Martin Soil and Water Conservation District

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

(507)- 235-6680

Minutes of the August 9, 2007 Regular Board Meeting

 Martin Soil and Water Conservation District

Fairmont, Minnesota

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

The Pledge of Allegiance

 Members present:                          Steve Flohrs, Chair

Others present:                              Kathy Smith, District Manager

Cathy Thiesse, District Technician & Administrative Assistant

Rich Perrine, WCA/Water Plan Coordinator

Jack Potter, Martin County Commissioner

Chris Hughes, BWSR, Board Conservationist

Additions to the Agenda

Old Business:                           District Capacity Award

Outstanding Conservation Award

Media Award

Fair Booth and Sign-Up

Assistance to the Drainage Work Group

DNR LCCMR Proposal

A motion was made by Rode and seconded by Meschke to approve the additions

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Secretary’s Report

A motion was made by Rode and seconded by Meschke to approve the Minutes from the July .

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Treasurer’s Report

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Bills

Vets:                                        $ 99.30

MC Highway Department:        $200.00

A motion was made by Meschke to pay these bills seconded by Rode.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Special Meetings

• Carissa Spencer, NRCS had a Field Office State Review, July 24-25, which went well. 

• Steve Flohrs met with Kasey Taylor, July 25, regarding the Field Office State Review.

• Cathy Thiesse attended a MASWCD Convention Planning in Lafayette, August 7.  People invited to partake in a Panel Discussion are:  Perry Asmus, FSA, Paul Flynn, NRCS and Dr. Kent Olson, U of M Extension Economists.  Discussion followed on nominating a Moderator for the Session:  Understanding the Farm Bill, and its impact on Minnesota and Minnesota Farmers.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

District Conservationist Report

No Report Given.  Carissa Spencer is at extensive NRCS training for 2-3 weeks.

District Manager Report

Report given by Kathy Smith.  

Clean Water Partnership

Report given out of order by Scott Bohling.  Supervisors were given the 319/CWP Semi-Annual Report for 2007.  Allocation payment was received but payable to the wrong agency.  They were notified and a payment will be resent.

Zone 10

No Report Given.

Three Rivers RC&D Report

Report given by Wendell Rode. The Soil Tunnel has been reserved for the Martin County Fair, July 13-20.  A Grazing Workshop will be held August 14 at Windom DNR.  The annual meeting will be held September 9-12 in Duluth. 

Water Plan Advisory Committee

Report given out of order by Rich Perrine.  Currently, looking to confirm a new representative for the Biofuels Industry position.  Dave Olson, the representative for Small Business has resigned and will start looking for a replacement.  The next scheduled meeting will be September 20 at Rural Advantage.

Water Plan/WCA Report

Report given by Rich Perrine that ongoing activities are occurring.  Rich attended a WCA Training in Marshall, August 8 which covered some rule changes on square feet allowed.  This change may increase the workload. 

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Report given by Kathy Smith.  The Tech Committee is working on the TMDL Implementation Plan which needs to be completed by 8-23-07.  Linda Meschke talked about a LCCMR grant that would have Rural Advantage and GBERBA in partnership.  This grant proposal was presented at the Executive meeting and was approved for support.  GBERBA will have funds available for septic systems and will be working with Pam Flitter. 

County Commissioner Report

Jack Potter reported that a bike trail he visited in Avon, CO was impressive in design and size was built by using a 12.5 million grant that was federally funded.  Plastic bags for animal fecal deposits from animals were accessible along the trail.  The Colorado Governor is proposing a 15 cent gas tax to help support more trails.  CWL was gaining momentum but with the Minneapolis bridge collapse the focus will probably convert to infrastructure. 

CREP

Report given by Greg Johanson.  Three contracts were paid and at this time twelve are enrolled.  The sign-up deadline for CREP II is October 15, 2007.

Cost-Share Programs

State Cost-Share Program

Completed Contracts

#6-07  Aaron Hartmann – Shelterbelt project - $987.00 due

Rode motioned to approve payment of $987 seconded by Meschke.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

#13-07 Phil England – well sealing - $487.50 due

Meschke motioned to approve payment of $487.50 seconded by Chair Flohrs.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

#14-07 Phil England – well sealing - $487.50 due

Chair Flohrs motioned to approve payment of $487.50 seconded by Rode.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

#15-07 Phil England – well sealing - $138.56 due

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

#5-06 Nicole Wilson – Farmstead Shelterbelt - $2950.00 due

Rode motioned to approve payment of $2950.00 seconded by Meschke.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

#5-07 Jon Eversman – Shelterbelt Project - $352.00 due

Cost-Share encumbered $1500, slippage of $1148 to be applied for other projects. 

Meschke motioned to approve $352 seconded by Chair Flohrs.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

CWP-055-07 Charles Nilson – Water Control Structure – Total cost of $7000.  Martin

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Chris Hughes reported that Doug Thomas, BWSR has resigned.  New WCA funds are available to the Metro Area and not elsewhere.  There is nothing new to report regarding CWL.  There will be an upcoming Cost-Share Training August 29, 2007.   WCA has continues to grow and is here to stay – with more changes ahead.  Chris went on to report that ELINK -05 has been done very well in Martin County and Scott Bohling’s work was acknowledged especially regarding the NRBG Report. 

 Water Permit Program

No Report.

State Revolving Fund

No report.

Old Business:

#13443 Permit:  DNR – Endangered Species Permit – Extension Request presented by Rich Perrine to seek a two year extension on the current permit due to the lack of plant reproduction.  This permit started two years earlier - involves working with local landowners.  The plants have bloomed but have not produced the necessary seed pods.  Clippings will be done in the fall.  Meschke motioned to an extension request of two years seconded by Chair Flohrs. 

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

LCCMR Grant Proposal:

1) Water Plan Project presented by Rich Perrine.  Linda Meschke presented this proposal to the Martin County Commissioners on August 7, 2007 and received full support for the proposal.  Proposal needs to be submitted by September 4, 2007.  Linda Meschke and/or Rich Perrine will write this proposal.  If proposal is picked, Linda and Rich will attend the hearing in St. Paul.  Grant period to begin July 1, 2008.  Martin SWCD would be the lead and Kathy Smith would be the Project Director.  Meschke moved to submit request seconded by Rode.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

2)  319 Grant:  Presented by Linda Meschke and the request is due September 6, 2007.  Linda requested  a Martin SWCD staff person write this up with a $300,000 cap.  Cost needs to reflect per acre and the cost of Technical Assistance.  It should reflect Martin County as the priority for the first year along with Faribault and Watonwan.  After three years – open it to anyone.     Rich and Scott were asked to work on this project.  Meschke motioned for Martin SWCD to submit this proposal up to $300,000 seconded by Rode.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

3)      DNR Waters LCCMR Grant Proposal:  presented by Kathy Smith.  Jim Berg sent a proposal to have Martin SWCD staff verify well information and locations to create a detailed geographic atlas within a two year time frame without any reimbursement for the work.  The Board discussed that it would good for the District to participate but the project would be cost prohibitive between staff and mileage.  Rode motioned that the District would be agreeable to help providing that the District receives the following:  1)  adequate funding to participate and, 2) Kathy Smith will talk with other counties to see what they are doing and, 3) a letter be sent the Jim Berg at DNR with a set amount requested for reimbursement, seconded by Meschke.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

4. Rich Perrine presented:  Prairie Ecosystem Restoration Project.  This proposal focuses on Private Stewardship and Native Prairie will be the priority.  The proposal will incorporate hiring an intern through the summer.  The duration of this proposal will be 2 years and requesting $80,000.  Rich asked the Board for approval to submit this proposal with a local match which will bring the total amount requested up to $100,000.  Meschke motioned to approve the proposal and seconded by Rode.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Fair 4-H Auction.  Board discussed last year’s donation of up to $100.  Supervisors can attend the Auction to be held on Friday, August 17 at 9:00 a.m.  Meschke motioned to contribute up to $100 for this year’s Auction seconded by Chair Flohrs. 

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

Fair Booth and Sign-up Sheet:  Supervisors and staff have signed up for spots. Booth will have the Soil Tunnel and Kiosk.

Presented by Greg Johanson who is at this time working with the Ditch Authority.  Contractors are to clean up the sites while the District will do the seeding and work with the County to decide who is responsible for preparing the site – SWCD or the landowner.  The Ditch Authority will communicate with the landowner on their responsibility of prepping the site.  Concerns exist on determining width as all ditches differ are uniform.  It was discussed to have a District staff person and a Commissioner present to keep everyone on the same page until an acceptable width measurement is established.  District will continue working with Deb Mosloski and the Martin County Commissioners until all issues are resolved. 

Rode motioned to adjourn the meeting seconded by Chair Flohrs.

Affirmative:  Flohrs, Meschke and Rode

Motion Carried

The next regular meeting will be held on September 13, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.

____________________Date Approved        ____________________Secretary-Treasurer

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