Johnson-Rowe) that the Conservation District's proposal to obtain ownership of North Fork's 20.8 acres for spreading purposes be tabled for further review. MENTONE D~ A draft resolution opposing the Mentone Dam was presented to the Board for their review. After reviewing and refining the proposed resolution it was determined it would be adopted and sent to various officials. M/S/C (Johnson-Rowe) that the resolution, as revised, be adopted and sent to the Board of Supervisors, Chief of Engineers Corps, Jerry Lewis, Bill Leonard and any other person who might be influencial in mitigating the Mentone Dam. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MASTER MEETING OF ALL IRRIGATION WATER COMPANIES RE: SANTA ANA RIVER-MILL CREEK DIVERSION AGREEMENT BETWEEN SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY, JANUARY 26, 1982 AT REDLANDS FEDERAL BUILDING IN REDLANDS. President Wright urged all members of the Board to attend a meeting on January 26, 1982, if possible, relative to an agreement between San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District and Southern California Edison Company. All irrigation companies would be requested to vote on the agreement, as to whether or not it should be ratified. A draft of an amended agreement is being prepared at this time and copies will be made available to the Board. The agreement is relative to the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District having the Santa Ana No.3 and Mill Creek No. 3 plants and flume turned over to them. Mr. Rowe was asked to meet with Mr. Hiltgen and express his feelings about the agreement as soon as possible, before the agreement is finalized. ADJOUrnmeNT There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9.25 p.m. Bonnie R. Eastwood, Secreta~t N? 97 RESOLUTIOI~ 1981.1 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NORTH FO~ WATER CO~ANY BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NORTH FOR WATER COMPanY as follows: WHEREAS, the North Fork Water Company was incorporated on January 13, 1885, under the laws of California; and WHEREAS, the North Fork Water Company has operated as an irrigation district for ninety-four years; and WHEREAS, the North Fork Water Company is deeply concerned by the potential impacts associated with the Corps of Engineers proposed Mentone Dam; and WHEREAS, the North Fork Water Company does understand the need for flood control on the Santa Ana River; and WHEREAS, the North Fork Water Company strongly questions the Corps concepts relative to the Mentone Dam~ and WHEREAS, the San Bernardino Valley is one of the few places in Southern California that does not now depend on imported water? and WHEREAS, to build a flood control structure that does not safe- guard our local water supplies in the area, as well as stockholders property, will be a dis-service to the public of the greatest magni- tude; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the North Fork Water Company is prepared to meet with the Corps of Engineers to discuss the concerns that we believe would lessen the impact of the facility. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the North Fork Water Company strongly recommends that the Corps Phase I report not be accepted or approved until such time as the impacts on the San Bernardino Valley and our water supplies are re-evaluated. The foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the North Fork Water Company upon motion duly made, seconded and carried unanimously on December 22, 1981. NORTH FORK WATER CO~Y Arnold L. Wright, President ATTEST: Bonnie R. Eastwood Secretary I, Bonnie R. Eastwood, Secretary of the North Fork Water Company hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors on December 22, 1981 and made a part of the minutes thereof. Bonnie R.Eastwood, Secretary