NAMAKAN BASIN JOINT POWERS BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
The monthly meeting of the Namakan Basin Joint Powers Board (JPB) was held at the Cook Land Department on September 24, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. by Chairman Forsman. The JPB members present were: St. Louis County Commissioners Mike Forsman and Keith Nelson, Bob Nevalainen, Kabetogama Township, and Rob Scott, Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District. The representative from Ash River was absent.
The minutes of the August 20, 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 Environmental Services Department and has compiled all the data base information necessary to complete the individual surveys to be mailed out on October 1, 2009. A postcard from Environmental Services will be sent out on October, 1, 2009 advising individuals that they will be receiving a survey letter. Ms. Kennedy is scheduled to attend the Crane Lake Township meeting on October 13, 2009, to provide an overview of the project.
Additional updates:
Crane Lake: Rob Scott discussed the importance of his attendance at the monthly Crane Lake Township meetings to provide updates on the ongoing process.
Ash River: Due to the fact that Ash River is not a township but an unorganized area within St. Louis County, Commissioner Nelson discussed the challenges face in communicating with Ash River.
Kabetogama: Bob Navalainen reported that he has put together the Voyageur National Park (VNP) informational packages for the upcoming State Bonding Committee meetings.
Koochiching: Dale Olson from Koochiching County Environmental Service Office has been working with MSA Engineering on a facility plan for the Island View Project. He also stated that it is possible to tie an update on the project and a boat dedication to Senator Franken's visit.
The JPB discussed the need to increase private awareness and support for the project. Commissioner Pavleck added that the Friends of the VNP and many other organizations are interested in this project. He will be contacting the Superintendent of VNP, Mike Ward, to work on the issue.
It was decided that the St. Louis and Koochiching County JPB will be called the "VNP Clean Water Joint Powers Board." The meetings will be scheduled on the same date and held immediately after the Namakan Basin JPB meeting, with the first organizational meeting beginning on October 22, 2009.
An update was provided by Gary Cerkvenik on the funding applications for the project. He anticipates final IRRB approval for $50,000 for project planning funds. Additional planning funds should give $450,000 from the United States Army Corp of Engineers 569 (USACE 569) grant program and $285,000 from State Bonding funds. Mt. Cerkvenik outlined his approach to prepare for the House Bonding Committee on October 7, 2009 and the State Bonding Committee on October 14, 2009. These committee meetings will also include presentations by the St. Louis County and Koochiching Commissioners.
Ms. Kennedy received a telephone call from John Cope regarding the project and an interest in having a parcel that is not part of the Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District included in the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Nelson explained that such an effort would require a request to St. Louis County. He also discussed the possibility that there may be additional requests as the project moves forward. Commissioner Nelson advised that the JPB needs to keep the scope of the project as originally outlined and then move forward from the initial concept with additional add on phases as needed. The expansion phases and any additional concepts should be addressed by the new VNP Clean Water JPB.
The next JPB meeting is scheduled for October 22, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cook Land Office. The board decided that the November and December meetings will be combined and held on December 3, 2009, followed by a meeting on January 21, 2010. 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 3:30 p.m.
Submitted by: Rob Scott
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
The monthly meeting of the Namakan Basin Joint Powers Board (JPB) was held at the Cook Land Department on September 24, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. by Chairman Forsman. The JPB members present were: St. Louis County Commissioners Mike Forsman and Keith Nelson, Bob Nevalainen, Kabetogama Township, and Rob Scott, Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District. The representative from Ash River was absent.
The minutes of the August 20, 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 Environmental Services Department and has compiled all the data base information necessary to complete the individual surveys to be mailed out on October 1, 2009. A postcard from Environmental Services will be sent out on October, 1, 2009 advising individuals that they will be receiving a survey letter. Ms. Kennedy is scheduled to attend the Crane Lake Township meeting on October 13, 2009, to provide an overview of the project.
Additional updates:
Crane Lake: Rob Scott discussed the importance of his attendance at the monthly Crane Lake Township meetings to provide updates on the ongoing process.
Ash River: Due to the fact that Ash River is not a township but an unorganized area within St. Louis County, Commissioner Nelson discussed the challenges face in communicating with Ash River.
Kabetogama: Bob Navalainen reported that he has put together the Voyageur National Park (VNP) informational packages for the upcoming State Bonding Committee meetings.
Koochiching: Dale Olson from Koochiching County Environmental Service Office has been working with MSA Engineering on a facility plan for the Island View Project. He also stated that it is possible to tie an update on the project and a boat dedication to Senator Franken's visit.
The JPB discussed the need to increase private awareness and support for the project. Commissioner Pavleck added that the Friends of the VNP and many other organizations are interested in this project. He will be contacting the Superintendent of VNP, Mike Ward, to work on the issue.
It was decided that the St. Louis and Koochiching County JPB will be called the "VNP Clean Water Joint Powers Board." The meetings will be scheduled on the same date and held immediately after the Namakan Basin JPB meeting, with the first organizational meeting beginning on October 22, 2009.
An update was provided by Gary Cerkvenik on the funding applications for the project. He anticipates final IRRB approval for $50,000 for project planning funds. Additional planning funds should give $450,000 from the United States Army Corp of Engineers 569 (USACE 569) grant program and $285,000 from State Bonding funds. Mt. Cerkvenik outlined his approach to prepare for the House Bonding Committee on October 7, 2009 and the State Bonding Committee on October 14, 2009. These committee meetings will also include presentations by the St. Louis County and Koochiching Commissioners.
Ms. Kennedy received a telephone call from John Cope regarding the project and an interest in having a parcel that is not part of the Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District included in the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Nelson explained that such an effort would require a request to St. Louis County. He also discussed the possibility that there may be additional requests as the project moves forward. Commissioner Nelson advised that the JPB needs to keep the scope of the project as originally outlined and then move forward from the initial concept with additional add on phases as needed. The expansion phases and any additional concepts should be addressed by the new VNP Clean Water JPB.
The next JPB meeting is scheduled for October 22, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cook Land Office. The board decided that the November and December meetings will be combined and held on December 3, 2009, followed by a meeting on January 21, 2010. 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 3:30 p.m.
Submitted by: Rob Scott
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