Flathead Irrigation District should reverse costly decision
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Editor,
On April 14, the Flathead Irrigation District board held its first regular meeting since the breakup of the Flathead Joint Board of Control in December. Based on the agenda and discussion it’s clear that the Flathead Irrigation District is going down the lawsuit path not only with respect to the Compact but also the recent resumption of project management by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The BIA is retaking management control over the project because the FID failed to join the Jocko and Mission districts and sign a revised Cooperative Management Entity agreement that would have maintained local control over project management. Detailed comments made by one speaker during the meeting cited a number of examples of how BIA bureaucratic procedures and related decisions are having negative impacts on project operations, maintenance, personnel and costs.
But before the Flathead Irrigation District board challenges the BIA decision in court, it should talk to the BIA to see if it still would be possible to reverse the takeover if the FID were to sign the CME agreement.
Dick Erb
Moiese
