CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR MEETING

Crane Lake Visitor Center

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – 1:00 PM

The meeting was called to order at 1:07PM

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

Members absent:  Darrell Scott.

Minutes: A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by M. Anderson, to approve the minutes of the 3/5/25 Regular Meeting.  All voted in favor and the motion carried. (There was no April meeting)

Correspondence:  The correspondence list was reviewed by the Board.  A motion was made by M. Anderson, 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 2025 Financial Statements to the Board, which were Previous Year Comparisons and were reviewed with Jennifer of Glorvigen.  March & April 2025 payroll:  Admin – $4,216.00 & Operating – $15,741.50.  Payroll Taxes:  PERA – $2,763.25, Fed Dep. – $4,282.48, & MN Dep. – $709.00.  A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by M. Anderson, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to approve the bills as follows:  April:  Admin – $2,440.19, Legacy Fund/ARPA Fund – $199.75, & Operating – $8,714.88.  May:  Admin – $1,528.99, Legacy/ARPA – $10,740.00, and Operating – $9,722.02.  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): The Board is reviewing their account distribution within the District funds with the advice of their accountants.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Caughey, to use Administrative Funds to pay Operating Insurance, both Workers Comp. and Liability.   All voted in favor and the motion carried. 

Administration

• Rate Study:  There was Board discussion. 
• Board Requirement (Options):  Both the House and the Senate have passed bills allowing the reduction of sewer district board members from 5 to 3.  The next step would be signature by the Governor. 
• Early Tax Distribution:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by M. Anderson, to decline early tax distribution.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Joint Powers Board

• State and Federal Grant Funding:  1.5 million has been approved by the Clean Water Council, per the JPB request. The amount that Crane Lake will receive to continue ISTS installations is yet to be determined.

S.E.H. Engineering Update 

• District Update:  There was no update needed. 

O & M. (Decentralized)

• Management Program Update:  The 2025 construction season will begin soon.  Finalization of 2024 fall work will be completed this spring.  Requests for ISTS installations will be addressed.  There was a request for a Vault system that M. Anderson will address. 
• Yearly O&M Review:  There are many systems to be reviewed this year by Jim Orton. The District will be doing their review of ISTS’s and plan to coordinate with Jim Orton.

O & M Update (Centralized)

• Operations Report:  Rob Scott Jr. provided the following report: (April) We met all the MPCA effluent limits for the month of February.  The plant is operating well. The influent volume is at a low level, due to the end of the winter snowmobiling season. The plant water temperature is 44 degrees.   Someone mentioned coming up with a 5-year maintenance plan for the plant. The only thing I would like to see happen this year would be to add more water infusion systems along the collection line, before the next winter season next year.   In the next 5 years, it would be nice to get the sludge mitigation system replaced in the primary and secondary clarifiers. This in not a priority as it has been out of operation for a few years. I am just hoping some state grants or funding can be found to cover the cost of replacing this system. The plant systems will still function without it. But if it could be replaced, it would ensure all the sludge is getting removed at an efficient rate.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes –May 7, 2025

O & M Update (Centralized) (Cont.)

• Operations Report:  Rob Scott Jr. provided the following report:  (May) We met all the MPCA effluent limits for the month of March.  The plant is operating well. The influent volume is starting to show a little increase. All of the blankets covering the grinder pumps have been picked up. Jeff will be inquiring at the meeting to see if the board wants him to turn off the water infusion systems. Which should be just fine.
• Pumper Truck:  The truck is back in Buyck and will be taken to Manco in International Falls for a muffler installation.  The Board requested a quote from Manco prior to the work being done.  A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by R. Scott, for M. Anderson to review the Manco quote and approve expenditure for the muffler install up to $10,000.00.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.
• Gas/Septic Incident.  Invoices for the total cleanup repair are being compiled and will be sent to Voyagaire.
• Storage:  The Board discussed the storage of pumps and other District equipment. Jeff Truebenbach will be asked to organize the stored equipment.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by D. Congdon, to purchase a container for storage not to exceed $5,000.00 using Capital Reserve funds.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.
• Summer Work Schedule:  Rob Scott, Jr. and Jeff Truebenbach will supply the Board with the planned summer work schedule.
• Employment:  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B. Caughey, to hire Josh Bergerson as a part-time maintenance support person.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  An ad will be place on Facebook and in the Cook News-Herald for an additional maintenance worker. 
• WWTP Road Maintenance:  There was no further action.
• Winterization/Summerization Process:  The grinder tank blankets have been removed and infusers will be turned off soon.  Heat tapes will also be turned off.     

Public Comments: There were none.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:30PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk

NEXT MEETING:   Board of Manager’s Meeting – June 4, 2025 – 1:00PM, Visitor Center

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.