Duluth/North Shore Sanitary District – Board of Managers

Meeting # 66

 

Date:                                        July 13, 2005, 0700

Board Members Present:               Kevin Bovee; Rick Certano; Lars Fladmark, chair; Mary Ann Sironen; Scott Smith

Board Members Absent:               None

Others Present:  Mel Olson, Eric Appelwick, Nate Grayson, Clare Carpenter, Carol Surine, Duane Herold, John Miller, Larry Moon, Jeff Cook, John Kessler, Marilynn Kessler, Joyce Seeley, Scott Harder. 

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, PLAWCS, David Pierson, Tom Pulse, Yvonne Rutford, 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, Greg Mutchler

Minutes by:            Carol Surine and edited by Mary Ann Sironen

Item

Discussion

Action/Conclusion

Approve Agenda

John Miller asked to be allowed to present his update earlier in the meeting, as he had another obligation this morning.

Motion by Scott Smith and seconded by Kevin Bovee to approve the agenda as amended.  Unanimously approved.

Approve Minutes

Motion by Scott Smith and seconded by Kevin Bovee to approve the minutes as presented.  Unanimously approved.

Updates

Easements

John Miller

1) John Miller met with Knute Nisswandt who now has a generator and wants to use it to provide the electricity for the sewer. The Board is concerned that it could run out of gasoline causing problems with the grinder pump. John will try to convince him to use the public electrical source one more time and if he doesn’t comply, the Board will seek legal solutions.

2) Duluth Pumping Station.  This easement has been forwarded and is awaiting Mayor Bergson’s approval. 

Treasurer’s report

1.       Clare Carpenter distributed the Request to Pay invoices for a total of $330,939.93.

2.       Bank Balance –July 13, 2005 is $131,887.65

1. Motion by Scott Smith to pay the outstanding invoices and approve the Treasurer’s report.  Mary Ann Sironen seconded. Unanimously approved. 

Financial Discussion

·       The PFA payment  of $446,826.15 is due 8/22/05. The Board has previously discussed and agreed to keep the tax levy the same ($256,000-$260,000) for 2006 because D/NSSD still has not realized a full year of operating income. The full effect of income from the commercial properties will probably not be known until 2007.

·       Rick Certano:  The audit should be done in a couple of weeks.  It was noted that in addition to being a governmental requirement an audit is a verification of public trust.

·       Scott Harder reports that Eikill & Schilling are waiting for the tax status report to start issuing the statements to us. He will inform them that the Board needs to have monthly statements beginning in September.

·       Eric Appelwick reported that the cost of electronic transfer of funds would be $7 per month, plus 8¢ per customer. 18 customers have singed up for EFT so far.  Eric, Clare Carpenter and Mary Ann Sironen will be the “signatories” (Eric will have the bank change the wording from “employees”)on the account.  Eric will clarify whether the money going through the account as  “Maximum dollar net settlement limits” is monthly annual.

Motion by Mary Ann Sironen  and seconded by Scott Smith to authorize Eric Appelwick to proceed in the activities needed to establish Electronic Funds Transfer. Unanimously approved. 

Budget

Scott Harder

 

1.       Scott Harder will meet with Mel Olson and Eric Appelwick to get an estimate of the cost of emergency calls and meet with the Rates & Charges committee to prepare a draft budget for the August meeting.  The main issues with the budget are new connections and commercial flows which will be reviewed at the August meeting.

Public Comments

Joyce Seeley

Joyce Seeley’s (5474 Nordling Rd) basement began showing cracks a week after construction.  She brought pictures showing the progression of the cracks. Mel Olson has visited the Seeley property and reviewed construction activity in that area.  In a letter to the Board he reported that he did not believe the cracks were caused by construction. This line was installed with the pneumatic mole which compresses the soil as it goes leaving a smaller hole than directional drilling. Nate Grayson stated there was no blasting around Nordling Road since the ground in that area is only clay. Joyce has been told that to fix the basement it would have to be dug out to fill the blocks with cement to stabilize it.

Jeff Cook noted that moving the clay puts pressure on the walls and the foundation drains could need repair..

Scott Smith noted that if it were demonstrated that construction caused this damage, it could be an issue for Frontier insurance?  Lars Fladmark will talk to Frontier about the situation.

KR-LSD

Larry Moon

 

·         The Corp of Engineers has signed off on their grant, and the district is reviewing bids from suppliers.

·         There is no progress with Larsmont.  WLSSD has requested a review of every lot to identify where a mound system could be placed.  Lake County would have to do it because an easement is needed.

·         The committee formed by the North Shore Management Plan staffed by ARDC looks beyond the issue of onsite systems to over all development. Jeff Cook notes that the long range planning has been done, and it’s evolving.  There are some changes in the North Shore Management plan that requires two-acre lots within the zone, and there is discussion on matching the NSMP area to the Coastal Zone, which is six miles inland. Mary Ann Sironen noted that the NSMP is a recommendation that have to be adopted by a local board to have any regulatory effect.

·         Some residents have moved in to Bob Ryan’s development. They are putting in streets for 20 lots.  Half of the property owners are absentee. 

·         A group of residents is discussing incorporation into a 1300-acre township.

Easements

Jeff Cook

·         Five properties remain for I&I Inspections.

·         As township supervisor, Jeff is receiving many calls for yard restorations. It was noted that it rained for 33 of the past 48 days.

·         For new hook-ups, anything on the Duluth side will be inspected by the City of Duluth.  This is in order to reduce I&I.  The homeowner will have to sign something in writing that the wastewater will drain into the sewer, but clear water will not.

·         The Board will include language in their application for connection that addresses I&I.

Commun-ications

·         A letter has been received from Cape Superior Inn/Susie Lannon requesting repayment for pumping their septic tanks when they failed after construction in the area.  D/NSSD concurs with the date and situation.  Mel Olson stated that the grinder pump was installed a year before the situation occurred and D/NSSD was not notified to remedy any problem at that time.  Consensus of the Board is that D/NSSD is not responsible for the bill to pump the tanks.

●        Dick and Sandy Hedberg replaced a sidewalk in front of their house.  They had to fix it themselves because customers of the beauty shop could potentially fall.  Their biggest complaint was the length of time it took to get back to them.  The Board agreed that restitution should be made.

Legal Issues

Mary Frances Skala is not in attendance.  There has been no return correspondence from Christine Penney.

Construction

Report

Mel Olson

·         There are a number of restorations to be done.  There is a person now dedicated to restoration.  The priority is to clean up the ones from last year.

·         The week of 8/1 all grinders except those going into rock on the east end of the project will be installed; Agate Electric is going right behind them.

·         A Master Contract covering terms and conditions for Ayres Engineering to support new connections has been sent to Mary Frances Skala.  Detail is needed on the scope of services. There is a cost attached to each service such as general meetings, reviewing new connections.  The cost would be passed on to the homeowner.

·         Mel Olson and Eric Appelwick will compile a  list of new users since the original plan.

·         All commercial users except Dodges Log Lodges and Tom’s Logging Camp are hooked up and flowing.

·         We are experiencing a strange metered flow when WLSSD diverted flow.  Mel Olson is confident that the meter is not accurate during rain events and will work to resolve it with WLSSD.  Eric Appelwick issued an invitation to WLSSD to check the situation during the next rain event.

·         Mel Olson received the waiver from Frontier for out of state construction.  This does not apply to Ayres. 

·         There are some low amp readings on a grinder pump; he was concerned that we were pumping against a closed valve (checked; all were open) or the system was air-bound.  They found some air, and now all is okay.

NTS Report

1.       There is a missing survey marker pin at 2323 Old North Shore Rd, at a property belonging to Richard Schmahl.  It should be located at the southwest corner of the property and has been missing since the sewer line was installed. Eric Appelwick reported that Mr. Schmahl had never seen a drawing of the project.  Problem resolved.

2.       Occasionally homeowners call NTS with a problem that turns out to be within the property’s private system and not due to D/NSSD equipment or operations. D/NSSD needs to recover the cost of the NTS response visit.

3.       At 8203 E Superior St, there was water in the basement during a rain event.  It turns out the clear water line ran into the septic system and leach field.  The resolution is the homeowner must have a sump pump from the manhole.

4.       At 1351 Stoney Point Road, the control box has been installed and homeowner wants it moved. Consensus is that since it’s the homeowner’s choice, it should be done at their expense, but D/NSSD will require Agate Electric to do the work.  It costs between $500-$600 to move a pedestal.  Eric Appelwick will discuss this issue with Mary Frances Skala to see if it can be billed to D/NSSD which can then bill the customer.

5.        Eric Appelwick cleaned the detention tank and found some grease.  He will write a letter to the appropriate customers to make sure that grease traps are installed.  If there were any meth labs along the shore they could be releasing toxic waste into the system.

6.       Annual maintenance has been done; curb stops have been exercised.  (Opened and closed.)

7.       Mel Olson reported that the O&M Manual is in the final draft.  John Thomas of the MPCA, sent storm water permits.

8.       Eric Appelwick will get stickers for all control boxes; put zip ties on all; lock commercial ones.

9.       On June 22 a basement flooded due to a malfunctioning overload switch.  Eric Appelwick says there is no check valve between the house and the grinder, so if it’s totally sealed, it couldn’t happen:  therefore, it must be I&I.

10.   Eric Appelwick will put together a packet of information for new construction, giving sewer line instructions, and he is asking for input.

11.   Mary Ann Sironen requested that the Board obtain storage space for D/NSSD records. Eric is working on a solution..

No New Business

Old Business

1.       Scott Harder reported that we’re expecting a letter from WLSSD on their policy on extensions.  This information is needed for our future budgets.  Capacity availability fees will be discussed in August.  At that time, hook-up fees will be discussed, too.  (Rates & Charges meeting set for 7/22.)

2.       Arvid Sorvik’s gray water line.  Scott Smith reported that he spoke with AEOA (Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency) about Mr. Sorvik’s problem.  If the solution would cost $5,000, they would have a program to help, but since it is such a minor amount, they cannot do anything.  Would the County Services be able to provide any help?  Mary Ann Sironen will talk to Mr. Sorvik.

3.       Capital Asset Plan.  Forwarded to next month’s agenda, and to remain on the agenda until handled.

4.       Charles Erickson – leaky basement.  Eric Appelwick will run this situation by Mary Frances Skala.

Motion by Rick Certano and seconded by Kevin Bovee to adjourn.  Unanimously approved.  Lars Fladmark declared the meeting adjourned at 9:45 AM.  The next meeting will be August 10, 2005, 0700.

 

 

Approved 8/10/05:                                                                                                                                              

                                                            Chair                                                    Secretary