Moose Lake-Windemere Area Sanitary Sewer District
Approved Regional Meeting Minutes
January 27, 2015
@MLWSSD Office
A special regional meeting of the MLWSSD was called to order on January 27, 2015 at 6:00
p.m. by Chairman Byron Kuster. Those in attendance included: Byron Kuster, Henry Gretsfeld,
Joan Strandlie, Cliff Koski, and Eric Nielsen. Also in attendance were Superintendent Keith
Newman; Executive Director Darla Hall; Mayor Ross Rose, City of Sturgeon Lake; Scott
Helfman, City of Sturgeon Lake, and Kelly Yahnke, Bolton & Menk.
An email had been sent out to the Cities of Sturgeon Lake, Kettle River, Moose Lake and
Barnum inviting those folks to the meeting. Director Hall noted that she had not received a
response as to whether any would be attending the meeting.
Kuster called the meeting to order and indicated the purpose of the meeting was to review the
Moose Lake-Windemere Sanitary Sewer District Regionalization proposal as submitted by
Bolton & Menk and submitting to the State to request funding. Kuster pointed out that at this
point we are encompassing the entire area and will scale back if necessary in the future. It was
noted that they may look at some of the smaller lakes in the future as indicated on the map but
will depend on what parts of the project are done.
Kelly Yahnke, Bolton & Menk reviewed
the proposal and indicated that as they are doing the project, Bolton & Menk will be talking with
the MPCA and will be checking with other communities on their phosphorus and nitrates levels,
etc. The report will encompass historical data on lakes. Kelly pointed out that Bolton &Menk
will use interns for going door to door to collect information regarding onsite systems. Yahnke
went on to say that before beginning the project a kick off meeting would be held with the Lake
and Land Owners committee’s so they are aware of what is taking place and can help spread the
word of the study being done. Kelly noted that once the study is complete an EAW
(Environmental Assessment Worksheet) would be completed as part of this and submitted to the
MPCA so that in the future if we do move forward with sewering the areas it will be ready. He
noted we can always go back and amend the report in the future.
Yahnke also noted the report
would include the advantages and disadvantages in sewering the areas.
It was questioned how a regional district would be created if and when we would get to that
point. Yahnke noted that typically Cities do a joint powers agreement asking for authority to
change the District legislatively.
The discharge location was discussed and Yahnke indicated there may be more than one
discharge location. Helfman noted not to forget about the option of land application as a
possible discharge process.
Kelly indicated what he hopes to see is Island Lake being hooked up in the next three to five
years. The entire project cost for doing the twenty year comprehensive plan/facility plan is
$271,476.28, with $86,586.28 already being completed and paid for by the District. Kelly
indicated the information gathered already would be utilized in the report so the remaining cost
of the project would be $184,890.
MLWSSD Regional Meeting Minutes January 27, 2015
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A motion was made by Gretsfeld second by Strandlie to have Bolton & Menk prepared a cover
letter and submit the proposal of $184,890 to the legislature for possible funding. Motion carried
5/0. It was agreed that the letters should be submitted to Representatives – Mike Sundin, Jason
Rarick and Tony Lourey.
The group discussed having a letter sent to the City of Moose Lake indicating we are seeking
funding from the State for the 20 year comp plan/facility plan and that if the funding is obtained
we are looking for cooperation from the communities in the region by providing any available
data for the report to Bolton & Menk. After much discussion, it was decided to wait and see if
the funding is obtained first.
There being no further business to discuss a motion was made by Koski second by Gretsfeld to
adjourn the regional meeting. The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Minutes by Darla Hall, Executive Director
MLWSSD Regional Meeting Minutes January 27, 2015
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