Tri-County News

CRWD Minutes Meeting May 14, 2014


UNOFFICIAL MINUTES Clearwater River Watershed District Board of Managers Meeting May 14, 2014 7 P.M. Annandale Middle School Annandale, MN

Chair Schiefelbein called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Managers Jeff Golden, Paul DeGree, Mary Ellen Wells and Bob Schiefelbein were present. In attendance were Jack Gleason, Roger Halford, Commissioner Chris Husom, Orv Jonsrud, Cole Loewen, manager appointee Bob Rocheleau, attorney Louis Smith, engineer Rebecca Kluckhohn, advisor Merle Anderson and administrator Dennis Loewen.

Motion #14-5-1: Golden/DeGree, moved to adopt the agenda. All managers voted aye.

Oath of Office

Administrator Dennis Loewen administered the Oath of Office to Bob Rocheleau.

Consent Agenda

Cole Loewen requested the April 23, 2014, Work Session minutes be removed from the consent agenda, and be placed on the agenda right after the consent agenda.

Motion #14-5-2: Wells/Golden, moved to adopt the consent agenda. All managers voted aye. April 23, 2014, Work Session Minutes

Cole Loewen presented on a proposed revision to the April 23, work session minutes. Motion #14-5-3: Wells/DeGree, moved to adopt the April 23, 2014 work session minutes with proposed revision. All managers voted aye.

May 14, 2014 Financial Report Motion #14-5-4: Wells/Golden, moved to pay bills of $29,730.61 in 27 payments, subject to audit. All managers voted aye.

Letter to Legislators

Cole Loewen reviewed the draft letter to state legislators.

Update: Kimball Stormwater Phase II Project

Engineer Kluckhohn and Cole Loewen provided an update on the Project. Construction has begun.

Update: Cedar Lake Watershed Protection & Improvement Project

Engineer Kluckhohn and Administrator Loewen provided an update on the progress of the Project. Agreements from the Highway 55 property owners are trickling in; progress continues to be made with moving the East Swartout component forward with the MN Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR).

Motion #14-5-5: Golden/DeGree, moved to authorize the Board chair to sign easements and agreements for the Highway 55 component of the Project. All managers voted aye.

Brian Koski entered the meeting at 7:26 p.m.

Agenda item ?ÄúDraft Reissued MPCA permit, Hidden River and Clearwater Harbor Sewer Systems,?Äù was moved to the top of New Business.

Draft Reissued MPCA permit, Hidden River and Clearwater Harbor Sewer Systems

Brian Koski of Septic Check presented on the draft permit received from the MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The MPCA is requiring the District to develop and implement a nitrogen mitigation plan due to high nitrogen levels in one of the groundwater monitoring wells located near the systems.

The Board instructed Engineering Kluckhohn to work with Septic
Check and District staff in the development of a scope of work for a nitrogen mitigation and analysis plan, with work to begin on determining the source of nitrogen to the monitoring well. The Board also instructed District staff to send out a simple notice to the residents of both systems informing them of this MPCA requirement.

Motion #14-5-6: Wells/Golden, moved to place the appropriate conduit to protect underground electrical wire at the Clearwater
Harbor System. All managers voted aye.

Brian Koski left at 8:03pm.

Engineer Kluckhohn ?Äì Lake Betsy Internal Load Reduction

Engineer Kluckhohn presented a memorandum on Lake Betsy Internal Load Management Feasibility / Gap Analysis Work Plan, which lists three tasks and two options. The Board has previously approved $10,000 for this item. The Board instructed District staff to proceed with tasks one and two, and to report back to the Board once complete.

Commissioner Chris Husom left the meeting at 8:13pm.

Legal Services Contract

Cole Loewen presented on the Legal Services Contract from Smith Partners. Motion #14-5-7: Golden/DeGree, moved to authorize the Board chair to sign the legal contract with Smith Partners. All Managers voted aye.

Citizen concerns regarding agricultural irrigation and nearby lake levels

Administrator Loewen presented on a request made on behalf of the Clearwater Lake Property Owners Assoc. for the Board to write letters to Stearns and Wright Counties, urging caution in allowing irrigation of agricultural fields. Administrator
Loewen noted the appropriation of groundwater for agricultural irrigation is handled by the MN DNR. The Board noted this concern, but took no action.

Office Staff Report

Administrator Loewen reviewed the remainder of the office staff report, which included two work orders for the Mississippi River (St. Cloud) Watershed Project, and an update on Heid vs. CRWD.

Motion #14-5-8: Wells/Golden, moved to approve work orders #C401/14 & C501/14 with the Elk River Watershed Assoc. for the Mississippi River (St. Cloud) Watershed Project, noting that C501/14 is for $600.00, not $960.00. All managers voted aye.

Jack Gleason and Roger Halford left the meeting at 8:38 p.m. Advisor Anderson gave a few welcoming remarks to manager Rocheleau and attorney Smith.

Cole Loewen reviewed the status of recording amendments #2 and #3 to the District?Äôs Rules and Regulations at the county recorder offices.

Motion #14-5-9: Wells/Golden, moved to hold a public hearing on July 9th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the Annandale Middle School in regards to the re-adoption of amendment #2 of the District?Äôs Rules and Regulations, and for notice to be made in fulfillment of MN Statutes. All managers voted aye.

The Board will not hold a May Work Session.

Advisory Committee assignments are:

1. No-wake ?Äúflag?Äù notices

Items noted for the May 14, 2014, regular meeting are:

1. 2013 CRWD Audit Report

2. 2013 CRWD Annual Report

3. 2014 CRWD Project Inspection Report

Motion #14-5-10: Golden/DeGree, moved to adjourn at 9:02 p.m. All managers voted aye. THESE MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE AT: www.crwd.org.

CRWD AUDIT REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE ANNANDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Chair, Bob Schiefelbein

Secretary, Paul DeGree

Published in the Tri-County News Thursday, May 29, 2014.

 

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