LINCOLN PIPESTONE RURAL WATER SYSTEM

East Highway 14, P.O. Box 188, Lake Benton, MN 56149

                (507)368-4248                                            fax (507)368-4573                             email:  lprw@itctel.com

 

 

 

 

 

MEETING MINUTES

March 25, 2002

 

The regular scheduled meeting of the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water (LPRW) System Board of Commissioners was held at the LPRW office in Lake Benton on Monday, March 25, 2002 starting at 10:00 a.m.  Chairman Frank Engels called the meeting to order with Commissioners Ken Buysse, Roger Gilliland, Jerry Lonneman, Charlie Simonson, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Bill Ufkin, Henry Van Dyke, and Joe Weber present. Also present were LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald; DGR Engineer, John Madden; Field Superintendent, Don Drietz; and Director of Finance and Administration, Dennis Healy.

 

Agenda:  The Agenda was approved as presented.

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Ufkin/Buysse to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2002 Regular Board meeting.

 

Treasurer's Report: Healy noted that a draft audit has been received and budget amounts will be included in future reports. M/S/P Swenson/Lonneman to approve the Treasurer's Report as presented.

 

Bills:  M/S/P Swenson/Simonson to approve the following bills for payment:

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: Minneota Tower #19 = $6,740.99; NE Phase #16 =$1,299.22; Lynd Area #15 = $3,155.00

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: NE Phase = $1,107.63; General Services = $1,200.63

·   B. A. Liesch Associates: Burr Exploration = $2,713.60

 

Water Hookup:  George Skorczewski and David Kramer met with the Board to discuss a hookup extension from one parcel with an existing rural water hookup to another building site across a county road.  Skorczewski owns both parcels and his son is living on the parcel without a hookup, and he has run a water line across the road to that parcel.  Skorczewski was informed by LPRW staff that he would have to install a separate rural water connection to the second parcel because LPRW policy only allows water services to be extended within the same tax parcel and private extensions cannot cross roads or section lines.  Skorczewski asked the Board to allow an exception to the policy or at least allow him time to find an alternative water supply for the second parcel.  The Board did not allow the exception but indicated that he could have a reasonable amount of time, May 2002, to find another supply.

 

Attorney’s Report:  LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald reported on the following items:

•  The Lynd agreements are ready to execute pending approval by the MS&G developer.

•  Agreements have been prepared for Echo and Hazel Run.

•  More work is needed to complete the interim financing process, and to complete the District Court proceedings.

 

Engineer’s Report:  John Madden reported on the following items:

 

•  Lynd Project:  Madden recommended that the Lynd Standpipe and Booster bid be awarded to Engineering America with a bid on $426,000.00.  No other bids were received.  M/S/P Ufkin/Swenson to award the Lynd Standpipe and Booster bid to Engineering America for $426,000.00 provided that the agreements with Lynd and Marshall Sand & Gravel are signed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•  Northeast Phase Expansion Project:  Madden recommended award of the Minneota Water Tower bid to the lowest bid received from Caldwell Tank for a Composite Tank at a base bid of $1,061,000.00 and an Alternate C Schedule bid of $1.00.  Other bids and options ranged from $1,092,400.00 from C B & I Water for a Fluted Column tank to $1,146,000.00  from Caldwell Tank for a Fluted Column tank.  USDA-RD is reviewing the bids for completeness and competativeness.  M/S/P Ufkin/Van Dyke to award the Minneota Water Tower bid to the lowest bid received from Caldwell Tank for a Composite Tank at a base bid of $1,061,000.00 and an Alternate C Schedule bid of $1.00 subject to USDA-RD approval and authorization to award.  The Board discussed issuing a separate contract to connect new users in the existing Burr Service Area so service can be provided to them as soon as possible.  M/S/P Van Dyke/Lonneman to authorize the preparation of plans and specification and bidding subject to authorization from USDA-RD.

 

Burr Water Issues:  Healy reported on the following water resource issues at the Burr WTP:

•  The DNR is amending the Burr permits to allow 468 new connections as part of the Northeast Phase Expansion as per our discussions with them a the MRWA Conference in St. Cloud.

•  Don Evers met with Douglas Groenhoff concerning his well interference complaint.  He indicated that he currently has water for domestic use, and he plans to have a well driller look at his well after his “yard dries up” this spring.  Groenhoff indicated that he does not want to do anything now, but we told him we would stay in touch with him and work with him on this issue.

•  The 2002 exploration and development plan was discussed, and based on available funding and current information the Board took the following action.  M/S/P Buysse/Swenson to: 1) develop and test pump a well at Site 6 TH-13-01 (Hemish) in 2002 and if justified develop and connect one or more wells in the formation in 2003; and 2) continue to monitor Site 5 TH-12-01 (Schmidt) to learn more about its relationship to other formations.

•  The Board authorized the purchase of a data logger and accessories to facilitate on-going monitoring activities at Burr.

 

Marshall Municipal Utilities:  MMU will be considering the latest contract extension at their March 27, 2002 meeting.

 

Wellhead Projection:  A wellhead protection meeting for the Holland and North Holland well fields is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at the LPRW office.

 

Regional Water Supply:  Several options are being studied to supplement existing water supplies.  The Southwest Minnesota Regional Water Supply Project meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2002 at Slayton.  The Board directed Healy to contact the City of Edgerton to meet with the City Council.  Healy has provided a draft purchase option to a property owner in Yellow Medicine County, and the Board recommended that at least 3 options be acquired.  The Board directed Healy to contact the City of Granite Falls and perhaps the Yellow Medicine County Engineer to discuss water exploration and development issues.

 

Director of Operations Report:  Don Evers was not present so Don Drietz and Dennis Healy reported on the following items:

·   Drietz reported that the field staff is contacting property owners in the Burr Service area about hookups.  More advertising may be needed in the area.

·   Lewis & Clark funding, and financing options for the members are currently major issues.

 

The Board participated in a conference call with DGR engineers to discuss Minneota tower plans and specifications, and concerns expressed by USDA-RD.  The Board directed DGR and LPRW staff to work closely with the USDA-RD staff to resolve any issues, and they authorized the Executive Committee to take any necessary actions required before the next Board meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   Healy outlined issues that need to be resolved to improve email communications between the Board and staff.  The main issue is to get everyone on compatible software, and the Board directed Healy to work with Rod Spronk to come up with a workable solution.

·   Healy presented information received from Bruce Jennings at DGR concerning GPS equipment and software to allow LPRW staff to create digital mapping of the system and interface with the DGR system.  M/S/P Ufkin/Swenson to authorized the purchase of GPS equipment, software and training within the Capital Improvement Budget amounts.

·   The budget and cost estimates for the Northeast Phase Expansion Project were discussed.

 

Committee Reports:  The following committee reports were given:

 

Executive Committee: No report.

 

Budget & Finance Committee:  No report.

 

Personnel Committee: A meeting will be scheduled to review budget and development issues, and other questions with the staff.

 

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: Wellhead protection meetings will be scheduled and run by the Committee in the near future.

 

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Leonard Swenson reported that the MRWA Spring meeting is coming up.  A “Rural Water Forum” is being scheduled in Alexandria, and we should be represented.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Van Dyke/Swenson to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, April 29, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                ______________________________________________

                                                                        Rod Spronk, Secretary