Duluth/North Shore Sanitary District – Board of Managers

Meeting # 82

 

Date:            November 8, 2006                 

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

Board Members Absent:            None

 

Others Present:  John Kessler, Jeff Cook, Jim Anklam, Nancy Graham, Eric Appelwick, Erin Pratt, Andrew Pratt, and Allan Reed

 

Minutes to:       Jim Anklam, Eric Appelwick, Mike Appelwick, Darryl Bathel, Dan Belden, Bruce Berg, Kelli Boedigheimer, Kevin Bovee , John Bowen, Clare Carpenter, 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, Don McTavish, Dan Neiman, 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:            Erin Pratt

Item

Discussion

Conclusion/Actions

Roll Call

A quorum of Board members is present.

Agenda

Motion by K. Kuettel and seconded by K. Bovee to approve the agenda.  Unanimously approved.

Minutes

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Bovee to approve the October minutes.  Unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s Report
  1. S. Smith distributed Request to Pay Outstanding Invoices
  • Request included Renewal of DNSSD’s insurance with Liscomb-Hood-Mason Co. for $6925.46.  The Board questioned why the District would need automobile insurance.  A. Pratt will talk with insurance company about having the automobile portion of the insurance package removed.
  • Request included $68.15 for Gopher State One call expenses.
  • Request included $525 to Environmental Financial Group, Inc. for Financial Planning.
  1. The Board received its review from the State Auditor’s Office.  The Auditor found that the Board’s financial statements conform to applicable accounting standards.

 

Motion by M.A. Sironen and seconded by K. Bovee to pay invoices listed on Request for Payment, subject to possible removal of the automobile insurance.  Motion passes unanimously.

Public Comments

Allan Reed, 5401 NorthShore Drive, expressed his dissatisfaction with Frontier Pipeline Inc., the project’s installation, and the lack of restoration on his property.  He claimed that Frontier Pipeline did not turn on his pump after working on his property causing his house to flood. 

 

Also, Sandra Beck with the Minnesota Department of Health inspected Mr. Reed’s property and found that the sewer line had to be moved because it was within 25 feet of his well.  Mr. Reed was concerned about having to pay for the removal.  Mr. Reed was further concerned with having the District pay for the removal because this cost would fall back to the residents within the district.  Mr. Reed also noted that his lawn had not been restored. 

 

J. Anklam stated that Ayres Associates, in some cases, deliberately placed lines within 25 feet of a well to save the District money.  The Health Department used to routinely grant variances as long as the line was 18 feet from the well.  The Health Department recently changed this policy and stopped granting these variances.  Ayres was aware that Mr. Reed’s line needed to be moved and J. Anklam noted that Ayres would pay the cost.  The Board asked if there were any similar situations.  J. Anklam knew of around 5 more.  J. Anklam sent a letter to Sandra Beck regarding these properties and  N. Grayson will follow up with her.  Ayres also noted that they were working with Frontier Pipeline, who has subcontracted with Shelton Excavating, to finish the remaining restoration.

 

L. Fladmark apologized for Mr. Allan’s inconvenience.

Updates

1.       I & I.  E.  Appelwick will send a letter to non-compliant properties informing them of the 50 dollar monthly fee for not allowing an I & I inspection and the 5 dollar monthly meter reading fee.

Communications/Correspondence
  • The District received a thank you note from the Drewitt’s for paying their cleaning bill.
  • WLSSD has posted notice for a public hearing on December 18, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. regarding their capital budget project.
  • MPCA sent out information clarifying what is considered a sewer line extension.

Legal Issues
  1. A. Pratt distributed a DNSSD governance calendar that
  • Added annual review of insurance coverage at August Board Meeting, and
  • Moved Determination of Knife-River Operation and Management Cost to August 1 of each year.  This allows Knife-River adequate time to factor the O & M costs owed under the wastewater agreement into their budget. 
  1. Per Minnesota Law, unpaid sewer charges must be certified to the county auditor for collection with property taxes by November 15.  The Board noted that it is not fair to allow some customers to receive free service while most residents pay their monthly charges on time.  Interest will be charged on these delinquent charges.
  2. The Board signed official copies of the ordinances that were passed at the October Board Meeting. 

 

Motion by K. Kuettel and seconded by MA Sironen  amending the DNSSD/ Knife River Wastewater Sewer agreement so that the Knife River Operation and Maintenance costs can be determined yearly on August 1.   Motion passes unanimously.

 

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Bovee to certify unpaid sewer charges to the county auditor for collection with property taxes.  Motion passes unanimously.

Engineer’s Report
  1. J. Anklam introduced Nancy Graham, an engineer at Ayres, who has done some work on the project.  
  2. K. Bovee asked why restoration has taken so long.  Two blacktopped driveways, a cracked sidewalk, and some yard restoration remains.  J. Anklam stated that Frontier Pipeline has indicated they will finish the projects.  The Board noted the restoration has been subcontracted to Shelton Excavating.  They are pleased with the work that has been completed.
  3. Ayres will add additional bolts to some gasket covers.
  4. Ryan Road Odor.  One idea might be to inject a solution at the location, which would require a well.  Ayres is awaiting cost estimates.  Currently E. Appelwick has been remixing media to control the odor. 
  5. Flow Meter.  WLSSD now believes that DNSSD’s meters are not underreporting flows.  However, the meters may not accurately read the flow that goes to the diversion tank.  E. Appelwick will run a diversion of flow test.   The test will verify tank construction integrity, flow meter accuracy, pump head pressures, and tank level meter.   

 

NTS Report:  E. Appelwick distributed the Superintendent Report to the Board.

  1. New  Connections:  Amish Furniture Haus is fully operational.  Pat Torgeson is not fully on line.  Duluth Tent and Trailer was sold.  E. Appelwick has had information discussions with new owner regarding how many connections he may need.
  2. Two out of three fire signs have installed.  NTS is waiting for the third sign to arrive.
  3. E. Appelwick began meeting with non-residential customers regarding the new rate structure.
  4. E. Appelwick ordered a new heater for 47th Ave East.
  5. Weed Control at all major DNSSD facilities.  E. Appelwick brought information regarding two pesticides for the Board to review.  E. Appelwick is worried about the weeds corroding the gravel and the ground not being hard enough to withstand equipment.  The Board will look at the information before making a decision.
  6. NTS is moving to a new office at Scenic 61 Auto Body.
  7. The Board discussed getting Becky McNamara on-line access to the District’s bank accounts.  North Shore Bank does not offer read only access.  E. Appelwick will check on Ellingson and Ellingson’s insurance before the Board makes a decision.
  8. Minutes will go directly to the Board from E. Pratt, rather than pass through M.A. Sironen. 
  9. E. Appelwick is exploring the feasibility of getting flow meters for non-residential customers.
  10. E. Appelwick relayed to the Board that the Hildebrandts felt they had been unfairly treated and were uncomfortable at the last meeting. 

New Business:  K. Bovee agreed to serve on the Board for another term.

Old Business:  At the last meeting, the Board discussed two properties where the owners were being billed as residential customers when they should have been being billed as non-residential.  The Rates and Charges committee met on this issue.  Their recommendation to the Board is that a service was provided and these property owners should pay for this service.  Otherwise, the rest of the residents are subsidizing these property owners.  The Board asked E.  Appelwick to meet with these individuals to discuss a repayment schedule.  The Board wants to be flexible with the repayment schedule.

Meeting ended at 8:25 am. 

     The next meeting is at 0700 at French River Lutheran Church on December 13, 2006.

 

 

Approved  12/13/06                                                                                                                                             

                                                Chair                                                    Secretary