MINNESOTA AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL SECTION BUSINESS MEETING

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)

Duluth, Minnesota

Meeting Minutes

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Bill Spain called the lunch awards to order at 11:45 a.m. and the business meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.

2. CONSENT APPROVAL OF:

The 2008 Annual Section Business Meeting minutes and the 2009 Financial Report were published in the Fall 2009 Conference Issue of the Breeze for review by the general membership. No comments or corrections were noted.

A motion to approve the minutes and report was made by Lyle Stai, seconded by Jon Eaton, and passed unanimously.

3. DISTRIBUTION OF BALLOTS FOR CHAIR-ELECT

Ballots were distributed to the membership for the election of the Chair-Elect. Nominees for chair-elect were Bert Tracy and Adam Kramer. Nominee biographies and visions were published in the recent Breeze and posted by the registration desk.

Spain emphasized that only Minnesota AWWA members can vote.

4. FINANCIAL REPORT

Secretary/Treasurer Stew Thornley summarized the process for the development of the 2010 budget and read the most recent 2008 financial numbers, which were also published in the Fall Conference issue of the Breeze. Year-end for 2008: income of $166K, expenses of 296K, for a net loss of $130K. The net assets as of December 31, 2008 were $211K. As of August 31, 2009, the net income for the year was $139K, expenses were $128K, for a net ordinary income of $11K. Investments are up since the beginning of the year by $49K for a net income of $60,000.

The endowment fund as of August 31, 2009 was $122,000. The goal for the endowment fund is $180,000.

5. CONSENT APPROVAL OF:

ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT (Schultz)

DISTRICT REPORTS

Northwest District (Bergantine)

Northeast District (Lipinski)

Central District (Stai/Vollbrecht)

Metro District (Coone)

Southwest District (Sweers)

Southeast District (Huschle)

COUNCIL/COMMITTEE REPORTS

Administration Council (Eaton)

Conference Council (Lubovich)

Minnesota Associates Council (Belden)

Public Affairs Council (Volker)

Training Council (Glassing)

Water Utility Council (Bullert)

The above reports were published in the Breeze and Light Breeze for review by the general membership. No comments or corrections were noted from the district trustees, council chairs, or the general membership.

A motion to approve the minutes was made by Lyle Stai, second by Ben Mason, and passed unanimously.

7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

8. NEW BUSINESS

Spain noted the by-laws revisions now taking place and that the revisions will be voted on in 2011.

Scott Anderson talked about the Management Institute and encouraged members to attend the 2010 Institute.

9. COMMUNICATIONS

Summary of the Awards Luncheon:

· 2008 Leonard Thompson – Spain presented a plaque to Naeem Qureshi, the recipient of the 2008 Leonard N. Thompson Award.

· 2008 Membership Achievement Certificate – Gary Warner noted that the section has 1,037 members, including 97 new members in the last year, and recognized the membership recruitment efforts of Dan Finnegan, Roger Glanzer, Bo Johnston, Carol Kaszynski, Adam Markos, Pete Moulton, Linda Mullen, Cory Schouten, Tony Schrantz, Bill Spain, Bert Tracy, Myron Volker, and Tom Welle. Special recognition was accorded Spain for recruiting 11 members and Johnston for recruiting five members. The Minnesota Section also received a Club 7 Award at the 2009 AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition for the largest percentage increase in membership.

· Top of the Glass – Brian Bergantine announced that nine utilities participated in the first “Top of the Glass” Taste Test. The list was narrowed to three finalists: Moorhead Public Service, City of St. Cloud, and City of Bloomington. The winner was Moorhead Public Service. The event received news coverage from a Duluth television station.

· Water For People Fundraiser – Raised $4,520 through the golf and fishing tournaments ($1,685 for golf, $2010 for fishing), and sale of ribbons and raffle tickets for We Fest ($825) in addition to $2,200 in hole sponsorships for the golf tournament.

· SUSA Donation – Jon Eaton presented $500 to Water for People on behalf of the Suburban Utility Superintendents Association.

· David Morris Endowment Fundraiser – Raised $180 through the sales of ribbons.

· Sporting Clays – Raised $200 for Water for People

· Scholarship Awards – Doug Klamerus announced the Water Utility Management Institute (WUMI) scholarship (WUMI) and Advanced Degree Scholarship recipients. Jedd Braunworth, City of Waconia; Jared Heller, Moorhead Public Service; Martin Bartusek, City of Lakeville; and Pete Klingenberg, City of Anoka. Advanced Degree Scholarship recipients were Greg LeFevre, Dan Portlock, and Bethany Brinkman.

· Texas Hold ‘Em – Doug Klamerus announced that the Young Professionals Committee will be holding a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament following the banquet tonight.

· Meter Madness – Greg Johnson presented the awards for the Meter Madness Competition. Third place: Roger Hagman, City of Bemidji, 1:06 seconds. Second place: Brian Linder, City of Wells, 1:04 seconds. First place: Harvey Maas, City of Duluth, 1:03 seconds. Maas will represent the section at the 2010 AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition in Chicago. HD Supply and Sensus Meters donated the meters for the competition.

10. INTRODUCTION OF ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES

Dean Fritzke acknowledged the presence of Nancy Sullivan, the section services representative from AWWA, who was at the conference. He talked of the hiring process of a new executive director, information technology issues, that included the use of conference calls for board meetings and offering education through webcasts, and a Member Value Study that is now taking place.

Nancy Sullivan addressed the group and thanked the section for its hospitality.

11. RECOGNITION OF BROOKLYN CENTER AS 50-YEAR UTILITY MEMBER

Dave Peterson of Brooklyn Center was introduced and addressed the group on the plaque his city received in the past year for being a utility member of AWWA for 50 years.

12. ELECTION RESULTS

The Chair-elect winner is Bert Tracy.

The Trustee-at-Large winner is Lyle “The Animal” Stai.

A motion to destroy the ballots from last year’s election was made by Jon Eaton, second by Doug Rovang, and passed unanimously.

13. ADJOURNMENT

A motion to adjourn the business meeting at 12:34 p.m. was made by Lyle Stai, seconded by Jon Eaton, and passed unanimously.