Minutes of Regular Meeting of Southern Black Hills Water System Board
Crazy Horse Monument
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Chairman Wick called the meeting to order at approximately 1:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL – The following Board Members were present: Wick, Baird, Kraus, Krump, Nase, Seaboldt, and Zolnowsky; Beard and Smith were absent. Others in attendance were Don Peterson and Traci Hanson of Ketel Thorstenson.
AGENDA – Motion by Seaboldt, 2nd by Krump to approve the agenda. Motion passed unanimously.
MINUTES - Motion by Baird, 2nd by Nase to approve the minutes of the March 23 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT –
Don Peterson presented the treasurer’s reports for April 2023. The report was reviewed by the board members. Motion by Baird, 2nd by Seaboldt to approve the treasurer’s report and transfer $15,000 from the regular checking account into the RD account. Motion passed unanimously. The check sequence ending April 30 was check #4224 and beginning May 1 was check #4225.
OLD BUSINESS –
In order to be able to more effectively communicate with customers on system issues such as breakages, the board sought advice from SDARWS, who recommended the widely used IRIS system, which for the first year would be $575 for up to 500 customers. Motion by Krump, 2nd by Baird to proceed with purchasing and implementing the IRIS support; motion passed unanimously. The plan is to include a request for contact information (phone, text, and/or email) from customers with a monthly statement.
Following up on the presentation from Western Dakota Regional Water System at the April meeting, the board considered membership in that program. SHBWS has over 200 connections and hence a voting membership would cost $1500/year. Motion by Baird, 2nd by Kraus to become a voting member of WDRWS; motion passed unanimously.
Don Peterson presented a renewal of the QuickStart contract with LRE for on-going services for a cost of $10,000. Motion by Seaboldt, 2nd by Nase to have the chair sign the contract. Motion passed unanimously.
Managers’ Report
In a meeting between US Forest Service, SBHWS management, and our legal advisor, USFS essentially agreed with all revisions we requested for the permit update.
Investigation of flow issues in Canyon Rim has uncovered that some portion of the service line is 2in pipe rather the specified 3in pipe. Further investigation of the extent of the mismatch and determination of action to address the deficiency is underway.
Don Peterson reported that Simon Contractors has asked permission to load their water truck for dust abatement at the Lorin Siding quarry from the SBHWS Argyle water tower fire hydrant. Simon will track their usage and agreed to pay $3/1000g for water from that site.
Bob Quinn has acquired 160 acres along Argyle Rd for development. His initial plans are for 20 three-acres lots, and has requested water service from SBHWS. Management has advised the developer that the development agreement will likely require on-site storage in order to guarantee the current level of service to prior customers along the existing service line.
NEW BUSINESS -
Traci Hanson of Ketel Thorstenson presented the audit report for 2022, the findings were similar to those of the 2021 audit, except for the removal of the finding of disbursement/payroll testing since SBHWS has implemented ongoing procedures to collect needed documentation for the annual audit.
There was no Executive Session.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS - None
UPCOMING MEETINGS -
The next meeting of the Southern Black Hills System Board will be June 22, 1:00 PM at the Crazy Horse Monument in Custer.
ADJOURNMENT - Motion by Seaboldt to adjourn the meeting at 2:48 PM. Motion passed unanimously.
Crazy Horse Monument
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Chairman Wick called the meeting to order at approximately 1:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL – The following Board Members were present: Wick, Baird, Kraus, Krump, Nase, Seaboldt, and Zolnowsky; Beard and Smith were absent. Others in attendance were Don Peterson and Traci Hanson of Ketel Thorstenson.
AGENDA – Motion by Seaboldt, 2nd by Krump to approve the agenda. Motion passed unanimously.
MINUTES - Motion by Baird, 2nd by Nase to approve the minutes of the March 23 meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT –
Don Peterson presented the treasurer’s reports for April 2023. The report was reviewed by the board members. Motion by Baird, 2nd by Seaboldt to approve the treasurer’s report and transfer $15,000 from the regular checking account into the RD account. Motion passed unanimously. The check sequence ending April 30 was check #4224 and beginning May 1 was check #4225.
OLD BUSINESS –
In order to be able to more effectively communicate with customers on system issues such as breakages, the board sought advice from SDARWS, who recommended the widely used IRIS system, which for the first year would be $575 for up to 500 customers. Motion by Krump, 2nd by Baird to proceed with purchasing and implementing the IRIS support; motion passed unanimously. The plan is to include a request for contact information (phone, text, and/or email) from customers with a monthly statement.
Following up on the presentation from Western Dakota Regional Water System at the April meeting, the board considered membership in that program. SHBWS has over 200 connections and hence a voting membership would cost $1500/year. Motion by Baird, 2nd by Kraus to become a voting member of WDRWS; motion passed unanimously.
Don Peterson presented a renewal of the QuickStart contract with LRE for on-going services for a cost of $10,000. Motion by Seaboldt, 2nd by Nase to have the chair sign the contract. Motion passed unanimously.
Managers’ Report
In a meeting between US Forest Service, SBHWS management, and our legal advisor, USFS essentially agreed with all revisions we requested for the permit update.
Investigation of flow issues in Canyon Rim has uncovered that some portion of the service line is 2in pipe rather the specified 3in pipe. Further investigation of the extent of the mismatch and determination of action to address the deficiency is underway.
Don Peterson reported that Simon Contractors has asked permission to load their water truck for dust abatement at the Lorin Siding quarry from the SBHWS Argyle water tower fire hydrant. Simon will track their usage and agreed to pay $3/1000g for water from that site.
Bob Quinn has acquired 160 acres along Argyle Rd for development. His initial plans are for 20 three-acres lots, and has requested water service from SBHWS. Management has advised the developer that the development agreement will likely require on-site storage in order to guarantee the current level of service to prior customers along the existing service line.
NEW BUSINESS -
Traci Hanson of Ketel Thorstenson presented the audit report for 2022, the findings were similar to those of the 2021 audit, except for the removal of the finding of disbursement/payroll testing since SBHWS has implemented ongoing procedures to collect needed documentation for the annual audit.
There was no Executive Session.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS - None
UPCOMING MEETINGS -
The next meeting of the Southern Black Hills System Board will be June 22, 1:00 PM at the Crazy Horse Monument in Custer.
ADJOURNMENT - Motion by Seaboldt to adjourn the meeting at 2:48 PM. Motion passed unanimously.
