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Martin Soil and Water Conservation District |
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923 N. State Street, Suite 170, Fairmont, MN 56031 |
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(507)- 235-6680 |
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Minutes of the February 14, 2008 Regular Board Meeting |
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Martin Soil and Water Conservation District |
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Fairmont, Minnesota |
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Meeting called to order by Vice-Chair Petrowiak at 9:00 a.m. |
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The Pledge of Allegiance |
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Members present: Duane Petrowiak – Vice Chair, Wendell Rode, Steve Flohrs |
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Members absent: Linda Meschke, Darwin Roberts |
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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, Chris Hughes - BWSR Board Conservationist |
| Additions to the Agenda |
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FSA Copy Machine. |
| A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the additions as stated above seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Secretary’s Report |
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A motion was made by Rode to approve the January 9, 2008 with these changes: |
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Motion seconded by Flohrs. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Treasurer’s Report |
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Report submitted by Kathy Smith. The Treasurer’s Report for December 2007 was submitted with changes. A motion was made by Flohrs to approve the December Report seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the Treasurer’s Report for January 2008 seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Bills |
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Cathy Thiesse $ 25.56 |
| Kathy Smith $ 9.52 |
| Blackburn $ 134.98 |
| MN Diversified Ag. $ 920.20 |
| Ben Meadows $ 136.99 |
| River Bend $ 23.77 |
| Total: $1,251.02 |
| Rode motioned to approve to pay the bills seconded by Flohrs. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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CREP |
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Report given by Greg Johanson. |
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Cost-Share Programs– |
| State Cost-Share Program |
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Completed Projects |
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#11-07 Jeff Mathiason – FSSB - $1290.20 Due |
| $2925.00 Encumbered |
| 75% of Project Cost |
| Total Project Cost: $1720.27 |
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Slippage: $1634.80 |
| A motion was made by Rode to approve payment of contract #11-07 in the amount of $1290.20 seconded by Flohrs. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
| New Projects |
| None |
| CWP Program |
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Completed Project |
| None |
| New Project |
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#58-08 Kevin Prafke – Alternative Easement - $1835.30 requested |
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Three Acres |
| A motion was made by Rode to encumber $1835.30 for contract #58-08 seconded by Flohrs. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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#58-08 Kevin Prafke – Incentive Payment on CRP - $750.00 requested |
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Estimated Total Project Cost: $750.00 |
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$250.00 per acre – three acres |
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A motion was made by Rode to encumber $750.00 for contract #58-08 seconded by Flohrs. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Water Permit Program |
| None |
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AgBMP Loan Program |
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Reported by Smith that she submitted application and report by January 31, 2008 to the Department of Agriculture. Petrowiak complimented staff on implementation of this program. |
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Old Business |
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Tree Days |
| Report given by Smith. Perrine and Norland have conducted 12 site visits to date. |
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DNR – Shoreland Restoration Grant |
| Report given by Smith. The District applied for $75,000 and received $25,000. This grant will be used for public education and implementing demonstration sites. The District met with Phil Nasby, DNR, regarding the work plan and also met with the City of Fairmont. Work may begin after July 1, 2008 though June 30, 2010. |
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Legislative Days |
| A motion was made by Rode to send the following Supervisors and Staff to Legislative Days, February 25-26, 2008: Wendell Rode, Duane Petrowiak, Greg Johanson, Cathy Thiesse, and Tim Peterson seconded by Flohrs. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Conservation Update |
| Received good reviews on publication. |
| Building Space & Lease |
| FSA received permission to send out the 13 packets to parties that requested information. Discussion followed that a request of rental rates for other Districts be discussed at the next area meeting – item to be discussed with Area VI Chair Kelly. Also, talked about was that the April 10th Board Meeting will be held at the Work Force Conference Room. |
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New Business |
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City of Fairmont |
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Chair Flohrs called to open the floor for election for Chair. Meschke nominated Darwin Roberts for Chair position seconded by Petrowiak. Rode called to cease nominations and for the members to cast a unanimous vote for Darwin Roberts as Chair. Chair Flohrs called for other nominations three times. No other nominations were received. By unanimous vote Darwin Roberts was elected as Chair of Martin SWCD for 2008. |
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The District will meet with City of Fairmont Personnel on February 21, 2008 to learn about their SWPPP program. |
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| Copy Machine – tabled for next scheduled Board Meeting, March 14, 2008. |
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Annual Plan |
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Presented by Smith – the District’s Annual Plan must be submitted to BWSR by March 15, 2008. A motion was made by Rode to approve the Annual Plan contingent on approval and/or changes requested by Chris Hughes seconded by Flohrs. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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| 2007 Final Financial Report |
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Presented by Smith for Board approval. A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the 2007 Final Financial Report and seconded by Rode. Discussion followed to address the employee insurance plan during May 8, 2008 Board Meeting. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
| Banquet for Volunteers |
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Presented by Thiesse – for the District to hold a banquet to honor our District’s Volunteers and Conservationist of the Year to be held tentatively March 30, 2008. A motion was made by Flohrs to approve the Volunteer Banquet based upon the hall rental rate and price of a caterer. Also, discussed – to invite Pete Boulay, MN Assistant State Climatologist seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
| Scholarships |
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Presented by Thiesse – for the District to consider giving out Scholarships for Seniors in High School entering into a field for Natural Resources, Agriculture or a related field and for College Students who are returning for at least their second year or more majoring in Natural Resources, Agriculture or a related field. This item was tabled with the plan to revisit when the full Board is present and item could be budgeted for next year if it is approved. |
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| Rain Barrel Program |
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Update given by Thiesse and Peterson that barrels are being collected and kits are in the process of being assembled for sale to citizens. A Rain Barrel Class will be held around the last part of March. Staff is working with CER on when and where class will be held. |
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Break |
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Special Meetings |
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District Conservationist Report |
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Report given by Carissa Spencer – see attached. NRCS is currently working with FSA on CCRP & Drainage Ditches that are being reassessed in Martin County. FSA is developing a letter when redeterminations are done. On February 21, 2008, Deb Moloski, Martin County Ditch Administrator will be doing a power point presentation at Kandiyohi County. Jack Potter, Martin County Commissioner will be attending. |
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District Manager Report |
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Report given by Kathy Smith – see attached. Discussion followed that the District should check on an Annual Tour within Martin County. |
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Water Plan Advisory Committee |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
| Cooperative Weed Management Application is a project located in the Blue Earth Basin in Cottonwood, Waseca, and Martin Counties. Perrine asked the Board for monetary support in “in-kind” matches. CWMA promotes early detection, prevention and education. Perrine is also working with Pam Flitter, Martin County Planning and Zoning. Flohrs motioned to approve submittal of the application with a $2,000.00 worth of in-kind match per year seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, and Rode. Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Water Plan/WCA Report |
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Perrine reported that the application for the Floating Dock has been submitted to DNR. |
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Clean Water Partnership |
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Report given by Peterson with updates on Lily Creek, Elm Creek, and Center Creek. |
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Zone 10 |
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Report given by Petrowiak that the priority is to keep Zone 10 running. |
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Three Rivers RC&D Report |
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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. |
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Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance |
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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. |
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Chris Hughes reported that Former District Manager, Mark Nelson passed away on February 12, 2008. |
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County Commissioner Report |
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Report and update given by Jack Potter. |
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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. |
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The next regular meeting will be held on March 13, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. |
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____________________Date Approved ____________________Secretary-Treasurer |