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, Steve Flohrs, Linda Meschke, Wendell Rode

Members absent:          None

Others present:             Kathy Smith - District Manager; Cathy Thiesse - District Technician & Administrative Assistant; Rich Perrine – WCA/Water Plan Coordinator; Tim Peterson – CWP Coordinator; Greg Johanson, Program Specialist, Kasey Taylor, NRCS - Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, Jack Potter – Martin County Commissioner and Larry Bremer – FSA, County Executive Director

Additions to the Agenda

Old Business:                Computer

A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the addition as stated above seconded by Rode.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Secretary’s Report

A motion was made by Rode to accept the June 12, 2008 Secretary’s Report seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Report submitted by Kathy Smith.  A motion was made by Rode to approve the June 12 Treasurer’s Report seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Bills

MVTL-CWP                           $  698.00

DeWitt – staples                       $  132.78

Shipping Plus                            $  141.23

Forestry Suppliers – CWP        $  905.68

Martin Co. Recorder – copies $      7.00

County Market             $     45.42

Total:                          $1,930.11

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

CREP

Update given by Greg Johanson. 

Cost-Share Programs–

State Cost-Share Program

Completed Projects

None

New Projects

#13-08  Ervin Wassman  Well Sealing - $272.50 Requested – 50% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $545.00

A motion was made by Meschke to encumber $272.50 in FY2008 funds for contract #13-08 seconded by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#14-08  Ervin Wassman  Well Sealing - $277.50 Requested – 50% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $555.00

A motion was made by Rode to encumber $277.50 in FY2008 funds for contract #14-08 seconded by Petrowiak.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Cancelled Projects

None

CWP Program

None 

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Completed Projects

None

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Amendment

#CWP-038-05  Gaylord Rowe  Grade Stabilization Project - $5143.50 requested

$21,000.00 Encumbered

Total Project Cost:  $34,858.00

A motion was made my Meschke to approve encumbering $5143.50 for contract #CWP-038-05 so that the cost-share is 75% of the total project cost and recommending that GBERBA approve this amendment seconded by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

New Projects

None

Water Permit Program

Perrine gave an update on an amendment that was approved by DNR for Buffalo Lake Ethanol Plant to add a third well to its site.  Discussion ensued and the Board and staff have concerns and reservations regarding this approved variance.  Meschke will contact Leo Getsfried, DNR Area Hydrologist and give an update at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.  

AgBMP Loan Program

Report given by Smith. 

Old Business

Lease Update

Report given by Larry Bremer, FSA, County Executive Director and Kasey Taylor,

NRCS, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations.  Communication from the USDA Kansas City Office disclosed that the Best and Final Offers were extended to July 18, 2008. 

Call for Resolutions

The Resolution To Cap The Number of Impaired [TMDL] Waters in Minnesota has been discussed at Area 5 and Area 1 meetings.  If it has not been approved at either meeting, the next step will be to present it before the MASWCD Business Meeting/Conference as an Emergency Resolution.  Meschke has talked with Rep. Bob Gunther who will work with Senator Julie Rosen about sponsoring this Resolution as a Bill.  

Conservation Tour

Report given by Smith.  Tour was brought about by the Conservation Alliance.  Two possible dates have been set aside for the tour:  August 12, 2008 or August 23, 2008.  The tour will be cancelled if less then 15 people RSVP.  The Alliance Members will pay the cost of the tour bus and the District will help coordinate. 

Conservation Update

Report given by Smith.  The bi-annual update was published June 25, 2008.

LCCMR

Meschke presented a Conflict of Interest Policy for the Board to review.  The Board recognized and voiced their appreciation for her work on this.  Subject tabled until the next scheduled Monthly Board Meeting. 

Diversified Ag

Presented by Smith and Taylor.  NRCS is going to take all responsibility for this project from here on out.  They will repair the access road.  NRCS’ policy is not to block or impede an access road.  NRCS has been working with BWSR to draft the engineering plan to address the neighbor’s access road concerns.   Taylor, Smith and other representatives will meet with the Landowner and neighbor who will use the access road at separate meetings.  The project will be paid out in two phases.  In order for Phase 2 to be completed - all parties involved will agree to these terms and will sign off and acknowledge that they accept responsibility for any future repairs and maintenance. 

Computers

The District will receive two more computers from NRCS.

New Business

Conservation Cooperative Nomination

Nominations were discussed and Meschke motioned to nominate Dick and Jack Gerhardt for the Martin SWCD 2008 Conservation Cooperative seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Capacity Award

The Board reviewed the District’s status and Rode motioned to approve the Capacity Award.  Discussion followed and Meschke seconded the motion with the provision that the Board and Staff review and changes (i.e. Ditch Management, Rain Gardens, and Rain Barrels) to be submitted at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Contribution Agreement

Smith reported that the District and NRCS will enter into a Contribution Agreement for $5750.00 payable to the District for 5 EQIP Contracts and 50 EQIP Status Reviews.  Meschke motioned to approve the District entering into this Agreement seconded by Petrowiak.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried

RIM-WRP

Johanson updated the Board on the mass mailings, radio programs, individual letters and news articles that were mailed and/or published.  Eight applications have been received as of this date and at least ten more are expected.  The time-line is tight for this program as the sign-up ends July 18, 2008. 

Special Meetings

• RC&D - Steve Flohrs

District Conservationist Report

Report attached. 

District Manager Report

Report given by Kathy Smith – see attached.  Discussion followed regarding purchasing Drainage Brochures to be handed out at the fair booth.  A motion was made by Meschke to accept buying one box of the Drainage Brochures seconded by Petrowiak.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Water Plan Advisory Committee

Perrine reported on the meeting held June 19, 2008.

Water Plan/WCA Report

None

Clean Water Partnership Report

Peterson reported that John Billings, Faribault CWP resigned.  Peterson and Smith met with Scott Maclean who said there are not plans to fill this vacancy and the remaining money will be shifted over to implementation. 

Zone 10 Report

Petrowiak reported that Districts might be asked to contribute $400.00 in the future.  Currently there are enough funds for Zone 10 to operate.

Three Rivers RC&D

Update given by Flohrs about a $5,000,000.00 grant to help revitalize rural Minnesota. 

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Update given by Meschke.

County Commissioner Report

Jack Potter reported that plans are underway to hire the District to plant prairie grasses on the Tenhassen Cemetery plot.  Petrowiak complimented Martin County commissioners on their job of handling the cemetery issue and the community effort that ensued from that. 

Minnesota State Conservation Plan Meeting

A meeting will be held July 14, 2008, 5-7 p.m., Mankato Best Western.  There will be emphasis on acquisition of land.

A motion was made by Rode to adjourn the meeting at 12:08 p.m. seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried

The next regular meeting will be held on August 14, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________Date Approved        ____________________Secretary-Treasurer

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