September provided for a very dry month with little
precipitation. The AG MET sensor in Penrose only recorded .14 of an inch for
the entire month. Temperatures ranged from low 70’s to 90’s and the lowest
night time recorded temperature was down to 37 degrees (the night of the
highest day time temperature). We never know what to expect.
The ditch riders have completed the third irrigation
rotations and have started on 4th’s. This will continue as long as
the water is available. We did experience the weekend of the 17th
and 18th a situation that caused a complete shutdown of any
irrigations from the Upper Ditch. Our diversion was drastically low and water
at the Penrose Water District Plant was down to less than 1 cfs. This occurred
when Skaquay shut off water to Beaver Creek and we were not informed prior to
this occurrence. Tom Lilze and the ditch riders made some quick adjustments and
interrupted irrigations until water levels could be corrected. Those who
receive water from the lower ditch were not affected. Unfortunately we were not
in priority to store water either so we had to continue with irrigations
directly from the Reservoir.
For those shareholders who find it difficult to pay their
entire assessment amount by April 1st of each year. May I suggest
what a few other shareholders have found to be very beneficial? If you take your total assessments owed and
divide by 6 (October-March) providing you with a monthly amount and pre-pay
this amount to your account each month by April 1st your assessments
will be paid for. Example if you have 10
shares at $78/share = $780.00 …divide that number by 6 = $130.00. Should you
apply $130 on your account each month beginning in October by April 1st
your 2017 assessments will have been paid for. OR divide by 7 to include April
your monthly pre-payment would by $111/month. Of course this is just another
way to pay versus the two payment option half in April and the balance in
August with an additional $10 fee. Actually if you pre-pay monthly rather than
the two payment option you will be saving the $10 fee. Any amounts credited to
your account prior to April 1, 2017 are in credit status. Should you sell your
property prior to April 1st; any money paid in advance on your
account in a credit status will be paid out to you.
Another item I would like to mention also, we have several
shareholders that do not use their irrigation water, either they don’t have a
delivery set up or they just are no longer irrigating their land. Please be
aware you can lease out your shares on a year to year basis. This means someone
else can lease your shares for that year and pay your assessments for that
year. The shares remain yours; they just lease them for a particular year. Your
assessments are paid by them and you do not need to worry about paying them for
that year. You DO however need to fill out a lease form yearly and submit to
the office so proper credit to your account will be made. There of course is no
guarantee that someone will lease them but it is available as an option. All
lease agreements are due in the office no later than April 1st and
preferably the sooner the better. Those wanting to lease water start asking
around March so if your paperwork is turned in you will have a better chance at
leasing them out.
Don’t forget that October 1st Penrose
is Celebrating Apple Day. It will be a day filled with many things to do and
participate in. Bring your family and enjoy this special day of fun.
