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 23, 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, May 23, 2005 starting at 6:30 p.m. Chairman Rod Spronk called the meeting to order with Commissioners Ken Buysse, Bill Ufkin, Earl De Wilde, Charlie Simonson, Leonard Swenson, Henry Van Dyke, Jerry Lonneman, Mike Brunner, Frank Engels and Joe Weber present.   Also present were Board Attorney, Ron Schramel; DGR engineers, Bruce Jennings and Darin Schriever; Field Superintendents, Don Drietz and Tom Muller; and CEO, Dennis Healy.

 

Agenda:  M/S/P Lonneman/Engels to approve the Agenda as presented.

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Ufkin/Buysse to approve the minutes of the April 25, 2005 regular Board meeting, the May 2, 2005 special Board meeting, and the May 9, 2005 Personnel Committee meeting.

 

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

 

Bills:  M/S/P Brunner/Simonson to approve the following bills for payment:

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: Eatherly litigation = $4,880.31; General Services #46 = $7,900.07

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $2,028.60

·   Liesch Associates Inc.: Adrian Well 7 = $2,656.60

·   US Bank:  1998 Series B Bonds  = $ 120,840.00; Refunding Bonds Series 2003 = $31,024.38

 

Attorney’s Report:  Ron Schramel reported to the Board on the following issues:

 

   At the request of the Board, Schramel reported that in his opinion the Board can assess extra costs over and above the basic hookup cost for “General Hookups,” but hookups done as part of a project must all be assessed the same amount.

   Delinquent accounts were discussed, and Schramel reported that one option the Board has in collecting delinquent accounts is to assess the past due account against the property in accordance with state statutes.

   The lease to place communication equipment on the Minneota tower was presented for Board action.  M/S/P Lonneman/DeWilde to approve the lease with Starpoint Communications Inc. and to authorize the Chairman and Secretary to sign the lease.

   At the request of Board Attorney the Board went into executive session to discuss the status of the Eatherly suit/countersuit.

 

Engineer’s Report: Bruce Jennings and Darin Schriever reported on the following items.

 

  NE Expansion and GIS/GPS: Bruce Jennings discussed the ECI situation with the Board.  Darin Schriever reported on the status of the GIS and Burr WTP projects.

 

  Adrian:  M/S/P Ufkin/Engels to proceed with discussions with the City of Adrian concerning the purchase of water to meet peak demands.

 

   Chandler and Ivanhoe Boosters:  The project is proceeding and the Chandler booster should be on-line in early June.

 

  Edgerton Interconnection:  Rod Spronk, Tom Muller and the Edgerton City staff will meet to discuss the possibility of an interconnection hookup.

 

   The Board visited with Mark Brown, the attorney representing LPRW in the ECI case, to discuss options available to resolve the dispute.

   2005 System Improvements and Expansion:  Healy reported that he and Leonard Swenson met with the City of Dawson to discuss water purchase options.  They also attended a hearing at the City of Boyd to review hookup costs and scheduling.

 

Regional Water Development:

 

  Rock County Rural Water:  M/S/P Lonneman/Van Dyke to approve the “WATER PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ROCK COUNTY RURAL WATER SYSTEM AND LINCOLN PIPESTONE RURAL WATER SYSTEM” and to authorize the Chairman and the Secretary to sign the Agreement.

 

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

·   410 G Backhoe will be purchased this summer off the State Contract.

·   2 new pickups were purchased from Anton Chevrolet in Marshall, MN.

·   Concrete projects for Verdi Shop have been completed, but the Ivanhoe Tower work is not done.

·   Drietz requested permission to hire 2 summer employees.  M/S/P Engels/Brunner to authorize the staff to hire 2 summer employees if needed.

 

CEO’s Report:

·   Healy reported that the NE Phase Project grant funds have been spent.

·   M/S/P Weber/Simonson to appoint Jerry Lonneman as representative and Henry Van Dyke as alternate to represent LPRW on the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System Minnesota Systems Board.

·   Healy reported that the Lake Benton Lions Club member, Glen Krog, is willing to take over the Lions CRP contract, but someone will have to be found to take the Sportsmen’s Club contract over.

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: No report.

Personnel Committee: M/S/P Lonneman/Brunner to offer the Water Resource Technician position to Jason Overby starting at step 1/year 1 on the pay scale, and to offer the job to the second candidate if Overby is not available.

Budget & Finance Committee:  No Report

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative: Leonard Swenson and Dennis Healy reported on the new financing program being started by the MRWA.  M/S/P Lonneman/Buysse to adopt the resolution entitled “RESOLUTION APPROVING JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT AND APPOINTING A MEMBER OF A JOINT BOARD,” and agreeing to become and “initial member” of the Board and appointing Bill Ufkin to represent LPRW.  M/S/P Engels/Ufkin to appoint Leonard Swenson as the alternate member to represent LPRW.

 

Other:

·   Insurance coverage was discussed.  M/S/P Buysse/Engels to elect to “Not Waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by Minnesota Statutes 466.04.”

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Swenson/Van Dyke to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, June 27, 2005 at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                               ____________________________________________

                                  Joe Weber, Secretary