Linn Sanitary District Business Meeting Sept. 19, 2007

Present: Tess Adams, Jim Livingston, Ted Peters, Amy Zott, Mark Kolczaski, Karen Nordsieck, Brian Standley (Baxter&Woodman). There also were 9 visitors present.

Ted Peters called the meeting to order 7:05 pm in the Town Board Room due to the number of visitors.

Meeting was open to Public Comments.

The visitors were present at the meeting to share their concerns after receiving a letter from Linn Sanitary District outlining the sewer expansion options for the South Shore area.

  1. All the visitors were in favor of sewering the south shore area of the district.
  2. A majority of the visitors were from Shore Haven. They were all voicing environmental concerns regarding the lake and water quality with the continued use of illegal septic systems.
  3. Questions were asked about the cost per household and if loans were available from the county, state or federal government.
  4. The citizens questioned the commissioners about working with Fontana or Walworth to reduce costs. They were concerned about the cost of sewers per home after comparing the costs in surrounding communities.
  5. The commissioners indicated they were looking into all possibilities. Ted Peters would be meeting again with SEWRPC to investigate LSD having an independent plant or some other alternative system.
  6. There was a consensus among the citizens to have the process move along more quickly. The commissioners indicated it had taken so much time to arrive at this point because in the past the majority of citizens in the south shore area had been overwhelmingly against sewers.
  7. The commissioners indicated there would be further public meetings on this issue to determine the course to take. It is important for the commissioners to know how the homeowners feel now after the sewer inspection.
  8. The visitors said they want sewers and if LSD was not going to sewer the area they would look to Fontana. There was a brief discussion regarding LSD’s difficulty getting a response to its queries from Fontana regarding the use of its sewer lines.
  9. The commissioners thanked the citizens for their comments and taking the time to come to the meeting.

Motion by Peters to accept the minutes as presented. CU

Motion by Peters to accept the Treasurers report. CU

Old Business

  1. T. Peters updated the commissioners on the letter to Fontana regarding the South Shore sewer line and sharing the cost of upgrading that line if LSD could be assured of their using the line for the LSD South Shore sewer project. He mentioned that in a conversation with Fontana Village President and their Town Chairman they said they were not interested in sharing their sewer line. Peters also said that the sewer plant had not talked about expansion in several months. Ted Peters said there will be a meeting with LSD, Town, and Maple Hills on Dec. 6 th at 6:30pm.
  2. Baxter & Woodman presentation by B. Standley. Standley briefly presented a summary of the facilities study for the Geneva National Sanitary District (GNSD) and the town of Linn. It was suggested that a meeting be set with GNSD for an in depth discussion on the plan.
  3. Peters said the remainder of the SSA letters will be mailed tomorrow the 20 th of Sept.
  4. There was discussion regarding the Local Government Investment Pool. Peters asked the commissioners to review the material and be ready to act on moving some monies into the fund at the October meeting.
  5. Nothing new on the maintenance program. A listing went out early this year. We need to finish up the up-dating of the inspection data to include the system grades.
  6. J. Livingston has entered half the grade levels in LSD Inspection Report and will give report to new secretary to complete. Upon completion it will be given to the county for the maintenance program.

New Business

  1. Bills were reviewed for payment. T. Peters added an invoice for stamps used in the south shore planning area mailing.

Motion by J. Livingston to approve payment of bills. CU

  1. Motion by T. Peters to adjourn into closed session according to Sec. 19.85 (1)(C) to consider employment of a public employee over which the commission has jurisdiction. CU
  2. Regular business was reconvened. No action was taken on the employment of the public employee because it was not on the agenda. It was suggested to begin the hiring process and take action at the Oct. meeting.
  3. Due to the late hour the budget work up was tabled. The Commissioners were encouraged to come to the Oct. meeting ready to put together a budget. They were encouraged to consider an expanded work load for the Sec./Treasurer including a possible hourly rate for extra projects. A public hearing could be scheduled for Nov. 8 th with the budget being sent to the appropriate Towns immediately following its adoption.
  4. There were no items added for the commissioners report.
  5. Future agenda items to include:
    1. Setting a date for the public hearing on South Shore Sewer Service area.
    2. The budget.
    3. Action on hiring a new Sec./Treasurer.
    4. Local Government Investment Pool.
    5. Update in Maintenance Program.
  6. Next meeting date set for Oct. 10, 2007

Motion to adjourn meeting by T. Adams CU