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CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)
BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR MEETING
April 1, 2015 – 7:30 P.M.
CRANE LAKE CHAPEL FELLOWSHIP HALL
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Rob Scott at 7:46P.M.
Members present: Managers Bruce Beste, Bill Congdon, and Rob Scott.
Members absent: Managers Mark Anderson & Darrell Scott
Also present: S.E.H. Engineer Randy Jenniges, Sara Heger of the U Of M; Jim & Kim Orton of Orton Construction, ESA representative John Connaker, reporters from the Cook News-Herald and the Timberjay, Clerk/Treasurer Jo Ann Pohlman, and eight members of the community.
BUSINESS:
Minutes: A motion was made by B. Beste, supported by B. Congdon, to approve the minutes of the Board of Managers’ Regular Meeting of March 4, 2015. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Correspondence: The correspondence list was reviewed by the Board. A motion was made by B. Congdon, 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/Accountant Report: Clerk/Treasurer J. Pohlman reviewed the Treasurer’s Report. March 2015 payroll expenses: Administrative – $546.00 and Operations – $2,557.00. The February 2015 Financial Statements were presented to the Board. 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: Administrative: Cook News-Herald – $4.80; Costin Group – $1,267.00; and S.E.H – $30,000.00. Settlement Fund: Anderson Barging – $402.50. Operations: Lake Country Power – $1,469.68, $126.65, $125.43, $86.19, & $45.00; Aqua Power – $4,005.50; Aqua-Pure – $3,250.00; Citi-Lites – $25.00; MPCA – $505.00; Pace Analytical – $452.00; Rutchasky Enterprises – $1,325.72 & $2,295.00; and Terry’s Operational Services – $1,935.71. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Fund Transfers: There were no transfers approved.
Administration
- Ordinance (ISTS Management): B. Beste and J. Connaker are currently researching rate structures of other managed systems in Minnesota and will visiting some of them in April.
- Early Tax Distribution: The Board agreed that an early tax distribution of levy money was not needed.
JPB Update
- VNP Comprehensive Plan: The meeting was held at the St. Louis County Land Office in Cook on March 18th with the next meeting being scheduled for May 20th. Kabetogama: Contractor bids and funding shortfalls were discussed. Three approaches to obtain grant monies are: State Bonding, State Legacy and Federal funds via a state sponsored agency to the WRDA bill. A letter will be sent to the IRRRB requesting support. Ash River: Work continues to obtain County land for a treatment plant. The process to establish a sewer district needs completion. Koochiching: Approaches for obtaining additional funds was discussed. Crane Lake: Bids for the Handberg Road Expansion were opened coming in under engineer estimates.
- State and Federal Grant Funding: The JPB continues to work for both State and Federal level funds for all areas. Federal and State legislators are in support of the VNP Comprehensive Plan.
ESA Expansion & ISTS Management Project
- Engineering Update (S.E.H.): Randy Jenniges was present to report. Bids for the Handberg Road Expansion were opened on March 4th. The Board has until June 3rd to award the contract. The project cannot be awarded until the funding is in order. Randy explained that the forcemain down Handberg Road would begin at Bayside Drive on the north side of the road and switch to the east side of the road at the creek at the bottom of the Handberg Hill and continue to the DNR Public Landing. Service stubs will be put in place for future hook-ups. The contract will be awarded at the May Board of Managers’ meeting with construction to begin in June and continuing for about three weeks. If anyone wishes to connect to the system, they should contact Randy Jenniges at S.E.H. as soon as possible so the lateral can be placed in the best possible location. The Board should also be advised of a property owner’s wish to connect. Funding: The contract for the Legacy Funds has been completed; the State Bonding Fund contract is nearly complete but requires that the District provide
CLWSD Meeting Minutes – April 1, 2015
ESA Expansion & ISTS Management Project (Cont.)
evidence of $60,414.00 of matching Funds. A motion was made by B. Congdon, supported by R. Scott to adopt Resolution #2015-06 Committing Matching Funds for the project from non-state sources. All voted in favor and the motion carried. The District has that amount in the District account but will secure a loan for $60,414.00 in lieu of tying up District Funds. The Technical Assistance (TA) Fund application is in process for the Bear Island portion of the CAR.
- ISTS Management Projects Update (U of M): Sara Heger advised that the U of M may need to execute a new contract to cover two separate CARs.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (5 Minute Limit): Brent Bystrom expressed concern of the extravagant amount of money being spent to put in the pipe line to the DNR landing on Handberg Road and the expense to put in sanitary sewer facilities at the DNR landing. He questioned the justification of the entire project. Chairman Scott requested that Mr. Bystrom submit a letter to the District expressing his concerns and dissatisfaction to be presented to the JPB meeting in May.
Mr. Bystrom further questioned the practicality of consideration of Ottertail’s management system for application to the Handberg Road and Bear Island projects.
Sue Connaker asked if the timeline for the CAR and the construction of the forcemain down Handberg Road could be changed to complete the CAR first. Randy Jenniges of S.E.H. did not recommend delaying the construction work until fall as weather would hinder project completion. It may be possible to start a little later. Sue asked how many properties have asked to hook-up along Handberg Road. The answer was four. Sue remembered that a houseboat dump station was included as an initial hook-up at the previous public meeting. Randy responded that the plan had changed.
Feno Rainaldi understood from the previous meeting that there were three reasons for the Handberg Road Expansion – an RV dump station, a houseboat dump station and the DNR public landing. Randy responded that the plan had changed to the DNR landing only.
Sewer Freezing
- Insurance Claim: There is one more bill to submit to the adjuster for the insurance claim.
- Corrective Action Plan: Ron Rutchasky was not in attendance to advise the Board. Water infusion continues. Water temperatures will be tested at the plant to determine when infusion should stop. New Pump Issues – no report. Beckmann Property – There has been freezing at this property; it is being pumped each day.
O & M Update
- Operations Report: Terry Jackson was unable to attend the meeting but provided the following report. All effluent limitations were met in March. Balancing of chemical addition at the plant continues. Terry attended the MPCA Annual Wastewater Institute in Brooklyn Park in March. Sulfate standards were discussed as to the effect on wild rice beds.
- A Committee Meeting will be scheduled prior to April 25th to discuss the conversion from winter to summer operation. B. Congdon, M. Anderson, T. Jackson, R. Rutchasky, N. Rutchasky and J. Pohlman will attend the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:24PM
Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk
NEXT MEETING: BOARD OF MANAGERS’ MEETING–MAY 6, 2015 – 7:30PM, 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.
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