CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR MEETING via ZOOM

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 – 1:00 P.M.

Members present:  Bruce Beste, Bonnie Caughey, and Rob Scott. 

Members absent:  Mark Anderson and Darrell Scott.  

Also present: Jason Chopp of S.E.H., District Liaison Deena Congdon, Clerk/Treasurer Jo Ann Pohlman and many Kicker Blvd. residents.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Rob Scott at 1:06PM.

Opening Comments:  The meeting was attended by all via ZOOM.

Minutes: A motion was made by B. Beste, supported by B. Caughey, to approve the minutes of the 9/2/20 Regular Meeting (There was no October 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 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 sent the September 2020 Financial Statements to the Board, which were Previous Year Comparisons reviewed with Jennifer of Glorvigen.  September 2020 payroll:  Admin – $1,407.55, Operating – $5,339.75 plus Payroll Taxes – PERA – $1,100.79 and Federal Deposit – $1,305.82. October 2020 payroll:  Admin – $2,033.17; Operating – $5,210.46 plus Payroll Taxes – PERA – $1,305.82 and Federal Deposit – $1,573.32. PERA back-pay for Lance Ulen & David Stern was paid with a transfer from Capital Reserve Savings to Checking – $15,831.22.   A motion was made by B. Beste, supported by R. Scott, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented and the payment of bills as follows:  September bills:  Admin Fund:  Costing Group – $1,250.00; Fryberger – $615.60 & $2,585.52; League of MN Cities – $1,975.00; and LMCIT – $78.87.  Annexation Fund: Fryberger – $2,224.80.  Legacy III Fund:  Handberg’s Marina – $69.79; Ferguson Waterworks – $1,153.21; Purdy Electric – $152.37 & $475.00; and S.E.H. – $6,916.10.  Operating Fund:  Lake Country Power – $868.17, $198.63, $45.39, $45.10, $46.00 & $51.00; Aqua-Pure – $6,000.00; Randy Clemmer – $180.00; Gopher State One Call – $4.05; L&M – $144.99; LMCIT – $2,550.13; Pace Analytical – $967.00; Robert J. Scott, Jr. – $2,561.34; Sunrise Construction – $200.00; Pelican Bay – $1,214.10; and USIC – $335.00.   October bills:  Admin Fund:  Costin Group – $1,250.00; Lutefisk Tech. – $661.25; and Quill – $17.57.  Annexation Fund:  Fryberger – $1,095.60; and Lutefisk Tech. – $287.50.  Legacy III Fund:  MN Pump Works – $3,456.00 & $1,002.50; Rutchasky Enterprises – $1,050.00, $880.00, $11,815.00, & $23,800.00; and S.E.H. – $1,425.90.  Operating Fund:  Lake Country Power – $528.18, $177.30, $47.90, $45.10, $46.00, & $50.00; Anderson Outfitters – $660.00; Gopher State One-Call – $5.40; Pace Analytical – $960.00; Robert J. Scott, Jr. – $1,643.54; Rutchasky Enterprises – $3,217.40 & $1,430.00; Sunrise Construction – $200.00; Udovich Electric – $750.35; and USIC – $180.00. All voted in favor and the motion carried. 

Funding Balances:  A Report of current funding balances was presented to the Board.       

Administration

• User Rate Discussion:  The District will be taking a hard look at the rate structure for a long-range plan going into the future.  A rate increase this coming year is not anticipated.
• Levy Discussion: A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Beste, formalizing the proposed 2020, payable 2021 levy of $40,000 (same as the previous year) submitted to the County as required by the extended date of October 8, 2020.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  The levy can be updated, up or down, by the end of December.  The Board plans to review. 
• Auditor Agreement:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported, by B. Caughey, to approve and sign the letter of engagement for auditing services from Walker, Giroux & Hahne, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2020 for $7,525.00.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.
• Delinquent Sewer Bills:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Beste, to adopt Resolution No. 2020-07 certifying unpaid and delinquent sewer charges to St. Louis County by the end of November, should it be found necessary.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Joint Powers Board

• VNP Comprehensive Plan: R. Scott did not attend the last meeting and asked that Jason Chopp of S.E.H. fill in any blanks in this report.  The JPB continues to work on the update of the Comprehensive Plan.  The Bonding Bill was approved this morning – some of that money may come to Crane Lake. 
• Kicker Blvd. Annex:  The Board will continue to table the resolution to annex Kicker Blvd. into the CLWSD until more is known from the JPB and a survey is completed.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Beste, to continue with the desires of the JPB and continue work in the direction of the annexation of Kicker Blvd. into the CLWSD.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes – November 4, 2020

  S.E.H. Engineering  

• District Update:  Jason Chopp reported that he would transmit the JPB’s finalized response on the annexation of Kicker Blvd. to B. Caughey when completed.  Jason submitted a memo with WWTP – Flow Equalization & Recirculating Sand Media Filter Evaluation for consideration.  Rob Scott, Jr. approved the contents of the memo.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Beste, to accept the information in the memo on plant upgrades as presented and to continue moving forward on the project.  R. Scott & B. Beste voted in favor, B. Caughey abstained and the motion carried. 

O & M. (Decentralized)

• Management Program Update:  Deena Congdon reported the following:  Two systems were installed this summer. I have been communicating with the property owners and the certificate of compliances have been received. No electrical connections at the septic are being done on the two systems in 2020. One does not require a timer and the other has no power at this time.  Crains went on bid, and Ron cannot start work this fall since the water is too low to get the barge to the property.  There are at least three other systems in the paperwork process for 2021. Work may also be done in the winter depending on the property location, designs and timing of the bids going out.  Ron did not receive the fix it list from Orton. I have sent Ron a text with the fix it list Orton has for Richter, Burk, McGuire, Weiland, Smith and Haberman. Ron has put it on his 2021 list of things to do. I have spoken with a few property owners regarding their systems and repairs or adjustments that are being done. 
• Cowden ISTS and Land Acquisition Request:  The land purchase by the Cowdens is near completion.
• Peat Systems vs. Mound Systems:  There was no new information.

 O & M Update (Centralized)

• Operations Report:  Rob Scott Jr. provided reports for September and October to the Board.  
• Winterization:  Lance and Jeff will be consulted on the winterization process of the plant and the collection system.
• The continuation of Joe Bonner’s variance until 2023 was re-iterated.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (5 Minute Limit):  

David Parker:  If the survey is not anonymous, many will not be willing to respond.  If a response is wanted, the compliance questions need  to be removed and an anonymous submittal is needed.

Jay Kanive:  Agreed with David Parker that it is not appropriate to offer that properties be inspected; those saying no may be assumed to have a problem.   There are still unanswered questions to the JPB, they don’t seem to be pushing it.  Would the Board consider stopping rather than tabling?  Did not feel that MN statute was being followed with the annexation process – the District’s Attorney confirmed that MN statue is and was being followed.  Her response has been forward to the Kicker Blvd. residents.  Jason Chopp is still putting together his responses to the questions directed to S.E.H.  Bonnie will re-send the County information to the Board and the Kicker Blvd. residents.

Jay Kanive:  Why does the District continue with this annexation and incur expense?  Kathy Slycord presented a list of those that are not interested. –  Full answers are needed on the issue.  The Board’s response is that the Resolution has been tabled. The Board and the JPB have agreed to continue looking into annexation of the Kicker Blvd. area.  All facts need to be on the table before a decision can be made. 

Chris Kennedy:  What is the most effective way to communicate with the JPB? – Either contact Jason Chopp or Jo Ann to get the JPB points of contact. 

Is this the first annexation the District has done? –  No, East Bay was annexed shortly after the District was formed.

Jay Kanive:  There is frustration with the timeline and no responses.

Kathy Huggins:  Rob Scott, do you personally want to continue with the annexation? –  Yes, due to the high density of the area and its possible impact on the water in the area.  Is the long-range plan to include Crane, Sandpoint and Namakan Lakes in the District so the District can have authority over the whole area? – The District has not thought that far.

There are a lot of compliant systems in the area.  Do they meet the same goal? – Yes.

Bill Sorteberg:  Agrees with Kathy Huggins and Jay Kanive’s comments.  Feels the process is ridiculous as most have new systems.

There were no further comments.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:50PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk

NEXT MEETING:          Board of Manager’s Meeting – December 2, 2020 –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.