2025-03-24 Joint Powers Water Board MinutesJoint Powers Water Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2025
Page 1
1. Call to Order. The regular meeting of the Joint Powers Water Board was called to
order by Chairperson Olson, on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Joint Powers
Water Board Water Treatment Plant, 11100 50th St NE, Albertville, MN 55301.
Board present: Mike Amery, Gretchen Barrett, Joe Hagerty, Rob Olson, Zach Schoen, Bob
Zagorski.
Board absent: None.
Staff present: John Seifert, General Manager.
Staff absent: Jennifer Thomas, Office Manager; Dustin Carlson, Water Department
Supervisor / Facilities Manager.
Engineering present: Chris Larson, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH).
Engineering absent: None.
2. Approve Agenda. Hagerty moved, Schoen seconded, to adopt the Agenda as
presented. Motion carried 6-0.
3. Approve Consent Agenda. Barrett moved, Zagorski seconded, to approve the
Consent Agenda below.
3.1 Approval of February 24, 2025 Regular Board Meeting Minutes
3.2 Approval of March 2025 List of Claims
3.3 Approval of March 2025 Budget Report
3.4 Approval of March 2025 Cash Balances Report
3.5 Receipt of January 2025 Investment Summary Report
3.6 Approval of February 2025 Monthly Operations Report
3.7 Joint Powers Water Board 2024 Limit Reconciliation
4. General Business.
4.1 Minger’s Final Payment Application No. 4 for JPWB ASR/15th Street
Watermain Looping Project. General Manager Seifert informed the Board
that AE2S recommends acceptance of the ASR / 15th Street Watermain Looping
Project completion and payment of Final Application No. 4. Zagorski moved,
Barrett seconded, to approve the completion of the JPWB ASR / 15th Street
Watermain Looping Project and payment of Final Application No. 4. Motion
carried 6-0.
4.2 Update on Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Project. General Manager
Seifert provided the Board with an update on the water treatment plant upgrade
project. Mark Hardie with HR Green supplied an updated and completed
feasibility report under the current scope of services started in 2024. Seifert
explained to the Board the need for expanding the water treatment plant’s
Joint Powers Water Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2025
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capacity to meet current needs by use of additional pressure filters, as well as
improving the solids handling and backwash water recycling to meet future
water demands. The 2024 construction estimate is $19,660,000. The Board’s
auditor, Abdo, utilized a 3% ENR index inflation rate for construction costs. This
equates to a total budget estimate in 2026 for construction, engineering and
finance of $21,218,000. Seifert also told the Board that as part of the ongoing
effort to secure additional funding for the water treatment plant upgrades, Staff
worked with the three member City TAC members to update the congressional
spending request based on the direction from Representative Tom Emmer’s
office. The portal submission was entered and confirmed to be received by
Representative Emmer’s office, along with letter of support from the member
Cities. Once submitted as a collective community funded project for
Representative Emmer, the appropriations package for fiscal year 2026 will need
to become legislation before any confirmation of funding levels for the Joint
Powers project can be secured. Staff will continue to work with Representative
Emmer’s office on any follow-up requests. Seifert also told the Board that
Senator Klobuchar has notified that she will be accepting federal funding
requests. Staff is working to apply for funding by March 31st. Seifert also
discussed a state bonding request that Representative Walter Hudson applied to
House File 1541. There was a hearing on March 13th at the State Capital that
Staff and City Administrators were able to provide testimony for the need of
bonding for the water treatment plant upgrades.
4.3 Office Cubicles. General Manager Seifert discussed the 2025 project updates
with the Board. The treatment plant upgrade scope covers floor coatings, carpet
replacement and furnishing updates in 2025. Staff found office cubicles and
desks at a greatly reduced rate of $1,200 per cubicle for a total of $4,800.
Amery moved, Hagerty seconded, to approve the purchase of office cubicles with
electric standup desks for a total cost of $1,200 material and installation for
each cubicle. Motion carried 6-0.
5. Engineer.
5.1 GSR Project - Authorization to Advertise for Bids SEH No. JPAHS 182942.
Engineer Larson requested Board authorization to proceed with the
advertisement and bidding for the Ground Storage Reservoir and Pump Station
project. This project will add five million gallons of ground storage at the ASR
property on 15th St NE in St. Michael, as well three submersible booster pumps
and a standby generator. Larson’s estimate for this project is $8,100,000. Staff
and Engineer Larson request approval to authorize the advertisement and
bidding of this project. Amery moved, Barrett seconded, to approve the
advertisement and bidding for the Ground Storage Reservoir and Pump Station
project. Motion carried 6-0.
6. Operations. None.
7. Other Business / Announcements / Correspondence. None.
Joint Powers Water Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2025
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8. Adjourn. Amery moved, Zagorski seconded, to adjourn the Joint Powers Water
Board meeting at 6:47 p.m. Motion carried 6-0.