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

June 30, 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, June 30, 2003 starting at 6:00 p.m.  Chairman Frank Engels called the meeting to order with Commissioners Earl DeWilde, Jerry Lonneman, Charlie Simonson, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Henry Van Dyke, Bill Ufkin, and Joe Weber present. Commissioner Ken Buysse was absent. Also present were LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald; DGR Engineers, John Madden and Darin Schriever; Field Superintendents, Don Drietz and Tom Muller; Director of Finance and Administration, Dennis Healy; and Director of Operations, Don Evers.  Tim Alcorn and Dominic Jones were present representing the MARL Program.

 

Agenda:  The Agenda was approved with the addition of a presentation on the Minnesota Agriculture & Rural Leadership (MARL) Program.

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Ufkin/Weber to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2003 Regular Board meeting.  M/S/P Ufkin/Weber to approve the minutes of the June 10, 2003 Budget & Finance Committee meeting.

 

Treasurer's Report:  M/S/P Simonson/Swenson to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented.

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: Minneota Tower #34 = $2,818.63; NE Phase #31 = $34,874.84; Lynd Area #30 = $777.50; General Services #27 = $2,358.50

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $561.32; Northeast Expansion = $90.00

·   Eatherly Constructors, Inc.: NE Phase Schedule 1B Mainline-Pay Estimate #8 = $318,121.55

·   KHC Construction, Inc.: NE Phase Minneota Booster-Pay Estimate #6 = $14,060.00

·   Carstensen Contracting, Inc.: NE Phase Schedule 1A User Additions-Pay Estimate #6-Final = $39,990.82

·   Caldwell Tanks, Inc.: NE Phase Minneota Tower-Pay Estimate #5 = $237,215.95

·   D & G Excavating, Inc.: NE Phase tile repair = $5,562.43

·   Meulebroeck, Taubert & Co., PLLP: 2002 Audit and accounting services = $5,840.00

·   Lewis & Clark Rural Water System, Inc.: 4th quarter FY2003 membership and capacity = $14,117.00

·   US Bank: GO Refunding Bonds of 1998 = $12,232.50; GO Refunding Bonds of 1998, Series B = $127,787.50; GO Refunding Bonds of 2001 = $47,070.00

 

 

Attorney’s Report:  LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald did not have any additional items to report on.

 

 

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

 

•  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 tower is progressing with the tank raising scheduled for July 12th.  Paint colors selected are Cloud White with Purple Haze lettering.  The Booster is operational.

 

•  Green Valley Booster:  M/S/P Ufkin/DeWilde to rescind the May 19th bid award for the Green Valley Booster Project, and award the bid to Robert L. Carr Company for $177,670.00 plus approval of Change Order #1 to change to an EFI Package Lift Station for a contract increase of $3,017.00.  USDA-RD has concurred in the bid award with the provision that LPRW pay the full cost of Change Order #1.  Engels abstained from the vote, and all others present voted in favor of the motion.

 

•  Schedule 1A Added Users:  M/S/P Lonneman/Van Dyke to approve Change Order #4 that deducts $75,421.36 to reflect final quantities from the Schedule 1A Additional Users contract with Carstensen Contracting, Inc.  Final payment will be released when all cleanup items have been completed.

 

•  Schedule 1B Mainline:  The Board discussed progress on the expansion project, and reviewed Change Order #4.  M/S/P Weber/Van Dyke to approve Change Order #5 to the ECI Schedule 1B contract in the amount of a $71,427.00 increase.

 

•   Burr WTP Improvement: Proposed improvements estimated to cost $126,000 to the Burr Water Treatment Plant were reviewed.  M/S/P Swenson/Simonson to submit the list of upgrades to USDA-RD for their authorization to proceed.  M/S/P Weber/Ufkin set the bid opening for wells #8, #9 and #10 for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2003.  Committee meetings will be scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on that date so the Board can take action on the bids.  M/S/P Van Dyke/Lonneman to authorize a Change Order to the ECI contract for the pipeline work to connect the wells to the WTP.

 

•   Other Improvements:  Other potential distribution system improvements were discussed.

 

MARL Program:  Tim Alcorn and Dominic Jones met with the Board to discuss the Minnesota Agriculture & Rural Leadership (MARL) Program.  Jones and Joe Weber are participants in the current 2-year program, and Alcorn is the executive director.  M/S/P Ufkin/Swenson to provide $2,500.00 in matching tuition assistance to the MARL Program.

 

Refunding Bonds:  Healy reported on the status of refunding various bonds to achieve lower interest rates.  M/S/P Weber/Swenson to adopt the resolution entitled “RESOLUTION REGARDING THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF GENERAL OBLIGATION WATER SYSTEM REFUNDING BONDS; SERIES 2003 (LINCOLN PIPESTONE RURAL WATER SYSTEM) OF NOBLES COUNTY, MINNESOTA” that will refund General Obligation Water System Bonds, Series 1994A and Series 1994B. M/S/P Lonneman/DeWilde to adopt the resolution entitled “RESOLUTION REGARDING THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF GENERAL OBLIGATION WATER SYSTEM REFUNDING BONDS; SERIES 2003A (LINCOLN PIPESTONE RURAL WATER SYSTEM) OF LINCOLN COUNTY, MINNESOTA” that will refund General Obligation Water System Bond of 1996.  M/S/P Weber/Lonneman to call the General Obligation Refunding Bonds of 1998, as issued by Lincoln County, and either pay them off from debt service reserves or issue refunding bonds.

 

City of Cottonwood:  Healy reported that the City has determined that they cannot hook up to the system at this time due to budget constraints, but they are interested in future cooperation.

 

Well Site Options:  M/S/P Simonson/Van Dyke to authorize the acquisition of purchase options for Burr well sites #9 at $10,000 and #10 at $8,500.

 

Regional Water Development:

 

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

 

•   Edgerton:  The LPRW well is being used with no problems to date.

 

•   City of Woodstock:  The City of Woodstock needs a water tower to improve pressure and provide fire protection.  LPRW has been asked to help with this project, but other than limited technical assistance there is little we can do at this time.

 

•   City of Dawson:  A proposal from the City of Dawson was reviewed, and it appears to be feasible if expansion potential exists in the area.  The Board decided to table any action until the Northeast Phase Expansion is completed.

 

 

Director of Operations Report:

·   Don Drietz and Tom Muller reported that operations were going smoothly.

·   Don Evers reported that Lewis & Clark funding has been restored, and groundbreaking is scheduled for August 23rd.

·   The Burr WTP will be toured by the Minnesota Livestock Producers Association.

·   The quote to install standby electrical hookups at the Benton and Lincoln pump stations for $11,000 per site were tabled until more information is available.

·   Quotes ranging from $5,880.83 to $8,900.00 per site to shingle and side the Hendricks and Edgerton pump stations were reviewed.  M/S/P Lonneman/Van Dyke to award the work to Rouge Construction for $5,880.83 per site.

·   The pump at Well #8 at the North Holland well field was replaced, and was turned in to insurance as a possible lightning struck.

·   Weed control work is needed at the Holland well field.

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   Healy presented a Revised policy concerning water service near Marshall.  The revision was suggested by MMU to clarify the current policy.  M/S/P Swenson/DeWilde to approve the “Revised Joint Statement of Policy Concerning the Provision of Water Service In and Around the City of Marshall” subject to approval by the MMU Board.

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

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:  Committee meetings were scheduled for July 21st at 6:00 p.m.

Executive Committee: No report.

Budget & Finance Committee: The June 10th meeting was reviewed earlier.

Personnel Committee: No report

Search Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: No report.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Leonard Swenson reported that MRWA interim finance program is being heavily used.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Weber/DeWilde to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, August 25, 2003 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                                  Rod Spronk, Secretary