CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS’ REGULAR MEETING

Crane Lake Visitor Center

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 – 1:00 PM

The meeting was called to order at 1:10PM

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

Members absent:  Darrell Scott.

Minutes: A motion was made by B. Caughey, supported by D. Congdon, to approve the minutes of the 1/7/26 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 December 2025 Financial Statements to the Board – which were Previous Year Comparisons and were reviewed with Jennifer of Glorvigen.  January 2026 payroll:  Admin – $2,728.00 & Operating – $7,491.00.  Payroll Taxes:  PERA – $1,143.24, Fed Dep. – $2,132.20, & MN Dep. – $407.00.  The January 2026 Tax Apportionment was received: Admin – $530.97 & Special Assessment Revenue – $4,969.78.  The $4,969.78 S.A. Revenue was transferred to Capital Reserve Savings.   A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by R. Scott, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to approve the bills as follows:  Admin – $4,467.12, and Operating – $8,572.92.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Funding Balances:  The balances were presented to the Board.

Administration

• Ordinance 3 review:  The Board continues their Ordinance 3 review for updating.
• Plant Operator Agreement:  The Plant Operator 2026 Agreement did not reflect a service rate increase.  A motion was made by M. Anderson, supported by D. Congdon, to increase the monthly rate for service from $1,600.00 to $1,800.00.  M. Anderson, D. Congdon, and B. Caughey voted in favor, R. Scott abstained; and the motion carried.
• B. Caughey requested that the administrative items of the January Reorganization Meeting be reviewed a month or two prior to the January meeting to better address Service Agreement and salary changes.

Joint Powers Board

• State and Federal Grant Funding:  Future grant funding is currently at the legislative level.  The majority of the funding, if received, will go to Ash River and Kabetogama.  Crane Lake is asking for $600,000 to continue with ISTS improvements within the District.

S.E.H. Engineering Update 

• Sand Filters:  Rob Scott, Jr. has been reviewing the condition of the sand filters for the past year.  The attention for sand filter improvement is being moved to improving the sewer plant operational processes. The current plant operation is using technology from 2004 – with few changes. Instituting newer technology could reduce many manual operations and greatly reduce the impact on the sand filters. The District has been consulting with their engineer and attorney, and looking at funding sources as to the best approach for this project.  A preliminary cost estimate would be around $170,000.  R. Scott requested a motion to move forward in this direction.  A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by B. Caughey, to approve R. Scott’s and R. Scott, Jr.’s continued research for operating improvements with the District’s engineer and attorney at their standard fees.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

O & M. Update (Decentralized)

• Jeff Truebenbach Report: Everything is pretty quiet.  Schwanke’s have a float issue that Ron Rutchasky is looking into.  Surveys – Jeff has called the customers with EDU survey questions that needed clarification.
• Management Program Update:  There were no updates of the Expansion Report.
• Yearly O&M Review:  There was no report.

CLWSD Meeting Minutes –February 4, 2026

O & M Update (Centralized)

• Jeff Truebenbach Report: Plant – The plant is currently processing between 21,000 and 23,000 gallons per day.  Plant Temperatures – The temperatures at the plant have risen and are currently between 39 and 40 degrees.  Water infusion from Bayside Drive Water Access has been increased to improve flow to the plant.  Fire Hall Grinder – A new grinder was installed at the fire station.  Everything else has been going smoothly, so far.  Come on spring!
• Operations Report:  Rob Scott, Jr. provided the following report:  We met all the MPCA effluent limits for the month of December.  The plant is operating well. The influent volume is running at normal winter levels.  Due to Grand Rapids WWTP not allowing us to haul our sludge to their facility, I contacted Virginia WWTP and they will allow us to haul 1 load a week to their facility. We will start this in April or May. Otherwise, we are still hauling our non-treated sludge to International Falls. We just need to haul the sludge that has gone through our treatment process to Virginia.
• Maintenance Vehicle:  No report.

• Pumper Truck:  No report.
• Heat Tape:  Jeff requested that a heat tape be installed at the plant.  A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by R. Scott, to install a heat tape at the plant between the separation tank manhole and the primary sludge/holding tank.  All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Public Comments: There were none.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:50PM

Jo Ann Pohlman, Clerk/Treasurer

NEXT MEETING:   Board of Manager’s Meeting – March 4, 2026 – 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.