LINCOLN PIPESTONE RURAL WATER SYSTEM

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

                (507) 368-4248 or (800) 462-0309                 fax (507) 368-4573                                  email:  lprw@itctel.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEETING MINUTES

May 19, 2003

 

 

 

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, May 19, 2003 starting at 6:00 p.m.  Chairman Frank Engels called the meeting to order with Commissioners Ken Buysse, Jerry Lonneman, Charlie Simonson, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Earl DeWilde, Henry Van Dyke, Bill Ufkin, and Joe Weber present. Also present were LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald; DGR Engineers, John Madden and Darin Schriever; Field Superintendent, Tom Muller; Director of Finance and Administration, Dennis Healy; and Director of Operations, Don Evers.

 

Agenda:  The Agenda was approved as presented.

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Lonneman/Swenson to approve the minutes of the April 28, 2003 Regular Board meeting.  M/S/P Buysse/Simonson to approve the minutes of the April 28, 2003 Executive Committee meeting.

 

Treasurer's Report:  Investment options were discussed and the need for additional options was reviewed.  M/S/P Ufkin/Weber to authorize Healy to review investment opportunities and invest available funds to the advantage of LPRW.  M/S/P Swenson/Weber to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented.

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: Minneota Tower #33 = $396.99; NE Phase #30 = $22,270.92; Lynd Area #29 = $1,407.50; General Services #26 = $2,595.79

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $798.32; Northeast Expansion = $490.00

·   Eatherly Constructors, Inc.: NE Phase Schedule 1B Mainline-Pay Estimate #7 = $416,871.43

·   KHC Construction, Inc.: NE Phase Minneota Booster-Pay Estimate #5 = $40,566.00

·   Carstensen Contracting, Inc.: NE Phase Schedule 1A User Additions-Pay Estimate #5   = $72,852.70

 

 

Attorney’s Report:  LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald did not have any additional items to report on, but an account involved in a bankruptcy was reviewed and he recommended that the Board write off the account as uncollectible.  M/S/P Buysse/Van Dyke to authorize LPRW staff to reclassify the $43.40 balance in account number 1-05920-01-7 as a bad debt expense.

 

 

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

 

  Green Valley Booster:  Bids were opened prior to the meeting, but the Board had questions concerning the apparent low bid.  John Madden contacted them to check on the details of the bid.  Bids were received from Robert L. Carr Company ($177,670.00); KHC ($204,000.00); and Eatherly Constructors, Inc. ($215,000.00)

 

  Lynd Project:  The standpipe and booster are in service with only minor cleanup remaining.  The Schedule 1B project has a few cleanup items left but is also in service.  The SCADA system is in use.

 

  Minneota Tower and Booster:  The Booster will be on-line soon and tank construction should resume in late May.

 

  Schedule 1A Added Users:  Seven new hookups have been completed, and the project will be closed out when final cleanup is completed.

 

  Schedule 1B Mainline:  The Board discussed progress on the expansion project, and reviewed Change Order #4.  M/S/P Lonneman/Swenson to approve Change Order #4 to the ECI Schedule 1B contract in the amount of a $2,500.00 increase and adding bid item #73, subject to USDA-RD concurrence.

 

   Burr WTP Improvement: DGR engineers and LPRW staff recommended that 3 new wells be developed and connected at the Burr Water Treatment Plant.  A major expansion of the treatment plant was not recommended because water sources can be blended without increasing sulfate levels to unacceptable levels, however several smaller changes to improve plant operating characteristics were recommended.  M/S/P Spronk/Ufkin to authorize DGR to proceed with plans to develop wells #8, #9 and #10, subject to USDA-RD approval. M/S/P Buysse/Swenson to authorize DGR to evaluate treatment plant improvement needs and proceed with plans to implement those needs, subject to USDA-RD approval.  The engineering costs for these improvements should be included in the existing Northeast Phase engineering contracts according to Madden and Shriever.

 

   Green Valley Booster Project:  John Madden reported that he has discussed the bid with Gordon Engesmo from Robert L. Carr Company and they have agreed to change products as needed to meet project needs.  M/S/P Weber/Lonneman to award the Green Valley Booster Project bid to Robert L. Carr Company for $177,670.00 subject to approval of Change Order #1 for $10,472.00 to upgrade to an EFI package station and USDA-RD approval.  Frank Engels abstained from voting because his sister works for the Robert L. Carr Company.

 

City of Cottonwood:  Healy reported that the City has not made a decision concerning connection to the system.

 

Attachments to LPRW Towers:  Bill Ufkin reported that he was aware of several opportunities to place cell phone antennas on our water towers if we want to do that.  LPRW staff was directed to do more research on the issue.

 

Well #8 contract:  M/S/P Van Dyke/Ufkin to approve Change Order #1 to decrease the LTP contract by $790.00 based on actual installed quantities.

 

Regional Water Development:

 

  Adrian:  Don Evers is working with a landowner for sites to install wells.

 

   Edgerton:  The LPRW well is ready for production, but no new information was received from the City.

 

   Rock County Connection:  A counter proposal from Rock County Rural Water was reviewed, and LPRW staff was directed to continue to work with RCRW.

 

   City of Dawson:  No new information from the City of Dawson.

 

 

Director of Operations Report:

·   Don Evers reported that Don Drietz would not be at the meeting because of back problems that may require him to miss some work.

·   Don Evers will get quotes to complete building repairs at the Edgerton and Hendricks pump stations.

·   Burr well #6 required significant pump repairs, and several wells have been repaired at Holland.

·   The new North Holland observation well has been installed.

·   Water levels are up at the Holland and Verdi well fields.

·   CRP signups are proceeding at the Holland and Verdi Wellhead Protection areas.

·   Eatherly Constructors is addressing the snowmobile claim that has been pending for several months.

·   Don Evers reported that a water taste complaint was received and he will meet with the customer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   Healy presented the 2003 Burr Water Resource Management Plan update for Board discussion and review.  M/S/P Spronk/Lonneman to adopt the 2003 Burr Water Resource Management Plan and submit it to the USDA-RD and MDNR for their review.

·   A summary of reimbursements on the Northeast Phase Expansion Project was presented for Board review.

·   Meetings with the county boards have been scheduled.

 

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Budget & Finance Committee: No report.

Personnel Committee: No report

Search Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: M/S/P Weber/Lonneman to approve the minutes of the April 4, 2003 Water Resources and Equipment Committee meeting.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Leonard Swenson reported that MRWA has moved into their new office building.

 

 

Other Business:  Evers is getting additional quotes for electrical work at the booster stations.  Evers also reported that one of the field personnel had a minor accident that has been turned in to the insurance company.

 

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Weber/Buysse to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, June 30, 2003 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                     ______________________________________________

                                                                                                Rod Spronk, Secretary