Water Utility Council
Minutes
June 6, 2002
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Bloomington Water Treatment Plant
Attendance:
Cliff McLain, Doug Rovang, Ed Sorensen, Verne Jacobsen, Pat Shea, Bob Peplin, Ruth Hubbard, Doug Mandy, Dick
Nagy, Chris Elvrum, John Linc Stine, Bob Cockriel, Dave Scheerer, Kurt Johnson,
Adam Kramer, Bernie Bullert, Jon Eaton, Scott Franzmeier.
Meeting Called to Order
Chairman Cockriel called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes of the March, 2002 meeting were not approved.
Congress, EPA Update
Bob Peplin distributed handouts dealing with 1) 2002-04 Regulatory Schedule; and 2) AWWA press release related
to the protection of vulnerability assessments; 3) Announcement from USDA and US
Ag Department regarding assisting small community water systems in complying
with new arsenic standards.
Legislative Report
Scott Franzmeier distributed and discussed a handout containing the summary of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 401 –
Anti-terrorism which was passed and signed into law during the 2002 session.
Scott explained that the law allowed for felonies for damage to utilities and
gross misdemeanor for trespassing on utility property. Scott also explained 1)
that there was expected to significant turnover in the House, in particular, in
2003, and; 2) 2003 was a new session and would be a long session (January to at
least May). Cockriel asked if any work had been done to create a water
commission as recommended in the EQB report to the House. Scott responded that
the report was only informational and that no work had been done to create a new
commission.
State Related Water Issues
Miscellaneous Updates
Metro Area Groundwater Alliance
Chris Elvrum states no activity to report.
Gopher State One Call
Adam Kramer reported that the Gopher State One Call office had recently been refurbished; encouraged members to
review the newly updated and improved website; announced that projections on
revenue are okay but that there had been some drop off following 9-11-01; there
had been some recent phone system problems that have now been corrected.
Environmental Quality Board
No report.
Reports
Minnesota Rural Water Association
Ruth Hubbard reported that systems less than 3300 would likely be exempt from the vulnerability assessments; announce
that MRWA was selling ‘federal offense” warning signs on their website and that sales were very good;
announced that the Farm Bill recently passed will benefit small systems,
especially in funding certain programs and projects.
Minnesota Dept. of Health
Doug Mandy reported for Gary Englund that the MDH was “relatively unscathed” from the legislative session
because they are not funded a lot by general funds; announced the hiring and
travel freeze for state employees; reported that a new MDH/Dept. of Ag
laboratory in St. Paul had been approved in the bonding bill; the Minneapolis
and St. Paul security grants had been okayed by MDH and forwarded to the EPA;
Operator certification grant will be used for a technical assistant, trainings
and technical school development of programs for small systems; vulnerability
assessments will be due by June 2004; MDH received 51 applications from systems
for the revolving loan fund dollars.
Met Council
Chris announced the Met Council presented its metro groundwater modeling program proposal to the LCMR.
Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
John announced that unlike MDH, NDR had taken a substantial funding hit from the legislature because they are
92% funded by the general fund. He explained this would cause ongoing delays in
permit processing. John also announced DNR would not fill staff vacancies due to
hiring freeze. The Rochester and Brainerd offices will also be losing the
regional supervisor positions as of July 1. Updated the Council on the Lakeville
well interference complaints.
MUCA Activities
No report.
AWWA Issues
No report.
National WUC Report
Doug announced that the WUC meeting in New Orleans in conjunction with the ACE would be his last. He was not
reappointed to the WUC. Provided updates on the UV patent issue and AWWA’s
position; development of a website that would provide water related medical
information; Efficient Utilities update. Bob Cockriel thanked Doug for his
involvement and said he had hoped the MN WUC could continue to receive reports
from the national WUC activities.
Discussion/Action
Association Management Update
Scott reported the State Fair planning and solicitation of volunteers for the booth would begin soon; the
second Drinking Water Institute was schedule for June 24-26 in New Ulm and was
full; the Drinking Water Institute had received the AWWA Education Award which
would be presented at the ACE in New Orleans; MN Section was having the booth at
the League of Minnesota Cities conference in Rochester on June 19; Conference
exhibitor packets had been sent; Conference program was finalized.
Secretary / Treasurer
Jon reported that the administrative services and government relations contract with Ewald Consulting
would end on July 17 and that AWWA was working with Ewald on the transition. He
explained that the legislative services portion of the contract was to be
determined by the WUC. Also explained the fall conference was going to be a
volunteer effort and asked for assistance from the WUC to make it a success.
Old & New Business
Bob Cockriel announced that Ben Mason had resigned as Secretary of the WUC due to his new position as Chair of
the MAC. Rovang motioned/several seconds to recognize and thank Mason for his
work as Secretary. Motion carried unanimously. Cockriel also announced that he
had asked the Secretary/Treasurer and Scott to review the membership guidelines
for the WUC, determine an updated/accurate member list based on the guidelines
and provide the WUC and Board with a written recommendation for membership and
any edited guidelines at the Annual Meeting in October.
Next meeting
Our next meeting will be at 7:00 am, October 3, at Cragun’s in Brainerd.
Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m.
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