Board approves multiple routine items, authorizes litigation counsel in closed session

The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority approved a series of routine and project-related items and reported a closed‑session hiring of outside counsel during its public meeting.

At the start of the public meeting the board adopted the agenda. It approved the consent agenda with one item (8C3) pulled for separate consideration. The board approved the adjusted payment to the Indian Wells Valley Water District related to an expense reimbursement request; the board removed $4,389 in attorney fees from the original $61,130.98 invoice and approved an amended payment of $56,741.98.

The board approved a one‑year professional services extension with Regional Government Services (RGS) for administrative support, with staff and at least one board member asking that the board schedule a performance review (to be considered in closed session at a future meeting). The board approved staff’s recommendation to submit the authority’s periodic evaluation to the Department of Water Resources, and the board received and filed the water‑year 2024 annual report.

On project administration, the board approved a $20,000 change order to Provost & Pritchard to conduct a time‑sensitive botanical (rare plant) survey tied to the imported water pipeline environmental review and approved Amendment No. 1 to a reimbursement agreement with Antelope Valley East Kern (AVEC) that extends the term by 24 months and provides an additional $75,000 deposit for AVEC’s scoping and modeling work; the amendment states any unused funds will be refunded and AVEC will provide a full accounting.

The board reported a closed‑session action: Phil Hall said the board met in closed session on the four listed agenda items and, with the exception of the Indian Wells Valley Water District (which was not part of the closed session), the board agreed unanimously to retain the law firm of Richard Watson to handle litigation filed by Searls Valley related to a public records request.

Votes and roll calls on individual items were taken on the record. For several motions the roll call recorded Chairman Hayman, Vice Chair Peters, Director Vallejo, Director Ettinger, and Director Griffin as voting ‘‘Aye’’ and the chair announced ‘‘motion carries.’’ No recorded ‘‘no’’ votes or abstentions were announced for the items taken on the public record.