Water Utility Council

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

 

 

Location:  Convention Center, Duluth, Minnesota

 

Attendance:  Bernie Bullert, Bob Cockriel, Ruth Hubbard, Carol Blommel Johnson, Kurt Johnson, Bob Peplin, Dave Schultz, Pat Shea, Scott Fronek, Adam Kramer, Randy Ellingboe, Craig Johnson, Cliff McLain, Dick Nagy, Allen Lamm, Ed Sorenson, Bill Spain, and Doug Rovang

 

In attendance via conference call.  Conference call did not work.  Shahin Rezania, Dave Wagner, and Laurel Reeves requested to be conferenced in.

 

Absent:  Scott Anderson, David Brown, Stew Thornley, Steve Gleason, Shahin Rezania, Dave Wagner, Doug Lubben, Dennis Martenson, Laurel Reeves, Emily Schnick, Chris Elvrum, and Karla Peterson

 

A.     Breakfast: Began at 7:00 am

                           Meeting began around 7:30 am.

 

B.    Housekeeping:

Bernie added two items to the Agenda.

1.      Discussion on terms and re-appointments by the Section Board.

2.      D.C. Trip

 

C.    Minutes:

The minutes of June 19, 2008 were approved. 

 

D.    Congress, EPA Update - Bob Peplin

Bob had a handout and discussed those items in a little more detail.

 

E.     Legislative report from LMNC Representative - Craig Johnson

Craig spoke on several items.

1.      Craig discussed the                                      bill at the last legislative session as too costly to pass.

2.      Craig talked about groundwater policy issues.

3.      Craig discussed conservation rate change and the fee increase for DNR last year. The issue was the metro area groundwater fee and if passed it should stay in the metro area. It did not pass.

4.      The federal funds match passed.

5.      Craig discussed the constitutional amendment for clean water, 5% for groundwater protection.

6.      The state building code passed to apply state wide.

7.      Discussion on foreclosure issue, cities notified so utilities know of empty houses.

 

F.     State-Related Water Issues

  1. Environmental Quality Board (EQB) - Ed Sorensen:

a.      Ed talked about EQB. He mentioned he is retiring and will be going off WUC. They met 4 times this past year.

b.      N/A

  1. Reports

a.       Minnesota Rural Water Association. - Ruth Hubbard

1.      Ruth covered MRWA. Asked to be involved with legislative committee if needed for a coordinated effort.

2.      She mentioned the FTC red flag rule for billing.

3.      The fraud and identity theft policy needs to be in place 11-1-08. The national RWA is putting up a template to download and are holding training in Minnesota on the red flag rule.

4.      100 students were at the last W/WW exam prep. Rural Water is active in Minnesota WARN.

5.      Craig spoke of issues for the 2009 legislative:

a.      Water supply and quality issues

b.      Endocrine Disruptor

c.      Per gallon free with a state wide approach. Cities need to propose what fee they would support to do water science.  Part would be for state wide geologic atlas.  Cities are concerned fees do not always end up where they are intended.

d.      Legislative Water Commission.

·        Health Department - OK

·        DNR - OK

·        PCA - OK

·        AG - Craig needs to check

·        Soil & Water - Craig needs to check

·        The House sponsors would start at Bill Gardner and Rick Hanson. In the Senate Ellen Anderson would assign who carries the bill.

 

b.      Minnesota Department of Health - Randy Ellingboe

1.      Randy introduced himself as the new Manager at the Minnesota Health Department. He covered a few items:

        • Jerry Smith is involved in TCR.
        • Changes pending in groundwater rule
        • He was aware of red flag rule
        • Lead & Copper rule changes, monitoring and treatment
        • New long term 2 enhanced surface treatment rule; he will cover in Friday’s presentation
        • 2009 -2010 will be a tight budget
        • They are considering getting better information on county well index and greater capabilities. Document vulnerability issues and surface impacts on wells.

 

c.      Metropolitan Council - Chris Elvrum

1.      Chris was absent

 

d.      Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Laurel Reeves:

1.      Laurel was absent; although she said she would be on the conference call, which I was unsuccessful in making work.

e.      Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Emily Schnick

1.      Emily was absent; I handed out her hand out on water treatment plant discharge issues.

f.        Association Director - Dave Schultz

g.      Dave covered the committee formed nationally to develop affiliation agreements for Sections related to liabilities. The intent is to protect the intellectual capital of the AWWA. It also relates to legal and liability issues and insurance. Covers logos and actions of sections using AWWA name.

h.      He also indicated the new Executive Director is a manager type and change agent.

i.        WARN Update - Al Lamm

j.         Stated there are 24 members to date. Rural Water set-up the website. MMUA is reviewing. website:

k.       www.mnwarn.org.

l.          

m.    Minnesota Plumbing Code Revisions - Al Lamm

n.      Al reported nothing new. More revisions have been added to rules going to Governor. Effective date will be July 2009. They will work on backlog items this winter. They have made a lot of progress and have been meeting twice a month. They are probably going to get into grey water systems.

o.       

p.      Gopher One-Call - Adam Kramer

q.      Adam mentioned Gopher One-Call had solicited proposals and they staged with One-Call Concepts but with better arrangements.

r.         

s.      Election (2008 - 2009)
1.         Chair for 2009 - Bernie Bullert elected - I did not get motion and second.
2.         Vice-Chair for 2009 - Pat Shea elected - I did not get motion and second.
3.         Secretary for 2009 - I mentioned I thought Dennis Martenson volunteered and he       was elected. I did not get this motion and second.

 

 

G.    Appoint Legislative Commissioner

1.      Dave Wagner was appointed to fill the legislative committee position that Ed Sorenson is vacating. I did not get the motion and second.

2.      I asked for at least a lead contact for me in the legislative committee if they do not pick a chair. Bob Cockriel agreed to be the “go to” person.

 

H.    Appoint Members to Vacancies

1.      We approved recommending Bill Schluenz of Waite Park to be a Utility Member, Scott Fronek of Black & Veatch to take Chad Hill’s place and Grant Meyer of Advanced Engineering to take a vacant position as a Commercial Member. I did not record the motion or second.

2.      The other vacancies will be filled as we receive volunteers.

3.      We discussed how to get back on the appointment schedule with the Section Board. (I discussed this at the Friday Board Meeting.) I said we should have volunteers for all openings by our December meeting. I will then propose terms and bring to January Board meeting for approval.

4.      WE are to pick who is going to D.C. for the fly-in by the December meeting.

I.        Next Meeting:

1.      The next meeting will be at Bob Peplin’s office in Maple Plain on December 11, 2008, at 10:00 am.

 

Adjourn

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Bernie R. Bullert