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KID board members don't deserve recall

Letter to the editor Herald and News by Pat Lunde, Klamath Falls

The three petitioners’ reasons for the recall are false accusations by former Klamath Irrigation Board members who seek, at any price, to regain financial and political control over the Klamath Irrigation Board/KID.

The petitions state: “Any factual information provided must be true.” When you signed the petition for recall did you know why, and was the prospective petition sheet provided to you?

The board has not delayed the C flume replacement. They were protecting all KID patrons by negotiating the best possible repayment contract with the Bureau of Reclamation. The loan amount offered was originally $10 million, reduced to $7.45 million. After signing the contract, the BOR reduced the loan amount, again, to $5.5 million, and KID must spend $1.712 million of KID reserves. Was it not the responsibility of the board members to know if we had the money secured to do the C flume replacement? Should they have just signed and hoped for the best as our prior board has done for years?

We are fortunate to have a board looking out for our interests. Would KID be in this position if the prior board had started planning in 2011 when notified by the BOR? 2013 BOR declares the C flume a Category One and now the board must put a plan in place, which meant raising our irrigation rates

I stand behind this board and their actions. I question the real reasons this board is under recall. Do you think it has anything to do with Cheyne, Smith and Knoll opposing dam removal and withdrawing KID from Klamath Water Users?

The KID minutes clearly show Cheyne, Knoll and Smith’s actions were not derelict in their duty, did not breach fiduciary responsibility and did not violate public trust. The minutes of this year’s meeting can be obtained at the KID office.

Vote no on the recall.

Pat Lunde
Klamath Falls

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