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

December 18, 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, November 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, Rod Spronk, Leonard Swenson, Bill Ufkin, Henry Van Dyke, and Joe Weber present. Also present were Board Attorney, Ron Schramel; DGR Engineer, Darin Schriever; Field Superintendent, Tom Muller; and CEO, Dennis Healy.

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

Treasurer's Report:  Investment of the proceeds of the 2006 bond issue was discussed.  M/S/P Spronk/Weber to authorize Healy to check around for interest rates but to invest the funds locally unless substantially higher rates are available.  M/S/P Ufkin/Van Dyke to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented.

 

 

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

·   DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company: General Services #65 = $878.00; 2006 System Improvements - Pump Stations – ppe #7 = $6,000.00; Adrian Well #7 – ppe #12 = $99.00

·   McDonald, Gudmestad & Schramel: General Legal Services = $4,995.18

·   US Bank: 2003 Nobles Co. Refunding bonds = $139,151.25         

 

 

Attorney’s Report: Ron Schramel opened the floor for nominations for Board officers to take office effective January 1, 2007.  M/S/P Weber/Engels to nominate Rod Spronk for Treasurer.  There were no additional nominations so Rod Spronk was elected Treasurer by unanimous vote of the Board. M/S/P Swenson/Buysse to nominate Earl DeWilde for Secretary.  There were no additional nominations so Earl DeWilde was elected Secretary by unanimous vote of the Board. M/S/P Brunner/Van Dyke to nominate Bill Ufkin for Vice-Chairman.  There were no additional nominations so Bill Ufkin was elected Vice-Chairman by unanimous vote of the Board. M/S/P Spronk/Ufkin to nominate Jerry Lonneman for Chairman.  There were no additional nominations so Jerry Lonneman was elected Chairman by unanimous vote of the Board.

Schramel reported that the bond issue will close on December 21st, and the assessment hearing is scheduled for December 27th.

An amendment to the LPRW agreement with the Lewis & Clark RWS was reviewed.  The purpose of the amendment is to update member shares of the system based on allocation of additional water to LPRW and other members.  M/S/P Weber/Spronk to approve the “First Amendment to Amended and Restated Commitment Agreement” and to forward the amendment to Lewis & Clark RWS for action.

 

 

2006 Expansion Project:

•  North Expansion:  Healy reported that the project work is nearly complete, and all new hookups should have service before the end of the year.

 

 

Regional Water Development:  There are no new developments to report, but the Board will meet to discuss the issues and costs of a major expansion after the first of the year.

 

 

 

 

Field Superintendents’ Report:  Tom Muller reported that fall work is mostly complete, and there are no issues.

 

 

CEO’s Report:

•   Healy updated the Board on Lewis & Clark activities.

•   New Hookups:  There are no new hookup requests to act on.

•  MMU Agreement:  The LPRW Board offer has been sent to MMU and there has been no reply to date.

•   The Board directed Healy to set up a time to discuss health insurance at the January Board meeting.

 

 

Engineer’s Report: Darin Schriever covered the following items:

•   Schriever responded to a question about the engineering costs on Adrian Well #7 by reminding the Board that there was no fixed cost on this project because it could not be adequately defined from the outset.

•   Electrical bids will be opened at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 22nd.  M/S/P Engels/Weber to authorize the Executive Committee to review and act on the bids on Friday so the project can be kept on schedule.  Healy will set up a conference call for 11:30 a.m. so the Committee will not have to travel.

•   Schriever requested authorization to do vibration testing on the 26 pump motors in the pump stations, and perhaps other related testing to evaluate the condition of existing motors and pumps.  M/S/P Swenson/Van Dyke to authorize up to $3,500 for vibration and related testing.

•   The hydraulic model project is progressing, and DGR technicians will be meeting with LPRW staff to rectify any discrepancies.

 

 

Committee Reports:

Executive Committee: The Committee will meet via phone conference at 11:30 on December 22nd to act on bids.

Water Resources and Equipment Committee: No report

Personnel Committee: The Committee met with employees on Monday, December 4th, and the interviews went very well.  Additional vacation time was mentioned, but overall the employees expressed a positive attitude and high morale.

Budget & Finance Committee: No report

Minnesota Rural Water Association, Board Representative: No report

Minnesota Governmental Agency Finance Group, Board Representative: No report

Search Committee: No report.

 

 

Other:

·   M/S/P Spronk/Engels to approve the following 2007 regular meeting schedule:

 

10:00 a.m. Monday, January 29th

10:00 a.m. Monday, February 26th

10:00 a.m. Monday, March 26th

7:00 p.m. Monday, April 30th

7:00 p.m. Monday, May 21st

6:30 p.m. Monday, June 25th

6:30 p.m. Monday, July 30th

6:30 p.m. Monday, August 27th

7:00 p.m. Monday, September 17th

7:00 p.m. Monday, October 29th

10:00 a.m. Monday, November 26th

10:00 a.m. Monday, December 17th

 

 

 

 

 

·   M/S/P Brunner/Swenson to approve the following 2007 Holidays when the office will be closed:

 

New Years Day, January 1st

Presidents Day, February 19th

Good Friday, April 6th

Memorial Day, May 28th

Independence Day, July 4th

Labor Day, September 3rd

Thanksgiving Day & the day after, November 22nd & 23rd

Christmas Eve Day, December 24th

Christmas Day, December 25th

 

 

·   M/S/P Weber/Engels to authorize an annual clothing allowance of $250 per year, and to provide a ham to all Board members and staff for Christmas.

 

·   The Search Committee will meet after the meeting.

 

·   Healy was directed to arrange for a facilitator to meet with the Board at the January meeting.

 

 

Adjournment:  M/S/P Van Dyke/Brunner to adjourn the meeting at 2:00 p.m.  The next Regular Board meeting will be Monday, January 29, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                     ______________________________________________

                                                                                          Earl DeWilde, Secretary