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· OMID's request for salinity control funds is outside of the scope of USDA's Salinity Control Program for the Grand Valley. · NRCS and FSA programs must conform with PL (Public Letter) 98-569, CRSC program rules and regulations, and agency operation procedures. . FSA has been asked not to sign the CRSC contract for OMID until the project has been fully evaluated. July 18, 1988 Carl Landini, FSA (ASCS) County Executive Director, informed Paul Calder, OMID Manager, the type of project OMID was plannino to construct was outside the orioinal proiect improvement plan. During 1992, then OMID board president, James D. Rooks entered a $200,000 Colorado River Salinity Control (CRSC) program contract. Robert Gobbo, a lo- cal farmer, executed this contract, (92-233) 65-8805-4-3207, on behalf of the United States. At the time this contract was executed Mr. Rook's wife, Cleo was employed at the Grand Junction District office of FSA responsible for issuing this salinity control contract. Carl Landini was her immediate supervisor. December 15, 1992 Emery C. Johnson, SCS Area Conservationist, and Paul H. Calder, OMID manager, conducted a status revue of MML. The review docu- ment shows OMID owns the land MML serves. In 1993 the OMID manager position became vacant because of Paul Calder's retirement. The District's elected board filled this vacancy with James B. Rooks who resigned as board president to accept the salaried position. According to end notes found in the Irrigation law of 1905, the Court has found this action ille- gal. Mr. Rooks is the owner of one of OMID's larger farms. OMID voting issues are based upon acreage owned, giving him substantial voting influence. A paid employee voting on OMID matters appears to be a serious conflict of interest, giving the impression he took the position for personal gain. Comment: Shortly after accepting this salaried position, Mr. Rooks an- nounced in the Daily Sentinel that he planned to sell his farm for development. His reason: to use sale proceeds for his retirement. Conflict of interest concerns intensify when one considers that his farm is located close to the new Chepita Golf Course, making the farm good for residential development. After the Board received several complaints that Mr. Rooks had taken the man- ager position for personal gain, Jim announced he had sold the farm to his son. Although this sale has not been confirmed, it appears this announcement is 3