Below represents the minutes from the most recent Trustee meeting. These minutes are unofficial until approval at the next board meeting.
The Combined Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District
Regular Meeting
Thursday, May 21, 2015
6:30 PM
Lake Delhi Trustees Administration Building
Delhi, IA
The regular meeting of the Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District was called to order by President Steve Leonard at 6:33 PM.
Trustees present: Leonard, Kramer, Davidson, Kray, Burger, Colgan
Trustees absent: Gifford
Visitors: Larry Peter, Eve Peter, Pat Dede, Don Dede, Ed Schmidt, Ken Kray, Mike Steuck, Jim Locke, John Carbaugh, Pauletta Carbaugh, Ben Pasker, Marcheta R. Cooey Lux, Bill Lux, Wanda Davidson, Nancy Hurt, Joe Vorwald, Mr. McMurrin
Recording secretary: Shelley Kallenbach
Motion to approve the posted agenda was made by Burger, seconded by Kramer. Leonard requested to add Mike Steuck from the DNR for an update to the agenda. Burger motioned to approve the addition, seconded by Kramer, motion approved.
Joe Vorwald, Delhi Fire Department Chief, made a presentation regarding dry hydrant installation on the lake. The Fire Department is planning to install dry hydrants in eight strategic places around the lake to allow fire trucks to refill using lake water instead of driving back to Delhi to refill. The hydrants go four feet deep into the lake to avoid freezing. Property owners will therefore have quicker access to emergency water, and the hydrants may potentially lower homeowner’s insurance costs. The Fire Department will cover labor costs, leaving only the cost of $6,400 for the hydrants to be distributed evenly in a method yet to be determined. The Fire Department looks to begin installation in two weeks.
Mike Steuck from the DNR made a presentation regarding dock permit applications. The online dock permitting process is going well. The DNR staff intends to hold an after-hours date the Friday or Saturday after the next Board meeting for residents to fill out dock permits in person at the DNR office if they prefer. In addition, DNR staff will be at the next Board meeting to provide dock information and answer resident questions regarding the permit application process. Steuck also gave an overview of the existing DNR rules and processes in place to prevent the infestation of invasive species such as zebra mussels in the lake once it is opened, as well as the DNR’s readiness to repopulate the lake’s fish supply when the lake is filled.
Colgan motioned to approve the April 16, 2015 and May 7, 2015 meeting minutes, Burger seconded, motion approved.
Kramer presented claims for payment approval. Out of the General Fund, claims for the amount of $3,296.96 were made for copier, recording secretary, auditing, website, lobbyist, and furnace cleaning services. Out of the Dam/Spillway Rebuild Fund, claims in the amount of $1,115,421.19 were presented for the Turtle Creek project, wastewater/water main work, engineering services to Stanley, Phase 1 payments to Lunda Construction, and Phase 2 payment to GCI. Kray motioned to approve the presented claims for payment, Burger seconded, motion passed.
Motion to approve a request to the DNR for reimbursement for invoices paid by the District for the spillway rebuild in the amount of $231,815.92 for Phase 1 payment to Lunda Construction was made by Kramer, seconded by Burger, motion approved.
Motion to approve a request to Delaware County for reimbursement for invoices paid to GCI and Stanley for the spillway rebuild in the amount of $396,610.22 due to the County reimbursement rate of 50% was made by Colgan, seconded by Davidson, motion approved.
A final report for FY 2014 by Hunt and Associates was presented to the Board, breaking down expenditures, assets, and liabilities. The report states that the Board did not make disbursements exceeding their FY 2014 certification. Burger motioned to receive and file the final report, Kray seconded, motion approved.
Colgan presented five change order requests from Lunda Construction to the Board as follows:
- Lunda Construction Change Order #20 in the amount of $39,750.36 for the necessary removal of two concrete walls from the original dam that did not appear on drawings;
- Lunda Construction Change Order #21 in the amount of $1,866 for freight charges spent to ship additional sheet pile for the north side of the dam due to unexpected lower rock levels;
- Lunda Construction Change Order #22 for a credit of $1,223 as the planned gate hoist was no longer available and the alternative was cheaper than the amount budgeted;
- Lunda Construction Change Order #23 for $5,782.13 for the necessary reduction of the Ogee gate sills in preparation for the new gates as they were 4 inches taller than the drawings indicated;
- Lunda Construction Change Order #24 for $5,763.07 for contractual obligation for payment after the existing wall concrete was found to require less work for rehabilitation, which necessitated a change in unit cost.
Colgan motioned to approve the Lunda change orders for a total sum of $51,958.56, Kramer seconded, motion approved.
The Board heard committee updates.
Leonard presented Gifford’s update from the Lake Bed Cleanup Committee detailing the list of areas that have been mowed and cut down. The real-time map of cleanup areas can be found on the Lake Delhi website. Heavy equipment will soon be starting in the thicker areas, and volunteers to assist continue to be assembled.
The Dredge Committee stated that the new dredge permitting process has been working well with all current requests being approved. Appreciation for those applying and doing individual dredging was expressed. Shallow Soil borings to map the sediment depths is scheduled to begin the week after the Memorial Day holiday. Thirteen areas will be surveyed in the areas most in need to future lake dredging. Boring dredging to determine pre-dam levels for future dredging permits is scheduled to begin after the Memorial Day holiday. A request has been made to Stanley for a proposal quote for a plan to help develop an ongoing dredging strategy to maintain acceptable lake depths requiring any future dredging .
The Water Quality Committee had no updates.
The Dam Construction Committee gave updates on the construction. Colgan stated that work is going very well, especially given the reduced river flow so far this year. The Phase 2 cofferdam is up, and the downstream cofferdam is about 2/3 done. Dewatering piping to lower the groundwater tables is being laid following significant sand removal. Colgan also explained the importance of the new automatic gates, which can sense changes in water backup and adjust height as necessary to mitigate pressures. As such, it would require about three times the highest amount of water flow that has ever been recorded at the lake to ever cause another dam breech again.
The Funding and Finance Committee had no updates.
The Legislative Committee heard updates from the Board’s lobbyists, Gary Grant and Larry Murphy. Unfortunately, the Iowa House and Senate continue to be unable to reach an agreement on budget priorities and may be in session as late as June 30th. The lobbyists monitor existing bills that may impact various aspects of the dam rebuild and notify the Board of these bills’ progress. They will also go before the DNR to discuss funding opportunities for remaining needs as necessary. Several different potential options for legislative monies exist pending the outcome of budget negotiations.
Kray expressed the need to create a consolidated list of efforts remaining to be done before lake fill that solicits ideas from the public and the Board. Timelines and task assignments will be determined after the creation of this list. Kray will begin compiling this list using existing information, and will be the current point of contact for the public to notify the Board of tasks requiring attention before the lake is complete.
The floor was opened to public comment.
Larry Peter stated that there was much to do, so the Board will need a lot of volunteers to complete all required tasks. He stated that it is exciting that the new dam monitoring systems will allow the future dam supervisor to detect problems with the dam before they happen, which has not been possible in the past. Peter also presented a list of remaining tasks to the Board that he has compiled.
Kray motioned to adjourn, Burger seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM.