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 26, 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, July 26, 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 Tom Muller and 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 Ufkin/Lonneman to approve the minutes of the June 28, 2004 Regular Board meeting, and the minutes of the July 19, 2004 Committee meetings.  The Budget and Finance Committee meeting minutes were amended to show that Earl DeWilde was not present.

 

Treasurer's Report:  M/S/P Engels/Swenson 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: NE Phase #44 = $33,377.86; Lynd Service Area #39 = $256.00; General Services #37 = $3,744.00

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $859.00; NE Expansion = $157.50

·   Vlaminck Electric, Inc.: Burr Wells #8, #9 & #10 Project = $55,000.00

·   Prairie Wild Enterprises, Inc.: (NE Phase) Hydro Seeding Minneota Tower Site = $3,851.04

 

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.  M/S/P Lonneman/Van Dyke to approve the agreement subject to approval by the City of Adrian.

 

Minneota Storage Building Project:  The building project is nearly complete.

 

Lismore: The City of Lismore approved the Community Water Service Agreement, and work will begin on the hookup as soon as possible.

 

Regional Water Development:

•  Edgerton Well:  The Edgerton well has been taken out of production until problems with “rusty” water can be resolved.

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

 

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

 

•  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:  A preconstruction meeting is scheduled for July 28th, and work should start soon thereafter.

 

•  Burr WTP Improvements:  Vlaminck and Carr have started the 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.

 

•   Burr GSR:  A 874,000-gallon ground storage reservoir has been designed at the Burr WTP.  M/S/P Simonson/Brunner to set a bid opening for August 19, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the LPRW office in Lake Benton.

 

•  Lismore:  M/S/P DeWilde/Swenson to approve the revised engineering agreement with DGR because the originally quoted Basic Services amount is reduced. All members voted in favor of the motion except Engels who abstained. M/S/P Lonneman/Ufkin to set a bid opening for the Lismore hookup for August 19, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the LPRW office in Lake Benton.

 

•   2005 Project Application:  The 2005 Project has been reviewed by the Water Resource and Equipment Committee, and was modified slightly.

 

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

·   Don Drietz reported a request from a developer who asked if he could hook up more than one lot or housing unit from one meter.  The Board noted that that was contrary to Board policy, and they would not change or make an exception to the policy.

·   Lewis & Clark continues to proceed with project implementation.

·   Don Evers presented a request from a landowner who had given us an easement for 1/2 mile but we only went in his field for 1350 feet.  He is requesting crop damage for the full 1/2-mile rather than the 1350 feet.  The Board did not change the staff decision.

 

Director of Finance and Administration Report:

·   The 25th Anniversary Open House plans are progressing.

·   The Northeast Phase project has approximately $970,000 remaining to be spent on the Northeast Phase Expansion Project.

·   Healy presented information about an old water bill and recommended that it be written off as a bad debt.  M/S/P Buysse/Brunner to write off account number 929 with a balance of $20.00 in late fees and $43.86 in water used ($63.86 total) as a bad debt.

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: The Committee reviewed the proposed 2005 Improvement Project and the 2005-2010 Capital Improvement Program at their July 19th meeting.

Personnel Committee: The Committee reviewed budget and organizational issues at their July 19th meeting, and they recommended that a new job description for a “Water Resources Technician” be developed and that the position be filled as soon as possible.  The Committee also met on July 26th to discuss a request from Don Evers to convert to part-time employment in 2005.  The Committee will develop an employment agreement for Board consideration.  M/S/P Buysse/Lonneman to create and fill a Water Resource Technician position as soon as practical.

Budget & Finance Committee: The Committee reviewed 2005 revenue estimates and received budget recommendations from the other Committees at their July 19th meeting.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Swenson reported that the Association has hired a new wellhead protection person, and they have added $100,000 from bond administration proceeds to MRWA contingency funds.

25th Anniversary Committee: Frank Engels reported on the Committee progress for the 25th Anniversary Open House, and noted that the Committee is expecting 1,000 people to attend.  Darin Schriever offered support of $1,500 from DGR.

The Committees will meet at 5:00 p.m. before the next Board meeting.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Brunner/Buysse to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, August 30, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                     ______________________________________________

                                                                                          Joseph Weber, Secretary