Date:  February 19, 2014     
Time:  1:30 P.M. MST
Place:  Goodland, Kansas - TBA

Agenda Topics to Date (subject to additional agenda items as requested by the board):

1) Approval of 38th Annual Meeting Minutes (see minutes below)
2) 2013 Financial Audit
3) 2015 Proposed Operating Budget
4) Election of 3 Board Positions (Cheyenne, Sherman/Wallace and Thomas Counties)

Notes: If you live in Cheyenne, Sherman, Wallace, or Thomas Counties and own land in this district and are interested in running for a board position, contact the district office and request a nominating petition, or use the web form provided just below. This insures that you will be placed on the pre-printed ballots. There are, however, provisions to be nominated from the floor of the annual meeting. Every eligible voter may vote for every position up for election.

Any additional information needed regarding this meeting should be directed to the district office at 1175 S Range, in Colby, Ks 67701. (785) 462-3915.

Click here for a copy of the 39th Annual Meeting (Goodland, KS) nominating petition  (To be posted soon)

Provisional Minutes - (These minutes will NOT become official until adopted at the 39th Annual Meeting):

38th ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES............Hoxie, KS, March 7, 2013

The 38th annual meeting was opened at 1:35 P.M. CST, March 7, 2013 in the Hoxie Elks Lodge, Hoxie, Kansas.  Board members present were:  

Scott Maurath; Dave Rietcheck; Jeff Deeds; Roger Zweygardt; Jon Friesen; Doug David; Mitch Baalman; Brent Rogers; Justin Sloan; and Shane Mann.

Board members absent were:  Monty Biggs

Others present were:  Staff: Wayne Bossert, Ray Luhman, Dan Simmering, Rita Wade and Jeff Mason; DWR Scott Ross.

There were 31 total persons in attendance.  The attendance roster is available from the district office.

President Scott Maurath opened the meeting with a welcome and introductions of the board, staff, state agency staff, and former board members present.  

President Maurath then turned over the meeting to Shane Mann for presentation of the 37th annual meeting minutes, Colby, KS, February 15, 2012.  Shane directed attention to the annual meeting minutes printed in the annual meeting packet (page 4) and gave everyone a chance to review them.  There being no questions or comments, it was moved by Mitch Baalman and seconded by Carl Gaede that the 37th annual meeting minutes be approved as presented.  The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.

Brent Rogers next presented the 2014 proposed operating budget.  Brent reported that the 2014 budget included $50,000 for the Foundation as in past years, $50,000.00 for a new assistant Manager/Manager trainee staff member, and $100,000.00 to complete the funding required for a new office facility.  Harold Murphy asked if the new facility funds were going to be spent?  Brent indicated that the board was working on finding a new facility and these funds were expected to be spent.  With no further questions or comments, the proposed 2014 budget of $615,630.00 was approved on a motion by Dennis Rogers and a second from Bill Herl and a unanimous voice vote.

Jeff Deeds next presented the 2012 calendar year audit.  Jeff directed attention to the audit report contained in the annual meeting packet at page 8 and asked everyone to review the report.  He summarized by reporting that the district had brought in $638,691.04; spent $485,840.31; leaving $152,850.73 that was carried over into the 2013 budget.  Moreover, with a few other small cash accounts and the Foundation funds, the district’s total cash worth was $153,372.62.  Jeff finally noted that the Foundation (not affiliated with the district) had a December 31, 2012 balance of $520,007.00.  Following review and with no questions or comments, Brent Beckman moved for approval of the 2012 Audit Report.  Harold Murphy seconded the motion which passed unanimously by voice vote.

Roger Zweygardt next conducted the board elections.  He gave the background rules and indicated each position election would be held separately.  Roger opened Position 8 (Sheridan County) announcing that Mitch Baalman was the single candidate that had pre-filed.  Roger opened the floor for additional nominations for Position 8.  With no additional nominations, Tom Sloan moved that nominations for Position 8 cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Mitch Baalman.  Shane Mann seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously by voice vote. 

Roger opened Position 9 (Graham County) announcing that Doug David was the single candidate that had pre-filed.  Roger opened the floor for additional nominations for Position 9.  With no additional nominations, Carl Gaede moved that nominations for Position 9 cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Doug David.  Bill Herl seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously by voice vote.

Roger opened Position 10 (Logan County) announcing that Scott Maurath was the single candidate that had pre-filed.  Roger opened the floor for additional nominations for Position 10.  With no additional nominations, Harold Murphy moved that nominations for Position 10 cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Scott Maurath.  Dennis Rogers seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously by voice vote.

Roger opened Position 11 (Gove County) announcing that Shane Mann was the single candidate that had pre-filed.  Roger opened the floor for additional nominations for Position 11.  With no additional nominations, Brent Rogers moved that nominations for Position 11 cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Shane Mann.  Mitch Baalman seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously by voice vote. 

With no contested positions, there was no need to mark ballots.

Scott Maurath next introduced Manager Wayne Bossert to present the special SD-6 LEMA session.  Wayne directed attention to the annual meeting packets at page 12 where the special session materials began.  Items presented and discussed were:  the Advisory Committee; and the Metering Issues.  It was announced that the GMD board would be reconvening after the annual meeting and appointing the SD-6 advisory committee, so anyone interested should be expressing that interest to staff before the close of the annual meeting.  Roch Meier asked about the status of the other five HPA’s in the district.  He stated that the SD-6 HPA is trying to save water while it seems the other areas don’t seem to care at all.  Response was that what happens, or doesn’t happen, in the remaining HPAs is a board issue, and at some point these areas should be considered by the board if they continue to do nothing.  But the board will need to make that call.  Just “when” that call may be made is unknown at this time.  Carl Gaede asked a question about transferring water between rights – was it possible to do so across the LEMA boundary?  The answer was “no”.  All transfers must be within the LEMA boundary.  Another question concerned the distance of the transfer flexibility.  It was noted that there were no distance restrictions contained in the Order of Decision.

Before adjournment, President Maurath thanked everyone for their attendance and attention, and announced that the board would be reconvening its March meeting on site in the Elks Lodge which will be open to the public. With no objections, President Maurath declared the 38^th annual meeting of the Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4 adjourned at 2:45 P.M., March 7, 2013.

Respectfully submitted, Jeff Deeds, Secretary

Past Annual Meeting Reports/Packets:

38th Annual Meeting:  Hoxie, KS   March 7, 2013 (This meeting was rescheduled due to snow - please ignore any February 20, 2013 date references that may be in this packet)

37th Annual Meeting:  Colby, KS   February 15, 2012

36th Annual Meeting:  Goodland, KS   February 16, 2011

35th Annual Meeting:  Hoxie, KS   February 17, 2010

34th Annual Meeting:  Colby, KS   February 18, 2009

33rd Annual Meeting:  Goodland, KS   February 20, 2008

32nd Annual Meeting:  Hoxie, KS   February 21, 2007

31st Annual Meeting:  Colby, KS   February 15, 2006

As of 2002, the district's annual meeting date is the third Wednesday of February. They continue to be rotated between the towns of Colby, Goodland and Hoxie each year. The district is always open to public input from any district member.