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Votes at a glance: Lake Agassiz Water Authority approves budgets, task orders, membership mailings and project contracts; interim financing set
Summary
At its April 16 meeting LAWA approved the 2024 final budget analysis, approved a draft 2025 budget, authorized membership mailing, approved multiple contract plans and task orders, and authorized interim finance Series E; several procurement and change‑order items were also approved by roll‑call votes.
The Lake Agassiz Water Authority on April 16 approved several financial and contracting items needed to keep construction and planning moving on the Red River Valley Water Supply Project and approved a package of memoranda of commitment from potential water users.
Key approvals (roll-call votes unless noted)
- 2024 final budget analysis: The board approved the 2024 final budget report presented by Mary Meridian. Staff reported 2024 budgeted income $80,000 vs. actual receipts $37,619; budgeted expenses $206,000 vs. actual $166,000, and a December 31, 2024 ending bank balance of $251,616. Outcome: motion carried (roll call).
- Draft 2025 budget and interim 2025 budget analysis: The board approved the draft 2025 budget (income $36,945; anticipated expenses $227,050; projected year-end bank balance $61,511 under the draft). Staff also presented actuals through March 31, 2025 (income received $3,410; expenses to date $85,638; March 31 ending balance $169,387). Outcome: motion carried (roll call).
- Lake Agassiz membership dues mailing: The board approved the membership‑dues letter and the updated capability piece for the Red River Valley Water Supply Project and authorized staff to send the mailing. Outcome: motion carried (roll call).
- Executive session: The board approved moving item 6A into executive session for contract negotiation strategies and attorney consultation under the cited North Dakota Century Code sections (as stated in the meeting notice). Outcome: motion carried (roll call).
- Change orders and construction approvals: - Garney Construction, change order no. 6 (stockpile restoration, dewatering, road maintenance): $918,029 (approx.). Recommendation: approve; outcome: motion carried (TAC recommendation followed by board roll-call approval). - Oscar Renda, change order no. 1: zero-dollar net change (shift within contract; $440,000 moved to road maintenance). Outcome: motion carried.
- Plans & specifications: The board approved plans and specifications to prepare Contracts 6B, 6C and 7A, 7B (western pipeline segments) for future advertisement (approval of plans/specs; the board reserved final bidding decisions to coordinate with legislative funding). Outcome: motion carried.
- Task orders (NDAS / MRNI-funded design and studies): The board approved a set of task orders (McCluskey Canal hydraulic and water-quality analysis; intake and pumping station design; treatment pilot testing; geotechnical investigations; partial pipeline design) totaling multiple task orders for a combined local/federal package. Outcome: motion carried (roll call).
- Interim financing, Series E: The board approved the Series E interim financing agreement for task orders funded by $4.5M federal MRNI and $1.5M Water Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund (WIRLF) local match; outcome: motion carried (roll call). The corresponding Garrison Diversion board was scheduled to consider bond authorization the following week.
- Memoranda of commitment (MOCs): The board approved a package of MOCs from multiple potential users (examples in packet included Grafton, Jamestown, Lisbon and others) and recorded a current project service projection of approximately 165.14 cubic feet per second with committed and near‑term prospective users. Outcome: motion carried (roll call).
Why it matters: The approvals clear multiple technical and procurement steps needed to keep pipe in the ground and allow design and pilot work to proceed. Staff emphasized that legislative timing and State Water Commission cost‑share approvals require coordination of bids, minutes/resolutions and cash‑management timing.
Notes and next steps: Board staff will prepare minutes or a resolution for inclusion in the State Water Commission cost‑share application (the packet must show local board approval). The board also revised its by‑name work plan to accommodate NDAS‑funded task orders and directed staff to continue coordination with the Department of Water Resources and Garrison Diversion on the timing and applications for state cost share and WIRLF funds.
