CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR MEETING

Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 – 1:00 PM

Members present: Mark Anderson, Bonnie Caughey, Deena Congdon and Rob Scott.  Also present: Clerk/Treasurer Jo Ann Pohlman.

Members absent:  Darrell Scott.

The meeting was called to order at 1:05PM.

Opening Comments:  There were none.

Minutes: A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by M. Anderson, to approve the minutes of the 9/7/24 Regular Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried. 

Correspondence:  The correspondence list was reviewed by the Board.  A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by M. Anderson, 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 August 2024 Financial Statements to the Board.  September payroll:  Admin – $2,570.00 & Operating – $8,556.00.  Payroll Taxes:  PERA – $1,190.14, Fed Dep. – $1,894.72, & MN – $315.00.  A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by D. Congdon, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to approve the October bills as follows:  Admin – $2,435.76; Legacy V/ARPA Fund – $661.06; & Operating – $7,147.26.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Funding Balances:  The balances were reviewed with the Board. The MPCA-CWP Loan was unchanged.

Levy Considerations (Admin/Operations): A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Caughey, to not return the $16,000.00 borrowed from the Debt Service Fund on 11/3/21 and 5/3/22 ($8,000.00 each time) to support the Admin Fund.  R. Scott, B. Caughey, and M. Anderson voted in favor, D. Congdon voted against; and the motion carried.  A motion was made by R. Scott to designate 30% of the 2025 levy amount of $98,000.00 to pay Operating Expenses.  The motion died for lack of support.  A motion was made by R. Scott to designate 20% of the 2025 levy amount of $98,000.00 to pay Operating expenses.  The motion died for lack of support.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Caughey, to reduce the 2024 levy, payable in 2025, from $98,000.00 to $78,700.00.  R. Scott, B. Caughey, and M. Anderson voted in favor, D. Congdon voted against; and the motion carried. 

Administration

• Rate Study:  D. Congdon will provide a report at the December meeting.
• Private Property Road Agreement:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Caughey, to bill the Aune’s $80 per month – to be billed monthly or annually, and to be reviewed annually – for WWTP road maintenance as described in the property easement.  All voted in favor and the motion carried. 
• Easement:  A revised Right-of-Way Easement was received from Lake Country Power for approval for erecting, operating, maintaining, repairing, rebuilding and burying overhead and underground electric distribution lines and related facilities crossing District land to the private property owners beyond the WWTP.  A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by D. Congdon, to approve the revised Right-of-Way Easement provided by Lake Country Power and to include debris removal.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.
• Insurance Deductibles:  The Board agreed to leave the deductibles as they are. 
• Microsoft payment:  The Board agreed to subscribe to Office 2019 without AI to be reviewed each year.

Joint Powers Board

• JPB Update:  There was no update.

S.E.H. Engineering Update 

• District Update:  There was no update needed. 

O & M. (Decentralized)

• Management Program Update:  A report of current ISTS activity was presented to the Board. Installations are nearly complete for the season. 
• Yearly O&M Review:  Pumping & inspection of ISTSs is nearly complete.
• Jim Orton Update:  Jim has been updating the District throughout the summer on ISTS designs.
• Connection Fee Increase Discussion:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by D. Congdon, to increase the ISTS Connection Fee from $7,500.00 to $10,000.00.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes –October 2, 2024

O & M Update (Centralized)

• Operations Report:  Rob Scott Jr. provided the following report:  We met all the MPCA effluent limits for the month of August.  The plant is operating well. The influent volume has been decreasing which is typical for this time of year. Pretty soon we’ll be making plans to prepare for winter season operations.
• Maintenance Facility: There was no action.
• Maintenance Vehicle:  There was no action.
• WWTP:  M. Anderson reported that dumping into the District’s system by other pumper truck owners is throwing off the chemical balance of the plant – due to the quantity being deposited at one time.  M. Anderson will continue to look into this.
• Township Billing:  A letter will be written to the Town of Crane Lake advising that there will be no charge for sewer service until November.  The Visitor Center and Campground were connected in September.

Public Comments: There were none.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:50PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk

NEXT MEETING:   Board of Manager’s Meeting – November 6, 2024 – 1:00PM, Fellowship Hall

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.