BYLAWS
I
BYLAWS:
Article 1
The
Central Oregon Irrigation District is organized, governed and receives it’s
authority from the Irrigation District laws of the State of
Article
2
The
Central Oregon Irrigation District’s principle place of business is
Mailing
address:
Article
3
The
Directors of the Central Oregon Irrigation District shall be elected, govern
and conduct the business of the District as directed by the Irrigation District
Laws of the State of Oregon O.R.S. 545 and referenced chapters.
Article
4
The
Board of Directors of the Central Oregon Irrigation District shall establish
rules, regulations, and policies for an efficient and equitable operation, as
well as for the safety of the District’s users and the public.
Article
5
The Central Oregon Irrigation District will adhere to all the provisions as described in any agreement s entered into with the United States Government or its agencies.
II OPERATIONS RULES AND REGULATIONS:
The
following represent the rules and regulations for the operation of the Central
Oregon Irrigation District. Further policy can be found in the minutes for
Central Oregon Irrigation’s Board of Directors meetings.
1. The irrigation season begins in April of each year.
2. The non-irrigation season begins in November of each
year. Stock water runs will be scheduled
approximately every 5 weeks, subject to weather conditions and the availability
of supplies.
3. The District’s responsibility for the delivery of
water ends at the
4. Each and every delivery from the District’s system
must be measured by a weir or a meter as per the District’s specifications.
5. No pumping directly from the District’s system is
allowed without expressed prior written approval of the Board of Directors of
the District.
6. No new deliveries less than 5 acres in size will be
made directly from the main canals.
7. Anyone wishing to have a new delivery point will post
a deposit in the office sufficient in the amount to cover all the costs as
estimated.
8. All gates, structures and measuring devices are the
property of the District and under the direct control of the Manager and the
staff. Anyone interfering with, adjusting, or in any way tampering with the
distribution system is subject to prosecution under the Water Laws of the State
of
9. The District may, at its discretion, lock headgates
to regulate flows.
10. Any user wishing to change their delivery may call
the office or their patrolman.
11. EASEMENTS AND RIGHT OF WAYS
A. The District does not allow under any condition, encroachments
of canal or lateral or road right of ways without expressed prior written
approval from the Board of Directors.
This includes encroachments by fences, roads or structures.
B. The District will remove any obstructions at the owner’s
expense.
C. All District roadways are private for the operation
and maintenance of the irrigation system only and no other use is allowed
without expressed prior written approval.
D. Any modification to the easements, the canals, or
laterals on the distribution system must be with prior written approval of the
Board of Directors, and be done to the specification of the District.
1. If the District is to perform the work, the person requesting
the changes will place a deposit at the District Office, an amount of money
sufficient to cover all the costs associated with the changes.
2. If someone other than the District is to make the
changes, a Bond must be posted to the District in an amount sufficient to cover
all costs associated with the modifications. When the changes are completed, to
District specifications, the Bond will be released.
E. The District will grant permission to cross our canal
right-of-way and road right-of-ways to anyone making proper application for
such permission to the Board of Directors.
Such crossings will always be made to District specifications. They will not be allowed if the crossings in
anyway jeopardizes the roadway or canal system.
Specifications and fee schedules will be kept on file in the District
Offices and updated as necessary.
F. All utility crossings must be granted in writing and
be properly marked.
III RECORD KEEPING
1. The District will keep in its records, for assessment
purposes, the names of all those people who own land with water rights within
the Central Oregon Irrigation District.
2. It is the obligation of the landowner to notify the
District’s office of any change of ownership.
3. Transfers will be allowed by the District and
forwarded to the State of
A. All fees and assessments are current.
B. When it can be demonstrated that the water can be
deliverable to the new lands.
C. It can be demonstrated that the transfer will not
have an adverse effect on the delivery of water to other users.
D. Transfers will not be allowed to lands less than one
acre in size (net irrigation area).
E. The office will keep records of all transfers
approved by the State of
F. The District will charge a fee to cover the
District’s administrative costs and the State fees.
4. The District will set up and operate its data
processing in accordance with standard acceptance audit and accounting
practices.
GUIDELINES FOR DIRECTORS OF IRRIGATION
DISTRICTS
This handbook is written for you, an official and
director of the Central Oregon Irrigation District, to be used as an aid in
understanding your role in the management of this project.
Your district is organized and granted
authority by the Irrigation District Laws of Oregon under ORS Chapter 545 and
referenced chapters.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
ARE:
QUALIFICATIONS:
To act as an effective
Director, you must be thoroughly knowledgeable with the project. Because of the size of Central Oregon
Irrigation District, this will take a considerable effort on your part. However, you should expect a great deal of
help from your manager and the staff.
The following areas should
be understood:
GOALS:
All long or short term goals
should be clearly defined and understood by the Directors if they are to be
attained.
They can be found in the written records
of the District under rules, regulations, and by-laws.
The primary goal of your
district is to provide water in an efficient, equitable, and economical manner
to all water users.
PHYSICAL FEATURES:
Knowledge
and understanding is the key element in being a successful Director. Thus, you must get to know the project, the
distribution system, field problems, district equipment, and administration
facilities.
POLICIES:
These
are the established methods of conducting business. They should provide guidelines to the management,
staff, and users in areas such as:
1. Water management
2. Assessments
3. Fiscal
4. Public Relations
5. Safety
6. Operations and maintenance
7. Control of physical features
Policies
should be clear and be set forth in rules and regulations.
PROGRAMS:
As
a director becomes knowledgeable in the current activities of the project, you
will see how they are in compliance with the goals of the District. (This is
easily addressed as you become familiar with “Physical Features”, as mentioned
above).
THE BOARD AND MANAGEMENT:
Your
selection of a manager is one of the most important responsibilities you will
face. The manager is the key link
between the day to day operations and the Board. In order for the District to function
efficiently, the manager must bring the appropriate issues before the Board and
competently implement their directives.
The manager must have the confidence of the Board and be given the
authority to carry out its policies.
THE BOARD AND EMPLOYEES:
Although
the Board will seldom have any direct contact with the staff, the proper
relationship will strengthen the board-management-employee team and enhance the
public’s image of the District. A Board
Member should never become involved in a direct management relationship with
employees as this tends to undermine the management’s responsibilities. All inquires to the Board from the staff
should be referred to management.
THE BOARD AND THE USERS:
We
are all working for the same purpose and the same people. We must all be sensitive to their questions and
concerns. Every attempt should be made
to keep them informed and up to date on the activities of their district.
If
you become involved in a user problem that can be addressed by known policy and
procedure, it can be easily resolved.
However, if additional information or data is required or it involves a
new policy; advise the user so; and seek the solution with the Manger and the
Board.
It
is important that the Board members keep the management team informed of user
contacts.
This
handbook is by no means a complete explanation of all the responsibilities of a
Board of Director, but should give you an idea of your role with Central Oregon
Irrigation District. A more detailed outline is found in the written records of
the District under rules and regulations.