Clearwater River Watershed District

OFFICIAL MINUTES

CLEARWATER RIVER WATERSHED DISTRICT

Board of Managers Meeting

Annandale Middle School

May 14, 2003  

Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00p.m. by Chairperson Tracy. Manager’s John Tracy, Clarence Klein, Marvin Brunsell, Roland Froyen, and Virl Liebrenz were present. Others in attendance were Merle Anderson, Kelly Bergesch, Norm Wenck, Jerry Finch, Mark Kampa, Tom Lenz, Howard Schmidt, Bob Kuechle, Jon Roeder, Steve Fisher, Roger Eckhoff, George Anderson, Susan Anderson, Jim Stark, and Bernie Lenz.

Motion #03-05-1: Tracy, seconded by Brunsell, made a motion to adopt the agenda adding discussion about bogs, Pleasant Lake Outlet, and Correspondence. All Managers voted aye.

Motion #03-05-2: Brunsell, seconded by Liebrenz, made a motion to accept the April 9, 2003 regular meeting minutes. All Managers voted aye.

Motion #03-05-3: Klein, seconded by Liebrenz, made a motion to accept the April 23, 2003 work session minutes. All Managers voted aye.

Motion #03-05-4: Froyen, seconded by Brunsell, made a motion to accept the May 14, 2003 financial report and pay bills. All Managers voted aye. 

Howard Schmidt and Bob Kuechle, Chain of Lakes Association, requested repairs be made to the fish trap area, noting that washouts exist. Chairperson Tracy asked Norm Wenck to have Glen Sanders look at these washouts, develop a repair estimate, and report back to the Board prior to the May 28, 2003 work session.

Howard Schmidt and Bob Kuechle left the meeting at 7:15p.m.

Jon Roeder, resident of Clearwater Lake, indicated to the Board of Managers that he feels the process to deal with bogs is too cumbersome and complicated. Manager Froyen felt that the DNR should lead the bog removal effort when a bog is lodged at the Grass Lake Dam. George Anderson expressed his concern that if bogs restrict the flow over the Grass Lake Dam and the water level rises, the outlet of Pleasant Lake will be closed. George went on to say that he feels bog removal costs should be paid from the General Fund. Administrator Anderson indicated that the gauge reading today is 3.70.

Motion #03-05-5: Brunsell, seconded by Froyen, made a motion to request the Advisory Committee to make a recommendation to the Board of Managers regarding future bog removal policy.  All Managers voted aye. 

Motion #03-05-6: Froyen, seconded by Brunsell, made a motion to request Administrator Anderson to contact DNR to ask them to take the lead in removal of the bog at the Grass Lake Dam.  All Managers voted aye.

George Anderson expressed his concern that the culvert, which is the natural outlet for Pleasant Lake, has not been lowered to the proper elevation.

Motion #03-05-7: Froyen, seconded by Brunsell, made a motion to request Administrator Anderson to contact DNR to ask them to require MN DOT to place the outlet pipe for Pleasant Lake at the proper elevation this year. All Managers voted aye.

George and Susan Anderson left the meeting at 7:45p.m.

Mark Kampa, resident of Lake Augusta, informed the Board that Dave Gonyen has asked Wright County to split his property to allow a second building site. Mark Kampa, Steve Fisher, and Roger Eckhoff expressed their concern about potential construction erosion, stormwater control, road building in the bluff zone, and the possible compromising of the pristine shoreline if additional construction takes place at that site.

Motion #03-05-8: Tracy, seconded by Froyen, made a motion to have Administrator Anderson send a letter to Wright County expressing the CRWD concerns regarding erosion, stormwater runoff, and road building through the bluff zone if the Dave Gonyen property is split. All Managers voted aye.

Steve Fisher left the meeting at 8:05p.m.

Jim Stark and Bernie Lenz, US Geological Survey (USGS), explained how the USGS could work together with the CRWD in determining sediment and nutrient loading in lakes Louisa, Clearwater, and Augusta. USGS can supply up to 50% of the funding. Mr. Stark will prepare a work and budget outline for the Board’s consideration at the May 28, 2003 Work Session.

Jim Stark, Roger Eckhoff, and Jon Roeder left the meeting at 8:30p.m.

The Lakes of Fairhaven preliminary plat was reviewed. The Board of Managers expressed their appreciation that the plat includes a community sewer system. The information that was available however, does not show stormwater runoff control measures.

Tom Lenz and Bernie Lenz left the meeting at 8:35p.m.

Motion #03-05-9: Froyen, seconded by Liebrenz, made a motion to instruct Administrator Anderson to send a letter to Stearns County Environmental Services requesting information that shows pre-development and post-development stormwater runoff values in the Lakes of Fairhaven development. The District requests that post-development runoff does not exceed pre-development levels. All Managers voted aye.

Chairperson Tracy left the meeting at 8:42p.m. Vice Chairperson Liebrenz conducted the remainder of the meeting.

Motion #03-05-10: Froyen, seconded by Brunsell, made a motion to have the Lakes of Fairhaven final plat be included in the Operation and Maintenance Assessment Roll. The plat includes lakeshore property and lake access property, both of which will be included in the Assessment Roll. All Managers voted aye.

Norm Wenck, Engineer, presented a memorandum dated May 14, 2003. The following items were covered in the memo: Annandale Stormwater Study, MAWD Summer Tour Map, Restawhile Shores Training for Telemetry and Pending Final Payment, Critical Elevation at Grass Lake Dam is 3.93 (today’s reading is 3.70), TMDL Grant Application, and Project Inspection. Administrator Anderson will contact Joy Carlson, Restawhile Shores, regarding finalization of the community sewer system in that development.

Manager Froyen reviewed with the Board the hot spots indicated by our water quality-monitoring program. He feels strongly that these hot spots should be addressed and funded from the aerator replacement project funds.

Kelly Bergesch left the meeting at 9:02p.m.

Motion #03-05-11: Froyen, seconded by Liebrenz, made a motion to hold a Public Hearing to modify the aerator replacement project. Aye: Froyen, Liebrenz. Nay: Brunsell, Klein. The motion failed. 

Manager Brunsell reported that the Contingent Liability Report is nearing completion.

Administrator Anderson indicated that he would provide the Board, for their review, the sewer policy, procedure, and standards information that was developed recently.

Administrator Anderson reminded the Board that the Advisory Committee organizational meeting would be held May 15, 2003.

Norm Wenck, Engineer, recommended that the CRWD consider cost sharing equally with the city of Annandale, the feasibility studies for the three high priority water quality sites in Annandale on city owned property. Those sites are indicated on Figure 4 as 4, 6c, and 6d in the May 14, 2003 memorandum.

Motion #03-05-12: Klein, seconded by Brunsell, made a motion proposing to the city of Annandale the conducting of feasibility studies on high priority water quality sites 4, 6c, and 6d in Annandale. The $7,000 total cost would be split equally between CRWD and the city of Annandale. All Managers voted aye.

Administrator Anderson reminded the Board of Managers that depositions will be taken from all Managers and himself on June 10, 2003. The specific time will be determined at a later date. Administrator Anderson also indicated that the CRWD must conduct a special meeting to discuss pending litigation concerning the Clearwater Harbor Sanitary Sewer Project assessments.

Motion #03-05-13: Brunsell, seconded by Klein, made a motion to call a special meeting to discuss pending litigation concerning the Clearwater Harbor Sanitary Sewer Project assessments on June 4, 2003, 7:00pm, Annandale Middle School, Annandale, Minnesota, and publish notice. All Managers voted aye.

Administrator Anderson reviewed with the Board of Managers a request by Kevin Eull to Wright County to add 1,300 cu. yds of fill to his property on Clearwater Lake. This fill would be placed within the 100-year flood plain. The Board of Managers requested Administrator Anderson to send a letter to Wright County Planning Commission objecting to placing fill in the flood plain.

Motion #03-05-14: Brunsell, seconded by Klein, made a motion to not apply for DNR aerator permit and to remove the two electric services to existing aerator sites. All Managers voted aye.

Manager Liebrenz asked if there were other options available rather than removing the bog at Grass Lake Dam, such as moving the bog to another area of the lake and staking it down. Others present indicated that staking down bogs does not work.

Motion #03-05-15: Klein, seconded by Brunsell, made a motion to adjourn the meeting. All Managers voted aye.

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