Meeting called to order by Chair Roberts at 9:00 a.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance

Members present:         Darwin Roberts – Chair, Duane Petrowiak – Vice Chair, Linda Meschke, Wendell Rode

Members absent:          Steve Flohrs

Others present:             Kathy Smith - District Manager; Greg Johanson, Program Specialist, Carissa Spencer – District Conservationist, Jack Potter – Martin County Commissioner, Larry Bremer – FSA, County Executive Director and Mark Hiles – Board of Water & Soil Resources, Board Conservationist

Additions to the Agenda

Old Business:  Native Buffer Cost-Share Program.  A motion was made by Rode to accept the addition as stated above second by Petrowiak.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak,  Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Secretary’s Report

A motion was made by Meschke to accept the July 10, 2008 Secretary’s Report second by Rode.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak,  Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Report submitted by Smith.  A motion was made by Rode to approve the July 10 Treasurer’s Report second by Meschke.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Bills

County Market             $ 65.85

Petrowiak Seeds                      $112.10

Total:                          $177.95

A motion was made by Petrowiak to approve paying the bills second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

CREP

Update given by Johanson that all but one CREP Easements have been made. 

Cost-Share Programs–

State Cost-Share Program

Completed Projects

#10-08  Cory Lewis  FSSB - $2,260.25 Due – 75% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $3,013.66

Slippage:  $326.75

Re-Encumbered:  $326.75

A motion was made by Meschke to approve payment of contract #10-08 in the amount of $2,260.25 second by Petrowiak.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Amended Projects

#2-07  Holm Bros.  Grassed Waterway  $4,500.00 Encumbered at 75% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $6,000.00

The Grassed Waterway was changed to terraces under EQIP.  A motion was made by Meschke to extend the State Cost-Share completion date to May 9^th 2009 second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

New Projects

None

Cancelled Projects

None

CWP Program

CWP #58-06  Kevin Prafke  Alternative Easement  $2,706.07 Due at 75% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $3,608.09

A motion was made by Rode and second by Meschke with up to 20% used for T&A on Cost-share.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Completed Projects

None

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Amendment

None

New Projects

None

Water Permit Program

Meschke reported of her discussion with Leo Getsfried, DNR Area Hydrologist, regarding the Biofuel Wells.  Currently two wells are on permit. The third well will not change the water usage. 

AgBMP Loan Program

Smith reported that repayments have come in and funding has been going well.

Old Business

LCCMR

As reported by Smith:  the Board will need to pass Resolution upon receipt of the grant.  The Resolution will outline the parameters of the Prairie Eco-systems Restoration Project.  Petrowiak motioned to approve.  Discussion followed that the District will ask for an extension to change the work plan from one year to a three year grant for two full cropping systems.  Second by Meschke. Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Surface Water Assessment Grant

Smith reported that MPCA requires the District to sign a contract grant for SWAG for the Okamanpeedan Watershed - $38,408.00.  Rode made a motion to sign the Amendment for the MPCA Grant second by Duane.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Conservation Tour

Smith reported on the Conservation Tour to be held August 23, 2008. 

Conflict of Interest Policy

Meschke presented a revised draft of the Conflict of Interest Policy from last month.  Meschke motioned to adopt this version second by Rode.  Mark Hiles, BWSR – Feedlot Board Conservationist said the District will need to review this policy each year.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.  Roberts recommends that the revised policy be turned in at next months regularly scheduled meeting. 

Capacity Award

Smith reported that the District will not reach the top award this year as we are 80 points short.  Meschke might have additional points for the District to use.  Spencer and Johanson met with Dick Gerhart for the outstanding conservationist of the year award. 

New Business

Rain Barrel Policy

Smith presented the Cost-Share guidelines on CWP Cost-Share for Rain Gardens. A motion was made by Meschke to adopt a policy that will not exceed $750.00 per each applicant second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Area VI MASWCD Meeting

Meeting to be held September 10, 2008, Lafayette, MN  9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Native Buffer Cost-Share Program

The purpose is to develop a seed source for local ecotype natives and to protect and improve surface/groundwater quality and to mitigate quantity issues.  Mark Hiles recommends keeping the door open on the seed source.  Subject tabled until next month.

Constitution/Amendment Information Meeting

Report by Meschke that there will be a meeting, October 14, 2008 and to have the District on the panel.  Smith will call LeAnn Buck for her opinion.  Meschke will work on getting more information on this topic. 

Nature Trails

It was discussed that the District needs to provide only Technical Assistance.  If staff is involved in trail issues beyond Technical Assistance it will be on their own time and will not reflect on the District.

Technical Approval Authority

Update given by Smith that TAP requires the signature of Chair Roberts.  A motion was made by Meschke to approve the Technical Approval Authority for Perrine, Johanson and Thiesse second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

LCCMR/NATIVE SEED BUFFER GRANTS

Discussion the Perrine should submit reports regarding where the seed is going once it is collected.  There should be clarification between the two grants:  LCCMR and Native Seed Buffer.  A meeting will take place between Smith, Meschke and Perrine to resolve the issues at a future date.

Reports

BWSR

Mark Hiles introduced himself as the acting-temporary Board Representative.  Chris Hughes will continue working with WCA.  Hiles reported on:

• NRBG grant agreement
• Resolution for WCA responsibility should be approved by District
• Delegation Agreement will be at the next scheduled monthly Board Meeting.

Special Meetings

• Martin County Fair

District Conservationist Report

Reported by Spencer that all EQIP contracts now funded by CRP court order on critical feed use.  In Martin County it is allowable to hay and graze 50% of field. 

RIM/WRP

• 24 contracts – approximately 1200 acres - none were funded at this time.
• State Office will send out letters to those not accepted.

A motion was made by Rode to approve the LAN/WAN Agreement with USDA second by Meschke.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak,  Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Lease Agreement

Larry Bremer, FSA, discussed lease:

§         GSA rules are now in place

§         Packet has been forwarded to Washington

Petrowiak motioned for District to send a letter informing the State Director for NRCS and FSA on our experience with this process second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak,  Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

District Manager Report

Report given by Kathy Smith – see attached. 

Water Plan Advisory Committee

No report.

Water Plan/WCA Report

No report.

Clean Water Partnership Report

Smith reported:

§         Cost-Share money is available

§         Gaylord Roe project is near completion

Zone 10 Report

Petrowiak reported that budgetary problems exist.  Staff will need to generate $25,000 to $30,000 for emergency projects. 

Three Rivers RC&D

No report.  

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Update given by Chair Roberts.

County Commissioner Report

Jack Potter reported on:

• Iowa Lakes Regional Waters in Jay and Lake Fremont
• The second phase of Trimont wind farm is now in process

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

The next regular meeting will be held on September 11, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

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