CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR MEETING

Crane Lake Visitor Center

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 – 1:00 PM

The meeting was called to order at 1:20PM

Members present: Bonnie Caughey, Deena Congdon, and Rob Scott. Also present: Plant Operator Rob Scott, Jr., Maintenance Worker Jeff Truebenbach, and Clerk/Treasurer Jo Ann Pohlman.

Members absent:  Mark Anderson and Darrell Scott.

Minutes: A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by B. Caughey, to approve the minutes of the 7/2/25 Regular 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 D. Congdon, 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 June 2025 Financial Statements to the Board, which were Previous Year Comparisons and were reviewed with Jennifer of Glorvigen. July 2025 payroll:  Admin – $2,360.00 & Operating – $9,686.50.  Payroll Taxes:  PERA – $1,453.52, Fed Dep. – $2,390.10, & MN Dep. – $340.00.  Transfers were made from the Checking Account Special Assessment Revenue Fund, WIF Fund, & Connection Fee Fund to the Capital Reserve Savings Account. A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by R. Scott, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to approve the bills as follows:  Admin – $1,675.00 and Operating – $14,471.57.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by D. Congdon, to approve payment of Legacy Grant VI related bills when received and upon grant paperwork completion.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Funding Balances:  The balances were presented to the Board.

Gas/Septic Incident:  A request was received from VHB to divide the invoice payment into four separate payments.  A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by D. Congdon, to honor that request and to include interest at 1.5% to the final three payments.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Administration

• Rate Study:  The Board continues their consideration of the options, which include:  Raising rates and increasing the levy. Information will be forwarded to the Board prior to the September meeting to assist with the proposed 2025, payable 2026 administrative levy.
• Board Requirement (Options): The Board Member requirement has been reduced from 5 to 3.  Mia Thibodeau, of Fryberger Law is being consulted for this Board’s options.  Her response has not been received.
• Admin Fee: The Board will be assessing a yearly administrative fee for those customers outside the district boundaries with a CLWSD system. A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by B Caughey, to follow the SLC factoring system used to arrive at the administrative fee included with property taxes of property owners within the district boundaries.  This system will be used to arrive at a fair and equitable administrative fee for those property owners outside the district boundaries. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
• Blaeser Letter:  The Board remains with their original decision.  The Board agreed that the issue should be taken up with the Owners’ Association and that the District should continue with the billing as is.
• St. Louis County Snowplow Agreement:  A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by R. Scott, to contract with SLC for snowplowing services for the winter season 2025/26.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Joint Powers Board

• State and Federal Grant Funding:  There was nothing new.

S.E.H. Engineering Update 

• District Update:  There was no update needed.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes –August 6, 2025

O & M. Update (Decentralized)

• Management Program Update:  The August 2025 Expansion Report was presented to the Board.
• Yearly O&M Review (Orton):  Jim Orton has reviewed some of the St. Louis County required properties and provided a ‘Fix It List’ for the District.  There was Board discussion with a decision made to provide a letter to Management Program property owners advising of landscaping care of mound and peat systems.
• Yearly O&M Review (District):  The District’s maintenance team will be out on the lake this coming week.

O & M Update (Centralized)

• Operations Report:  Rob Scott Jr. provided the following report:  We met all the MPCA effluent limits for the month of June.  The plant is operating well. The influent volume is running a little higher now, which is close to normal summer levels. We needed to purchase a new pH probe for monitoring our samples as we were unable to calibrate the old one anymore.

• Maintenance Facility:  The containers for ISTS maintenance equipment storage are here and the electricity is being supplied.
• Pumper Truck:  There was no report.
• Jeff Truebenbach Report:  The water heater at the plant needs to be repaired and a plumber has been contacted.
• D. Congdon provided information of a potential land expansion within the District.

Public Comments: There were none.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:00PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk/Treasurer

NEXT MEETING:   Board of Manager’s Meeting – September 3, 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.