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; Brenda Tonn, Acting-District Conservationist, Betsy Norland, Soil Conservation Technician, Cathy Thiesse, Technician and Administrative Assistant, Rich Perrine, Technician & WCA, and Jack Potter, Martin County Commissioner

Additions to the Agenda

New Business:              Lease and Moving

NRCS Contribution Agreement

State Financial Report/Financial Committee – Zone 10

Constitution Amendment

A motion was made by Meschke to accept the additions as stated above second by Flohrs.  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 September 11, 2008 Secretary’s Report with the wording change in Treasurer’s Report to:  4-H auction and delete the word “all” and on the last page that the next regular meeting will be held on October 9, 2008.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Report submitted by Smith.  A motion was made by Rode to approve the September 11, 2008 Treasurer’s Report second by Petrowiak.  Discussion followed that CD was renewed and Rode complimented Smith on the Accounts Receivable.  Meschke mentioned that the LCCMR Grant should be added to the Accounts Receivable.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Bills

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

CREP

Update given by Smith that all CREP payments have been made.  Three pending Wetlands remain.     

Cost-Share Programs–

Rain Garden/Cost-Share

New Projects

#RG 04-08  John Thate  Rain Garden  - $750.00 Requested

#RG 05-08  Jane Gustafson Rain Garden - $750.00 Requested

#RG 06-08  Mike Katzenmeyer  Rain Garden  - $750.00 Requested

A motion was made by Meschke to encumber $750.00 or 75% of the total eligible cost, which ever is less for each Cost-Share Contract (#RG 04-08, #RG -5-08, and #RG 06-08) seconded by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

State Cost-Share Program

Completed Projects

#16-08  Neil Quade  Well Sealing   $449.00 Due – 50% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $898.00

Slippage:  $50.00

A motion was made by Rode to approve payment of contract #16-08 in the amount of $449.00 and to re-encumber $50.00 second by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#21-07  Deb & Dennis White  FSSB  $693.00 Due – 64% Project Cost FY 2007

Total Project Cost:  $1082.76

A motion was made by Meschke to approve payment of contract #21-07 in the amount of $693.00 second by Petrowiak.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Amended Projects

#15-08-1  William Phelps  Well Sealing  $1425.00 additional funds requested.

Total Project Cost:  $3560.00

A motion was made by Meschke to encumber $1425.00 in addition to the original $355.00 for a total of $1780.00 for contract #15-08 so that cost-share will be 50% of the Project Cost second by Petrowiak.  Discussion followed that Smith will verify if a cap has been set on the total eligible cost.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#2-07-2  Holms Brothers  Grassed Waterway Project  $2000.00 requested – FY 2009 cost-share funds

Total Project Cost:  $16,500.00

Amount Encumbered 11-9-06:  $4500.00

EQIP:  $5878.75

A motion was made by Meschke to encumber $2000.03 for contract #2-07 from FY09 cost-share funds and to extend contract #2-07 to May 9, 2009 second by Rode.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.  A motion was made by Meschke to utilize GBERBA funding if the cost exceeds encumbered funds for contract # 2-07 and is still within the 75% cost-share second by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

New Projects

None

Cancelled Projects

None

CWP Program

New Program

None

Amendment

None

Completed Project

None

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Completed Projects

Amendment

None

New Projects

None

Water Permit Program

No Report.

AgBMP Loan Program

No Report. 

Old Business

Native Buffer Program

Report submitted by Perrine – see attached Draft of the Native Buffer Cost Share Program-Martin SWCD – Supplement to BWSR Guidelines.  A motion was made by Meschke to adopt the Draft second by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Weed Management Area Grant Report

Report submitted by Perrine.  A motion was made by Rode to work through BWSR to move forward on Cooperative Weed Management Program second by Petrowiak.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried. 

MASWCD 2008 Resolutions

Rode, Meschke, and Flohrs, were missing some Resolutions and all Resolutions need to reach the State Office by October 31, 2008.  Discussion followed on overview of the following proposed Resolutions: 

• #6    WCA Funding Directly to SWCDs
• #10  Appropriation of Minnesota’s Ground Water and Surface Water to Projects outside of the State of Minnesota.
• #16  Forest Management Education
• #17  Education on Benefits of Cattle for Erosion Control
• #25  Area Poster, Mural, Video Contests

New Business

Lease and Moving

The lease has been signed.  The District should be receiving a Final Plan within one week.  The construction should take approximately 6-8 weeks to complete.  STS was suggested as a resource to help move the District Office.

NRCS Contribution Agreement

NRCS has offered the District the following:

• $2362.50 - Status Reviews
• $1800.00 - 20 CRP Contracts

$4162.50  Total  and will be justified when expended.

A motion was made by Rode to approve NRCS Contribution Agreement for $4162.50 second by Flohrs.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Constitution Amendment

Meschke presented on the 2008 Election Ballot Question Informational Meeting to be held Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at the Red Rocks Center for the Arts, Fairmont, MN. 

Break

Reports

Special Meetings

• Darwin Roberts attended the Minnesota Agriculture Water Resources Coalition.
• Linda Meschke attended the Lake Pepin, TMDL Tech Conference, Mankato, MN  9/23 – 9/24/08.
• Steve Flohrs attended Leadership Training, Duluth, MN  September 22-24, 2008.

Martin County Commissioner Report

Report given by Jack Potter. 

District Conservationist Report

Tonn reported that as of 8-27-08; 71 Tiling Requests have been completed, 18 Certified Wetland Determinations have been completed.  Tonn discussed how the Soil Rental Rates in Martin County have increased,

• CCRP applies to waterways, etc.  Contract will be for not less than 10 years and no more than 15 years.
• CSP as of 9-30-08 will have 42 contracts expire from 2004.  Landowners will receive notification to make payments for 2009.  Certified letters will go out 10-10-08 and producers will have 10 days to respond.  CSP payment deadline is December 8, 2008.  There is no option for a January payment. 
• Carissa Spencer will return 10-27-08.
• EQIP sign-up will be in January or after – waiting on AIG files.
• CSP will not pay until the crop is out and records are brought in.
• BWRS advises that contractors will be held liable and that every 1026 should be reviewed by WCA.

District Manager Report

Report given by Kathy Smith – see attached. 

Water Plan Advisory Committee

Report given by Perrine.  The next Water Plan Advisory Meeting will be December 18, 2008.  Site TBD.  The City of Fairmont is looking at re-doing their Long-Term Plan pertaining to their ground water concerns.

Water Plan/WCA Report

Report given by Perrine. 

Clean Water Partnership Report

Report given by Smith.  A request for a 6 month extension on CWP was sent and Smith commended Tim Peterson for the job he is doing.  

Zone 10 Report

Petrowiak reported on Finance Committee Meeting on 9-19-08.  Dues will not increase for 2009.  

Three Rivers RC&D

No Report.

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Update given by Chair Roberts.  The next meeting will be 10-10-08, 9am, Mankato, MN. 

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

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

Respectfully submitted,

____________________Date Approved        ____________________Secretary-Treasurer

HOME