Duluth/North Shore Sanitary District – Board of Managers

Meeting # 76

 

Date:    May 10, 2006                                   

Board Members Present:            Lars Fladmark, Kevin Bovee, Scott Smith, Katie Kuettel              

 

Board Members Absent:    Mary Ann Sironen

 

Others Present:  Nelson Thomas, Trygve Anderson, Kevin DeRosier, Scott Harder, Andrew Pratt, Mary Frances Skala, Clare Carpenter, Dave Miller, John Kessler, Jeff Cook, John Miller, Joe McGaver, Eric Appelwick & Missy Kesanen

 

Minutes to:       Jim Anklam, Eric Appelwick, Mike Appelwick, Darryl Bathel, Dan Belden, Bruce Berg, Kelli Boedigheimer, Kevin Bovee , John Bowen, Clare Carpenter, Rick Certano, Jeff Cook, City of Duluth, Duluth City Council, Duluth Township, Lars Fladmark, Greg Garmer, Jane Gilbert, Mark Gottwald, Wendy Gustofson, Scott Harder, Mark Herman, Duane Herold, Lynn Ann Hollatz, Kevin Holm , Dan Jacobson, Laurie Johnson, Al Katz, John Kessler, Lakewood Township, Nancy Larson-St. Louis County, Sue Lawson, Patti Logergren, Mike Mahoney, Joe McGaver, Don McTavish, Larry Moon, Dan Neiman, Mel Olson, Wayne Parson, PLAWCS, David Pierson, Tom Pulse, Yvonne Rutford, Mark Schaus, John Schifsky, Dale Schroeder, Dick Sigel, Mary Ann Sironen , Mary Frances Skala, Scott Smith, Kurt Soderberg, Tim Strom, George Sundstrom , Carol Surine, Peg Sweeney, John Thomas, Nelson Thomas, Jonathon Thornton, Pete Weidman, Robin Whaley, Sandy Woolum

 

Minutes by:            Missy Kesanen

 

Item

Discussion

Conclusion/Actions

Roll Call

A quorum of Board members is present.

Agenda

Add Jeff Cook’s proposal for Devon Cook Property

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Bovee to approve Agenda with addition of the proposal.  Unanimously approved.

Minutes

NTS Report section: Ordinance violation; no notices have been sent, Emergency Locates; change should to could.  Spelling correction for Treasurer’s Report. Legal Issues section: Annual premium of just over $7,000.00 includes “all” premiums”.

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Kuettel to make suggested changes and approved the minutes.  Unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s Report

C. Carpenter distributed the list of outstanding invoices.  She said that WLSSD would be sending a new invoice for March and April and asked if she should void out the check that had been prepared for them and wait for the corrected billing.

 

Annual Report of the Treasurer:

S. Harder distributed the Annual Report with final distribution/payment schedules and budget to actual attached.  He stated that last year's operating revenue was not quite to flows needed due to litigation costs.  He also noted that the 1st Quarter Budget to Actual came straight from the books. 

Suggested amendment to item 4, third bulleted section: change pending to “to reflect” as per S. Smith.

Motion by K. Kuettel and seconded by K. Bovee to pay all current invoices as listed except for the WLSSD invoice.  Unanimously approved.

 

Motion by K. Kuettel and seconded by K. Bovee to accept the report with the change as noted.  Unanimously approved.

Public Comments
  1. J. Cook brought the Devon Cook property proposal to the Board's attention.  When the digging was done to put in the sewer line, they had to follow the easement right along side the house.  The sump pump continuously runs and due to a power failure, the basement flooded.  The proposal was for the DNSSD to pay half of the cost to correct this problem.                  S. Smith asked why Mr. Cook was willing to share in the cost and he stated that he wanted it done as soon as possible.
  2. Mr. Trygve Anderson was in attendance regarding the flood plain problem he has been experiencing at his property.
  3. Mr. Nelson was in attendance and spoke of a zoning meeting he attended in which a resident (Gilbertson) requested to go back to R1 Zoning.  This request was denied by a 10 to 2 vote.  He also gave some old files to E. Appelwick which relate to the DNSSD project.
  4. Additional water problems include:  Jeff Pierson, Keith Baker and Bob Murray properties.

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Bovee to accept the proposal and pay half of the total cost of $1,675.00 ($837.50) for repairs to the Devon Cook Property.  Unanimously approved.

 

 

 

 

Shelton is waiting for the weather to clear so they can go to the site and dig.

 

 

 

 

 

J. Cook said he would like to look at these properties and any others that come in.

Updates
  1. I&I Inspection – nothing new.
  2. Easements – J. Miller said there are 3 or so that still need to be recorded (adverse claim).
  3. KRLSD – NTS sent the March and April billings to them.

Legal Issues
  • S.J. Lewis – S. Smith stated that there is a settlement agreement in process.
  • Insurance – A. Pratt and E. Appelwick are working on getting the needed information to Chris James.
  • Ordinance #4 Draft – was handed out and the Board was asked to review for the next meeting.  Hard copies of Ordinances 1 & 3 will be sent out.  Once reviewed and approved, Ordinance #4 will be sent to WLSSD. 
  • The Capacity Reservation Agreement form was also handed out.  This is the first step in the process.
  • First Amendment to NTS Agreement:  Utility locate was changed to “Emergency Utility Locate” after hours.  E. Appelwick stated that a separate invoice would be generated in these such cases.

There is $151,000.00 in retainage, so the Board will not have to levy to pay this off. ($137,881.60)

 

Any comments should be emailed to M. Skala or A. Pratt.

 

E. Appelwick stated that he will forward the three (3) signed copies of this amendment to the Board once they have been signed by Mr. Tom Lucas and Mr. Mike Appelwick of NTS. 

 

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Kuettel to accept the NTS  amendment.  Unanimously approved.

Engineer’s Report
  • J. McGaver handed out the S.J. Lewis final pay request ($137,881.60), which is subject to final approval by Ayres, NTS, Fryberger & Joe Mahalick.
  • Specifications for New Connections – the Board and Fryberger need copies of this to review and approve at next month's meeting.
  • 2006 Restoration Schedule – They will be starting on the South side and will work their way North, dealing with the “Punch list” items first.  They figure they should be able to complete 6 lots per day.
  • J. McGaver asked for the Boards approval to talk with Dave Prusek with the City of Duluth regarding the S.J. Lewis settlement.

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Kuettel to approve this pay request subject to the final approvals as listed.  Unanimously approved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

S. Smith stated that once the settlement is done, it is public information, so no approval is needed.

NTS Report:  E. Appelwick distributed the May report to the Board.

  • Maps sent into 911 Communications for fire numbers.
  • Replaced Start Capacitor at Lift Station #2.
  • Repaired Control Box on Boland Drive.
  • Weed control is needed at the retention tank.
  • There are currently no cleanouts on Greenwood.
  • Lift Station 1 & 2 generators are leaning due to settling, and there are some openings under the fences due to the crushed rock settling.  E. Appelwick will get a price from Larry Shelton.
  • It is the homeowner’s obligation to hire an electrical contractor.
  • The Sewer check-off form still needs some tweaking.  E. Appelwick and A. Pratt will continue to work on.  Once completed, this form would go to the townships and city as part of their applications.
  • I&I and CAF Reports were submitted to WLSSD.
  • The air relief valve is still being cleaned every two weeks, E. Appelwick requested that a permanent solution to this problem be made.  Ayres is working on it.
  • The valve on Old North Shore Road that had been hit will be fixed by Shelton during the restoration process.
  • Website – currently is working well.
  • Sewer pump inventory – An amendment to the NTS contract is needed to take the specific number of pumps needed in inventory out and state that this will be established from time to time as per the Superintendents request.  Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Bovee.  Unanimously approved.
  • Flow Meter Demo results from 5/8/06 - Air trap was ruled out, but somehow it is back flowing.  Both meters are roughly reading the same. Further monitoring is still needed.
  • A Post Office Box for the District was requested by E. Appelwick at a cost of $36.00 per six months.  This post office box will be accessed by both Eric and C. Carpenter.  Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Bovee to approve.  Unanimously approved.

Old Business

Knute Nisswandt – electrical still is not hooked up.

Consultant Attendance

M. Skala suggested a retainer arrangement with Fryberger and S. Harder for future needs at meetings.

Meeting Frequency

The Board will continue to meet monthly.

Meeting adjourned.  Next meeting is at 0700 at French River Lutheran Church on June 14, 2006

 

 

Approved  (6/14/06):                                                                                                                                            

                                                Chair                                                    Secretary