NAMAKAN BASIN JOINT POWERS BOARD MEETING
August 20, 2009
The monthly meeting of the Namakan Basin Joint Powers Board (JPB) was held at the Cook Land Department on August 20, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 2:03 p.m. by Chairman Forsman, followed by introductions from all attendees. The JPB members present were: St. Louis County Commissioners Mike Forsman and Keith Nelson, Bob Nevalainen, Kabetogama Township, Rob Scott, Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District. The representative from Ash River was absent.
The minutes of the July 23, 2009, Namakan Basin Joint Powers Board meeting were moved for approval by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Rob Scott. The JPB approved the minutes unanimously.
Julie Kennedy, S.E.H. Engineering, provided an update on the engineering items related to the JPB Comprehensive Plan. She is working with the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office and the Koochiching Environmental Service Office to prepare a project area map for the new Joint JPB. Rob Scott emphasized that the map needs to show each specific area versus a large contiguous area. Ms. Kennedy expects the map to be completed next week. S.E.H. has received the GIS parcel database information from the St. Louis County Planning Department. S.E.H. is obtaining the remaining parcels at the very end of Ash River which is located in a separate township. Ms. Kennedy expressed her gratitude for the great work and support that the county staff has provided. A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Bob Nevalainen for the JPB Chair to send a thank you letter to the Planning Department. The JPB voted unanimously in favor of this motion.
In preparation for the community survey, S.E.H. has been working with the St. Louis County Environmental Services Department on the postcard that will be sent out prior to the survey. Based on input received from the Ash River meeting, the surveys will be sent out in mid-September to achieve timely receipt for seasonal residents. The estimated mailing dates are September 7, 2009 for the postcard and September 14, 2009 for the survey.
Discussion was held on developing a website that would provide links to related subjects pertaining to the project. There was some concern in regard to misinformation, getting ahead of actual work, and the host for the website. A motion was made by Rob Scott and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to authorize an initial website to be posted including links on an S.E.H. on-line projects page. This website will then be followed up with links on the St. Louis and Koochiching County websites after the new Joint JPB is established. This motion was unanimously approved by the board.
Additional update comments:
Crane Lake: S.E.H. plans to attend the September 8, 2009 Crane Lake Township meeting to provide a project status update and to hear the interests and concerns of the residents. Ms. Kennedy will be working with the township clerk to get on the agenda. Rob Scott stated that the MPCA and St Louis County’s data on existing systems needs to be considered and included with the Comprehensive Plan.
Ash River: S.E.H. held a neighborhood meeting at Ash Trail Lodge to meet with area residents regarding the proposed planning project and upcoming community survey. The meeting was moderately attended, despite the very short notice provided. There was positive discussion and S.E.H. had several phone conversations with residents who were unable to attend. S.E.H. is planning to host another meeting in the early spring to discuss planning efforts and gain additional input.
Kabetogama: S.E.H. has started discussions with MPCA staff and the University of Minnesota Extension Office in regard to the review of recommended treatment plant design by North America Wetland Engineering (NAWE) in their Preliminary Engineering Report. Bob Nevalainen expressed his concerns with the NAWE treatment plant alternate sites.
Koochiching: Dale Olson from Koochiching County Environmental Service Office is working with the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) on how to get more points on PFA’s project priority list. Also, there will be a possible visit to Voyageur National Park (VNP) by Senator Al Franken.
The JPB discussed the upcoming State Bonding bill meeting scheduled for
October 14, 2009, in Hibbing. S.E.H. will work with Gary Cerkvenik in preparing the board members for the meeting. The bonding bill meeting will be added to the September JPB meeting agenda. Commissioner Nelson stated for the record that the St Louis County Board of Commissioners support the VNP project and has acted by deciding to go forward with a resolution to support the establishment of a Joint JPB by a 7-0 vote.
The next JPB meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2009 at 2:00 at the Cook Land Office. A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson and a second by Rob Scott to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m..
Submitted by: Rob Scott, Secretary
August 20, 2009
The monthly meeting of the Namakan Basin Joint Powers Board (JPB) was held at the Cook Land Department on August 20, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 2:03 p.m. by Chairman Forsman, followed by introductions from all attendees. The JPB members present were: St. Louis County Commissioners Mike Forsman and Keith Nelson, Bob Nevalainen, Kabetogama Township, Rob Scott, Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District. The representative from Ash River was absent.
The minutes of the July 23, 2009, Namakan Basin Joint Powers Board meeting were moved for approval by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Rob Scott. The JPB approved the minutes unanimously.
Julie Kennedy, S.E.H. Engineering, provided an update on the engineering items related to the JPB Comprehensive Plan. She is working with the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office and the Koochiching Environmental Service Office to prepare a project area map for the new Joint JPB. Rob Scott emphasized that the map needs to show each specific area versus a large contiguous area. Ms. Kennedy expects the map to be completed next week. S.E.H. has received the GIS parcel database information from the St. Louis County Planning Department. S.E.H. is obtaining the remaining parcels at the very end of Ash River which is located in a separate township. Ms. Kennedy expressed her gratitude for the great work and support that the county staff has provided. A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Bob Nevalainen for the JPB Chair to send a thank you letter to the Planning Department. The JPB voted unanimously in favor of this motion.
In preparation for the community survey, S.E.H. has been working with the St. Louis County Environmental Services Department on the postcard that will be sent out prior to the survey. Based on input received from the Ash River meeting, the surveys will be sent out in mid-September to achieve timely receipt for seasonal residents. The estimated mailing dates are September 7, 2009 for the postcard and September 14, 2009 for the survey.
Discussion was held on developing a website that would provide links to related subjects pertaining to the project. There was some concern in regard to misinformation, getting ahead of actual work, and the host for the website. A motion was made by Rob Scott and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to authorize an initial website to be posted including links on an S.E.H. on-line projects page. This website will then be followed up with links on the St. Louis and Koochiching County websites after the new Joint JPB is established. This motion was unanimously approved by the board.
Additional update comments:
Crane Lake: S.E.H. plans to attend the September 8, 2009 Crane Lake Township meeting to provide a project status update and to hear the interests and concerns of the residents. Ms. Kennedy will be working with the township clerk to get on the agenda. Rob Scott stated that the MPCA and St Louis County’s data on existing systems needs to be considered and included with the Comprehensive Plan.
Ash River: S.E.H. held a neighborhood meeting at Ash Trail Lodge to meet with area residents regarding the proposed planning project and upcoming community survey. The meeting was moderately attended, despite the very short notice provided. There was positive discussion and S.E.H. had several phone conversations with residents who were unable to attend. S.E.H. is planning to host another meeting in the early spring to discuss planning efforts and gain additional input.
Kabetogama: S.E.H. has started discussions with MPCA staff and the University of Minnesota Extension Office in regard to the review of recommended treatment plant design by North America Wetland Engineering (NAWE) in their Preliminary Engineering Report. Bob Nevalainen expressed his concerns with the NAWE treatment plant alternate sites.
Koochiching: Dale Olson from Koochiching County Environmental Service Office is working with the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) on how to get more points on PFA’s project priority list. Also, there will be a possible visit to Voyageur National Park (VNP) by Senator Al Franken.
The JPB discussed the upcoming State Bonding bill meeting scheduled for
October 14, 2009, in Hibbing. S.E.H. will work with Gary Cerkvenik in preparing the board members for the meeting. The bonding bill meeting will be added to the September JPB meeting agenda. Commissioner Nelson stated for the record that the St Louis County Board of Commissioners support the VNP project and has acted by deciding to go forward with a resolution to support the establishment of a Joint JPB by a 7-0 vote.
The next JPB meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2009 at 2:00 at the Cook Land Office. A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson and a second by Rob Scott to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m..
Submitted by: Rob Scott, Secretary
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