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 28, 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, June 28, 2004 starting at 6:00 p.m. Chairman Rod Spronk called the meeting to order with Commissioners Mike Brunner, Earl DeWilde, Frank Engels, Charlie Simonson, Leonard Swenson, Joe Weber, Jerry Lonneman, Henry Van Dyke, and Bill Ufkin present.  Commissioner Ken Buysse was absent.  Also present were Etler Jensen; Erwin Vande Griend; Board Attorney, Ron Schramel; DGR Engineer Darin Schriever; Field Superintendent, Don Drietz; Director of Finance and Administration, Dennis Healy; and Director of Operations, Don Evers.

 

Agenda:  The Agenda was approved as presented.

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Swenson/Engels to approve the minutes of the May 24, 2004 Regular Board meeting.

 

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

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: NE Phase #43 = $12,593.21; Lynd Service Area #38 = $920.00; General Services #36 = $2,440.25

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $1,111.00;

·   Liesch Associates, Inc.: Adrian Well #7 Project = $258.00

·   US Bank: 2001 Refunding Bond interest payment = $40,140.00; 2003 Nobles County Refunding Bond interest payment = $46,463.75

 

Attorney’s Report: Board Attorney, Ron Schramel reviewed the service agreement with the City of Adrian, and the Board discussed various payment options to be incorporated into the document.  Schramel and the staff will continue to work with Adrian to arrive at an agreement.

 

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

 

•  Lynd Project:  The Affinity Hills pipeline extension plans are completed and delivered to LPRW.

 

•  Schedule 1B Mainline:  The contractor is doing cleanup work, and final quantities are being prepared.

 

•  GIS/GPS:  DGR is finishing setup of the GIS/GPS equipment and software, and preparing additional training for LPRW staff.  Training sessions to date have gone very well.

 

•  Schedule 1C Pipeline:  Bids were received and opened on June 25th, and the bids were Sterzinger Excavating ($350,852.60); Carstensen Contracting ($378,265.05); and Loosbrock Construction ($466,644.55).  M/S/P Ufkin/Engels to award the Schedule 1C Pipeline bid to Sterzinger Excavating for $350,852.60 subject to approval from USDA-RD.

 

•  Burr WTP Improvements:  Vlaminck and Carr are proceeding with electrical and building work at the Burr Wells.  The US Filter is proceeding with the control and SCADA upgrades.  Chemical feed upgrades are being designed.  A 500,000 ground storage tank at the Burr WTP has been recommended.  M/S/P Swenson/DeWilde to authorize DGR to proceed with the supplemental environmental review and design subject to USDA-RD authorization. All members voted in favor of the motion except Engels who abstained.

 

•  Lismore: The City has approved the hookup with LPRW, and routing has been completed.  M/S/P Weber/Simonson to approve the engineering agreement with DGR provided that the quoted Basic Services amount is reduced. All members voted in favor of the motion except Engels who abstained.

 

•   2005 Project Application:  A proposal from DGR for “Study and Report Phase Services” was reviewed.  M/S/P DeWilde/Ufkin to approve the DGR agreement and proceed with the pre-application to USDA-RD. All members voted in favor of the motion except Engels who abstained.

 

•   Schriever reported that DGR would provide financial and staff support for the 25th Anniversary project.

 

Minneota Storage Building Project:  Site work is proceeding and will be done before construction starts in mid-July.

 

Lismore: The Community Water Service Agreement between Lismore and LPRW has been reviewed by Board Attorney, Ron Schramel and the Board.  M/S/P Van Dyke/Brunner to approve the Lismore Community Water Service Agreement subject to approval by the City of Lismore.

 

Regional Water Development:

•  Adrian: LPRW staff met with the City staff to get an agreement worked out.  The Board has offered suggestions on the cost factors

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

•  Lewis & Clark:  The Minnesota pipeline project is on hold for know because the Minnesota Legislature did not approve a bonding bill.

 

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

·   Lewis & Clark construction has started.

·   The Lyon-Lincoln Electric report on savings generated by our Verdi and Burr generators showed a savings of approximately $17,000.

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   Healy reported that the Vulnerability Assessment has been submitted to the USEPA, and the Emergency Response Plan needs to be updated before the end of the year.

·   The Northeast Phase project has approximately $1.07 million remaining to be spent on the Northeast Phase Expansion Project.

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: The Board did not act on the Committee recommendation on membership fees at the May meeting so Healy suggested that action be taken.  M/S/P Engels/Simonson to set the membership fee for new hookups at $400 for all membership fees paid after December 31, 2004.  The Board also authorized Healy to notify the municipal customers of the 2005 rate increase so they can have the information for their budgets.

Personnel Committee: No report.

Budget & Finance Committee: No report.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Swenson reported that the Association has some staff changes being made.

25th Anniversary Committee: Frank Engels reported on the Committee progress for the 25th Anniversary Open House.

The Water Resources and Equipment and the Personnel Committees will meet at 5:00 p.m., and the Budget & Finance Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 19th at the Community Center Lower Level Meeting Room in Ivanhoe.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Lonneman/Engels to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, July 26, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________

                                  Joseph Weber, Secretary