Hansen sworn in as MLIRD director

MOSES LAKE - In a meeting room packed with about 48 people, Mick Hansen was sworn in as the newest member of the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District's Board of Directors.

Hansen, a Moses Lake construction business owner, won December's election against Bill Bailey, a former Grant County Fairgrounds manager. They ran for director Norm Benson's open seat on the board.

Hansen took office Tuesday night.

Before Benson stepped down, he said he was proud of what the district accomplished. He was given a plaque of appreciation for his service by board president Ron Covey

Almost immediately after, board director Rich Archer nominated Hansen as board president.

No other nominations were made and Covey handed over his gavel to Hansen.

In a meeting that lasted more than four hours, Hansen put into motion his plans to reduce the district's $1.4 million budget to $826,250, order a special procedure review by a private auditor for transparency purposes, possibly stop the dredging project, drug test all board members and employees in addition to the random testing policy in place, eliminate the district's newsletter and let voters decide their new property assessment rate.

The board now determines the assessment rate, according to state law.

The meeting was continued to 7 p.m., Tuesday, at 932 E Wheeler Rd., Moses Lake, to discuss Hansen's proposed changes to the budget.

Some audience members challenged Hansen throughout the meeting, asking for numbers and specifics.

During a discussion about changing staff's work schedules, Marianne Kirwan, of Moses Lake, said it would be prudent to not guess what the district needs, not to pull things out of the air and to study the budget. She said she was directing her comments at Archer.

"You're asking for credibility and you can't even say how many irrigation districts there are in the state," she said.

Archer was formerly in the minority on the board and told by board members in the back room he would just be voted down, he claimed. Decisions were "ramrodded" through this way, he alleged.

Hansen and Archer approved a motion that didn't require audience members to speak to agenda or non-agenda items.

Instead, audience members raised their hands throughout the meeting to ask for permission to speak and didn't hold back in sharing their opinions.

Archer said it is how meetings used to be run.

Covey spoke against the motion, as the guidelines helped the board stay on task, on goal and with unruly audience members.

The board's audience participation guidelines for meeting decorum were also eliminated by Archer and Hansen.

Erica Moe, of Moses Lake, said she had been in business meetings where goals were eliminated and the point was lost.

She explained she had school and work in the morning and elected the board to complete tasks like review the budget, which she didn't have time to do.

Jon Smith, of Moses Lake, thanked the board for opening the meeting to the public.

Sandy Estoos, of Moses Lake, said the meetings had always been open and public. When she attended past board meetings, people would stand up, give their names and speak.

She thinks the board is doing a good job and told the audience that Hansen was new and to give him a chance.

"He's willing to take this on for not one red cent," Estoos said in part.

Hansen said he would not receive compensation for serving, but would accept travel expenses.