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http://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/kid-s-knoll-survives-recall-vote/article_469112f6-9a87-5cf8-ae39-4a4ba6174ae6.html

KID's Knoll survives recall vote

by Holly Dillemuth, Herald and News 11/6/16

In unofficial returns, patrons of Klamath Irrigation District have handily rejected the recall of board member Grant Knoll.

Knoll will remain on the board after election judges counted ballots 84-16 rejecting the recall. Election judges started counting at 8 p.m. Monday evening, after serving as facilitators of the election throughout the day. The results must be recounted by board members in order to be finalized.

Knoll, along with two other board members Brent Cheyne and Ken Smith, was accused of “questionable decision-making” and “poor performance” by a group of petitioners led by Jason Chapman, Ed Bair and Ross Fleming.

Knoll has denied any wrongdoing, as has Cheyne and Smith.

Knoll could not be reached by phone or email as of press time.

He submitted a justification statement in October, sharing why he deserves to remain on the board.

“I have always striven to do the right thing in all decisions presented at KID,” Knoll wrote. “The person mounting the recall attempt has baseless accusations that are completely false and have no merit. He lost an election against me by 90 percent. The actions that I have supported of accepting the resignation of our former manager and legal counsel, negotiating a proper C flume contract, and ending our membership with Klamath Water Users (Association) are fully justified and I stand behind them. I do not understand why the former board members are so opposed to the current board actions. They have been given more access to board meetings than they deserve, used FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) attempts, Bar complaints, and ethics complaints to try and disrupt KID business.”

Chapman, one of the lead petitioners, was present for the ballot count, and wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

“This one just shows that people in his area are more in favor of him than in the rest of the areas but should show the entire board that there is a large division amongst irrigators,” Chapman said.

“(Tuesday’s) mail-in vote will be pivotal to see where the board’s position will be from here on out and hopefully the new sitting board come January will work more cohesively.

Chapman shares a common fenceline with some property belonging to Knoll.

“This was absolutely nothing personal against Grant himself, but the positions he took on board of KID,” Chapman added.

The next KID board meeting is planned for 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the KID office, 6640 KID Lane. The meeting is open to the public.

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