Duluth/North Shore Sanitary District – Board of Managers

Meeting # 81

 

Date:            October 11, 2006                   

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

Board Members Absent:            Lars Fladmark

 

Others Present:  John Kessler, Jeff Cook, Jim Anklam, Nate Grayson, Eric Appelwick, Erin Pratt, Andrew Pratt, Mary Frances Skala, Scott Harder

 

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 and edited by Mary Ann Sironen

Item

Discussion

Conclusion/Actions

Roll Call

A quorum of Board members is present.

Agenda

Agenda was accepted by consensus.

Minutes

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by Kuettel to approve the September minutes.  Unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s Report
  1. E. Appelwick distributed Request for Payment.
  • Request for Payment includes $5927.50 for the state auditor’s office.  MF Skala noted that annual audit is required because of DNSSD’s PFA loan.
  • Request for Payment also includes $1740 to repair a broken line.

Motion by K. Kuettel and seconded by MA Sironen to pay bills listed on Request for Payment, including $5927.50 for state auditor and $1740 to repair a broken line.

Public Comments

 J. Cook noted that at meetings of the Association of Waste Water Operators and the North Shore Management Board there were discussions regarding requiring sewer districts to maintain septic tanks within their boundaries.

Updates

1.       Hook Up Fees:  At the September Board meeting, the Board voted to increase the Hook-up Fees by an amount that the Board’s financial consultant, Scott Harder, determined was attributable to the cost of the SJ Louis litigation.  Effective immediately, the Hook-up Fees will be increased from $8140 to $8480.  The Board noted that these fees might need to be raised further in the future.

2.       Torrens property.   Melissa Maloney from the Fryberger law firm informed E. Appelwick that there are three Torrens properties where the District’s access to the properties will need to be renewed every 10 years.

3.       I & I.  Currently, only 4 properties have not allowed I & I inspections.  The Board directed E. Appelwick to send letters to non compliant property owners informing them of the new fee set in Ordinance # 3 and let them know this fee is in lieu of a $1000 penalty.   Motion by K. Kuettel and seconded by S. Smith to direct E. Appelwick to send letter to non-compliant residents.

4.       Knife River/Larsmont.  DNSSD agreement with KRLSD states that rates will be recalculated at end of calendar year.  That would not allow KRLSD adequate time to include this rate in their budget or set their levy.  MF Skala suggested amended agreement to allow recalculation of rates before the end of the calendar year.   

Communications/

Correspondence

       None

Legal Issues
  1. The Board adopted changes to Ordinances No. 1 and No. 3 approved Ordinance No. 4.
  • Amendments to Ordinance No. 1

-          Definitions were amended to remove four Commercial classes and to include Capacity Availability Fee definitions

-          Amendment to include a notice & hearing mechanism for residents to challenge ordinance violations.

  • Amendments to Ordinance No. 3

-          Rate changes.   Each non-metered residential customer is assigned one CAF unit and will pay a $66 Base Charge per month.  Non-residential customers will pay the $66 Base Charge and then an additional volume fee based on their own wastewater flows.

-          Capacity Reservation Fee.   Customers may reserve capacity in the District’s sewer system for a project by entering into a Capacity Reservation Agreement with the District.  Board sets fee for capacity reservations at $66 per CAF unit, per month.  This amount is the same as the Base Charge.  The Capacity Reservation Fee Agreement must be renewed yearly.

-          The Board set a fee of $50 per month for property owners who have not allowed I & I inspections, as well as a $5 per month meter reading fee since their meters will be read. 

-          $1000 maximum penalty per day for all ordinance violations.

  • Establishment of Ordinance No. 4

-          Annual growth rate set at 2% of current capacity, which is 475 CAF units.  That means approximately 10 new units per year.  The Board may deviate from this growth rate at their discretion based on standards in Ordinance No. 4. 

  1. Record Retention Schedule.  The Board adopts the record retention schedule as established by the State Archives Office and used by cities.

 

 

 

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by K. Kuettel to approve amendments to Ordinance No. 1.  Motion passes unanimously.

 

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by MA Sironen to approve amendments to Ordinance No. 3.  Motion passes unanimously.

 

Motion by K. Kuettel and seconded by S. Smith to approve Ordinance No. 4.  Motion passes unanimously. 

 

Motion by MA Sironen and seconded by S. Smith to adopt record retention schedule.  Motion passes unanimously.

Engineer’s Report
  1. J. Anklam recommended release of SJ Louis retainage because they have completed their final 4 restoration projects.
  2. J. Anklam recommended not releasing Frontier Pipeline retainage since approximately 12 restoration items remain.
  3. Ayres would like to highlight the North Shore Project in their marketing magazine.  The Board approves by consensus.

 

Motion by S. Smith and seconded by M.A. Sironen to pay SJ Louis $8778.  Motion passes unanimously.

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

  1. Ryan Road continues to have an odor.  Based on estimates, a new system at that location will cost between $35,000 - $45,000.   E. Appelwick will continue changing media to control order.  He has found a cheaper media.  Additionally, testing at Ryan Road indicates that H2S levels are high.  More research is being done into whether this high level is corroding the system.  E. Appelwick is continuing to look for a long term solution.
  2. E. Appelwick has been dumping water into the sewer system to see if it will solve the plugging problem at 2250 Old North Shore Rd.  This approach appears to be working.  If it continues to work, Ayres may have a flushing system installed at this location.
  3. Billing Issues. All properties are now paying the correct monthly rate.  The Board discussed whether to back bill for unpaid monthly amounts.  The matter was referred to the Rates and Charges committee which will report back with a recommendation at the next meeting.  E.  Appelwick will inform affected property owners that the matter has been referred to the Rates and Charges.
  4. Shelton Excavating fixed a bad fuse at 80th Ave E and E. Appelwick installed a wireless alarm at 9133 Congdon Blvd.
  5. E. Appelwick asked the Board about using an MPCA approved chemical to control weeds at district buildings.  E. Appelwick will get the chemical’s name and report back to the board.
  6. E. Appelwick will be working on the district newsletter this coming month. 

Meeting ended at 9:15. 

     The next meeting is at 0700 at French River Lutheran Church on November 8, 2006.

 

 

Approved  11/08/06                                                                                                                                             

                                                Chair                                                    Secretary