The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
Cache Highline Water Association

April 7, 2016

The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of the Cache Highline Water Association was held on April 7, 2016, at the Sky View High School Auditorium, 520 South 250 East, Smithfield, Utah.  Approximately 150 people were present in addition to the Board of Directors; J-U-B representative, Paul Willardson; and Cache County representative, Bob Fotheringham.

President Keith Miekle welcomed the attendees and introduced the Board Members, Treasurer, Secretary, and Water Managers.

A motion to approve the minutes of last year’s meeting, held on April 7, 2015, was proposed by Bruce Godfrey, seconded by Carlos Anderson, and carried unanimously.

Financial Report Highlights (also see attachment)

•    Only 40 percent of the middle channel maintenance is paid for by CWHA; the four cities pay the rest, as they use the channel for storm water.  
•    Power was used only for turning on two wells in Smithfield, with less than three weeks of pumping due to careful water management.
•    All but about one hundred LHP&S and L&N certificates have been turned in and replaced with new CHWA certificates.
•    No substantial legal fees are anticipated for the coming year.
•    40 percent of the loan payments are paid by the cities.

Clair Leishman made a motion to accept the financial statements as presented. The motion was seconded by Bruce Godfrey and carried unanimously.

Construction Update Highlights (see attachment)

    The pressurized pipe, 4.2 miles from 1500 North to 4400 North on the middle channel, will run 60 psi of water when completed.  The project is on schedule, on budget, and expected to be operational by May 1.  Over 20,000 feet of pipe has been installed with only 2,000 left.  During the process, many trees were removed from the route to improve access.  Closely located headgates were combined to save a considerable amount of money; on these turnouts with multiple users, each user has his/her own shut-off valve.
 
Water Manager’s Report

    Water Manager Darin Evans expressed gratitude to the shareholders for help in getting through a difficult water year last summer.  Headgate contact information is still essential for the Water Managers and the Board to function effectively; in addition, all headgate users need to be aware who their head gate manager is, as this is the person to contact in an emergency situation.  Before water is put into the new pressurized line, Water Managers will meet with the head gate representatives to discuss possible problems, shut-offs, etc.

Landowners along the Canal have a responsibility to contact the Water Managers or the Board about Canal problems such as seepage, burrowing rodents, or anything blocking the Canal flow.  Darin emphasized the importance of not sterilizing the Canal banks in any way.  Weeds may be removed, but grasses are needed to prevent erosion.  Removal of trees is often necessary because of seepage and access difficulty; new bushes, trees, or other landscaping features should not be planted on the Canal bank; they obstruct access along the right of way, and the roots actually cause erosion and seepage problems.

    Keith Meikle also emphasized the following legal rights of the Canal:  (1) to act as a dominant estate and determine what is removed and what remains along the bank right of way; (2) to carry water and to perform all maintenance required to carry out that function.  The Canal/Board does not have the right to grant pedestrian traffic; however, it does support the community trails.

Water Outlook (see attachment)

    Jim Huppi presented a comprehensive graph showing historical precipitation and storm water equivalent at Tony Grove.  He indicated that the water situation is much better this year than last, but careful water use is still very necessary.

Water Conservancy District

    Bob Fotheringham has talked to all communities in the valley about the advantages of creating a water conservancy district to help preserve water and protect water rights.  A committee has drafted the bylaws and resolutions necessary to create a water conservancy district.  One board member will be appointed; ten board members will be elected from the water districts involved.  Shareholders may contact Dave Erickson or Jim Huppi with concerns; both are members of the committee.  

Elections

    Nominations were taken for four seats on the Board of Directors.  Deon Hunsaker was nominated by Jeff Rich and seconded by Dave Erickson; Kirt Hoggan was nominated by Norm Younker and seconded by Mitch Shaeffer; Jon Meikle was nominated by Bruce Godfrey and seconded by Reed Elder; and Keith Meikle was nominated by Clyde Bartlett and seconded by Marty Israelsen.  

    Since no others were nominated, Reed Elder made a motion that nominations cease which was seconded by Vern Ashcroft. The motion passed unanimously, and the nominees were elected by acclamation.

    This meeting adjourned at 8:10

Below are the presentations that were shown at the 2015 annual meeting held on April 7, 2015. They are all in .pdf format and you can open then online or download them.

2016 Water Outlook

Annual Meeting 2016 - Financial Report-2015

The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
Cache Highline Water Association

March 13, 2017

            The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of the Cache Highline Water Association was held on March 13, 2017, at the Sky View High School Auditorium, 520 South 250 East, Smithfield, Utah. Approximately 100 people were present in addition to the Board of Directors.

            President Kirt Hoggan welcomed the attendees and introduced the Board Members, Treasurer, Secretary, and three Water Managers.

Copies of the 2016 annual meeting minutes and financial statements were handed out to attendees as they entered the meeting. A motion to approve the minutes of last year’s meeting, held on March 7, 2016, was proposed by Bruce Godfrey, seconded by Carlos Anderson, and carried unanimously.

Financial Report Highlights (see attachments)

Treasurer Lyle Thornley fielded questions from the audience about the 2016 financial statements. He pointed out the payments received from the cities for the use of the Canal as a storm water channel; the percentage of participation will change this year now that the pressurized system is complete. He also described the loan terms and payments.

Kirt Hoggan explained that additional attorney fees were incurred to amend the bylaws; the new pressurized pipeline was not covered/discussed in the original bylaws, and a description of where the CHWA responsibility/liability ends and shareholder responsibility/liability begins needed to be clarified. Descriptions of these responsibilities in several different situations (i.e., pipeline vs. traditional headgate) will be added to the Company website for shareholder reference.

Gordon Younker made a motion to accept the financial statements as presented. The motion was seconded by Eric Hansen and carried unanimously.

Operations Update

            Water Manager Darin Evans reported that the 2016 water year was one of the driest on record. Dave Erickson pointed out that the new water district will have a positive impact on water distribution from now on. The district bylaws will be completed by the April meeting. The organization’s budget is currently coming from Cache County.

            Although there should be plenty of water this year, Darin expressed the need for water schedules (rather than all-at-once watering) all along the system to help maintain a consistent flow along the entire length of the Canal. It is essential to have gate managers for efficient control and for emergency notifications. Contrary to media warnings, watering during the day is necessary with secondary systems. Darin explained the 600 South (Smithfield) project, which will help the water-level fluctuations and improve distribution of water to the north end of the system.

            Although the water needs to be clear and pressure testing completed on the system, it is anticipated that water will be in the Canal by April 15.

            When questioned about the new gates blocking access to canal banks, Darin explained that CHWA does not own the canal bank land. The Company only has an easement through the property for maintenance purposes; it is private property owned by the land owners, most of whom wish to retain their privacy and property investment. At this point, traffic along the newly graded canal bank may damage the infrastructure.

Other topics addressed included the following:

• Kirt Hoggan encouraged all pipeline companies to secure liability insurance.
• A countywide trail system is out of the domain of the Company, which will remain neutral on the issue.
• Logan City and Cache County partner with CHWA to spray the weeds (CHWA pays only for the materials).
• A mower has been purchased to help with maintenance of the banks.
• Future goal (as finances allow) – a meter at every headgate.

Elections

            Four positions on the Board of Directors were up for election; Jon Wells, Jim Huppi, and Fred Duersch expressed willingness to serve again. Kay Gilgen made a motion to vote in these three directors by acclamation; the motion was seconded by Paul Hoth and carried unanimously. Dave Erickson nominated Gary Hansen for the fourth open position; the nomination was seconded by Bruce Godfrey. Cory Wood made a motion that nominations cease; the motion was seconded by Alan Balls, and carried unanimously, electing Gary Hansen to the position.

            This meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.