Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Red Devil Ranch Pivot topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears Red Devil Ranch center‑pivot update; funding moved to future meeting pending answers
Summary
District staff and a grant lead reviewed a center‑pivot irrigation project at Red Devil Ranch that needs additional power work and site clearing; trustees asked for more information and unanimously voted to table funding until staff returns with answers about water, power and costs.
District staff presented progress and additional costs for a center‑pivot irrigation system at the Red Devil Ranch agricultural education site and asked trustees to consider funding the remaining work. The board heard that a prior grant paid for the pivot hardware (roughly $125,000) but that the pivot cannot operate without additional electrical work and site clearing.
Why it matters: Red Devil Ranch is a district educational site; enabling irrigation would expand hands‑on agricultural instruction and vocational learning for students. Board members questioned technical, water‑rights and budget implications before committing district funds.
Presentation and technical details
The project lead reported that the pivot and pump are installed but that the district must provide electrical work to run the system and clear the pivot’s sweep area. A step‑down transformer to supply three‑phase power to the pivot was quoted at about $33,000; relocating several existing distribution poles to create a clear 180‑degree rotation arc was quoted by the utility at about $44,000. The presenter noted the poles date to 1958 and lie within older easements, so the district would likely pay for relocation if it requests the change.
The pivot was described as covering roughly 28–30 acres; presenters said temporary diesel pumping or shortening the pivot would reduce covered area and production but would not fully solve the pole interference because the pivot’s current center is already set in place.
Board questions and requested follow-up
Trustees asked for clarifications on water rights and source, site logistics, and the cost and ownership of a proposed pole barn. Board members asked the superintendent and project lead to provide: (1) a definitive water‑rights and water‑supply plan (who holds rights and how water will be delivered), (2) firm cost estimates for transformers, pole relocation and any site grading, and (3) whether a pole barn or other outbuildings are required and who would fund them.
Motion and outcome
A trustee moved to table funding until the board has the requested answers; the board approved the motion by voice vote and will revisit the item when staff returns with the requested technical and financial details.
Ending
Board members said they support Red Devil Ranch as an educational resource but emphasized that the district needs full cost, water and implementation plans before committing capital funds.
