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Blue Earth County Soil and Water Conservation District
1160 South Victory Drive, Suite #3
Mankato, MN 56001
Board Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2009
Supervisors Present:
Allen Marble, Chairman;Bill Gardner, Vice Chairman; Harold Loeffler, PR & I; John Shanahan; John Rollings, Supervisor
Staff Present:
Jerad Bach, District Manager; Lynette Ziegler, Office Technician; John Billings, Maple River Tech; Michael Schultz, Big Cobb Tech
Guest Present:
Ryan Braulick, Dist. Conservationist; Kip Bruender, Co. Commissioner
Supervisor/Guests Absent:
Will Purvis, Co. Commissioner
Proceedings:
Meeting called to order by Chairman, Marble, at 4:07 pm.
Chairman Marble handed gavel to Gardner to administer Oath of Office to the newly elected Supervisor Shanahan and the re-election of Supervisors Marble and Loeffler.
Election of Officers: Marble presided over the election of Chairman, Loeffler nominated Gardner for Chairman, Rollings seconded. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes. Gardner assumed position of Chairman to preside over remaining agenda. Rollings nominated Marble for Vice Chairman, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes. Rollings nominated Loeffler for Secretary/Treasurer, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes. Marble nominated Rollings for Public Relations/Information Officer, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Committee Assignments: (see attached) Marble moved to approve all committees and assignments of supervisors and staff, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes. Loeffler noted a committee may need to be added for Minnesota River Board, as it grows in importance.
SWCD Calendar: Motion was made by Rollings to continue to hold SWCD board meetings on the 1st Thursday following the 1st Monday of each month at 4:00pm, Marble seconded. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
PerDiem/Mileage: Loeffler moved to accept the IRS 2009 Standard Mileage Rates effective January 1, 2009 at .55 cents per mile driven, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes. Discussion was held to leave the meal allowance and supervisor PerDiem the same, all in agreement. Rollings moved to pay PerDiem for Shanahan to attend any of the listed Committee Meetings to learn the ropes, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Housekeeping:
Agenda: District Manager Bach presented a revised agenda. Marble moved to approve the revised agenda, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Minutes: Rollings moved to approve the December 5, 2008 minutes, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Treasurer’s Report: (see attached)
Balance on hand $ 28,400.44
Receipts $ 31,343.49
Disbursements $ 29,101.02 Total $ 30,642.91
Disbursements and receipts were reviewed and Supervisor monthly Per Diem/Expenses read. A motion was made by Marble to pay Supervisors Per Diem/Expenses and to accept the Treasurer’s Report subject to audit, seconded by Rollings. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Open Communications:
Guest Speaker: Commissioner Bruender noted Mark Peipho was elected to commissioner’s office this November and Bruender was reelected. Update on Justice Center, a delay has pushed the opening to the end of March 2009. Bruender commended Big Cobb Technician Michael Schultz on his representation at a recent meeting.
Maple River CWP: (see attached) Billings reported that an extension will not be approved due to the shortfall of the State Budget.
Big Cobb – 319 Grant: (see attached) Schultz reported a landowner meeting will be held in February. Schultz just received notice the grant now includes incentive payments.
District Conservationist: (see attached) Braulick noted upcoming meetings for the Beauford Ditch and temporary position to be hired in office.
District Manager: (see attached)
Committees:
Maple River CWP Cost-Share:
Contract #MR-02-17: Kevin Boertje, CRP incentive, Billings is requesting payment of $570.00 based on 1.9 acres at $20.00 for 15 year CRP contract. Rollings moved to make payment of $570.00, Marble seconded. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Contract #MR-02-18: Kevin Boertje, CRP incentive, Billings is requesting payment of $360.00 based on 1.2 acres at $20.00 for 15 year CRP contract. Rollings moved to make payment of $360.00, Marble seconded. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Contract #MR-02-19: Kevin Boertje, CRP incentive, Billings is requesting payment of $960.00 based on 3.2 acres at $20.00 for 15 year CRP contract. Rollings moved to make payment of $960.00, Marble seconded. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Contract #MR-02-16: Nathan Nasinec, Rain Garden installation, Billing is requesting payment of $76.15 Cost-Share for expenses. Rollings moved to make payment of $76.15, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Maple River Education Grant:
Billings presented an Education Grant for Maple River School District, for tree purchase to provide hands on experience to students learning the benefits a tree provides our environment.
Rollings moved to encumber $996.00 for the purchase of trees, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes. Billings is requesting payment of $996.00 for the purchase of trees for the Maple River School District Education Grant. Loeffler moved to make payment of $996.00, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Big Cobb – 319 Grant:
Contract#COBB-BMP-07-01, Warren Ward, grass waterway construction, Schultz is requesting an amendment to extend contract start date to January 10, 2010. Loeffler moved to extend start date, seconded by Rollings. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Crystal Loon Mill Cost-Share:
Contract #CLM-01-08: Kenneth Sorenson, Nutrient Management; District Manager Bach is requesting Cost-Share payment of $5,395.00. Marble moved to make final payment of $5,395.00 for nutrient management, seconded by Rollings. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Contract #CLM-05-08: Steve Campbell, Nutrient Management; District Manager Bach is requesting payment of $550.00. Rollings moved to make final payment of $550.00, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Contract #CLM-01-09: Harlan Bergemann, CRP incentive, District Manager Bach is requesting to encumber $270.00 for the installation of a buffer strip based on .9 acres at $20.00 for 15 year CRP contract. Rollings moved to encumber $270.00, Marble seconded. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Contract #CLM-02-08: Mike Sandt, Nutrient Management; District Manager Bach is requesting partial payment of $2,103.00 by the CLM Partnership. Marble moved to make partial payment of $2,103.00, seconded by Gardner. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Contract #CLM-07-08: Douglas Meixell, Nutrient Management; District Manager Bach is requesting partial payment of $2,849.00. Marble moved to make partial payment of $2,849.00, seconded by Gardner. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
State Cost-Share:
Contract #1FY08: Mary Veroeven, Water Sediment Control Basin; District Manager Bach is requesting to make payment of $4,295.00. Loeffler moved to make final payment of $4,295.00, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Personnel Committee: District Manager Bach reported personnel review was completed for Maple River CWP Technician Billings and found in good standing. Billings will reach his 6 month probation on January 14, 2009. Marble moved to increase wage 1 step plus 3% COLA for Billings (to Step 2) effective January 17, 2009, seconded by Rollings. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes. District Manager Bach reported personnel review was completed for Big Cobb-319 Grant Technician Schultz and found in good standing. Schultz probation ends on February 4, 2009. Rollings moved to increase wage from $13.83 to $14.25 according to work plan, effective February 4, 2009, seconded by Gardner. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Other Business:
Audit: Ziegler presented an audit contract for James Maiser. At this time we do not know if our county will be required to audit 2008. Ziegler recommends Maiser because of experience with SWCD’s and the lower cost than the 2006 audit. Rollings moved to sign the contract with Maiser for a 2008 audit, providing Blue Earth County would pay for the cost, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Bank Accounts – Certificate Deposit’s: Ziegler is requesting to move funds into CD’s with collateral coverage to safeguard the funds and provide interest earnings. Marble noted it is our public responsibility to safeguard funding and increase dollars when appropriate. We are to also consider penalty if withdrawn early. Marble moved to give District Manager Bach and Ziegler permission to review the cash flow and allocate available funds to CD’s, seconded by Rollings. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
MASWCD Annual Dues: Ziegler presented annual billing for MASWCD dues of $2,750.00. Rollings moved to make payment of annual dues, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
MASWCD Legislative Day: February 23-24: Marble gave an overview of the event and the importance of addressing conservation issues with our legislators.
Annual Report: District Manager Bach presented a draft copy of the Annual Report for Supervisors to update and approve at the February Meeting.
AgBMP Request: District Manager Bach presented a landowner’s request for an AgBMP loan for a Water Way Ditcher. Rollings moved to denied request for a Water Way Ditcher, at this time the board is unable to determine a water quality improvement, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Supervisors/Chairman: Rollings would like to meet with staff and create a River Bank Stabilization Grant. Marble attended a goal setting session at the state convention. Marble would like the board and staff to set goals for the district, general agreement to meet possibly February 19. No additional comments by supervisors.
Adjourn:
A motion was made by Rollings and seconded by Loeffler to adjourn the meeting. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
• Meeting adjourned 7:02 pm
• Next meeting will be held February 5, 2009
• Minutes submitted by Lynette Ziegler, Office Technician
Signature: ____________________________________________
Harold Loeffler, Secretary/Treasurer
Signature: ____________________________________________
William Gardner, Chairman
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