Minutes of Regular Meeting of Southern Black Hills Water System Board
Crazy Horse Monument
Thursday, February 20, 2025
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Southern Black Hills Water System was held at the Crazy Horse Monument on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
Chairman Wick called the meeting to order at approximately 1:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL – Board Members present were Wick, Baker, Beard, Kowalski, Krump, Nase, and Zolnowsky; Baird and Smith were absent. Others in attendance were manager Don Peterson, counsel Talbot Wieczorek, and members/observers Doug Musser, Greg and Sandy Richter, Linda Brayton Butler, Mike and Kim Rutherford, and Owen Murphy.
AGENDA – Motion by Krump, 2nd by Beard to approve the agenda; motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS - Multiple queries about rate plans were addressed by pointing to the Projected Rate Schedule document on the SBHWS website. There were queries about meter readings; the meters record usage in gallon units and the billing is based on the whole number of thousands of gallon recorded by the meter when read each month, the reading usually being taken on the workday nearest the 17th of the month.
MINUTES - Motion by Beard, 2nd by Nase to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2025 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Peterson presented the treasurer’s report for January 2025. The report was reviewed by the board members. The check sequence ending January 31 was check #4601 and beginning February 1 was check #4602. Motion by Krump, 2nd by Nase to approve the treasurer’s report and transfer $10,000 from the regular checking into the RD account; motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS –
Managers’ Report
On the evening of January 20, a power surge at the water treatment facility along County Road 5 disabled SCADA management of the pump systems. Early the next morning, engineers from Microcomm and a local electrician were able to jury-rig a manual control of one pump by which SBHWS staff (Peterson) could in stages move water from the treatment facility to intermediate storage to the Argyle storage tower; this process required around-the-clock attention to assure water service to customers and continued until replacement equipment was put into service on the afternoon of January 23. The treatment plant pump control was reconfigured so that if manual control again became necessary, SBHWS staff could do so themselves.
A large leak was discovered on the customer side of the meter along Stagecoach Springs Rd. Since the customer is not currently in residence, the problem was addressed for now by turning off water to customer.
SBHWS has received notice that its water source needs to be tested for PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Two tests are required, each requiring six samples. Strict procedures must be followed in collecting the samples to mitigate the possibility of contamination; the collection will be done by outside personnel. The first test samples will be collected Feb 26 and the actual testing will be done at a laboratory in Fort Bend, Indiana with each testing costing $229. A successful test allows no more than 4 parts per trillion of PFAS.
At the Paramount Point well pit, an electrical issue led to a pump over pressurizing the system. Multiple pieces of equipment need to be replaced due to cascading problems. An initial plan to effect repairs on Feb 17 was canceled due the likelihood that extreme cold would hamper completion of the task in the allotted time; repairs are now slated for Feb 24.
SBHWS personnel have begun preparations for the audit of 2024 operations.
NEW BUSINESS -
Chairman Wick presented a list of suggested action items for the board and management:
EXECUTIVE SESSION -
Motion by Beard, 2nd by Krump to enter into Executive Session at 2:10; motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Beard, 2nd by Nase to move out of Executive Session at 3:07; motion passed unanimously.
Motion arising out of Executive Session: motion by Nase, 2nd by Beard that, in order to facilitate business in the absence of the vice-chair and treasurer, the secretary John Zolnowsky be included among those with financial signature authority, motion passed unanimously.
UPCOMING MEETINGS -
The next meeting of the Southern Black Hills System Board will be Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM at the Crazy Horse Monument in Custer.
Future board meetings will be April 24, May 22, and June 26.
ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, the chair declared the meeting adjourned at 3:10.
Crazy Horse Monument
Thursday, February 20, 2025
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Southern Black Hills Water System was held at the Crazy Horse Monument on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
Chairman Wick called the meeting to order at approximately 1:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL – Board Members present were Wick, Baker, Beard, Kowalski, Krump, Nase, and Zolnowsky; Baird and Smith were absent. Others in attendance were manager Don Peterson, counsel Talbot Wieczorek, and members/observers Doug Musser, Greg and Sandy Richter, Linda Brayton Butler, Mike and Kim Rutherford, and Owen Murphy.
AGENDA – Motion by Krump, 2nd by Beard to approve the agenda; motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS - Multiple queries about rate plans were addressed by pointing to the Projected Rate Schedule document on the SBHWS website. There were queries about meter readings; the meters record usage in gallon units and the billing is based on the whole number of thousands of gallon recorded by the meter when read each month, the reading usually being taken on the workday nearest the 17th of the month.
MINUTES - Motion by Beard, 2nd by Nase to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2025 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Peterson presented the treasurer’s report for January 2025. The report was reviewed by the board members. The check sequence ending January 31 was check #4601 and beginning February 1 was check #4602. Motion by Krump, 2nd by Nase to approve the treasurer’s report and transfer $10,000 from the regular checking into the RD account; motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS –
Managers’ Report
On the evening of January 20, a power surge at the water treatment facility along County Road 5 disabled SCADA management of the pump systems. Early the next morning, engineers from Microcomm and a local electrician were able to jury-rig a manual control of one pump by which SBHWS staff (Peterson) could in stages move water from the treatment facility to intermediate storage to the Argyle storage tower; this process required around-the-clock attention to assure water service to customers and continued until replacement equipment was put into service on the afternoon of January 23. The treatment plant pump control was reconfigured so that if manual control again became necessary, SBHWS staff could do so themselves.
A large leak was discovered on the customer side of the meter along Stagecoach Springs Rd. Since the customer is not currently in residence, the problem was addressed for now by turning off water to customer.
SBHWS has received notice that its water source needs to be tested for PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Two tests are required, each requiring six samples. Strict procedures must be followed in collecting the samples to mitigate the possibility of contamination; the collection will be done by outside personnel. The first test samples will be collected Feb 26 and the actual testing will be done at a laboratory in Fort Bend, Indiana with each testing costing $229. A successful test allows no more than 4 parts per trillion of PFAS.
At the Paramount Point well pit, an electrical issue led to a pump over pressurizing the system. Multiple pieces of equipment need to be replaced due to cascading problems. An initial plan to effect repairs on Feb 17 was canceled due the likelihood that extreme cold would hamper completion of the task in the allotted time; repairs are now slated for Feb 24.
SBHWS personnel have begun preparations for the audit of 2024 operations.
NEW BUSINESS -
Chairman Wick presented a list of suggested action items for the board and management:
- Subscribe each of the Board members to the SDARWS Service Line magazine.
- The SDARWS has initiated a training program for those interested in water management; Wick suggested that this might be useful for training the new staff member.
- Develop a longer term plan of equipment inspection and maintenance.
- Finish deployment of the Casey well as a primary source.
- Investigate upgrading the office facility (an old trailer is a significant fire risk)
- Provide a facilities tour for those board members who have not yet had one.
- Re-energize the effort to get customer support for water service south of Hot Springs.
- Conduct another planning retreat facilitated by SDARWS.
EXECUTIVE SESSION -
Motion by Beard, 2nd by Krump to enter into Executive Session at 2:10; motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Beard, 2nd by Nase to move out of Executive Session at 3:07; motion passed unanimously.
Motion arising out of Executive Session: motion by Nase, 2nd by Beard that, in order to facilitate business in the absence of the vice-chair and treasurer, the secretary John Zolnowsky be included among those with financial signature authority, motion passed unanimously.
UPCOMING MEETINGS -
The next meeting of the Southern Black Hills System Board will be Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM at the Crazy Horse Monument in Custer.
Future board meetings will be April 24, May 22, and June 26.
ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, the chair declared the meeting adjourned at 3:10.
