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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-13-BOWC MIN Stillwater, Minnesota September 13, 2018 Regular Meeting: The regular meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was held on Thursday September 13, 2018, at 8:00 A.M. All Commissioners were present with President Speedling presiding. Also present was Jim Tibbetts, Council Member Menikheim, Council Member Weidner, Dan Gustafson from Sixteenwinns.Com, Matt Ellingson from TKDA and Lee Racine, Shawn Racine, Al Nagle and Rick Ellis from Safe Water Commissions. On motion of President Speedling, duly seconded by Commissioner Vania, all voting "Aye", the Agenda was accepted as presented. On motion of President Speedling, duly seconded by Commissioner Vania, all voting "Aye", the minutes of the August 16, 2018 regular meeting were read and approved as written. On motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by President Speedling, all voting "Aye", Resolution No.1522 was approved. Jim reported to the Board that all the bacteriological tests passed and the water has been turned on at the Lodges of Stillwater Senior Living Project. Meyers Contracting is finishing up the concrete on Third Street and bringing the curb stops and gate valves up to grade, also there was some extra work that needed to be completed; replacing 25' of watermain and installation of one new gate valve that started leaking. All watermain has been installed at Nottingham Village and the first bacteriological test has passed and they will be pulling a second sample today; there are 15-17 houses in this development. The rd watermain loop from 63 Street to Osgood has been completed and we are just waiting on the pressure and bacteriological tests. The contractor is also inspecting a leak on a hydrant that was installed two years ago because they are losing pressure on their test. The Olive Street project is moving along but the valves still need to be brought up to grade before winter, Jim will work with the contractor onsite on this. Jim attended a pre- construction meeting for Heiforts Hill Estates and they will start installing watermain in the next week or two; this will be a 20-24 home development. Westridge and Boutwell Farms are two more additions that are in the works and they may be installing watermain before winter. The Fire Department has started flushing hydrants and the Water Department will be starting soon. Manager Benson informed the Board that they selected Cole Rudd for the position of Junior Water Maintenance Worker at Step 3 pay grade. With Board approval he will make an offer contingent on a background check and a drug test. After discussion on motion of Commissioner Vania duly seconded of Commissioner Jensen all voting "Aye", Manager Benson will make the offer to Cole Rudd. The following items were discussed, with no action taken: 1. Accounts receivable balance as of August 31, 2018 was $150,630.68 with the actual amount being $195,432.79; this is $8,000.00 more than last years. 2. The Board invited Council Member Wiedner to attend the Board Meeting to follow up on the individual meetings he and Council Member Menikheim held with the Board Members. Many items were discussed with the main focus being the Water Department being taken over by the City. As discussed at a prior meeting the Board wants to be involved with the selection process or hiring the company that will be performing the review of Public Works without the Water Department or with the Water Department folded into Public Works. The Board has questioned how this would affect employees and stated they want to be involved in the entire process: including the review of the findings and the discussion moving forward on whether this should go out to a referendum like it did in 2004 when it was voted down by the residents by a 4 to 1 margin. 3. Dan Gustafson presented the Board with three different options for a Water Department Website, Bronze, Silver and Gold, like the one he designed for the Library. Commissioner Jensen had brought this up at the prior meeting. There would be a link from the City’s Website to the Water Department Website just like the Library. After discussion, Dan will provide Manager Benson with an estimated time line for the Gold Package and he will bring this back to the October Meeting for approval. The Board is not going against the City by not using their website, they just want to have something that is more user friendly to promote water conservation. 4. Matt Ellingson provided the Board with an update on the Contested Case Hearing. David Sienko attended the oral argument hearing at the District Court and the DNR did mention Stillwater several times because of the location of the one well just within the five mile radius. The Court also mentioned Stillwater and was concerned about the cities that were not "Given Notice" of the Court Case beforehand; this was detailed in the Amicus Brief that David filed. The Court asked about the administrative hearing process and the Attorney representing the DNR said there is a Pre-Hearing Conference scheduled for October 2, 2018. This was the first time the cities (or their Attorneys) were made aware of this conference. David spoke with the White Bear Township Attorney and discussed an avenue that the plaintiffs, if they agree could stipulate to amend the Court’s Order as it applies to Stillwater. Matt met with David and they discussed the exhibits that would be required for the Contested Case Hearing including expert witness reports that would be needed from Manager Benson, TKDA and WSP USA, Inc. On Friday September 7, 2018 David & Matt met with Dave Hume and John Oswald from WSP to discuss what WSP would need to provide for technical exhibits and expert witness reports. On Monday September 10, 2018 the District Court issued a final order on the motion for stay as it relates to the four amendments added to the water appropriation permit. The other portions of the August 30. 2017 order remain in effect and do no directly impact Stillwater. Manager Benson will be working with TKDA to compile the necessary information for the expert witness report that he will be providing. White Bear Lake reached a level of 924 feet in July and has not dropped below 923.5 to date. 5. Lee, Shawn, Al and Rick from Safe Water Commission were asked to attend the Board Meeting to follow up on discussion from the March 23, 2018 Board Meeting backflow inspection program and also to add an Irrigation Smart Controller Inspection to their program. After discussion the Board has asked for two proposals, one for the Backflow Program and one for the Smart Controller Program. They will attend the October 11, 2018 Board Meeting with the two proposals. Manager Benson will talk with the Building Inspection Department with the City of Stillwater about adding this to their inspection form. 6. Due to time, Commissioner Jensen elected to move the Community Education (Infographic) to the October Meeting. If we decide to go with the new website she suggested working with Alicia as she would volunteer her time and take pictures throughout the City to be used on the site. 7. Manager Benson brought up items for the December Council Meeting that he will be attending. Two items were discussed, WBL/DNR Court Case, the installation of watermain and replacement of fire hydrants with all the road construction this year. 8. Manager Benson informed the Board that the Ice Castle has approached the City of Stillwater to increase the size of the Ice Castle by 20% this year. Council Member Menikheim informed the Board that they are working with City Council and City Administrator Tom McCarty on a new location and many other conditions because of the damage to Lowell Park and the removal of the ice when the season is over. The Board talked about the Ice Castle using a different source of water as we are focusing on water conservation and last year they used 16 million gallons of water to create the Castle. Two choices would be the river water or the artesian well water. 9. Council Member Menikheim asked about running water to a dog park. Manager Benson informed him that they have two choices, potable or non-potable water and he has talked with Public Works Superintendent Tim Moore and has not heard back from him. Council Member Menikheim will report back to the Board at the next meeting. 10. Manager Benson informed the Board that he would be able to purchase six new chairs for the Board Room for $750.00 plus tax which included the removal of the old chairs. He had one available for them to try, all Board Members were satisfied. There being no further business, on motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Commissioner Jensen all voting “Aye”, the meeting was adjourned. Steve Speedling, President ATTEST: Robert G. Benson, Secretary