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

February 27, 2006

 

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, January 30, 2006 starting at 10:00 a.m. Chairman Jerry Lonneman called the meeting to order with Commissioners Ken Buysse, Earl DeWilde, Frank Engels, Charlie Simonson, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Henry Van Dyke, and Joe Weber present. Mike Brunner and Bill Ufkin were absent.  Also present were Auditor, Matt Taubert; Board Attorney, Ron Schramel; Field Superintendent, Don Drietz; and CEO, Dennis Healy.

 

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

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Engels/Weber to approve the minutes of the January 30, 2006 Regular Board meeting.

 

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

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: General Services #55 = $925.58

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $738.60; ECI litigation = $80.50

 

 

ECI Litigation:                M/S/P Buysse/Van Dyke to close the meeting at 10:15 a.m. to discuss litigation issues with Board Attorney, Ron Schramel and LMCIT Attorney, Mark Brown via conference call.  The attorney’s updated the Board, but no action was taken.  M/S/P Weber/Engels to reopen the meeting at 10:35 a.m.

 

 

Audit Report:  Matt Taubert from Meulebroeck, Taubert & Co. presented the 2005 audit report.   There were no issues or problems identified, and Taubert characterized the audit as a “clean” report.  M/S/P Weber/Simonson to approve the Auditor’s report as presented.  M/S/P Buysse/Spronk to retain Meulebroeck, Taubert & Co. to complete the 2006 audit.

 

 

Attorney’s Report:  Ron Schramel reported on the status of the Eatherly suit and the countersuit filed by LPRW, and requested that the Board go into executive session to review settlement options. M/S/P Van Dyke/Swenson to close the meeting at 11:20 a.m. to discuss litigation issues with Board Attorney, Ron Schramel.  M/S/P Buysse/Swenson to reopen the meeting at 11:35 a.m.

 

•  Easement:  A request from Excel Energy for an easement at the Chandler tower site was reviewed.  M/S/P Weber/Engels to approve the easement and to authorize CEO, Dennis Healy to execute the easement documents.

 

•   Land Lease:  M/S/P Spronk/Buysse to renew for 3 years the lease with Michael Moeller on the 19.49 acre tract defined along the south boundary line of the South 1/2 of Section 7, T107N, R45W in Pipestone County, Minnesota.  M/S/P Engels/Van Dyke to set the full 3-year lease payment at $5,262 payable in 6 installments in the manner of the preceding lease.

 

Engineer’s Report: Dennis Healy distributed a brief written report provided by Darin Schriever.

 

•  M/S/P Weber/Spronk to approve the “Pump Station Improvements” engineering agreement as presented, and to authorize the Chairman and the Secretary to sign the agreement.  Frank Engels abstained from the vote.

 

 

Regional Water Development:

 

•  Edgerton Area:  Healy reported that a potential water source has been identified in the Edgerton area.  The water quality appears to be very good, but testing will be required to determine the available quantity.  M/S/P Engels/Simonson to authorize Liesch Associates to begin working on testing necessary to get water appropriation permits.

•   New Hookups:  Healy presented a list of pending hookups for Board consideration.  M/S/P Buysse/Engels to require LPRW Board approval of all requests new or expanded hookups except those approved prior to February 27, 2006.

•  Luverne:  Healy and Board representatives met with the City of Luverne on February 9th to discuss possible water purchases.  We requested 200 gpm and 100 million gallons per year with a commitment for service until water is available from the Lewis & Clark system.  The City will need to complete engineering studies before they can give us an answer.

•   Healy was authorized to have Liesch Associates begin research on the Topeka Shiner issue and investigate new water resources in the system.

•  Jerry Lonneman reported that the Adrian Golf Course was willing to set up a water station for crop spraying if they could get some assistance with the cost of the station.  This would be very helpful during the spraying season.  M/S/P Spronk/Swenson to spend up to $2,500 to build a water station at the Adrian Golf Course.  Healy will also set up a meeting in the Adrian area to discuss efforts to find new resources for the area.

 

Field Superintendents’ Report: No report:

 

CEO’s Report:

·   The Lewis & Clark project is moving forward as more construction is completed, and state and federal finances are committed.  We have notified Lewis & Clark that we may want to prepay our share of the project, and that we may need an interconnect with the City of Luverne for an interim water supply.  The Minnesota members of Lewis & Clark need to provide matching funds for the State of Minnesota share of Lewis & Clark by doing other work on our water systems.  M/S/P Spronk/Swenson to commit to do $1,463,000 in system improvements over the next 5 years to match the state share of the Lewis & Clark project.  Minnesota Lewis & Clark members will be meeting with staff members from the offices of Senator Coleman and Representative Gutknecht in Luverne on March 2nd.  The LPRW Board members signed a letter to Representative Peterson requesting a meeting to discuss the Lewis & Clark project.

·   The Minnesota Rural Water Association Conference scheduled for March 6-9 in St. Cloud was discussed.

·   The annual meeting with the DNR and other agencies has been scheduled for February 28th, and recommendations on the Burr permits were reviewed

·   Topeka Shiner issues were discussed and Healy reported that he has contacted consultants to begin the studies required.

 

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: No report.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  Leonard Swenson reported on Conference plans.

Minnesota Governmental Agency Finance Group, Board Representative:  No report.

 

Other: Healy will attend a Pipestone County Zoning hearing concerning a request to change a livestock operation in the Holland Drinking Water Supply Management Area.  The Board consensus is to consent to this type of activity if a manure management plan is approved and followed.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Engels/Van Dyke to adjourn the meeting at 2:45 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, March 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

______________________________________________

                                  Earl DeWilde, Secretary