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 24, 2004

 

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 24, 2004 starting at 6:00 p.m. Chairman Rod Spronk called the meeting to order with Commissioners Mike Brunner, Ken Buysse, Earl DeWilde, Frank Engels, Charlie Simonson, Leonard Swenson, Joe Weber, Jerry Lonneman, Henry Van Dyke, and Bill Ufkin present.  Also present were Board Attorney, Ron Schramel; DGR Engineer Darin Schriever; Field Superintendents, Don Drietz and 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 Ufkin/Engels to approve the minutes of the April 26, 2004 Regular Board meeting.

 

 

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

 

 

Bills:  M/S/P Engels/Buysse to approve the following bills for payment:

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: Minneota Tower & Booster #42 = $216.00; NE Phase #42 = $33,599.70; General Services #35 = $943.00

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $1,037.50; Northeast Expansion = $0

·   Eatherly Constructors, Inc.: NE Phase Schedule 1B Mainline-Pay Estimate #18 = $16,305.68

·   US Bank: 1998 Refunding Bond interest payment = $11,792.50; 1998 Refunding Bond Series B interest payment = $124,387.50; 2003 Refunding Bond interest payment = $31,961.88

 

 

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

 

•  Lynd Project:  The Affinity Hills pipeline extension plans are completed for review.

 

•  Green Valley Booster:  The project is completed, but an electrical inspection on the building needs to be completed.

 

•  Schedule 1B Mainline:  The contractor is doing cleanup work.

 

•  GIS/GPS:  DGR is finishing setup of the GIS/GPS equipment and software, and preparing additional training for LPRW staff. 

 

•  Schedule 1C Pipeline:  Design work is being completed.  M/S/P Ufkin/Lonneman to set the bid opening for 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 25, 2004.

 

•  Burr WTP Improvements:  Vlaminck and Carr are proceeding with electrical and building work at the Burr Wells.  The US Filter quote of $74,417.00 for control and SCADA upgrades has been accepted.  Chemical feed upgrades are being designed.

 

•   DNR Permit Restrictions:  The notified the Board that the boundary line and hookup limits will be lifted, but reporting and monitoring requirements will remain.  LPRW will also be expected to continue planning for development of another water source in the region.

 

•   2005 Project Application:  A preliminary plan for system-wide improvements was presented for discussion.  Potential project elements include electronic and security improvements, a pump station at the Lynd standpipe, purchase of a water supply from the City of Dawson, and new community and rural hookups.  M/S/P DeWilde/Lonneman to proceed with project planning, and to authorize DGR and LPRW staff to proceed with preliminary engineering and an application for financing.

 

 

Attorney’s Report: Board Attorney, Ron Schramel reported that nothing had been heard from Minneota so he recommended that no action was necessary at this time.  A draft service agreement with the City of Adrian was reviewed and revisions will be made.

 

 

Minneota Storage Building Project:  Quotes for a 50’ x 70’ storage building were reviewed by the Water Resources and Equipment Committee on May 13th, and based on USDA-RD recommendations the lowest of the 3 qualified quotes (Strack Companies - $150,098.00; Morton Buildings - $50,713.00; and Lester Buildings - $47,889.00) from Lester Buildings should be accepted.  M/S/P Ufkin/Weber to accept the recommendations of the Water Resources and Equipment Committee and authorize Lester Buildings to proceed as per their quote of $47,889.00 subject to USDA-RD concurrence.  Site work will be done as soon as possible, and LPRW will do the concrete work and electrical work with their own funds.

 

 

Regional Water Development:

 

•  Lismore: The City has apparently decided to connect to LPRW, and LPRW staff will work with DGR to do the engineering work necessary to get Health Department approval and get the project installed subject a final commitment from the City.

 

•  Adrian: LPRW staff will work with the City to get an agreement worked out.

 

•  Edgerton Well and Pump Station:  There has been some problem with “rusty” water but that should be worked out as operations are fine tuned.

 

•  Lewis & Clark:  Meetings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.  Jerry Lonneman and Bill Ufkin will attend the Wednesday meeting near Lennox, and Don Evers will attend the annual meeting scheduled for Thursday in Sioux Falls.

 

 

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

·   Tom Muller asked about spraying weeds at the Holland well field.  Evers noted that weeds are a problem and it needs to be done as soon as possible.

 

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   Healy reported on progress of the Vulnerability Assessment.

·   The Northeast Phase project has approximately $1.2 million remaining to be spent on the Northeast Phase Expansion Project.

·   Healy reported that the annual meetings with the County Boards have been completed, and the Board’s expressed strong support for LPRW activities.

·   M/S/P Weber/Lonneman to donate $250 to the “Southwest Minnesota Foundation Small Business Management Scholarship” in recognition of the training program presented to the Board by Deb Munsterman, Small Business Management Instructor at Minnesota West College in Granite Falls, at the April meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: Rate increase options were discussed, and alternatives to the Committee’s recommendations were reviewed.  M/S/P Van Dyke/Ufkin to approve the recommendations of the Committee and adopt monthly retail water rates of $16.00 for the first 1,000 gallons, $1.85 per 1,000 gallons for 2,000 through 80,000 gallons, $1.95 per 1,000 gallons for 81,000 through 200,000 gallons, and $2.05 per 1,000 gallons for 201,000 gallons and over; and to recommend approval of monthly wholesale (municipal) water rates of $1.65 per thousand gallons.  The rates would be effective with water use beginning June 1, 2005 payable July 1, 2005.  Brunner, Buysse, DeWilde, Lonneman, Simonson, Spronk, Swenson, Ufkin, Van Dyke and Weber voted in favor of the motion, and Engels voted against the motion.

Personnel Committee: No report.

Budget & Finance Committee: No report.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Swenson reported that the Association may get the tribal circuit rider position back later this year.

25th Anniversary Committee: Frank Engels, Charlie Simonson, Leonard Swenson, Henry Van Dyke, Don Evers and past Board members Etler Jensen and Irwin Vande Griend met to begin planning for an open house.  A late August date at the Holland Treatment Plant was suggested.  The Board decided to try to have the Open House on August 23rd if all of the arrangements can be made.  Joe Weber will arrange for a PA system, Rod Spronk will see if the Pipestone County Pork Producers can cater a meal, Leonard Swenson will talk to the Canby JC’s about renting their tent, Dennis Healy will talk to Ruth Hubbard at MRWA and Liesch Associates about their participation, and the Committee will work on the program.  A publication will be prepared, advertising arranged and a guest list prepared.  DGR, and McDonald Gudmestad & Schramel, PLLP have offered to help support the costs of the Open House.

 

 

Other:  Don Evers presented a proposal from Total Compliance Solutions, Inc. to provide mandated drug and alcohol testing services for field employees.  The Board directed Evers to make necessary arrangements to start the service so we stay in compliance with applicable regulations.  Evers also passed on a request from Gerrit Spronk to increase his mileage rate for transporting the LPRW mower behind his vehicle when he travels around the system to mow the sites.  The Board authorized a $0.10 per mile increase due to fuel increases.

 

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Engels/Buysse to adjourn the meeting at 11:15 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, June 28, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________

                                  Joseph Weber, Secretary