Background: Nestled between the North Shore of Lake Superior and Highway 61, the Duluth/North Shore Sanitary District serves approximately 450 users across parts of Duluth, Lakewood Township and Duluth Township. The area’s unique geography—and its infrastructure—require an equally unique approach to its wastewater management, including its administrative functions such as billing.
The Issue: Unlike typical systems, this district operates an “extended hookup” model, owning and maintaining lateral pipes and grinder stations beyond each property line. That complexity created challenges for both operations and administration. For years, a local bookkeeper managed billing and records, but after being acquired by a remote firm in California, responsiveness and service quality declined. With a growing number of elderly residents and unique billing needs, the district needed local expertise and consistent service.
The PeopleServices Solution: PeopleService originally partnered with the district to handle operations over a decade ago. In 2024, we became the district’s administrator and bookkeeper, offering both boots-on-the-ground support and professional financial oversight.
“It’s been a smooth transition,” said Angie Braud, the sanitary district’s treasurer and a CPA who teaches accounting courses for the University of Minnesota. “Mike Munderloh and the PeopleService team have brought professionalism, responsiveness and a real understanding of our needs.”
From simplifying billing processes and transitioning users to electronic payments, to coordinating operations and administration under one roof, PeopleService continues to deliver reliability, transparency and peace of mind.
“It’s not just about running a system,” Braud said. “It’s about building something sustainable. PeopleService helps us do that.”