MATTAWA — The Wahluke School Board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Wahluke Enrichment Organization (WEO), allowing the WEO to lease a 25-acre field from the Wahluke School District. The approval took place during a regular board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The WEO had asked the board to allow them to continue farming the hay field during the Feb. 11 board meeting. At the time, WEO was asking for a three-year lease. The MOU that was approved Feb. 25 did not have any mention of how long the MOU would be in place.

During the Feb. 11 meeting, payment for the water was a big topic of discussion. Each year, the Wahluke School District puts the water bill for the field into its budget. It is budgeted for underground maintenance. The 25-acre field is just part of 59 acres of school district property that is watered with irrigation district water, according to Wahluke School District Superintendent Robert Eckert.

Last year, when the WEO farmed the field, it reimbursed the school district for the water it used. The new MOU states that the WEO is to reimburse the school district $1,950 for water, plus the cost of power that is metered.

WEO is also to provide proof of insurance for the field, making it responsible for any incidents that happen while it is farming the field. It is expected to maintain the current irrigation circle on the property without any expense to the school district.

During the meeting last Tuesday, there was a small bit of discussion as to how the WEO would use the money earned from farming the field. Some of the board members were under the impression that the school district would see the profits in the form of donations to the school district. One of the WEO members made it clear that WEO is a private fundraising organization that is not directly tied to the school district. It spends its money wherever it chooses, whether it be the school district or in the community in general.

The MOU with the WEO was unanimously approved by the board. Former WEO vice-president Seth Weeks was able to participate in the vote since he resigned from the WEO board in January.

“He’s not on the board,” Eckert said. “So he doesn’t have to abstain.”

In other business, the board also approved an MOU with the Buckshot Buckaroos 4-H Club. The school district will allow the Buckshot Buckaroos to use one of their barns and some adjacent property for the purpose of raising 4-H animals. In return, the Buckshot Buckaroos will reimburse the school district for the cost of water and electricity that they use. Currently, no reimbursement price has been set as the water has yet to be piped into the barn the 4-H club will be using.

“It will be pretty minimum,” Eckert said. “It is for pig troughs.”

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.