Welcome to the new website specifically by and for Tumalo Irrigation District Patrons.

We support a District Of the Patrons, By the Patrons and For the Patrons.

The purpose of this website is to help patrons connect with one another by adding their phone numbers and websites to our contact list in order to make it possible for us to be able to communicate with patrons for the purpose of keeping them informed as to what is going on in the district and to improve communication and accessibility so that patrons concerns can be heard. We also hope to add a hotline that patrons can access if they have an immediate concern and cannot attend a board meeting.  Those of us who have been attending board meetings regularly and have learned some of the ins and outs of how things work and how to get issues addressed will take turns manning the hotline so that you can have the assistance that you need. That is of course, if we have the answers. And if we don’t, we may be able to direct you to where you can get the answers you need.

The Patrons are actually the owners of Tumalo Irrigation District. Yet there has been no way for patrons to communicate with one another so that they can organize and obtain the changes in leadership and policies that they desire. The elected board members are representatives of the patrons and thus should not be acting independently, but following state laws, TID bylaws and Policies. The major impediment to helping this change take place has been the lack of patron communication amongst one another. There are no phone books anymore to help us find phone numbers for people we want to contact much less obtain email addresses. Additionally, very few patrons attend board meetings. Some because they work on Tuesday mornings, when Board meetings are held. Some because after attending, did not feel heard, felt helpless, and so quit attending feeling it was useless.

For about the last 15 years with some the same board members, TID morphed into a self-serving organization, which totally lost its patron centric focus. Adding insult to injury patrons are now being presented with one of the highest irrigation bills per acre in all of Oregon.

But thanks to a very small group of committed patrons some significant changes have been taking place. A monthly Newsletter will be posted on this site to help. Keep you up-to-date.

We are excited about having new board members that have pledged to be patron focused. So not only do we want to present our concerns we want to give them kudos when they make positive changes. It is a thankless job to be a board member so any support and positive feedback we give them is their pay. Be forewarned that changes may take place slowly. After attending the board meetings for three years reading state laws regarding irrigation districts, public meetings, law, contract, law, TID, bylaws, TID policies, and the TID employee manual…..there is much to do to bring TID up-to-date. So change will not happen overnight. But already the new board members are focused on bringing all of our policies up-to-date, which will be a big step toward getting the ship headed in the right direction.

Watch for a monthly newsletter to keep you updated on the latest happenings within the District.