MINUTES

LINN SANITARY DISTRICT

June 10 , 2009

7:00PM Conference Room

Present: T. Peters, Tess Adams, J. Livingston, Rich Scholze and Karen Nordsieck.

1. T. Peters called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
2. Public Comments- Thomas Kehoe from N1769 W. Beach Rd. Lake Geneva Tax I.D. ILGB00080 asked questions regarding his illegal septic system and agreed to meet with T. Peters the next morning June 11, 2009 at Ted’s office to discuss his options.
3. Motion to accept May 13, 2009 LSD Meeting Minutes. J. Livingston T. Adams (2 in favor one abstention)
4. Motion to accept May 2009 Treasurers Report. T. Peters/T. Adams CU
5. Old Business
   1. Ted asked the Commissioners for their ideas regarding decentralized systems. It was decided to have Mark, from Baxter & Woodman, come to the July meeting with cost analysis options for the South Shore. After obtaining this information the Commissioners could see if it was a cost effective option. J. Livingston said it is the District’s duty to investigate these things and report to the homeowners what we find. After making a decision the District can then inform the homeowners in a newsletter specific to the area.
   2. A discussion of possible future annexation of the area by Fontana ensued. J. Livingston said the District has a solution for the area but it is not politically correct. It is not the job of Linn Sanitary District to protect the borders. He said we told the South Shore homeowners a year ago we would investigate alternatives and inform them of the results and that is what we need to do. T. Peters said to word the agenda item 5a for July’s meeting; “Presentation by Baxter & Woodman of cost analysis options for the South Shore area with discussion and possible action”. The present 5a wording is to be removed.
   3. The June 1 2009 letter from Kenneth Yunker (SEWRPC) was discussed. They are no longer asking for a cost –effectiveness analysis at this time. The letter indicates we still have an interest in connecting with the Fontana Walworth System but it is not going to happen anytime soon. The option is still open in the future.
   4. T. Peters said we are getting a good response. 113 letters went out. 48% of the 159 had contacted us or improved. 17% had improved their system and 31% had been in contact with us. 52% were still left. In most of the calls Ted said the entire system problem was new to them so he had to resend the initial report with a letter similar to the June 2008 letter. He said he has also had a number of calls relating to tanks that are not water tight. When letters are returned for wrong address T. Peters said he has a more up to date way of finding new addresses and new names for sold property. T. Peters will give Karen Donna’s phone number, Donna works in the county tax listing dept. at the court house.
   5. No discussion with FWWPC. Take off Agenda for July
   6. Review of Eckberg letter. Mr. Eckberg had repairs done after he purchased the property.
   7. T. Peters discussed what should be done in these circumstances when the owner says the system is fixed. Do we go by a case by case basis or do we make the County make the call? J. Livingston says we have to address what the original report stated and if the repair addresses the specific problem. The report stated Eckberg’s tank is not water tight nor is the raiser. Ted said his concern was the 29” to the effluent. Eckberg was asked if that was above or below the outlet pipe.
   8. T. Peter’s original question was repeated and J. Livingston said again that if the repair report addresses the specific reasons for the systems failure and states those issues are fixed then we can clear them and take them off the list. Jim said in this instance they have not addressed the riser, tank, and the cracked lid issues listed in the report. If the homeowner did have repairs made Ted said they need give us a report from the inspector that states specifically that the items that were in our initial report were fixed. He remains on the list.
6. New Business
   1. Discussion and action on bills.

Motion to pay May bills as presented. J.Livinston/T. Peters CU

South Shore illegal system information letter will wait until we get more information.

T. Peters spoke about several systems with special circumstances. Rich said we do not have to list all the individual names on our agenda.

Mr. Jarzembowski’s letter said his tank was buried and we only inspected the dry well (cesspool) so his system is not failing. J. Livingston said he still needs to have the buried tank pumped and inspected because it never was. We need to see the inspection report to determine if it passes or not.

Mrs. Wenskus submitted a letter from Ron Sarna stating her tank was not leaking he found no defects, ponding, or previous abnormal level. She was asking for an extension. Ted discussed with Jim what Ron had told him about the system.

Richard Schulz the attorney stated the District needs to be cautious in making an exception due to financial circumstances. The exception that could be made is the Districts interpretation of a reliable source. The Linn Sanitary District has special knowledge and it is our interpretation if a source is a reliable source. The burden of proof for an exception is our interpretation of a reliable source. Peters and Livingston said Ron was a reliable source. Mr. Sarna signed his report and we will keep it in the file.

Motion to remove Mrs. Wenskus from the list based on information from Mr. Sarna a reliable source. T. Peters/J. Livingston CU

 

Mr. Peiffer, IRB200069A N1644 E. Beach Rd. he wants more time because he does not want to dig up his yard and have it messed up all summer. T. Peters thinks he will have to put in a holding tank. He would not have to have the soil tests which would tear up his yard if he gets a holding tank. If he took out a permit he would have 2 years. Rich asked what the Counties time table is. He guessed it would take them a couple of months before they would get to him. T. Peters said we should just let it go. He stays on the list.

Mr. Jellish 1874 Birches Tax I.D. 100027 Mr. Jellish hired a plumber, D&K, and paid $625.00 to patch a hole in his tank. Ted had asked the County Sanitarian about patching and he said, the only way they accept a patching of a tank is that the manufacture has to confirm, by letter, the patching will maintain the integrity of the tank. The County has never seen such a letter from a tank manufacturer. J. Livingston said someone had to tell us the tank maintained its integrity after the patching. We could leave him on the list and the County would have to determine if it is functioning. It was determined he would have to furnish us with an inspection report.

 

7. Commissioners Report. T. Peters to get a 2009 mailing list. It will be $200.00. We will put reimbursement for the list on the July agenda.
8. Future Agenda Items. To be determined.
9. Next Meeting Date June 8, 2009
10. Motion to Adjourn J. Livingston