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Bob Irby suggested that the board conduct drilling at the Long Branch <br />Reservoir site which Jim Slattery looked at. <br />The consensus of the board was to include $6,000 more in the Upper <br />Gunnison Project Development line item for drilling, and to reduce the <br />Regional Water Supply line item accordingly. <br />4. 2003 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING <br />Board President Greg Peterson opened the public hearing. <br />Mark Schumacher supported budgeting for continuing to investigate some <br />reservoir sites, and said that Long Branch and Cunningham Gulch are feasible <br />and worth pursuing. He said that the District' s mill levy increase was <br />needed in order to accomplish watershed planning, to build up the reserve to <br />$350,000 - $400,000 to oppose transmountain diversion, and to prove <br />diligence on the Upper Gunnison Project. He said that the board had said <br />that if the money was not needed, the mill levy would be reduced. He said <br />that a small decrease in mill levy would go long way with the public. He <br />supported the acquisition of Long Lake for both future development and for <br />augmentation needs. He said that the Regional Water Supply Improvement <br />Program would help people with their private property rights, and so they <br />should pay their own way, likewise with ditch improvements. He added that <br />if the District uses taxpayer money to line ditches, it should make sure water <br />will be used in perpetuity on that land. He supported the cloud seeding <br />effort and said that it is appropriate for that funding to come from the tax <br />base. <br />Butch Clark said that land use and the delivery of water are closely tied and <br />that if the District buys water it should be with the commitment that others <br />buy it from the District. He suggested using water quality data as a way to <br />evaluate the efficacy of cloud seeding. He suggested looking at water <br />efficiency technology in addition to drilling. He said that the University of <br />New Mexico has information on underground weep irrigation systems. He <br />urged the board to set up an enterprise fund. <br />Greg Peterson closed the public hearing. <br />5. CONSIDERATION OF MANAGER' S CONTRACT <br />The manager said that John McClow made changes to the draft contract, <br />mostly making things consistent. Additions were to define an effective date <br />Page 4 of 8 <br />