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

March 28, 2005

 

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, March 28, 2005 starting at 10:00 a.m. Vice-Chairman Jerry Lonneman called the meeting to order with Commissioners Ken Buysse, Earl DeWilde, Frank Engels, Charlie Simonson, Leonard Swenson, Bill Ufkin, and Joe Weber present.  Commissioners Mike Brunner, Rod Spronk and Henry Van Dyke were absent.  Also present were Board Attorney, Ron Schramel; DGR Engineer, Darin Schriever; Auditor, Matt Taubert, CPA representing Meulebroeck, Taubert & Co., PLLP; Field Superintendents, Don Drietz and Tom Muller; and CEO, Dennis Healy.

 

 

Agenda:  M/S/P Swenson/Buysse to approve the Agenda as presented.

 

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Ufkin/Engels to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2005 Regular Board meeting.

 

 

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

 

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: NE Phase #52 = $205.00; Adrian Well No. 7 ppe #4 = $197.00; General Services #44 = $7,450.37

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $898.80; Northeast Expansion = $0.00

·   USFilter Control Systems: NE Phase SCADA improvements Final = $4,403.17

·   Vlaminck Electric, Inc.: NE Phase Electrical @ wells 8, 9 & 10 = $1,646.00; NE Phase Additional Electrical @ wells 8, 9 & 10 = $3,923.67

·   Gary Nordmeyer Construction: Lake Benton office improvements = $11,503.32

 

 

Attorney’s Report:  Ron Schramel reported to the Board on the status of the Eatherly suit and the countersuit filed by LPRW.  Mediation is being scheduled for April, and Schramel recommended that the Board authorize the CEO to settle the dispute within guidelines set by the Board.  M/S/P Ufkin/DeWilde to authorize the CEO to settle the dispute if agreement can be reached that is basically as outlined in the December 3, 2004 letter from LPRW to Eatherly Constructors, Inc.

 

 

Regional Water Development:

 

•  Adrian:  The project is on hold until a Topeka Shiner habitat evaluation can be completed.  The monitoring wells in Yellow Medicine County that were to be drilled with the Adrian well should be installed now to avoid interference with farm operations.

 

•  Rock County Rural Water:  Discussions are proceeding with Rock County Rural Water to provide water to LPRW until the Lewis & Clark project is completed.  M/S/P Engels/Simonson to authorize LPRW staff and DGR to proceed with agreements and plans as soon as possible.

 

•  Eastern Yellow Medicine County Exploration:  The monitoring wells have been installed.

 

 

 

Audit Report: Matt Taubert, CPA of Meulebroeck, Taubert & Co., PLLP presented the 2004 Independent Auditor’s Report.  There were no issues or problems identified in the audit.  M/S/P Weber/Engels to accept and place on file the 2004 Independent Auditor’s Report.

 

 

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

 

•  NE Expansion and GIS/GPS:  The projects are nearing completion and closeout.

 

•  Burr WTP Improvements:  The Burr Water Treatment Plant improvements projects are completed or nearing completion.  M/S/P Buysse/Simonson to approve Change Order #1 for additional work on the recarb basin for $17,508.00.

 

•   Lismore Service Connection:  The project has been completed and paid for, but the contractor has not completed the closeout paperwork and may contest the liquidated damages deduction.

 

•   2005 System Improvements and Expansion:  The Preliminary Engineering report is underway.  The Board directed Healy to review hookup costs, and to contact Red Rock Rural Water about their water development plans in Murray County.

 

•   Chandler and Ivanhoe Boosters:  The plans have been approved by the Minnesota Department of Health, and the SCADA and control work is being scheduled.  LPRW staff will do as much of the construction as practical to speed up the process.

 

•  Booster Stations:  Booster stations have been designed at the Ivanhoe and Chandler towers.

 

•  Edgerton Well:  M/S/P Ufkin/Engels to authorize DGR to prepare plans for an iron and manganese removal system for the Edgerton well.

 

 

Field Superintendents’ Report:  Don Drietz reported on the following items:

·   A new development on Lake Shaokatan will be developed this summer, and we are doing the water lines.  Joe Weber noted that the Lincoln County SWCD had expressed some concern about wetland issues so we need to be careful with our construction practices.

·   Drietz suggested that we consider purchasing a backhoe in 2005 (scheduled for 2006) and delay the excavator purchase until 2006 (scheduled for 2005), because the backhoe is about half the cost.  M/S/P DeWilde/Simonson to authorize purchase of new backhoe rather than an excavator in 2005.  Healy will work with Lincoln County to purchase the equipment through the state bid system.

·   Quotes are being obtained for 2 new pickups.  The Board authorized Healy to purchase the best available buys.

 

 

CEO’s Report:

·   Healy reported on the status of the Northeast Phase Project.

·   The Lewis & Clark project is moving forward as more construction is completed, and state and federal finances are committed.  An increase in size to accommodate Sioux Falls is being discussed.

·   The Board discussed sending representatives to the NRWA Rally in Washington, D.C. on April 16-20.  M/S/P Ufkin/Weber to authorize Rod Spronk and Dennis Healy to attend the Rally, and to authorize the Very High per diem rate for the trip.

·   Healy presented a proposal from The PFM Group to refinance the Water Revenue Refunding Bonds of 1997.  The Board decided that the estimated savings did not justify the expense of refinancing because the Board may decide to pay off the debt early.

·   A billing appeal from Richard Kroger was reviewed, but the Board did not feel an adjustment was justified.  Kroger will be invited to the next meeting if he wants to discuss it further with the Board.

·   Healy presented a letter of resignation from Maggie Karschnia.  The Board accepted the resignation, and directed Healy to begin advertising to refill the position.

 

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: No report.

Personnel Committee: No report.

Budget & Finance Committee: Bill Ufkin noted that several Board members have suggested that Board reimbursement policies should be review, and he requested that if the Board wishes to make changes they make a decision before the Budget process begins.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Leonard Swenson reported that the MRWA Conference was very successful.

 

 

Other:

·   Weed control and CRP issues at the Holland Well Field were discussed.  Earl DeWilde and Tom Muller will meet with the Grange Township Board to discuss weed control.  Joe Weber reported that burning for weed control is subject to strict new regulations, and the issue of renter qualifications for CRP has not yet been settled by the state or federal offices.

·   Meetings will move to nights starting April.  M/S/P DeWilde/Engels to set the starting time at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Engels/Simonson to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, April 25, 2005 at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________

                                  Joe Weber, Secretary