Martin Soil and Water Conservation District

923 N. State Street, Suite 170, Fairmont, MN  56031

(507)- 235-6680

Minutes of the March 13, 2008 Regular Board Meeting

 Martin Soil and Water Conservation District

Fairmont, Minnesota

Meeting called to order by Vice-Chair Petrowiak at 9:00 a.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:       Duane Petrowiak – Vice Chair, Wendell Rode, Steve Flohrs, Linda Meschke

Members absent:          Darwin Roberts

Others present:             Kathy Smith - District Manager; Cathy Thiesse - District Technician & Administrative Assistant; Carissa Spencer - District Conservationist; Rich Perrine - WCA/Water Plan Coordinator; Greg Johanson - Program Specialist; Tim Peterson – CWP Coordinator; Jack Potter – Martin County Commissioner 

New Business

Secretary’s Report

A motion was made by Rode to approve the January 9, 2008 with these changes:

• FSA Copy Machine was tabled unto the next scheduled Board Meeting, March 13, 2008.

A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the Secretary’s Report with above changes seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

• FSA Copy Machine was tabled unto the next scheduled Board Meeting, March 13, 2008.

A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the Secretary’s Report with above changes seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Report submitted by Kathy Smith.  A CD was transferred from Profinium Financial to Fairmont State Bank.  A motion was made by Meschke to sign the Collateral Agreement with the State Bank of Fairmont seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the February 2008 Treasurer’s Report seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Bills

Fairmont Photo Press               $  25.56

Ben Meadows                          $340.77

Cathy Thiesse                           $109.52

KSUM/KFMC                        $124.88

Total:                                      $668.13

Flohrs motioned to approve to pay the bills seconded by Meschke.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Cathy Thiesse               $    25.56

CREP

Report was given by Greg Johanson.  Meschke motioned for Acting Board Chair to sign petition for the ditch for the Bremer/Gellert Wetland Restoration Project seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Cost-Share Programs–

Completed Projects

None

Completed Project

Amendment

Cancelled Contract

#CWP-059-08 Dick Mair – Alternative Easement - $23,142.75 requested

A motion was made by Meschke to encumber $23,142.75 or 75% of the total eligible cost, which ever is less seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Water Permit Program

AgBMP Loan Program

Report given by Smith that an Amendment was received from the Department of Agriculture for $110,000.00 that requires County Commissioner approval. 

Old Business

Martin County Commissioner Meeting was attended by Smith and Johanson who gave a presentation on the Cooperative Weed Management Application which the Commissioners approved the Agreement and requirements. 

Banquet for Volunteers was discussed and Rode motioned to approve and for the District to proceed with plans for the banquet to be held March 30, 2008 seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

DNR Shoreland Habitat Work Plan presented by Smith.  Rode motioned to approve submitting the work plan to DNR before April 1, 2008 seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Surface Water Assessment Grant presented by Smith for Board approval and signature which promotes monitoring projects by volunteers.  Meschke motioned to approve Board signing the contract seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Native Buffer Cost-Share presented by Smith.  She and Perrine attended a BWSR meeting to receive information regarding an innovative grant that is available for Districts promoting native seed collection, weed management, established sites, etc.  Rode motioned to approve that the District apply for this grant seconded by Meschke.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

New Business

FSA Copy Machine presented by Smith.  A motion was made by Rode to have machine evaluated by a technician with a cost estimate of how much it would cost the District to make it work seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Okamanpeedan Watershed Alliance Organizational Meeting presented by Perrine/Spencer to be held March 14, 2008, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Ceylon, MN.  County Commissioners and Districts were invited from Martin, Jackson and Emmet Counties to form a Joint Powers Organization, discuss estimated costs from each county, etc. Meschke motioned to approve that the District support this concept seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Area VI Meeting in Lafayette, April 2, 2008 – registration due March 28, 2008.

MASWCD Leadership Training - Washington DC Trip presented by Thiesse.

KSUM Radio Spots for Spring Safety by Johanson to start airing April 20, 2008.  Cost is $16.88 each for12 spots.  Rode motioned to approve these ads seconded by Meschke.  Discussion followed that more conservation needs to be injected into these spots.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Special Meetings

• Meeting with U of M for Elm Creek Project – Meschke.
• RC&D Meeting – Rode. 

District Conservationist Report

Report given by Carissa Spencer – see attached.  Spencer attended a FSA/NRCS on CRP meeting in Owatonna.  Spencer and Perrine will be participating in the Fairmont High School Job Fair April 2, 2008.

District Manager Report

Report given by Kathy Smith – see attached.  Discussion followed that the District should check on an Annual Tour within Martin County.

Water Plan Advisory Committee

Perrine reported the next meeting will be March 20, 2008, 7:00 pm at Rural Advantage.  Perrine discussed proposal of Bill H.F. No. 2536 in this Legislative Session regarding Watershed Management Organizations (WMO).  MASWCD currently does not have an opinion on this proposal.

Board Action is requested to submit Work Plan for the Tuttle Lake Watershed Surface Water Assessment Grant (SWAG).  Work Plan includes lake monitors on Okamanpeedan, Bright, and Temperance Lakes.  A motion was made by Rode to approve the Work Plan seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Also, within the Tuttle Lake Watershed, Perrine will be coordinating an organizational meeting toward forming joint efforts between Iowa and Minnesota.  Tentatively, a date will be the week of March 11, 2008.  These Counties and Commissioners invited will be:  Emmet, Jackson and Martin.  They will schedule to meet four times per year.

Water Plan/WCA Report

Perrine reported that the application for the Floating Dock has been submitted to DNR. 

Clean Water Partnership

Report given by Peterson with updates on Lily Creek, Elm Creek, and Center Creek.

Zone 10

Report given by Petrowiak that the priority is to keep Zone 10 running.   

Three Rivers RC&D Report

Report given by Rode, A Nutrient Pest Management & Crop Production Meeting will be held February 22, 2008, Alltel Center, Mankato.  Registration due by February 20, 2008.

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Update given by Smith regarding Strategic Planning Sessions were attended by Perrine, Johanson, Peterson.  All in attendance agreed to work up an Annual Plan with a deadline of June 2009. 

Chris Hughes reported that Former District Manager, Mark Nelson passed away on February 12, 2008.   

County Commissioner Report

Report and update given by Jack Potter. 

A motion was made by Vice-Chair Petrowiak to adjourn the meeting seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

The next regular meeting will be held on March 13, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

____________________Date Approved        ____________________Secretary-Treasurer