The Combined Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District
Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, February 21, 2013 – 6:30 p.m.
Maquoketa Valley Middle School Conference Room
The meeting of the Combined Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District Board of Trustees was called to order by President Steve Leonard at 6:34 PM at Maquoketa Valley Middle School Conference Room.
Trustees present: Leonard, Kramer, Peter, Davidson, Burger by phone and Kray via Skype
Trustees absent: Schneider
Visitors: Brooks Ante, John Carbaugh, Pauletta Carbaugh, Todd Boone, Dave Larson, Eve Peter, Larry Aschenbrenner, Jim Locke, Pat Dede, Don Dede, Todd Gifford, Dwayne Donels and Dave Fry by phone.
Agenda reviewed by Leonard. Motion made to approve by Davidson, second by Peter . All ayes, motion passed.
Kray requested approval of minutes for 1/17/13, 2/7/13 and 2/12/13. Kramer made motion to approve all 3 as presented, Peter second. All ayes, motion passed.
Kramer reviewed bills for payment – County Auditor for $78 for checks written for the District; ICAP for $3,700; L&L Consulting for $2,000; $5,760 for the Attorney. Burger spoke with ICAP regarding the lifting equipment insurance which the above bill is for and asked if after we start repairing the dam, could we get a rebate. ICAP has agreed that once the lifting equipment is part of the dam, they would negotiate a rebate on this policy. Motion by Kramer to approve payments as presented, second by Davidson. All ayes, motion passed.
Kramer covered the financial report and advised the Financial committee discussed how to handle this report in the future but will continue to use this format for now. As of December 31, 2012 the ending balance of the General fund was $61,225.02. After expenses and revenue from the county, the balance as of the end of January is $58,366.50. The balance for the Debt Service fund at the end of January is $147,997.12 and the January 31, 2013 ending balance for the Dam/Spillway Project fund is $5,905,063.35. Burger made a motion to accept financial report, Davidson second. All ayes, motion passed.
Committee updates
Finance committee hasn’t met since budget was presented and have nothing to report at this time until the budget hearing.
FEMA – Dave Fry said he has been working with Homeland Security to give information requested to submit project worksheets to FEMA. These worksheets have been prepared and submitted to the administrative group in Kansas City for their review process. Dave hasn’t heard anything for a couple of weeks but he will be following up shortly for status.
Wastewater Inventory update – Todd Gifford has been working with Kray and Leonard on the wastewater inventory. Gifford has taken a lot of time to put the data together in a master spreadsheet from all the forms that have been returned. Gifford said the master database and our commitment to the DNR is to compile the inventory. There are 1360 parcels on the lake owned by approximately 860 property owners. We have received about 460 responses back so we have a little over a 50% return rate. Davidson asked where the information goes once it is compiled. Leonard indicated that it will go to Delaware County and then the county will share with the DNR. Gifford indicated it is our job to do a best effort in accumulating the data.
Legislative update – the Legislative Committee/Team was busy preparing for a DNR meeting on Monday. They are working through a number of projects still outstanding with the DNR. Steve Leonard, Bruce Schneider, Bill Holman and Pat Colgan gave Director Gipp an update on the wastewater inventory. They informed the Director that the initial sample mailing produced a 90% return and that the remainder of the mailing was sent out. The Director was pleased with our response and he indicated that septic systems in the all of the state of Iowa will be getting attention. The Public Access plan was submitted to the DNR and we have received acknowledgement of the plan and their willingness to continue to work with us.
The Fish ladder was discussed as we have sent several communications to the DNR in writing and verbally. The team came away with the feeling the the DNR listened to our engineering and environmental arguments. We are optimistic we will come to an agreement in the very near future. We have yet to receive any funding from last year’s appropriation from the Legislature but we have responded to the DNR request for a contract. We have nothing confirmed in writing yet but got the sense that we will start seeing the DNR working with us to make available the funds in the near future that will help the District to pay Stanley’s current bills. The DNR also confirmed with us that there is no permit required for Phase I and gave us letters to that fact. Once the Army Corp of Engineers gives us our permit and Delaware County issues their permit we can begin Phase I. The Corp has to work with 3rd party organizations for their review process. The 3rd parties have a time frame for comment and that is what we are waiting on now. We may have a couple of other sites for mitigation but we will understand that in the very near future. The Trustees need to discuss where dreding will take place so we understand where we think dredging should be done and understand the areas of concern for mitigation so not to interfere with them as we formulate our dredging plans. Kramer asked how long SHPO (one of the 3rd party organizations) will take and Leonard said the issues are ironed out on the Memorandum of Agreement between the District and the Corp. There is just one piece left and that should be submitted in the next couple of weeks and then SHPO will have 30 days to re-evaluate. The top of dam and easement issues were discussed and the team feels this is the last large issue to work through and that we have work that still needs to be done.
Dam Construction – Pat Colgan recapped that a year ago we received approval for the money from the Legislature and by March 12th of last year the DNR agreed with our design. As Leonard discussed the issues we have to remember that has taken 11 months. The project is divided into 2 projects – Phase I and Phase II. We are expecting the Army Corp of Engineer’s permit probably in April. Until we get that permit in hand, we can’t move forward with physical work, however the drawings and specs have been completed for a long time. Colgan is now working on general conditions for the contracts and met with the County Engineer this week as we will follow county procedures. This is the business end of the contract and should be done by mid March. By the end of March we will ask Trustees to move forward with bids. Stanley Engineering is currently working on phase II and completion of all drawings and then will submit to the DNR. Once we receive the permit from the DNR, we are free to do all the work. Burger asked why don’t we use the 2005 dredge plan and submit that. Colgan said that dredge plan is not comprehensive enough. It won’t be that hard to complete a current dredge plan since we don’t have water in the lake bed and we have a great map. It is very importatn to do a comprehensive plan. Leoanrd said Stanley put a good map together to show all of the sand and siltation.
Property management Committee had nothing to report.
Public comment – Larry Aschenbrenner said last time we did dredging in 2005 we only went down 5 feet. He asked if we can dredge deeper. Colgan said there is no limit to remove siltation so there isn’t a limit of 5 ft. We will not be allowed to take soil below the sediment. Leonard said the cost of the dam repair has gone up significantly based on requirements by Governmental agencies and there will most likely be very few dollars left for dredging. Property owners can’t do any personal dredging until the Corp permit is complete. Burger added that cost was the reason the LDRA only went down 5 feet on the dredging.
Jim Locke asked if the flood plain rights is part of the Corp permit and Colgan said it is not included in Phase I, but that will be required before we receive the DNR permit that enables Phase II. Locke also stated that there was a boat by the LDRA office and does anyone know where it is – no one had information on it. Locke also asked if the Trustees care if he salvages the title on the work platform? Kray asked if Dave Fry is okay with doing that considering we are trying to reimbursed by FEMA for the work platform. Fry said there is an outstanding worksheet on FEMA so be careful. Kray said thought salvage would be an issue if there was a worksheet existing. Don Dede said if salvage car, you can repair it and then retitle it.
Dave Larson wanted us to know that he worked with Dennis Lyons on the wastewater inventory on his own property and several in his neighborhood. Dennis Lyons expressed appreciation for that as he likes working on several properties in a neighborhood if possible..
Peter made motion to adjourn, Kramer second. Motion passed with all ayes for adjournment at 7:26 pm.