December 31, 2024

News:

• Message to Subscribers
• LID Annual Meeting
• LID Board Meetings
• Board Officers and Committees, and Meeting Schedule
• High-Water Project
• Ambassador Program
• Updates from the Board of Directors
• Message from the LID Board

Message to Subscribers

To Lake Shamineau Property Owners, Neighbors and Friends:

The LID Board has news to share about the Annual Meeting, the election results, the Ambassador program, AIS and the high-water project. Read below for details on these items and other relevant topics.

LID Annual Meeting

The 2024 Annual Meeting of the Lake Improvement District was held on August 31st. The meeting was held through an online tool with Scandia Valley Town Hall available for viewing of the meeting. The agenda of the meeting included a report on 2024 activities, an update on the High-Water Project, plans for 2025 activities and an opportunity for candidates for the Director seats to speak. Minutes of the meeting can be found on the LID website under LID Meetings (link here).

Following are the items that were approved by the LID members through online and mail-in voting that ended on September 5, 2024:

1.      The 2025 Non-Project Operations Budget of $59,000; approved with 65% voting in favor.

2.      The 2025 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Project Budget of $32,000; approved with 73% voting in favor.

3.      The 2025 High-Water Outlet Project Budget for Start-up, Testing, and Operations of $220,000; approved with 62% voting in favor.

Election of Permanent Residency Director (1 Seat):

• Patricia Tvedt (Incumbent)

Election of Seasonal Residency Directors (2 Seats)

• Fred Comb (Incumbent)
• Rick Rosar (Incumbent)

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LID Board Meetings

On October 14th, the Regular Fall LID Board Meeting was held. At the meeting, the Board of Directors reviewed the LID Annual Meeting and Voting, the County Board Meeting, a High-Water Project Update and other Business. In addition, the Board approved Board Officers and Committee assignments, the 2024/2025 meeting schedule, and the hiring of a conflict counsel.

Minutes of the meetings can be found on the LID website under LID Meetings (link here). Detail of the assignments and schedule can be found below.

High-Water Project

In the winter of 2024, pipe was installed, and ditches were graded and seeded along the route from the west end of the lake to Ditch 41. This route will allow the water to flow to the Long Prairie River. The pipe work included installing a gravity flow pipe and manholes along Pulaski Road. In addition, the pipe was bored south along the east side of Highway 10, under Co Rd 203, and then west under Highway 10. The contractor constructed a cofferdam at the inlet area of the lake to allow for dewatering and the installation of the intake structure. Work continued in the spring/summer of 2024 and the pump house was built, the pump installed and tested and the electrical work completed.

Pipe Repair:

In the spring of 2024, after a period of heavy rain, an issue was discovered with a portion (approximately 60 feet) of the gravity pipe on the west side of Highway 10. The LID has been working with the contractor and engineer to determine a plan and timeline to resolve the issue which will require repair of the piping by the contractor to ensure that water will flow appropriately through the route.

Current Status:

• Soil borings have been taken in the area to determine soil density and soil conditions.
• The LID has halted payments to the contractor; and the work completed in the piping area is under review.
• A conflict counsel attorney has been hired to assist with the analysis and resolution of the construction issues, and to negotiate with the parties to determine a plan and timeline to resolve the repair issues.
• If a plan and timeline cannot be determined through ongoing discussions, the LSLID will seek mediation with the parties.
• Once a plan and timeline are determined, work will be completed to resolve the pipe issue. Pumping will begin thereafter.

Temp financing has been acquired through Ehlers Investment Partners for construction to proceed. After construction is completed a Public Hearing will be held to review the final assessment and charge amounts. DNR reimbursement will be used to reduce the assessment and charge amounts for the property owners. It is estimated that the final bonding will occur in 2025 with notice provided to Property Owners of the charge and assessment amount for their property. The property owners will have the ability to finance the amount due for an estimated 7 - 10 years.

We hope that you find this information useful. We will continue to keep you up to date with postings to the website, newsletters, and letters to property owners.

If you know of someone that would like to be added to our newsletter subscriber list, have them send an email to LSLIDBD@gmail.com. You may want to add this email address to your white list to ensure that you will receive future newsletters.

Continue to let us know your comments and questions. We welcome your input.

Rick Rosar, Bob Ingle, Fred Comb, Patricia Tvedt, and Duane Hendricks

Lake Shamineau Improvement District Board of Directors

Cindy Kevern

LID Administrator and Newsletter Editor