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 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, February 27, 2006 starting at 10:00 a.m. Chairman Jerry Lonneman called the meeting to order with Commissioners Mike Brunner, Ken Buysse, Earl DeWilde, Frank Engels, Charlie Simonson, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Bill Ufkin, Henry Van Dyke, and Joe Weber present. Also present were Board Attorney, Ron Schramel; Field Superintendents, Don Drietz and Tom Muller; and CEO, Dennis Healy.

 

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

 

Minutes:  M/S/P Engels/Buysse to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2006 Regular Board meeting.

 

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

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: General Services #56 = $2,473.02

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $968.60; ECI litigation = $80.50

·   Liesch Associates, Inc.:  General Services = $1,728.00

 

 

Attorney’s Report: Ron Schramel updated the Board on the status of the ECI litigation.  The trial is scheduled to begin on April 3rd.

 

 

Engineer’s Report: Dennis Healy distributed a brief written report provided by Darin Schriever.  The report gave the status of the Pump Station Upgrades project, the Hydraulic Model Update, and Holland Service Area Water Supply.

 

 

Regional Water Development:

 

•  Adrian:  Healy reported that Jerry Lonneman, Tom Muller and he met with the Adrian Utilities Board to discuss the proposed new well and permit increase.  The Adrian Board was very supportive, but needed more time to review the request.  We will meet with them again on March 29th.

•  New Water Source Development:  Several areas in the Holland Service Area have been identified as potential water resource areas, and Healy recommended that exploration be started as per the Scope of Work and cost estimate provided by Liesch Associates.  M/S/P Engels/Ufkin to authorize Liesch Associates to proceed with the Water Supply Exploration project as described in their letter of March 23, 2006.

•  Topeka Shiner Studies:  Plans addressing Topeka Shiner impacts and mitigation will need to be completed for any existing or proposed water development project, and Healy suggested that we seek a proposal from Wenck Associates to prepare plans for all existing and proposed well fields in the Missouri watershed.  M/S/P Weber/Spronk to request a proposal from Wenck Associates to prepare the necessary inventories and plans.

 

Field Superintendents’ Report: Don Drietz and Tom Muller reported on the following topics:

•   Meter verifications are progressing on schedule.

•   New Hookups:  Healy presented a list of pending hookups for Board consideration.  A list of 9 hookups in the Burr and Verdi Service areas were presented for approval.  M/S/P Spronk/Simonson to approve the 9 hookups in the Burr and Verdi Service areas.  A list of 24 requests from the south part of the system were reviewed, and all but 4 of them represented large new or expanded water users.  M/S/P Swenson/Brunner to approve the 4 household water use requests, and defer the remaining requests pending further study and development of adequate resources.

 

CEO’s Report:

·   The Lewis & Clark project is moving forward as more construction is completed, and state funding has been included in the Senate version of the bonding bill.  Red Arndt was elected Chairman of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Board.

·   The Minnesota Rural Water Association Conference was very productive, especially the Topeka Shiner meeting with representatives from the DNR and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

·   Quotes for 2 replacement pickups are due on April 3rd.

 

 

Committee Reports: The following committee reports were given:

Executive Committee: No report.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: No report, but the Committee needs to meet before the next Board meeting.

Personnel Committee: No report.

Budget & Finance Committee: No report.

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative:  No report.

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

 

 

Other: Jerry Lonneman reported that the staff response to a recent leak in his area was excellent, and resulted in some positive comments from area residents.  Meeting times and dates were discussed.  M/S/P Ufkin/Brunner to start regular Board meetings at 7:00 p.m. in April, May, September and October, and to change the September meeting to September 18th due to a conflict with the National Rural Water Association Conference.

 

M/S/P Ufkin/Weber to close the meeting to discuss the ECI litigation.  M/S/P Spronk/Engels to reopen the meeting.

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Weber/Engels to adjourn the meeting at 1:45 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, April 24, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________

                                  Earl DeWilde, Secretary