CRANE LAKE WATER & SANITARY DISTRICT (CLWSD)

BOARD OF MANAGERS REGULAR MEETING

October 1, 2003 – 7:30 PM

CRANE LAKE CHAPEL FELLOWSHIP HALL

Regular Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Michael White at 7:35PM.

Members present:  Managers Darrell Scott, Mike White, Deena Congdon and Bud Bystrom.

Members absent:   Jim Sanborn

Also present:  Jim Pucel of RLK-Kuusisto Ltd., Clerk Jo Ann Pohlman, a reporter from the Cook News-Herald, a reporter from the Voyageur Sentinel and 3 members of the community.

BUSINESS:

Motion by B. Bystrom supported by D. Scott to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 17, 2003.  Motion carried.

Chairman M. White reviewed the Treasurer’s Report. A motion was made by D. Congdon, supported by D. Scott to approve the September Treasurer’s Report; and the payment of the following bills.  Administrative:  Ely Minnesota – $194.40, M.J. White – $64.85, and Range Print Shop – $171.34; Project:  Wagner Construction – $28,733.89,  Rice Lake – $160,112.03, RLK-Kuusisto – $10,141.78, Cope & Peterson – $900.00, Environmental Financial Group – $7,791.18, and NTS – $490.00.  Motion carried.

Correspondence:

• The correspondence was presented to the Board.
• A motion was made by D. Scott, supported by B. Bystrom that the correspondence be placed on file and acted upon as required.  Motion carried.

RLK-Project Status Report

• Construction-Wastewater Collection System – Wagner completed the mainline on Bayside Drive and the mainline from the outlet structure at the discharge point to Voyagaire Lodge.  For the remainder of the week, the Contractor will install the mainline from Voyagaire Lodge south to the connection point on C.S.A.H. 24.  Then Wagner will continue on Hilltop Road.
• Construction-Wastewater Treatment System – Rice Lake completed the wall pour and stripped the forms.  The Contractor is scheduled to waterproof the walls, complete the piping connections at the building, backfill around the building and continue working on the sand filter.
• Grinder Pump information was provided to the Board and Rob Scott.
• There was communication with Cope & Peterson regarding easement status.
• RLK is meeting with Lake Country Power on October 8 for power to the Lift Station and Treatment Site.
• A work order has been placed for service with Frontier for phone service to the Lift Station and Treatment Site.  Work is to be performed in mid October.

Grinder Pumps

• The decision on the grinder pumps will be postponed until the next meeting.

Easements/Right-of-Way Issues

• D. Congdon reported that there are ten easements outstanding; most are related to mortgage companies.

Special Assessments

• A Notice of Hearing on Assessments for Sanitary Sewer Improvement was mailed to each property owner in the Western Service Area.
• The total amount of the project to be assessed is $638,000.00.  This is based on the grinder pump cost, service lines related to the equipment and infrastructure.
• There will be a Hearing on October 11,2003 at 1PM at the Crane Lake Chapel Fellowship Hall where written and oral objections will be considered and accepted.
• No appeal may be taken as to the amount of any assessment adopted by the Board of Managers unless a written objection signed by the affected property owner is filed with the Secretary prior to the assessment hearing or presented to the presiding officer at the hearing.
• Answers will not be given at the hearing but will be taken under advisement with the engineers, attorneys and other experts.

Accounting System

• Research on an accounting system is still in progress.

Ordinance

·         Two ordinances were adopted at the last meeting.

• The ordinances are printed and will be mailed to WSA property owners in the next few days.
• The ordinances are on the CLWSD website at www.clwsd.org.

Eastern Service Area (ESA)

• M. White met with John Jamnick a week ago and they agreed that John Jamnick would put together a plan for an approach to the ESA.
• The concurrence on the approach must include input from agencies such as the MPCA, St. Louis County and Rural Development.
• Holding tanks at lake properties with barging and introduction to the treatment plant remains an option. This would increase the number of users sharing the cost of the treatment plant.

Rainy River Basin Plan

• M. White downloaded a copy of the  MPCA plan from their website for the files.
• The report includes concerns of the waterways from Rainy River to Itasca County.
• The Clerk has a copy of the Plan and it is available for review.

2002 Financial Statements

• The Financial Statements have been completed and received from the District Accountant and are available for review.

OTHER BUSINESS

M. White has received a draft contract from Northeast Technical Services (NTS), which will be reviewed by the Board and Mary Frances Skala of Fryberger, Buchanan et al before acceptance.

Request for Injunction – A telephone conference was held on 9/23/03 with the Crane Lake Property Owners for Common Sense Attorney, our attorney, Joseph Mihalek and the Judge as to payment of incurred expenses as a result of the Injunction.  The Judge has taken the question under advisement.

Bud Bystrom presented a copy of the Lake Assessment Program, 2001 to the Clerk for the files and copies of the Water Quality Data were presented.  It was agreed by the Board, as stated in the report, that this report was inconclusive as both lakes (Crane and Little Vermilion) lacked sufficient data to assess trends in water quality and there was an unusually high amount of rainfall in 2001.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Public Comments included questions about water quality in other lakes feeding into Crane Lake.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:30PM.

J. Pohlman

Clerk

NEXT MEETING:  OCTOBER 15, 2003 AT THE CRANE LAKE FELLOWSHIP HALL AT 7:30PM.

HEARING:            OCTOBER 11, 2003 AT THE CRANE LAKE FELLOWSHIP HALL AT 1PM.