CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS REGULAR MEETING

July 21, 2004 – 7:30 P.M.

CRANE LAKE CHAPEL FELLOWSHIP HALL

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Michael White at 7:30 P.M.

Members present: Managers Bud Bystrom, Deena Congdon, Darrell Scott, Rob Scott and Michael White.

Members Absent: None

Also present: Jim Pucel of RLK Kuusisto, Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman, a reporter from the Cook News-Herald, a reporter from the Timberjay and 13 members of the community.

BUSINESS:

Motion by B. Bystrom, supported by D. Scott, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 7, 2004. Motion carried.

Correspondence

• The correspondence was presented to the Board.
• A motion was made by D. Scott, supported by B. Bystrom, that the correspondence be placed on file and acted upon as required. Motion carried.

RLK-Kuusisto Project Status Report

• The USDA monthly construction meeting was held May 25, 2004.

• Wastewater Collection System
• Contractor has completed the installation of the grinder pumps and service lines.
• The Contractor is completing the restoration and punch list items. The bituminous and concrete restoration is scheduled for mid-July.
• The pump station at Dave Adams’, providing service to his property on both sides of Gold Coast Road, is physically higher than planned. RLK stated that the system would work as is, but the preferred way would be to create a lakeside pump station. This would include a grinder on the lakeside and transferring one pump from the existing duplex station to the new pump station. A stub would be created behind the current lodge building for the addition of a third station at a later date. The project plan includes three pump stations at the Adams’ property. This was decreased to one duplex station at Mr. Adams’ request. Jim Pucel requested a decision be made to either remove the station, blast the rock, then replace the station at a lower level or to install a station on the lake side of Mr. Adams’ property. Mr. Pucel recommended the latter. There was discussion. A motion was made by D. Congdon to approve the change as recommended by the Engineer due to the ledge rock situation and to communicate with Mr. Adams that this would be the final change. There was continued discussion and D. Congdon withdrew the motion. A motion was made by M. White to accept J. Pucel’s recommendation so the blacktopping could proceed. Motion died for lack of a second. M. White made a motion to deny Dave Adams’ request and leave the station as is. The motion died for lack of a second. A motion was made by M. White, supported by B. Bystrom, to stub-in the service line on the lakeside of Dave Adams’ property, postponing the decision on placement of the new grinder station so blacktopping could proceed. R. Scott requested that RLK identify any other actual changes that could relate to the Special Assessments be identified by RLK and brought before the Board be added to the motion. The vote was as follows: R. Scott – yes, B. Bystrom – yes, D. Congdon – yes, D. Scott – yes, and M. White – yes. Motion carried.

RLK-Kuusisto Project Status Report (Cont.)

• Michael Seigley provided a written ‘Driveway Completion Agreement’ made between himself and Wagner Construction for Board approval. Michael Seigley becomes a subcontractor of Wagner Construction in this agreement for his driveway completion work; therefore, the agreement does not require Board action.
• Wastewater Treatment System

o Start up for the Wastewater Treatment Facility is scheduled for this week.

o The Pre-Final Inspection Meeting was held at the WWTF on this date.

• Other
• Sent the revised project budget forecast to the Board.
• Delivered the requested items to Mr. Mike White for Ms. Sandra Beck from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
• Sent recommendation for houseboats to the Board.
• Sent proposal for the observation of sewer connections to the Board.
• Sent sample service agreement to the Board.
• A question has arisen about the proximity of the sewer lines to individual property owners’ wells. RLK followed MPCA guidelines in the placement of the grinder stations. The MDH guidelines differ. The MDH, on this date, checked all the installments and will provide a report to the Board. There is a possibility of issues with up to10 stations.
• RLK will provide costs of work provided for requests for easement changes by property owners and the dates of those requests to determine the responsibility of the expenses.
• J. Pucel provided the Board with copies of their Project Forecast and asked if the Board needed any other information to approve Amendment No. 3. A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by B. Bystrom to approve Amendment No. 3, an increase of $30,000, to the RLK contract. The vote was as follows: R. Scott – yes, B. Bystrom – yes, D. Congdon – yes, D. Scott – yes, M. White – yes. Motion carried.
• RLK will put together a list of properties to be considered for holding tanks in the ESA.
• M. White asked when the County would complete the ditching work on the Gold Coast Road. The original plan was for the County to provide culverts crossing the road, then the blacktopping by Wagner, then the ditching by the County. Now the County is doing the culvert and ditching work simultaneously. Wagner will now complete the blacktopping work on County Road 24 beyond Gini Stahnke’s house and do partial blacktopping in the Gold Coast Road area. The Gold Coast Road blacktopping will be completed in the fall after the individual hook-up work is completed to avoid damage to the new surface.

Sewer Connection Funding

• Scott Harder contacted Roger Clapp of Rural Development to determine if any project funds were available for the piping within easement lines to connect to individual property owners’ hook-up lines to their buildings and the backfilling of the grinder pumps. Roger Clapp will consider this, discuss the proposal with his supervisor and report to Scott Harder and the Board.
• A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by B. Bystrom to move forward with determination of project fund coverage of piping and backfilling work within the easements. Motion carried.

Sewer Connection Procedure

• The MDH has requested that hook-up work wait for their input regarding pressure tests, material specifications and grinder pump locations.
• Wagner Construction is ready to provide hook-up work to individuals. The Ordinance states that a license must be issued by the Board to those doing the work. Proof of insurance and Workers Compensation coverage, and a Performance Bond must be provided. Wagner can provide all. They can provide abandonment service also. Scott Harder will provide a plan, with input from Mary Frances Skala, on hook-up and abandonment procedures by next week.
• If other contractors can comply with the Ordinance, they should apply to the Board for the license to provide hook-up work.
• Individuals have 90 days from notification to hook-up to the system.

Sewer Connection Procedure (Cont.)

• Steve Hunter requested that Jim Pucel review the number and placement of his grinders.
• A Special Meeting was set for Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 7:30PM at the Fellowship Hall to consider sewer connection procedure, I.S.T.S. abandonment procedure, and sewer connections funding.

S. McKie Response

• A motion was made by B. Bystrom, supported by D. Congdon, to approve and send the draft letter provided by M. White to Stuart McKie. Motion carried.

Houseboats

• Estimates for RLK and data from Voyagaire Houseboats on houseboat blackwater output differ. This information is needed for the number of EDU’s determination.
• M. White requested that Scott Harder, NTS, and Mary Frances Skala be included in the determination and that they send their input to the Board.
• M. White stated that establishment of houseboat rates based on EDU’s without consideration of Biologicl Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels could be considered an arbitrary and/or capricious decision. R. Scott stated he did not agree with M. White.
• R. Scott felt the information should be sent to RLK, then to the Board.
• A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by D. Congdon for RLK to be responsible for the recommendation regarding the houseboat rate issue utilizing the input from Scott Harder, NTS, and Mary Frances Skala. Motion carried.

NTS Contract

• The contract is reaching the point of completion and should be ready for Board approval soon.

OTHER BUSINESS

A 2004 Forecast had been received by M. White from Scott Harder and was distributed to the Board.

M. White will respond to John Reynold’s and Mike Harshbarger’s e-mails.

The monthly billing cost estimate of $250 per month, including computer program cost, was received from NTS. D. Congdon recommended that the billing should be done by the District Clerk and asked for approval to purchase the billing software. A motion was made by M. White, supported by B. Bystrom, to approve the expenditure of $997.50 for the billing software program. Motion carried. D. Congdon will notify NTS that they will not be doing the billing.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Some of the public comments were as follows:

As the project moves forward, what is the time frame for the ESA and are holding tanks being considered?

Who will be responsible for moving grinder pumps at the request of the MHD?

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 P.M.

J. Pohlman

Clerk

NEXT MEETING: SPECIAL MEETING - JULY 28, 2004, CRANE LAKE FELLOWSHIP HALL, 7:30PM.