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

June 3, 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, June 3, 2002 starting at 6:00 p.m. (date changed due to Memorial Day Holiday).  Chairman Frank Engels called the meeting to order with Commissioners Roger Gilliland, Jerry Lonneman, Charlie Simonson, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Bill Ufkin, Henry Van Dyke, and Joe Weber present. Commissioner Ken Buysse was absent.  Also present were LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald; DGR Engineer, Gordon Krause; Field Superintendent, Don Drietz; Director of Operations, Don Evers; and Director of Finance and Administration, Dennis Healy.

 

Agenda:  The Agenda was approved as presented.

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Weber Lonneman to approve the minutes of the April 29, 2002 Regular Board meeting.

 

Treasurer's Report:  M/S/P Van Dyke/Swenson to approve the Treasurer's Report as presented.

 

Bills:  M/S/P Weber/Lonneman to approve the following bills for payment:

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: Minneota Tower #21 = $1,392.00; NE Phase #18 =$9,252.15; Lynd Area #17 = $1,491.00; General Services #14 = $3,555.50

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: NE Phase = $500.00; General Legal Services = $1,177.63

·   Liesch Associates, Inc.: Burr, March 2002 services = $865.49; Burr, April 2002 services + Data Logger = $2,894.50

·   US Bank:  1998 Refunding Bond Series B = $130,937.50; 1998 GO Refunding Bond Interest = $12,662.50

·   Energy Alternatives:  Holland WTP Generator upgrade = $40,399.58

·   Northeast Options/Easements:  Raymond and Joan Van Lerberghe = $1,500.00; Donald and Bonnie Erickson = $500.00

 

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

•  The Lynd agreements have been executed by the MS&G developer and the City.  An easement through the MS&G property has also been drawn for the developer to sign.

•  The Northeast Phase is progressing with Yellow Medicine County having approved the interim bond issue, and the Hazel Run and Echo agreements have been approved.

•  A letter from USDA-RUS describing their requirements for a written “Code of Conduct” and a potential conflict of interest between DGR and LPRW was reviewed and discussed.  McDonald indicated that he does not believe a conflict exists, but LPRW will have to develop a “Code of Conduct” to comply with USDA-RUS regulations and change future procurement procedures when acquiring professional services.

 

Engineer’s Report:  Gordon Krause reported on the following items:

 

•  Lynd Project:  The Phase 1 work is done except for some cleanup and final payment.  The standpipe and booster Phase 2 preconstruction meeting was held May 20th, and the completion date is August 30th.  The Phase 3 design work is waiting for input from the MS&G developer.

 

 

 

 

•  Minneota Tower Project:  USDA-RD has authorized LPRW to award the bid to the low bidder, Caldwell Tanks, Inc. at a base bid of $1,061,000.00, and the contract documents were presented for execution by LPRW.  A preconstruction meeting has been tentatively scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18th at the LPRW office.  M/S/P Swenson/Ufkin to authorize Chairman, Francis Engels and Secretary, Rodney Spronk to sign the “Minneota Elevated Tank – Schedule 2” contracts, and to appoint Director of Finance and Administration, Dennis Healy as the “Designated Representative” for the project.  The booster station and SCADA System will be designed and bid later.

 

•  Northeast Phase Expansion Project:  Plans are being prepared for the Existing North Phase project to proceed to bid letting in July.  The Northeast Expansion plans are proceeding as new hookups are received.  Dan McDonald is working with DGR and LPRW staff to prepare the documents needed to get the court order authorizing the project to proceed.  Yellow Medicine County has approved the Interim Bonding Resolution, and the Cities of Echo and Hazel Run have approved “Water Service Agreements.”  M/S/P Simonson/Ufkin to approve the “Water Service Agreements “ with City of Echo and City of Hazel Run, and to authorize the Chairman and Secretary to execute the agreements.  The status of signups was reviewed.

 

•  Osceola Rural Water Connection Study:  The feasibility study has been delayed, but it is now moving forward and should be completed in about 60 days.

 

Burr Exploration:  Healy presented a proposal from Liesch Associates, Inc. for professional services to design and supervise installation and testing of a 12-inch production well in the Burr WTP area.  Professional fees were estimated to be $25,983.00 and the well contractor costs were estimated to be $40,000.00.  M/S/P Ufkin/Simonson to accept the Liesch Associates proposal, and authorize the Chairman and Secretary to execute an agreement with Liesch for the work.

 

Wellhead Protection:  The wellhead protection plans for the Verdi, Holland and North Holland well fields are being prepared for adoption this summer.

 

Regional Water Supply:  Engineering and hydrology costs for the Adrian study need to be worked out, but the City is willing to proceed.  The City of Edgerton is building a new treatment plant, and they may be interested in discussing interconnecting our systems. Healy presented an easement and an option with property owners to acquire options in eastern Yellow Medicine County for Board action. M/S/P Lonneman/Van Dyke to approve and authorize the Chairman and Secretary to execute the Erickson Easement Agreement and the Van Lerberghe Easement and Option to Purchase Agreement. Leonard Swenson and Dennis Healy met with representatives of the City of Dawson, and they expressed interest in working with LPRW to supply water in the area around Dawson.

 

Director of Operations Report:  Don Evers reported on the following items:

·   Don Drietz reported that 4 North Phase hookups will be completed now to address emergency situations.

·   Lewis & Clark easement and land acquisition guidelines have been approved and more federal funding is needed for this year. The Minnesota Lewis and Clark Joint Powers Committee will meet at the Country House in Lake Benton at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 17th.  Land acquisition for the wells and treatment plant will proceed this year with the funds available.  LPRW is asking for a second connection to Lewis and Clark near Worthington.

·   Seeding and tree planting is done or nearly done at the Holland wellhead.

·   The new switches are working as planned at the Holland WTP.

·   The Verdi and Holland well fields are in good shape.

·   The original building quotes did not work out so the Board directed Evers to get quotes for repairs on four pump station buildings.

·   Evers recommended that we proceed with the generator projects at Verdi and Burr.  M/S/P Weber/Swenson to proceed to work with Energy Alternatives for proposals for a lease-purchase project for generators at Verdi and Burr.

·   The SCADA system is working better than in the past.

·   Requests for new hookups in the south part of the system were discussed.

·   Progress on correcting the Skorczewski hookup was reviewed.

 

 

 

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   Healy reported that the annual county board meetings have been very positive with good support in each county.  The Rock County meeting has been changed to 9:00 a.m. on June 18th.

·   Healy recommended and the Board authorized the charge for returned checks be raised from $10 to $20.

·   Quotes for global positioning system equipment were received from Frontier Precision, Inc. for Trimble Pro XRS equipment with software and accessories.  M/S/P Ufkin/Swenson to purchase 2 sets of equipment with software and accessories for $27,975.52.

 

Committee Reports:  The following committee reports were given:  Healy suggested that all committees meet to prepare budget requests and discuss related issues, and June 27th was suggested as the best date.  Healy will send notices.

 

Executive Committee: No report.

 

Budget & Finance Committee:  No report.

 

Personnel Committee: No report.

 

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: No report.

 

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  No report.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Weber/Van Dyke to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, June 24, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________

                         Rod Spronk, Secretary