Shareholders in the Butte Ditch Company elected three board members, dealt with business, and heard reports at their annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Orchard City Town Hall.

Re-elected to serve two-year terms on the board of directors were Andy Wick and John Kirkpatrick.

Orchard City resident Bert Sibley was elected to a two-year term on the Butte Ditch company board of directors during the company’s annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 8.

Wick, who served as board president during 2010, reported that the Butte Ditch Company completed a lengthy and involved process of getting about six cfs of tail water, called the Cedar Run Tributary, decreed for company ownership and use. Final word of the decree came on Nov. 11, Wick said.

Also during 2010, new company bylaws were approved, and an elegant, hand drawn map from the early 20th century showing the original Butte Ditch has been matted, framed, and hung in the town hall community room. The map display is accompanied by two other original documents: a handwritten letter from 1916 and a list of water users from that same time.

Ditch water superintendent Jeff Widener reminded shareholders that times to call for water are on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Widener and some shareholders discussed the need for a new water wagon that would be used during ditch burning operations. The condition of the current wagon has raised concerns about the unit's effectiveness and safety.

Orchard City's representative on the Butte board, Jimmie Boyd, answered a question on getting and using spring flood water from the privately owned Hillside Ditch.

David Pyle gave financial reports detailing $1,771 in company assets and liabilities. The company is looking toward $1,133 in company income for 2011 and $1,080 in expenses.

The large backlog of unpaid water assessments, currently $459, is due in part to the large number of foreclosed homes in the county.

Mike Thomas, president of the OCID board, reported there are currently 2,310 acre feet of water stored in Fruitgrowers Reservoir. That is "very encouraging," he said. The snowpack on Grand Mesa is also looking good for this year's water supply.

Irrigators on the Lower Butte will have their water assessments included with their OCID assessments. The OCID annual meeting will be Jan. 29 and those assessments will be officially set then.

Butte shareholders on the upper system who are outside of the OCID boundaries will be assessed $29.59 per irrigated acre for their Butte water this year.