DRAFT DRAFT

Duluth/North Shore Sanitary District – Board of Managers

Meeting # 61

Date: February 9, 2005 0700 French River Lutheran Church

Present: Lars Fladmark, Mary Ann Sironen, Scott Smith, Clare Carpenter, Kevin Bovee, Rick Certano, Eric Appelwick, Scott Harder, Mel Olson, John Miller, John Bowen, Jeff Cook, John Kessler, Carol Surine.

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: Carol Surine and edited by Mary Ann Sironen

Approved: Signed: Chair Secretary

Item	Discussion				Action/Conclusion
Roll Call	None				All board members present.
Agenda Minutes	Agenda approved. A correction to January minutes from Mel Olson in describing the damaged grinder pump basin in the Rowray discussion. The “damaged grinder pump basin had a hole in it and the fiberglass around that tear was "punky"..				Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Bovee to approve the corrected minutes of 1/12/05 meeting. Unanimously approved.
Treasurer's report	· Clare Carpenter distributed the Request to Pay invoices for a Total of $148,044.35. · Bank Balance – February 1, 2005 is $469,858.06 · Eikill and Schilling should be ready to bring their presentation to the Board by April. They will pick up 10/04 and 11/04, and work with Clare Carpenter on the year end books. · Mary Ann Sironen requested that the Board ask Bruce Berg to continue being the D/NSSD webmaster.				· Motion by M. Sironen and seconded by K. Bovee to pay the December invoices and approve the Treasurer’s report. Unanimously approved. · D/NSSD reappointed Bruce Berg as webmaster, with thanks.
Public Comments	As a follow up to the concern at the January meeting, John Bowen reported that the odor control drum scrubber is working well. Mary Ann Sironen said that the odor problem at the church appears to have been corrected as well.
Updates: NTS	· Eric Appelwick reported that there are 31 unpaid bills. Two are businesses and the rest residences. Eric has sent a first letter requesting payment. If there is no response, a second, firmer letter will be sent by Mary Frances Skala. Unpaid monthly charges will be put as a lien against a property. · The ramifications of the change of ownership at Lakeview Castle was discussed. Decisions on payment of outstanding bills at time of sale is generally made by the financial institution providing the loan · Knute Nisswandt has not responded to the District’s question on options offered to provide electricity for his grinder pump.						Scott Harder will clarify our options with the Fryberger advisors. Lars Fladmark said he would talk to Mr. Nisswandt.
I&I Plan WLSSD	David Weber, Engineer from the WLSSD spoke to the request for an action plan and report on how D/NSSD is handling/will handle inflow and infiltration. The 20 communities served by WLSSD are all being asked to submit this information. Weber admitted that there is not yet enough data from D/NSSD to determine if there is a problem; however, it is important to have a plan to forestall any future issues. Mel Olson had prepared and submitted the draft of an I&I Reduction plan based on work the district had already done. It was respectfully requested that this plan be submitted both as a plan and a report..						David Weber thinks this is reasonable to meet the present requirement.
KR-LSD	· Larry Moon reported that KR-LSD has chosen a contractor, has $620K in place with the PFA and is financially ready to move forward although the revolving fund loan has been hung up because the bonding bill did not pass. The date for completion of plans is August 1. · Frontier Pipeline had hoped to order the dentention tank, but the cost came in $200,000 higher than expected. Larry Moon said if WLSSD will give Larsmont their allocation, the tank in Knife River will accommodate their needs. · Talks are under way with WLSSD to determine the status of the Larsmont allocation. If all new stipulations were followed, KRL-SD would have to redo their whole plan. Currently nine dwellings (17%) show sufficient failure to be considered a threat to health. Larsmont has been told that their area is outside of the WLSSD urban service area. · Costs to users are currently projected to be in the $5,000 range for assessment, and $48 per month. · The development at Big Blaze Campground (Bob Ryan) is going forward even if they have to build their own septic system. If so, it would support 40 units but if a sewer connection is available, the project will consist of 44 units. Rick Certano questioned whether this development would take up a good share of the entire allotment for increase and whether development would stop when the capacity is reached. It was discussed that WLSSD appears to have changed its position since the start of the D/NSSD project when it seemed WLSSD could accommodate the entire North Shore up to Two Harbors. · Larry Moon thanked Lars Fladmark and the D/NSSD board for their support in the Larsmont effort.
Construction	Mel Olson submitted a change order $2,615.43 to repair damage at the Christine Penney residence. A water leak occurred when the owner contracted with Diamond Drilling to have a 4” line brought through the basement wall. Because of the angle needed to get around the water heater a tight seal was not made and the basement leaked. An emergency call was made to D/NSSD and Frontier was called in to fix the problem. Consensus is that the incident was properly handled and that D/NSSD will bill Christine Penney.					A motion was made by Mary Ann Sironen and seconded byKevin Bovee to approve the change order to pay Frontier Pipeline. Carried unanimously. This item will be carried to the next agenda for follow up discussion with Mary Frances Skala.
NTS Report	· Eric Appelwick gave a presentation on the D/NSSD project at the Duluth Engineers Club and the 31^st Annual Wastewater Conference. · When the Forest Inn property burned down, the grinder station was filled with water. Eric Appelwick had North Shore Sanitary pump it out, to keep it from being damaged. There is a $70 bill for this. · WLSSD sampling will be done next year. · John Rowray issue: the board has decided it will not use refurbished tanks. · Mary Cooley had submitted an application for a liquor and convenience store. This deal has fallen through, but she wants to leave the application open for an unknown purpose, possibly a restaurant. The board will answer this application when the purpose of the property is known. Rick Certano said D/NSSD will need to have all the flows from the commercial properties before the rates and charges schedule can be finalized. · There were five calls last month; just minor events, stuck floats, etc. On a call to Boland Rd, Eric Appelwick noted that the grinder pump was full and there was an odor. Lars Fladmark stated that after our operations have stabilized and if we come to look at things that are the homeowner’s responsibility, then we’ll have to bill them.
Communication and Correspondence	1. Letter from Kevin Stroom objecting to burning treated lumber on Greenwood Rd. 2. E-mail from Al Katz stating that there is a $3 charge added to the water bill of Duluth residents for stormwater control described as maintenance of culverts and ditches. 3. Rick Certano has been recertified as one of the City of Duluth members to the D/NSSD Board and has taken his oath of office. 4. Lynn Hollatz is not satisfied with the restoration.			1. Matter turned over to Mel Olson. 2. This has been an ongoing issue with City residents. The charge doesn’t involve D/NSSD and is not tax deductible. 4. Restoration issues will be addressed when the snow is gone and the ground has dried and stabilized.
Legal Issues	Mary Frances Skala has presented amendments to the bylaws for the approval of the board.	A motion was made by Rick Certano and seconded by Mary Ann Sironen to approve the amended version of the bylaws. Carried unanimously.
Old Business
Karen Peterson’s deck	Karen Peterson has requested $1,000 as compensation for the damage to her deck which was removed by the D/NSSD contractors and could not be reused after the sewer was installed.		Motion by Scott Smith and seconded by Kevin Bovee to pay $1,000 to Karen Peterson. Clare Carpenter will send the payment along with a form that releases D/NSSD from any further obligation in this matter.
ACEC Banquet	Lars Fladmark and Mary Ann Sironen attended as representatives of the Board and received the award that will be placed in the NTS office for now.		A motion was made by Scott Smith and seconded Rick Certano to reimburse expenses for the meal. Carried unanimously
John Rowray issue:	Eric Appelwick met with John Rowray who maintains that he is not responsible for the damage when he hit the stand pipe because it was not marked by Gopher State or marked. Gopher State had not marked the buried utilities. Rowray was plowing snow to make room for construction equipment needed to repair the damage caused by a fire. Consensus was that John Rowray had done his due diligence by calling Gopher State, and the stand pipe was not marked.		A motion was made by Mary Ann Sironen and seconded Rick Certano to waive the damage claims in this instance. Any future incidents of this nature will be the responsibility of the person plowing or otherwise working on the property. Unanimously approved. Eric Appelwick suggested we retain the Gopher State ticket for our records. Gene Elliot suggested that D/NSSD put a warning out in the newsletter so that homeowners are aware of this.
Dodges Log Lodges	Eric Appelwick will look at the water seepage in this driveway in the spring.
New Business	Steve Stingle is planning to sell five lots for a small development on the Alseth Road and requested information on how to bring sewer service to them. Mr. Stingle brought this proposal to Duluth Township Planning and Zoning committee where it was designated as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). The zoning permit will not be approved until it is assured that sewer service can be provided. Discussion: 1. This would probably be defined as an “extension” to the D/NSSD systems that requires WLSSD and PCA approval. 2. D/NSSD policy prohibits extension of the sewer line to vacant land for speculative purposes but is obligated to provide sewer service to homes within the district. The cost of the extensions would be borne by the developer. The developer must put in the line and give it to the D/NSSD. 3. Scott Harder will draft a procedure on extensions to be discussed at the next Board meeting. There will be more requests of this nature in the future. 4. The Board agrees that it is not the intention of D/NSSD to stop legitimate development projects. It will be the responsibility of a developer to bear the cost of bringing in the sewer lines required. All permits would have to be applied for and have approval pending. The District will cooperate to the limits of its regulations.
Meeting adjourned 0930. Next meeting is March 9 at 0700 at French River Lutheran Church.