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; Greg Johanson, Program Specialist, Brenda Tonn, Acting-District Conservationist, Tim Peterson, CWP, Cathy Thiesse, Technician and Administrative Assistant, Rich Perrine, Technician & WCA

Additions to the Agenda

New Business:              Fair Booth

Meet the Candidates

State Board Positions

Community Picnic

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

Secretary’s Report

A motion was made by Flohrs to accept the August 14, 2008 Secretary’s Report with the change that Supervisor Steve Flohrs was absent for that meeting second by Rode.  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 Flohrs to approve the August 14, 2008 Treasurer’s Report second by Petrowiak.  Discussion followed that donations and pictures of 4-H Auctions and participants be put on the website.  Affirmative:  Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Bills

A motion was made by Rode to donate $100 to the Ag Picnic Committee second by Meschke.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

CREP

Update given by Johanson that 124 RIM site reviews have been completed.  Discussion to work on a Resolution for 2009 regarding maintenance for CREP sites once the CREP funding is completed and to include an article for the Conservation Update about continuing maintenance of these sites.   

Cost-Share Programs–

State Cost-Share Program

Completed Projects

#15-06x  Betsy Steuber  FSSB - $2563.97 Due – 75% of Project Cost FY 2006/2007

Total Project Cost:  $3418.62

Slippage:  $1381.44

Re-Encumbered:  None

Return to State:  $1381.56

A motion was made by Rode to approve payment of contract #15-06x in the amount of $2563.97 and to Return-to-State $1381.56 second by Meschke.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#13-08  Ervin Wassman  Well Sealing - $247.50 Due –50% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $495.00

Slippage:  $25.00

Re-Encumbered:  $25.00

A motion was made by Meschke to approve payment of contract #13-08 in the amount of $247.50 and to Re-Encumber $25.00 second by Flohrs.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#14-08  Ervin Wassman  Well Sealing - $232.50 – 50% of Project Cost Total Project Total Project Cost:  $465.00

Slippage:  $45.00

Re-Encumbered:  $45.00

A motion was made by Flohrs to approve payment of contract #14.08 in the amount of $232.50 and to Re-Encumber $45.00 second by Meschke.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Amended Projects

None

New Projects

#15-08  William Phelps  Well Sealing - $355.00 Requested – 50% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $710.00

A motion was made by Meschke to encumber $355.00 for contract #15-08 second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#16-08  Neil Quade  Well Sealing - $499.00 Requested – 50% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $998.00

A motion was made by Rode to encumber $499.00 for contract $16-08 second by Flohrs.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Cancelled Projects

None

CWP Program

New Program

None

Amendment

#CWP 39-05  Gaylord Roe  Grade Stabilization  $814.07 Requested – 75% of Project

Total Project Cost:  $21814.07

A motion was made by Meschke to approve amendment of $814.07 for contract #CWP 39-05 so that total requested is 75% of Project Cost second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Completed Project

#CWP 39-05  Gaylord Roe  Grade Stabilization  $21814.07 Due – 75% of Project Cost

Total Project Cost:  $35,944.02

A motion was made by Petrowiak to approve payment of $21814.07 for contract #CWP 39-05 second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#CWP 59-10  James Mair  Alternate Easement  $10,349.60 Due – 6.3 Acres

A motion was made by Meschke to approve payment of $10,349.60 for contract #CWP 59-10 second by Rode.

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Completed Projects

#CWP 38-05  Gaylord Roe  Grade Stabilization  $5143.95 Due

A motion was made by Flohrs to approve payment of $5143.95 for contract #CWP 38-05 and forward to GBERBA for approval and payment second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Amendment

None

New Projects

None

Rain Garden

New Projects

#RG 01-08  Dave Christianson  Rain Garden  $750.00 Requested

Total Project Cost:  $1320.00

A motion was made by Petrowiak to encumber $750.00 for contract #RG 01-08 second by Rode.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#RG 02-08  Larry Bremer  Rain Garden  $750.00 Requested

Total Project Cost:  $1100.00

A motion was made by Flohrs to encumber $750.00 for contract #RG 02-08 second by Petrowiak.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

#RG 03-08  Pat Graif  Rain Garden  $750.00 Requested

Total Project Cost:  $2250.00

A motion was made by Meschke to encumber $750.00 for contract #RG 03-08 second by Petrowiak.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

BWSR Farm Bill Assistance Program

A motion was made by Flohrs to approve, accept terms and sign contract second by Petrowiak.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Water Permit Program

No Report.

AgBMP Loan Program

Smith gave an update. 

Old Business

Computer Equipment

Update given by Smith.  Two new computers have been purchased for an estimated cost of $2046.18, does not include software.  Frontier will be the internet server for $135.00 per month.

WCA Resolution

A motion was made by Rode to approve the Resolution with the District’s Name on it and that Rich Perrine has the authority to make decision on these projects second by Meschke.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

US Fish & Wildlife

A motion was made by Meschke to approve agreement requesting dollars for conservation practices second by Flohrs.  Affirmative: Chair Roberts, Vice-Chair Petrowiak, Flohrs, Meschke, and Rode.  Opposed:  None.  Motion Carried.

Constitutional/Amendment Information Meeting

Update given by Smith.

Fair Booth

Discussion on ideas to improve traffic into booth for next year.

Ag Picnic

Discussion for next year promotions and ideas to bring in more visitors.

New Business

Rain Garden Workshop

Thiesse informed the Board that a workshop will be help October 1, 2008 at Five Lakes Elementary, Fairmont 6 pm – 9 pm. 

Break

Reports

Special Meetings

• Area VI 9-10-08 attended by Rode, Roberts, Petrowiak, Flohrs, Peterson and Thiesse in Lafayette.

District Conservationist Report

Tonn Reported the Diversified Ag has been completed.  Bills need to be turned in by 9-19-08 as NRCS fiscal year ends 9-30-08.  Tonn is also working with Tier II CSP producers about selecting dates to be paid.  Payments will be made after the crop year.  Tonn has been completing 1026 and site visits for 038’s.  Tonn will be in the office approximately 2 days per week.  Tonn also commended Spencer for the job she does.

District Manager Report

Report given by Kathy Smith – see attached. 

Water Plan Advisory Committee

Reported by Perrine.  Water Plan Advisory Meeting to be September 19, Human Services Building, Fairmont and Mark Hiles will be the featured speaker.  A report was given on the Walmart replacement site.

Water Plan/WCA Report

Okamanpeedan Watershed Alliance will be holding a public meeting end of this year to promote citizen involvement.  A mass mailing will be sent out to everyone in the Water Shed.

Clean Water Partnership Report

Report given by Peterson.  Pete Fastner, MPCA, performed an audit and met with Smith and Peterson.  A request for a year’s extension through October 2009 will be sent next month.  A $40,000 grant for the Okamanpeedan Project was received to be used to determine which of the four existing tributaries is the most polluted and focus on cleaning that one first.  Peterson attended a Drainage Training in Iowa. 

Zone 10 Report

Petrowiak reported on budget items.  Martin County has been Treasurer since 1998.  Petrowiak was acknowledged for his great bookkeeping. 

Three Rivers RC&D

An Update was given by Rode.  

Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance

Update given by Chair Roberts.  A Tech meeting will be 9-12-08 followed by a Business Meeting.

Other

Meschke interviewed candidates for the Agronomist position.  Position was re-opened after qualifying candidate declined.

County Commissioner Report

No Report.

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

Respectfully submitted,

____________________Date Approved        ____________________Secretary-Treasurer

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