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Home My WebLink About2019-05-16 BOWC MIN Stillwater, Minnesota May 16, 2019 Regular Meeting: The regular meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was held on Thursday May 16, at 8:00 A.M. Vice President Jensen and Commissioner Vania present, President Speedling absent with Vice President Jensen presiding. Also present was Jim Tibbetts and Council Member Polehna. On motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye", the Agenda was accepted as presented. On motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye", the minutes of the April 11, 2019 regular meeting were read and approved as written. On motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye", Resolution No.1530 was approved for payment. Jim reported to the Board that they are working on spring yard work and developers are starting up on projects that were shut down for the winter. There have been two leaks since the last meeting and Miller Excavating will finish the restoration work on Third Street S at Pine Street W to meet county specifications. Manager Jensen updated the Board on the website design progress that she is working on with Dan Gustafson with Sixteen Wins and provided samples of the layout. Vice President Jensen talked about the domain name and hosting site, along with the next step for the contract with Dan therefore after discussion on motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye", Dan was approved to move forward with the web design and Dan will work with Manager Benson to purchase a host site and set up a domain name; not to exceed a cost of $3,000.00 over the next four years. Manager Benson informed the Board that he received a call from one business; they informed us that they had received a notice from Safe Water Commission stating their backflow device was out of compliance, after talking with Safe Water Commission Manager Benson found that the 2018 data was not uploaded into their program properly. Manager Benson requested that they stop sending out notices until further notice and all future notices need to be approved by Manager Benson before they’re sent to customers. He contacted the business to assure him that they are incompliance and to disregard the notice. After discussion, on motion of Commissioner Vania duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye", the backflow program will be advertised on our website and in our July Water Bills along with the Stillwater Gazette and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Manager Benson presented the Board with a notice from Payment Service Network that they would like to send out to our residential customers to have them verify if their account is set up for quarterly billing; if not they will need to change it from monthly to quarterly. After review of the notice on motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye" Manager Benson will work with Payment Service Network to make the recommended changes. Manager Benson provided the Board with the minutes of the Wellhead Protection Plan Part #2 meeting that was held on Monday May 6, 2019 at the Board’s Office. After discussion on motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye", the minutes were approved as written. Manager Benson informed the Board that they will need a new a new Flow Meter at Well #4; he has been working with Mid America Meter to find one that will fit their application without rerouting the piping in the building, he is now looking into a Mag Meter. After much discussion on motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen all voting "Aye" the meter work may be completed not to exceed a cost of $8,000.00. Manager Benson updated the Board on the transfer switch that was installed at the office by Mercury Electric; the bill came in at $3,206.87 over the original estimate. They had to replace the bad wiring outside from the mast going to the main pump panel inside the building. After discussion on motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen all voting "Aye", the additional work was approved to upgrade the electrical service from the mast into the building. The following items were discussed, with no action taken: 1. Accounts receivable balance as of April 30, 2019 is $180,178.09 with the actual amount being $220,332.75; this is 4,000.00 less than last years. 2. Commissioner Jensen brought up running water for a fountain at the Dog Park from the concession building at J.C. Park; Council Member Polehna informed the Board that this was approved at the last City Council Meeting. 3. Manager Benson informed the Board that they are going out for bids to repair the asphalt from the watermain breaks last winter. 4. Manager Benson provided the Board with a service agreement between Safe Water Commission and the Board of Water Commissioners for the Smart Irrigation Controller Program and after much discussion Manager Benson has a number of questions/revisions for Safe Water Commission, also the Board will be sending out survey to the customers after the one-year pilot program. The Board will review the results and make a decision on how to move forward with the program. The contract will be brought back to the next meeting. 5. Manager Benson provided the Board with three different informational letters on our backflow preventer programs, two for the residents and one for the contractors. After review Manager Benson will make the necessary changes and mail out as needed. 6. Manager Benson provided the Board with a breakdown of the engineering expenses for the back-up generator at Well #9. After review Vice President Jensen pointed out that the original cost was $60,000.00 and now the cost it $62,000.00; Manager Benson will talk with Matt Ellingson with T.K.D.A. 7. Manager Benson informed the Board that the new training program has been established for all Boards and Commissions members. There will be an informational meeting on Thursday June 6, 2019 at City Hall. 8. Manager Benson informed the Board that on Monday April 22, 2019 Judge John Rodenberg reversed the District Court’s decision; ruling the DNR did not violate the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act (MERA), but conceded the DNR’S permitting process is "inadequate to protect White Bear Lake." The judge also ruled the DNR did not violate the "public trust" doctrine in its issuing of groundwater pumping permits because "Minnesota has never applied the public trust doctrine to groundwater beyond the confines of the boundaries of a lake and its bed." Manager Benson is still waiting to hear from our attorney on how to precede. Manager Benson was instructed to have T.K.D.A. provide a one-page summary from the beginning to our current status and this will be put on our website. 9. Discussion was held about the cost share agreement with Brown’s Creek Watershed District, the contract indicated that Brown’s Creek would receive 100 smart controllers for $9,000.00 but Manager Benson explained to the Board that the pilot program would include 100 smart controllers. Brown’s Creek would receive 50 controllers for the $9,000.00 and the other 50 would go out through the city. The Board would not only pay the $9,000.00 for the other 50 controllers; they would also fund the balance of the program for $27,255.35. Manager Benson will be contacting Karin Kill to discuss the contract and Manager Benson th will report back at the June 13, 2019 meeting. 10. Manager Benson brought up information for the June 4, 2019 City of Stillwater Council Meeting, after discussion, the items are as follows: Bee Hive, Smart Irrigation Controller Pilot Program, Wellhead Protection, Website, White Bear Lake, and Backflow Preventer Program. 11. Manager Benson informed the Board that the deadline for the Board Applicants position is June 3, 2019. The Board Chair and the Council Liaison will need to conduct the interviews before June 13, 2019 Board Meeting and provide a recommendation to the Board. 12. Manager Benson informed the Board that Cole Rudd has completed his six- month probationary period and now is a full-time employee of the Water Department. There being no further business, on motion of Commissioner Vania, duly seconded by Vice President Jensen, all voting "Aye", the meeting was adjourned. __________________________ Steve Speedling, President ATTEST: __________________________ Robert G. Benson, Secretary