The Huntley Project Irrigation District (HPID) faced several issues at their monthly meeting.
Kay McCloy, owner of Fly Creek Angus Inc. in Pompey’s Pillar and her son Dillon addressed the Huntley Project Irrigation District Board during Wednesday’s May 7th meeting expressing their discontent and dissatisfaction with how the water in the irrigation canal was dispersed and started this year. Kay reminded the board that she attended last month’s April meeting to confirm when the water would be coming down the canal for this year’s season, so that she and her family had time to move cattle ahead of the water as they do each year.
Sunday, April 21st was the date that water started running from the Huntley Diversion Dam and started filling the main canal. However, the 24 to 48-hour notice that was requested by the McCloy family did not happen, and instead they received a two-hour notice. In addition, the fastest the water has ever come to them in Pompey’s is a week, but this year was two days later on April 23, according to Kay.
Kay said that 2024 marked the “45th year that my family has crossed the ditch and moved the cattle ahead of the water.” However, this year, “the time was not granted,” according to Kay.
“We didn’t’ have that opportunity to move our cattle. I feel it was 100% the ditch company’s fault.” McCloy submitted a bill to the board for the basics of what it cost her and her family from the losses they experienced due to how the water came to them this year.
Board President Cody Kuntz responded, “Kay, I don’t think this is our responsibility” in response to her $7,000 bill she submitted to the district board for the loss of her calves.
“You don’t’ think it’s right to give us more than a 3-hour notice?” questioned Kay’s son Dillon McCloy.
Kuntz, replied, “No.”
Kay replied, “After 45 years?”
Kuntz continued, “You knew the water was coming in.”
To which Dillon replied, “That morning,” in reference to when he got the call. Kay
reiterated the fact that the water has never run in their canal within a week in 45 years of her family ranching and moving cows. The water was there in two days, and they were given a three-hour notice not the 24 to 48 hour notice requested.
Kuntz stated, “We are doing things a little more efficient this year.”
To which McCloy asked, “Efficient by whose standards?”
Kuntz replied, “The ditch company’s.” He continued, “You should have been getting your things together, and getting them ready to get out.”
McCloy answered, “That’s a bunch of BS.”
Kuntz replied, “Well, it could be, but that’s the way things work. We don’t do things just out of the whim; we’ve got a reason for doing what we do. I’m sorry but we can’t go around and call everybody and let them know we’re coming around in two days.”
McCloy said, “You could the first year” in reference to how things were done differently this year.
District Manager Travis Kemp gave a little back story to the board and those present on what happened and how it unfolded in trying to make the process “more efficient.”
The crew approached Kemp on Friday, April 19th about a new idea that no one else would let them do before. Instead of taking the water to the screens and then doing the valley and shorten the highline, they came up with the idea that they wanted to flush the main arteries. Kemp stated he went out with the crew Sunday night and left about 10 o’clock in the morning. Kemp showed up Tuesday morning and “they got the water at Fly Creek already spilling” of which Kemp was “in awe” because he was of the understanding that they were going to take it to the highline and then flush, but the crew wanted to make it faster. “Wrong or right, that’s what we did,” stated Kemp.
Board President Kuntz stated the reasons for trying to get it all done a little faster as he said it was dry, and they wanted to get everything flushed so everybody could start getting water for pastures, and hay and get them out of the way so we could get into the barley and the beets. “That’s one reason we’re trying to do it a little more efficient.” Kuntz stated.
Cloy responded that “another 24 hours couldn’t have possibly made that much difference to you but it did to me,” she stated in reference to asking for the reasonable 24-hour notice. McCloy stated that her bill of $7,000 in not negotiable.
The board decided to table any decision for the McCloy’s invoice for $7,000.
Another complaint that was brought to the irrigation board during the meeting involved the Carl family whose property was flooded on April 25th and their pasture and arena was under water because of a “rat hole” according to Travis Kemp. Dawn Carl was told by Travis Kemp to bring her pictures and property losses to the meeting of which she had in hand.
However, board chairman Cody Kuntz said it was an “act of God” as to what happened.
Nevertheless, Dawn claimed that it was negligence on the district’s part of maintaining their ditch. She said that they had to have Aggregate Resources bring in 20 loads of sand and the flooding also ruined eight bales of hay. She also had an invoice to submit to the board for their losses but chose to hold onto it for the time being as her husband had to work that night.
Kuntz said as far as he’s concerned, “We’re not liable for nothing of it.”
Clint Johannes addressed the board in regards to the amount that is charged for installing culverts in the irrigation canal system. One consideration is the encroachment fee of $500 and place a threshold of 40 acres or above as he feels their assessment fees already would cover that amount that is paid for agricultural producers. As Johannes understands a fee should be charged for encroachments, but feels it should be fair to those agricultural producers that have been in the area for a long time that have lots of property and are already paying assessment fees.
“We’ve gone too long as a district just installing shit without getting repaid, and the rest of us taxpayers are paying for a lot of Huntley culverts,” said Johannes in reference to smaller properties that have two acres, for example, and have irrigation water rights. In addition, other entities are requesting to cross and enter the irrigation system with fiber and other utilities which requires some fees. Johannes asked the board to consider a 40-acres threshold or above for the encroachment fee. “At 40 acres, you are more of an agricultural producer than a rural lifestyler.” He feels that an agricultural producer is already paying their dues when it comes to maintaining ditches or at least that’s his hope that someone that has 40 acres or above is already doing some kind of maintenance to pay for a culvert over five or ten years.
The second proposal is to charge two rates for installing culverts, a half day rate and a full day rate. It would require the district’s approval and needs to be at the district’s specs in order for it to be approved. It would save the district money as well as the agricultural producer and landowner who has the means and materials to do it. If the culverts are able to be installed by someone who has a backhoe and can meet the districts requirements and specs, why not allow that as an option? The board is taking his proposals under consideration.
The Irrigation District had to shut down the irrigation district canal water in order to fix a screen that cleans debris in Ballantine. The district posted a notice on social media Wednesday, May 8th of the temporary shut down, and as of Tuesday, May 14, water was still not flowing back into the district canal in Huntley.
The next board meeting will be Wednesday June 12th at 7pm at the district office.
