CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

PUBLIC MEETING

March 1, 2017 – 2:00PM

CRANE LAKE CHAPEL FELLOWSHIP HALL

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Rob Scott at 2:00PM

Managers present:  Bruce Beste, Bill Congdon, and Rob Scott

Managers absent:  Mark Anderson and Darrell Scott

Also present:  Jason Chopp of S.E.H., Sewer Operator Terry Jackson and Anne, Clerk/Treasurer Jo Ann Pohlman, a reporter from the Cook News-Herald and 6 members of the community.

Chairman Scott provided a history of the District including the expansion down CSAH 24 to Anderson Outfitters and the most recent expansion down Handberg Road from Bayside Drive to Handberg’s Marine.  Funds for the Crane Lake projects have been pursued through the VNP Clean Water Joint Powers Board (JPB), created by Koochiching and St. Louis Counties, of which Crane Lake is a member along with Ash River, Kabetogama and Rainy Lake.  The Handberg Road Extension Phase I was completed last summer providing a forcemain  and laterals for customer connections.  The DNR Public Water Access and Handberg’s Marine where connected to the system.  Phase II of the Handberg Road Extension is now beginning allowing properties to connect along Handberg Road.  A Community Assessment Report (CAR) was performed along Handberg and Rocky Roads to determine the status of existing sewer systems.  The District is now reviewing those findings and deciding the best way to service customers.

The District has established that it is cost prohibitive to provide centralized service throughout the District and has begun a Management Program, approved by St. Louis County and the MPCA.  This system allows the District to install Individual Sewer Treatment Systems (ISTS) and provide management for customers unable to connect to the centralized system.  Both centralized and decentralized options are being considered for Handberg Road customers.

The District’s current Ordinance I states that all properties within 300 feet of the forcemain must connect.  The District has implemented an option allowing home owners to request a variance from hooking-up to the centralized system for Board consideration.   All variances will have timelines.

Chairman Scott then turned the meeting over to Engineer Jason Chopp of S.E.H.

Jason provided those present with information on the plausibility of connecting everyone along Handberg and Rocky Roads to the newly installed forcemain.  S.E.H. recommended connections for those along Handberg Road and a partial extension of the forcemain up Rocky Road to the rock portion.  From there on, ISTS’s were recommended.

The cost provided by the engineering firm to connect the 11 remaining properties to the system would be 1.1 million dollars.  S.E.H. is looking at April for a Public Hearing with construction to begin this summer.

Construction easements will be needed.  The engineers would work with the customers as to best placement of the grinder station on their property.  Once installed, there would be a written easement for the District.

There was a question from the public regarding what option the Board is pursuing.  This is undecided at this time.  Another question was if the $7,500 customer cost would include abandonment of the old system; the answer was yes.

Another letter will be sent to Handberg and Rocky Road property owners with plans for the April Hearing.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:25PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk

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.