The promise of water drew about 20 farmers to Thursday’s board meeting of the Arch Hurley Conservancy District. Not long after the board voted unanamiously to allocate one inch, nearly all had left the meeting.

The majority of the district’s members have not ordered water and some board members expressed concern if the conservancy could deliver water if all its members ordered water.

Phillip Box, who attended the meeting, suggested to the board that it consider long range planning and maintenance of the canals because agriculture appears to have piqued the interest of the financial investors, according to a recent Wall Street Journal.

Box advised that the board study more closely how the district could achieve efficiency rates beyond 50 percent.

Pete Tatschal agreed and recommended to the board that it preserve its water for irrigation and “think and long and hard before it made a final decision” to sell additional water to Big Mesa at Conchas. The water utility, which diverts water from Conhas Lake, has requested more water to develop a subdivision.

The board agreed that it would have a work session to discuss and develop a long range plan for the district at a later date. The board also said it would seek out ideas and opinions from the district’s members.

The board also reviewed the findings presented in its auditor’s report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2006.

Among its findings were that:
l The audit was not filed in a timely manner.
l An authorized check signer had access to the general ledger.
l The district and its personnel are not as knowledgeable about their financial statements as required and appropriate training should be provided.

In other matters discussed before the board:
District Manager Franklin McCasland said assessments are due by July 1.
Wildlife officer Ron Jones expalined the guidelines for removing feral hogs from district properties.