CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR MEETING

Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, May1, 2024 – 1:00 P.M.

Members present: Mark Anderson, Deena Congdon, and Rob Scott.  Also present: Pumper Truck Driver Craig Campbell and Clerk/Treasurer Jo Ann Pohlman.

Members absent:  Bonnie Caughey and Darrell Scott.

The meeting was called to order at 1:03PM.

Opening Comments:  Chairman Rob Scott started the meeting off with Craig Campbell’s discussions.

Craig advised the Board that the District’s Debit Card was not accepted to purchase the grease auger approved at the April meeting.  The Clerk will look into the problem.  Craig reviewed information about a possible truck purchase and provided his comments.  M. Anderson will review the truck purchase further with Craig’s input.  Craig requested that sludge from his trucking business be dumped at the CLWSD lift station.  The Board considered the request.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by M. Anderson, to approve Craig Campbell’s dumping of raw sewage into the CLWSD lift station to be processed by the CLWSD plant at a cost of $75 per truck load.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.   The Board thanked Craig for his input and for attending the meeting.

Minutes: A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by R. Scott, to approve the minutes of the 4/3/24 Regular Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Correspondence:  The correspondence list was reviewed by the Board.  A motion was made by D 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’s Report:  Clerk/Treasurer J. Pohlman presented the March 2024 Financial Statements, which were Previous Year Comparisons and were reviewed with Jennifer of Glorvigen, to the Board.  April payroll:  Admin – $2,340.50 & Operating – $6,877.00.  Payroll Taxes:  PERA – $1,179.22, Fed Dep. – $1,890.74, & MN – $938.00.  A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by D. Congdon, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented and the approval of the May bills as follows:  Admin – $1,250.00 & Operating – $6,950.36.  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): No action.

Administration

• Rate Study:  The Board discussed the Base and Volume Fees, and the challenges and dynamics of the volume fee.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by M. Anderson, to discontinue the use of Volume Fees beginning with the June 2024 billing.  The Base fee will be increased to $86 per EDU to coincide with the ISTS customers and others on the $86 fee.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.
• Private Property Road Agreement:  There was no action.
• Handberg’s variance request:  An email presented by Lori Sanborn to the Board was discussed. The Board deciding that Handberg’s increased billing from 1EDU to 2EDUs or $172, will remain as voted upon at the April meeting.   D. Congdon will communicate with S.E.H. on Ordinance 3 EDU descriptions. 
• DNR Bayside Drive Public Water Access:  S.E.H. Engineer Jason Chopp, for the DNR Public Water Access upgrade will be advised of the District’s sewer connection requirements in accordance with the District’s ordinances.

Joint Powers Board

• JPB Update:  R. Scott did not attend the meeting.  The JPB is working on future funding.

S.E.H. Engineering Update 

• District Updates:  There was no update needed.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes – May 1, 2024

O & M. (Decentralized)

• Management Program Update:  A report of current ISTS activity was presented to the Board. Spring work will soon begin on this year’s installations. A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by R. Scott, to decline approval of an installation at the Jason Harlow property near Myrtle Lake due to reconsideration of the distance from the District’s boundaries.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  Mr. Harlow will be notified.  Paul Tufte requested that his Application Fee for an ISTS installation be transferred to a difference project.  The Board agreed that Paul Tufte’s Application Fee could be returned and a new application could be initiated.
• Yearly O&M Review:  There was no update.
• Jim Orton Update:  Jim was unable to attend the meeting.

O & M Update (Centralized)

• Operations Report:  Rob Scott Jr. provided the following report:  We met all the MPCA effluent limits for the month of March.  The plant is operating well.  The latest plant water temperature was recorded at 42 degrees.   All the water infusion systems have been turned off and all the frost blankets have been picked up. We are also doing some spring cleaning around the plant.  Sounds like we have the go ahead to haul untreated sludge to International Falls which is starting this week. Not having to go to Grand Rapids for all our sludge hauling will be another cost savings for the district.  We will be digging up around the grinder pump at McGuire’s this spring and insulating it to prevent any future freezing like what happened earlier this year.  The existing grinder pump is working fine.

• Maintenance Facility: There was no action.
• Maintenance Vehicle:  The Board continues to discuss the need for a maintenance truck.  M. Anderson continues to look into options.
• Summerization:  The work has been completed as described above in Rob Scott Jr.’s report.
• VHB Informational Meeting:  Craig Campbell will be asked to set the time and date to discuss VHB’s houseboat grinder and grease tank.  D. Congdon requested to attend.

Public Comments: There were none.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:45PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk

NEXT MEETING:   Board of Manager’s Meeting – June 5, 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.