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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 October 11, 2007 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 Chair Steve Flohrs at 9:00 a.m. |
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The Pledge of Allegiance |
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Members present: Steve Flohrs, Chair Linda Meschke, Member Duane Petrowiak, Member Darwin Roberts, Member Wendell Rode, Member Members absent: None |
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Others present: Kathy Smith, District Manager |
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Cathy Thiesse, District Technician & Administrative Assistant Carissa Spencer, District Conservationist Ken Luttner, Area Resource Conservationist Steve Donnelly, Martin County Commissioner Rich Perrine, WCA/Water Plan Coordinator |
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Additions to the Agenda |
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New Business: Lease Agreement Chair Flohrs motioned to accept Additions to the Agenda seconded by Duane Petrowiak. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Secretary’s Report |
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Discussion followed that State Revolving Fund should be titled AgBMP Loan Program in the official minutes. Meschke will meet with Thiesse on proper wording for Cost-Share for the official report. A change will be made on the September under the CREP II report to signify that the final policies we are waiting for refer to the “Title Commitment Insurance Policy”. Petrowiak motioned to approve the Secretary’s Report with the above change seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Treasurer’s Report |
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Report submitted by Kathy Smith. A motion was made by Meschke and seconded by Rode to approve the September Treasurer’s Report. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Bills |
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Vets Oil: $132.60 Meester Machine: $200.00 Shipping Plus: $ 48.40 NACD Web Server: $114.00 Martin County Recorder: $ 63.00 County Market: $ 20.91 Total: $578.91 A motion was made by Roberts to approve and pay the additional bills seconded by Petrowiak. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
| CREP |
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Kathy Smith gave the report which included her meeting with Rodney Tow and the options they discussed. Mr. Tow also met with Farm Service Agency (FSA) for his options and will receive a cost estimate of charges that will be payable to FSA if CRP is terminated. Roberts motioned to have information compiled of the District’s expenses pertaining to Tow Easement and obtain Legal Guidance determining justification for legal action seconded by Duane Petrowiak. Discussion followed to include BWSR expenses. Board gave Kathy Smith the authority to proceed. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried . |
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Water Permit Program |
| Presented out of order. No Report. |
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AgBMP Loan Program |
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Kathy Smith reported that Clean Water Legacy money is available for AgBMP loans within the Blue Earth River Basin with an end date of November 15, 2007 for requests. The District has two people on the list to apply for AgBMP Loans with more requests expected. The District will request $100,000. Linda Meschke and Kathy Smith will work on requesting money through GBERBA for the Martin County Open Ditch Riparian Initiative. |
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Cost-Share Programs– State Cost-Share Program |
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Amendment |
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#10-07-1 Andrew Theobald – FSSB $920 additional funds requested Total Funds Encumbered - $2870.00 Rode motioned to approve the amendment to increase the cost-share encumbered to $920.00 due to additional expenses on the practice seconded by Roberts Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried . |
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Completed Projects |
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#10-07-1 Andrew Theobald – FSSB - $2869.50 due $2869.50 Encumbered Total Project Cost: $3826.00 No slippage. Roberts motioned to pay on contract #10-07-1 in the amount of $2869.50 seconded by Meschke. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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#19-06x Larry Becker – FSSB - $542.36 $1305.00 Encumbered Total Project Cost: $1391.15 Slippage - $762.64. $540.42 returned to State, $222.22 re-encumbered. Petrowiak motioned to pay on contract #19-06x in the amount of $542.36 seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried . |
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New Projects |
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#18-07 Rod Laue - Well Sealing - $250 requested A motion was made by Meschke and seconded by Rode to encumber $250.00 or 50% of the total project cost, whichever is less, for a well sealing project. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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#19-07 Nicole Wilson - Well Sealing -$250.00 requested A motion was made by Roberts and seconded by Petrowiak to encumber $250.00 or 50% of the total project cost, whichever is less, for a well sealing project. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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#1-08 Weldon Ziemann - Well Sealing - $362.50 requested A motion was made by Petrowiak and seconded by Rode to encumber $362.50 or 50% of the total project cost, whichever is less, for a well sealing project. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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#2-08 Dennis Anderson - Well Sealing - $297.50 requested A motion was made by Rode and seconded by Roberts to encumber $297.50 or 50% of the total project cost, whichever is less, for a well sealing project. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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#3-08 Dennis Anderson - Well Sealing - $337.50 requested A motion was made by Meschke and seconded by Rode to encumber $337.50 or 50% of the total project cost, whichever is less, for a well sealing project. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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#4-08 David Nawrocki - Well Sealing - $342.50 requested A motion was made by Rode and seconded by Petrowiak to encumber $342.50 or 50% of the total project cost, whichever is less, for a well sealing project. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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CWP Program |
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Completed Project |
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#CWP-052-06 Brad Musser – CWP - CRP Incentive - $2650 due A motion was made by Rode and seconded by Roberts to approve payment on CWP Contract #CWP-052-06 for a CRP Incentive on 10.5 acres. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
| New Projects - Faribault SWCD |
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#CWP-055-07 Charles Nilson - Grassed Waterway - $663.38 requested A motion was made by Meschke and seconded by Rode to encumber funds for CWP Contract #CWP-055-07. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Old Business |
| Nature Trail Update given by Cathy Thiesse and Rich Perrine. Work has been started on cleaning up brush and Rich is working on permits for the floating bridge. The Capital Campaign is underway. |
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Personnel Policy Kathy Smith addressed the Board for their comments and or proposed changes to the Personnel Policy. On behalf of the Board, Roberts expressed appreciation of the completion of the Personnel Policy and that it provided good information and Smith did an impressive job. Roberts motioned to approve the New Personnel Policy with the change of 7-5 work schedule on page 26 under Work Schedule seconded by Meschke. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried . |
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New Business |
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MASWCD Resolutions Board members had completed their Resolutions and were given to Thiesse for tabulation of the Ballot to be turned in to MASWCD by 10-31-07. |
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Rain Garden Presentation in Winnebago on 10-25-07. Board members discussed inviting County Commissioners, City Employees, Park Boards, and send out flyers to each municipality and Lake Associations (South Silver and Fox). It was mentioned to contact Mike Foster to see if the Rain Garden PowerPoint could be aired on the local cable channel. |
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MPCA Grant Request for Proposal Presented by Cathy Thiesse. The grant would be specific to high impact integrated environmental improvements regarding the development, construction and implementation of new businesses to adopt environmentally-friendly practices and programs. |
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NRCS Memorandum of Understanding Ken Luttner, NRCS Area Resource Conservationist reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding between the USDA and the District. The Memo of Understanding is required to be reviewed on a yearly basis by the District Conservationist and the District. Luttner was here to train Spencer on the procedure. |
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Break Out of Order |
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Lease Agreement Kathy Smith reported working on office space with Carissa Spencer, NRCS, Larry Bremer, FSA and they derived that 4500 to 5000 square feet is needed for the three groups combined. The current lease for all three entities expires October 2008. Roberts motioned for Smith to proceed forward in sharing attempts with NRCS and FSA seconded by Meschke. Discussion followed for Smith to proceed at her discretion of seeking space of 856 square feet for the District. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Special Meetings |
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District Conservationist Report |
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Report given by Carissa Spencer – see attached. |
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District Manager Report |
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Report given by Kathy Smith – see attached. Meschke approved the letter of recommendation to be mailed to the Auditor verifying that the District was forthcoming with all the information required seconded by Rode. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, Roberts and Rode Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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Water Plan Advisory Committee |
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Two positions were filled and their appointments approved by the Martin County Commissioners. |
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Water Plan/WCA Report |
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Hearing on LCCMR proposals; Prairie Ecosystem Restoration Project and Martin County Open Ditch Riparian Initiative will be October 15, St. Paul. Smith and Perrine will present projects and answer questions. |
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Clean Water Partnership |
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Report given by Kathy Smith of her discussion with Faribualt SWCD District Manager to table the vacated position until the personnel committee can meet. |
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Zone 10 |
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Duane Petrowiak reported that no meetings have occurred. He will work toward instigating a meeting prior to the November Board Meeting. Next Area VI Meeting to be November 20, Renville County. |
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Three Rivers RC&D Report |
| No Report. |
| Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance |
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Roberts reported that dues will not increase. On October 19th, a Video Conference pertaining to ISTS will be available and would like an office staff person to attend. The new Implementation Plan was passed. |
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County Commissioner Report |
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Steve Donnelly gave the report. |
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Roberts motioned to adjourn the meeting seconded by Chair Flohrs. Affirmative: Chair Flohrs, Meschke, Petrowiak, and Roberts Opposed: None. Motion Carried. |
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The next regular meeting will be held on November 8, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. |
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____________________Date Approved ____________________Secretary-Treasurer |
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