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CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)
BOARD OF MANAGERS REGULAR MEETING
February 4, 2004 – 7:30 PM
CRANE LAKE CHAPEL FELLOWSHIP HALL
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Michael White at 7:35PM.
Members present: Managers Darrell Scott, Mike White, Deena Congdon and Rob Scott.
Members absent: Bud Bystrom
Also present: John Jamnick & Jim Pucel of RLK-Kuusisto Ltd., Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman, a reporter from the Cook News-Herald, a reporter from the Voyageur Sentinel and 5 members of the community.
BUSINESS:
Motion by D. Scott, supported by D. Congdon to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 7, 2004. Motion carried.
Chairman M. White reviewed the Treasurer’s Report. A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by D. Scott to approve the January Treasurer’s Report and the payment of the following Administrative and Project bills. Administrative: J.A. Pohlman – $5.05; Ely Minnesota – $75.08 and Quill – $36.70. Project: Cope & Peterson – $2,528.75 and RLK-Kuusisto – $4,148.00. Motion carried.
Correspondence
- The correspondence was presented to the Board.
- Michael R. Seigley’s letter was read. The Board agreed to address Mr. Seigley’s issues later in the meeting. Mr. Seigley’s letter is attached.
- A motion was made by D. Scott, supported by D. Congdon that the correspondence be placed on file and acted upon as required. Motion carried.
RLK-Project Status Report
- Construction-Wastewater Collection System – Wagner has shut down for the winter. Will start up in spring.
- Construction-Wastewater Treatment System – Rice Lake will continue construction in March. A schedule has been requested from the Contractor.
- Change Order No. 2 for the Wastewater Treatment Facility in the amount of $7,497.00 regarding the well was prepared.
- A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by R. Scott to approve Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $7,497.00. Motion carried.
- RLK spoke to St. Louis County regarding the road name sign. They are responsible for placement of the road name sign. A work order has been put through by the County for installation of the road sign. The Crane Lake Township is responsible for placement of the 911 sign.
- Record Plat – Since September there have been 5 property changes, 11 mortgage refinances and 1 purchase option in the WSA, which affects the recording of the Plat.
- A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by R. Scott to make all possible changes to the Plat and approve the Plat for filing as soon as possible. Motion carried.
- Michael R. Seigley letter requests – There was discussion of Mr. Seigley’s request for a construction schedule by March 1, 2004. RLK felt a general plan could be provided. This plan would narrow and become more specific with time. There are two issues to be considered. The installation of the grinders and the start up of the Treatment Facility. There are applications to be completed by property owners as stated in the ordinance. RLK will respond to Mr. Seigley’s request for a construction schedule. The Board did not feel a committee was needed to assist in the property-to-property installation and hook-up coordination.
Grinder Pumps
- J. Pucel reviewed the three outstanding issues on the grinder pumps. 1) Dry wall/wet wall combination. 2) Tank material. 3) Level control system.
- RLK feels the Barnes pump is now acceptable as modifications have been provided for these issues so they meet the specifications. RLK recommends the Barnes pump as acceptable.
- A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by D. Congdon to accept the Barnes grinder pump proposed by the Contractor with the conditions as listed in RLK’s letter to Wagner Construction dated 1/27/04. Motion carried
Eastern Service Area Plan
- J. Pucel presented a revised Preliminary Engineering Report draft for the ESA at the January meeting.
- The report speaks of a pipe extension to the C.S.A.H. 24 Corridor and Handberg Road; cluster systems; and holding tanks with barging to a Gold Coast location with transfer to the Treatment Facility.
- M. White stated, with J. Jamnick’s agreement that this report is a conceptual report of how things will be approached. The actual Facility Plan will have changes and amendments.
- A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by D. Scott to approve the Preliminary Engineering Report for the Eastern Service Area as received from RLK to pursue funding, public involvement and regulatory review. Motion carried.
- Copies of the Report will be available at the Crane Lake Post Office for review.
Accounting System
- D. Congdon reported that she has the CTAS program and will begin entering 2003 data after receipt of categories from Glorvigen.
- Glorvigen is working on the audit for 2003.
Election of Officers
- A motion was made by D. Scott, supported by D. Congdon to approve the appointment of officers as follows: Chair – Michael J. White; Vice-Chair – Robert J. Scott; and Treasurer – Deena Congdon. Motion carried.
Board Designates
- A motion was made by R. Scott, supported by D. Scott that the following Board designates remain the same: Bank – American Bank and Border State Bank; Accountant – Glorvigen, Theis, Lind & Company; Attorney – Cope & Peterson and Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick. Motion carried.
- Newspaper – A bid has been received from the Voyageur Sentinel and a bid has been requested from the Cook News-Herald to be decided upon at the next meeting.
Financial Plan
- Scott Harder of Environmental Financial Group was invited to attend this meeting but was unable to attend.
- Mr. Harder should be able to present a Financial Plan with a Rate Schedule formula at the March 3rd meeting.
- R. Scott requested the plan be provided to the Board prior to the meeting for review.
NTS Contract
- The contract was sent to Mary Frances Skala for review. Ms. Skala forwarded the contract to Ken Donovan of their office. Mr. Donovan’s comments were sent to the Board. The Board will request that the comments be discussed with NTS by the attorneys.
- Mike Appelwick of NTS will be working on biosolids and will begin the search for someone to do the local work. R. Scott expressed concern of the training that person would receive. NTS would be the employer and would provide the training.
Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources
- This is a funding program from the Environmental Trust Fund. The application takes two years and should be pursued now for priority in 2006/2007. RLK has put together applications for this fund in the past. The fund looks for innovative projects. The holding tank project could be considered unique and of value as an example for the rest of the State. There is $30,000,000 in the fund. A resolution by the Board is required for the application.
- A motion was made by D. Scott, supported by R. Scott to authorize Mary Frances Skala to write the resolution as required by the Commission. Motion carried.
Meeting Schedule
- The Board members decided to return to two meetings per month.
- The next scheduled meeting will be February 18, 2004.
OTHER BUSINESS
Chapel Fellowship Hall use – The Clerk will circulate a Chapel Use Agreement to the Board Members for their review before it is acted upon at the next meeting.
The Special Assessment billings for the Chapel and the Fire Department will be determined after Scott Harder’s report at the March meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jon Jarvinen spoke for the East Bay cabin owners.
- If cabin owners have existing systems that are approved by the County that are less than ten years old, will they be required to follow CLWSD rulings? Mr. Jarvinen understood from the November meeting that they would have an option of compliance.
- Will the expense be the same for property owners that use their cabin for one week and those that use it for a season?
- Some people do not have electricity or a pressurized system. Will they be required to comply?
- Will the rates be paid over the full year or just the time people use their cabin?
- The Board answered that no decisions have been made for the Eastern Service Area yet.
Paul Hamblin referred to Mr. Seigley’s letter. He felt it would be difficult to give definite answers as the Contract states July 1, 2004 as the substantial completion date. Individuals have 90 days from Treatment Plant completion to hook-up to the system. The grinder pumps will be placed from early spring through July 1. Mr. Hamblin suggested that the Board inform the public that electrical work must be inspected. RLK will address this issue.
- Mr.Hamblin also suggested that Scott Harder be tasked to start looking at the fee structure for the ESA. The Board responded that he is.
- Mr. Hamblin thanked the Board for getting closer to the end and appreciated the time and effort spent on the project. He felt things should go more smoothly and quickly with the ESA and suggested that information be provided as soon as possible.
Jeff Purdy asked that electrical requirements be provided to him.
Jon Jarvinen was concerned about the placement of holding tanks and how they would look. RLK agreed that this was a concern.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:40PM.
J. Pohlman
Clerk
NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 18, 2004 AT THE CRANE LAKE FELLOWSHIP HALL AT 7:30PM.
February 3, 2004
Board of Managers
Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District
St. Louis County, Minnesota
P.O. Box 306
Crane Lake, Minnesota 55725
Submitted Via Email: info@clwsd.org (original followed – US Mail)
Re: Request for Detailed Construction Schedule on Sewer Project – Formal Documentation For: 2/4/04 CLWSD Meeting
With this letter, I am formally submitting an urgent request for CLSWD to instruct RLK-Kuusisto to obtain an approved and detailed (Property-to-Property) Construction Schedule from Wagner Construction. On behalf of other property owners and myself, I am requesting that the detailed construction schedule be published for all property owners to view no later than, March 1, 2004.
With little time remaining until the spring thaw, and the realization that property owners will be competing for limited contractor resources, it is imperative that a detailed project plan with timelines on each of the grinder station installations (specific to each property) be viewable as soon as possible so that property owners can plan their “property specific” activities and coordinate with each other accordingly.
Property owners, including myself, believe it is reasonable to expect complete coordination support from Wagner Construction, and we trust that our CLSWD Board of Supervisors will agree to monitor progress in order to ensure this expectation is satisfied. Key “property specific” activities for which owners will need to retain contractors include the following:
- Perform final hook-up (including electrical)
- Demo existing septic systems
- Perform property restoration
Property owners therefore must receive full cooperation and support from Wagner Construction and CLWSD in order to be able to retain contractors to perform the “property specific” work to be run concurrently with the “property specific” grinder installation timeline, so that the owner’s property is only dug up once. Therefore, it is critical that all involved; the property owners, the construction company, and the board of supervisors, manage their respective responsibilities to coincide with Wagner Construction’s detailed construction schedule.
At this time, I am making formal written request that this letter be published and that the minutes reflect that the board has advised RLK-Kuusisto and Wagner Construction of these expectations, including a detailed construction plan to be approved and ready for review no later than 3/1/04. I further recommend that a committee be established to assist in the property-to-property installation and hook-up coordination efforts and that the CLWSD encourage participation from the community and support this effort.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Seigley
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