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

July 28, 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, July 28, 2003 starting at 6:00 p.m.  Chairman Frank Engels called the meeting to order with Commissioners Ken Buysse, Earl DeWilde, Jerry Lonneman, Charlie Simonson, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Henry Van Dyke, and Bill Ufkin present. Commissioner Joe Weber was absent. Also present were LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald; DGR Engineer, Darin Schriever; Field Superintendent, Don Drietz; Director of Finance and Administration, Dennis Healy; and Director of Operations, Don Evers.  Craig Holland was present representing Starpoint Communications.

 

Agenda:  The Agenda was approved as presented.

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Ufkin/Simonson to approve the minutes of the June 30, 2003 Regular Board meeting.  M/S/P Ufkin/Simonson to approve the minutes of the July 21, 2003 Special Board and Committee meeting.

 

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

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: Minneota Tower #35 = $15,716.44; NE Phase #32 = $25,992.40; Lynd Area #31 = $3,968.60; General Services #28 = $256.00

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $741.32; Northeast Expansion = $60.00

·   Eatherly Constructors, Inc.: NE Phase Schedule 1B Mainline-Pay Estimate #9 = $258,344.46

·   Caldwell Tanks, Inc.: NE Phase Minneota Tower-Pay Estimate #6 = $132,786.25

·   Hawkins, Inc.: NE Phase Minneota tower chemical feed equipment = $16,401.00

·   Prairie Wild Enterprises, Inc.: Lynd Project Hydroseeding = $3,348.79

 

Starpoint Communications, Inc.:  Craig Holland, CEO of Starpoint Communications met with the Board to discuss the possibility of using LPRW water towers to mount antenna so high speed internet connections can be provided in rural areas.  M/S/P Ufkin/Buysse to authorize Dan McDonald and LPRW staff to move ahead with lease negotiations for the tower sites.

 

Attorney’s Report:  LPRW Attorney, Dan McDonald presented a plan to increase Board membership to eleven members, and to set Board terms to begin and end on January 1st with staggered four-year terms.  As this was consistent with earlier Board discussions a search Committee of Ken Buysse, Leonard Swenson and Charlie Simonson was formed with Frank Engels as an ex-officio member.  McDonald informed the Board that he cannot attend the September meeting.

 

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

 

•  Lynd Project:  The Project is complete except for some minor cleanup and paperwork.

 

•  Minneota Tower and Booster:  Painting of the tower should begin the week of August 11th.  The Booster portion of the project has problems with the paint and all interior surfaces need to be sandblasted and repainted.  The contractor has been informed, and he will be expected to pay for additional inspection costs.

 

•  Green Valley Booster:  Work has started on the project.

 

•  Schedule 1A Added Users:  The Project has been completed.

 

•  Schedule 1B Mainline:  The contractor is testing and disinfecting lines, and installing services.  People should begin receiving water soon.

 

•   Burr WTP Improvement: The preliminary engineering report for the project is being prepared.

 

•   Burr Wells:  The Burr Wells 2003 bid was awarded to Ervin Well Company and the preconstruction meeting is scheduled for August 5th.  Stainless steel drop pipe is being priced as a possible alternate due to the corrosive nature of the water in the area.

 

Regional Water Development:

 

•   City of Dawson:  DGR is preparing a preliminary report for water improvements for the City of Boyd, and LPRW staff was directed to work with them to determine the feasibility of service from Dawson or Burr.

 

•  Adrian:  Jerry Lonneman reported that he has discussed well exploration and land purchase with a landowner near Adrian, and he seems willing to work with us but he has some questions concerning the terms of the Option to Purchase.  Lonneman and the LPRW staff will continue to work with the landowner.

 

Director of Operations Report:

·   Don Drietz reported that operations were going smoothly, and service lines are being installed in the expansion area.

·   Don Evers reported that Lewis & Clark is moving forward, and groundbreaking has been changed to August 21st.

·   The quote from Everson Electric to install standby electrical hookups at the Benton and Lincoln pump stations for $6,450 per site was received and it was significantly lower than earlier quotes.  M/S/P Lonneman/Van Dyke to approve the quote and authorize the work to proceed.

·   M/S/P Buysse/Swenson to authorize Energy Alternatives to proceed with design and installation of a standby generator at the Verdi Well Field.

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   The Lewis and Clark groundbreaking has been changed to August 21st and any Board members interested in going should contact Don or Dennis.

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

·   A request for financial support for implementation of a GIS program in Pipestone County was reviewed but the Board felt that LPRW could not participate at this time.

·   Healy reported that several old easements needed to be redone due to changes in state law and landowner requests.

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Budget & Finance Committee: The July 21st meeting was reviewed earlier.

Personnel Committee: The July 21st meeting was reviewed earlier.

Search Committee: The Committee will meet at the Corner Café in Taunton at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13th

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: The July 21st meeting was reviewed earlier.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  No report.

 

Other:  Don Evers presented a request for financial support from the Southwest Minnesota CREP Program organization, but it was tabled until more information was received.  The Board directed Healy to contact Frank’s Electric to get a proposal to improve air handling in the office.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P DeWilde/Van Dyke to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 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