CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR & REORGANIZATION MEETING

Crane Lake Visitor Center

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 – 1:00 PM

Oath of Office:  Bonnie Caughey took the Oath of Office prior to the meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 1:20PM

Members present: Mark Anderson, Bonnie Caughey, and Rob Scott. Also present: Maintenance Worker Jeff Truebenbach, and Clerk/Treasurer Jo Ann Pohlman.

Members absent:  Deena Congdon and Darrell Scott.

Election of Officers:  A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by B. Caughey (knowing that she had a conflict of interest), that the officers remain the same with Rob Scott as Chair, and Bonnie Caughey as Vice-Chair.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Minutes: A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by R. Scott, to approve the minutes of the 12/3/25 Regular Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Correspondence:  The correspondence list was reviewed by the Board.  A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by R. Scott, that the correspondence be placed on file and acted upon as required. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report:  Clerk/Treasurer J. Pohlman presented the November 2025 Financial Statements to the Board.  December 2025 payroll:  Admin – $2,126.00 & Operating – $6,150.00.  Payroll Taxes:  PERA – $1,667.72, Fed Dep. – $2,832.40, & MN Dep. – $518.00.  $7,123.83 (October 2025 Tax Apportionment receipt)  was transferred from the Checking Special Assessment Fund to Capital Reserve Savings.  $18,200.00 (ISTS Connection and Application Fees) was transferred from the Checking Connection Fees Fund to Capital Reserve Savings.  $37,308.95 was transferred from Capital Reserve Savings to Operating Checking to purchase the side-by-side.   A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by M. Anderson, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to approve the bills as follows:  Admin – $2,326.08, Legacy VI – $5,887.38, and Operating – $51,442.05.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Funding Balances:  The balances were presented to the Board.

Administration

• Auditor Engagement Letter:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Caughey, to approve signature of Walker, Giroux & Hahne’s services agreement letter for the 2025 audit.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.
• Ordinance 3 review:  The Board will review and update Ordinance 3 over the next few months.
• Service Agreements:  Service Agreements & Permits were approved for signature at the December 3, 2025 meeting.
• Board Designates:  A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by R. Scott, to approve the Board Designates for 2026 as follows:

Fryberger, Buchanan Law Firm remains as primary council for the District with Cope & Peterson and Maki & Overom as needed.

Glorvigen, Tierney & Co. remains as the accounting firm for the District.

Walker, Giroux, Hahne provides auditing for the District.

Park State Bank is designated as the financial institution for the District; additional banks may be used.

Carl Brown Consulting remains as a financial consulting firm on an as needed basis for the District.

Costin Group remains as consulting firm for the District.

SEH remains as engineering firm for the District.

Robert Scott, Jr.  remains as Plant Operator.

Rutchasky Enterprises remains on contract with the District.

Jim Orton of Orton Construction remains as an ISTS designer & inspector.

Jeff Truebenbach & Lance Ulen (semi-retired) remain as Maintenance Workers.

Craig Campbell & Scott Halldorson remain as pumper truck drivers.

Traci Bak & Jo Ann Pohlman remain to provide administrative work.

CNH remains as the official newspaper for the District.

All voted in favor and the motion carried.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes –January 7, 2026

Administration (Cont.)

• Administrative:  A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by R. Scott, to approve the following for 2026:

Meeting Date & Time & Location:  First Wed of each month, 1:00PM – at the Visitor Center.  Changes will be posted.

Posting Places:  Church, Post Office and area resorts when open with 1 posting annually.

Minutes Distribution:  On website and mailed by written request.

Copy and Information Request Policy:  Charge of 25 cents per copy (includes labor) for copy requests and $25 per hour for other labor requests.

Mileage:  Follow state guideline which fluctuates and is currently 72.5 cents per mile.

List of Gratis Service – Church, Firehall, Groomer Garage, Pump Voyageur Statue Outhouse.

All voted in favor and the motion carried.

• Salaries:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by M. Anderson, to approve salaries as follows:

Lance Ulen & Jeff Truebenbach – $33.00/hr + PERA, Craig Campbell & Scott Halldorson – $44.00/hr + PERA, Jo Ann Pohlman – $39.00/hr + PERA, Traci Bak –   $115.00/mo, Maintenance New Hires – $20.00/hr, Pumper Truck Driver New Hires – $30.00/hr.

All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Joint Powers Board

• State and Federal Grant Funding:  There was no new report

S.E.H. Engineering Update 

• District Update:  There was no update needed.
• Sand Filters:  There was no report.

O & M. Update (Decentralized)

• Jeff Truebenbach Report: Surveys – Jeff will call the customers with EDU survey questions.  Pumper Truck – The pumper truck needs the front kingpin and some valves replaced.  M. Anderson will supply Jeff with a vendor to contact for the repair work. Canisters – The space between the canisters is being prepped for end piece installation.  The work is weather dependent.  New Side-by-Side:  The vehicle has been purchased and will be picked up in a few days.  Ranger Sale:  This will be looked into.
• Management Program Update:  The January 2026 Expansion Report was presented to the Board.
• Yearly O&M Review:  There was no report.

O & M Update (Centralized)

• Jeff Truebenbach Report: Firehall Grinder – There was a service call for the Firehall grinder.  The pump may need to be replaced.  Infusers – The infusers will need to be reset after power outages.  Anderson Storage – The storage unit at Anderson Canoe Outfitters will be emptied by February 1, 2026.  Drop Box – A drop box for billing receipts will be ordered and installed on the Visitor Center outside wall near the side entrance.  Training – There was discussion of employee training to fill in for Jeff, when needed.  Plowing – The District will no longer need to contract with St. Louis County to plow the plant road, the new side-by-side will be used.
• Operations Report:  Rob Scott, Jr. provided the following report:  We met all the MPCA effluent limits for the month of November.  The plant is operating well. The influent volume is running at normal winter levels.  The new steel roof is up. Jeff is working on building enclosures on the front and back of the sludge truck to protect it from blowing snow. I am working with MN Pump on replacing a sludge scraper for the primary clarifier, replacing some valves and replacing the 8 actuator valves that control the water movement to the sand filter. I hope to have the pricing for these upgrades in the near future and plan on having this work done the spring before we get busy the summer surge.
• Maintenance Vehicle:  See reports above.

• Pumper Truck:  See reports above.
• Biosolids:  The District continues to look into disposal options as Grand Rapids Public Utilities will no longer accept disposal from treatment plants.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes –January 7, 2026

Public Comments: There were none.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk/Treasurer

NEXT MEETING:   Board of Manager’s Meeting – February 4, 2026 – 1:00PM, Visitor Center

This draft of the CLWSD minutes has been posted solely for preliminary informational purposes.  Minutes are unofficial and subject to change until they have been approved by the CLWSD Board of Managers.