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Blue Earth County Soil and Water Conservation District
1160 South Victory Drive, Suite #3
Mankato, MN 56001
Board Meeting Minutes
June 4, 2009
Supervisors Present:
Allen Marble, Vice Chairman;Bill Gardner, Chairman; John Shanahan, Supervisor;Harold Loeffler, Sec/Treas
Supervisors Absent:
John Rollings, PR & I
Staff Present:
John Billings, Maple River Tech; Michael Schultz, Big Cobb Tech; Jerad Bach, District Manager; Lynette Ziegler, Office Technician
Guests Present:
Ryan Braulick, Dist. Conservationist; Will Purvis, Co. Commissioner
Guests Absent:
Kip Bruender, Co. Commissioner
Proceedings:
Meeting called to order by Chairman, Gardner, at 4:02 pm.
Housekeeping:
Agenda: Ziegler presented a revised agenda. Marble moved to approve the agenda as revised, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Minutes: Loeffler moved to approve the May 7, 2009 minutes, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Treasurer’s Report: (see attached)
Balance on hand $ 15,417.40
Receipts $ 24,214.60
Disbursements $ 27,771.45 Total $ 11,860.55
Disbursements and receipts were reviewed and Supervisor monthly Per Diem/Expenses read. A motion was made by Marble to pay Supervisors Per Diem/Expenses including Rollings when submitted and to accept the Treasurer’s Report subject to audit, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Open Communications:
Guest Speaker: RC&D-Lisa Buckner: presented an overview: including increase in perennial crops, grants submitted for alternative energy and stimulus package, grazing workshops to be held in Waseca and Faribault, and dry hydrants for Silver Lake. Alternative energy grants are to assist landowners with the possible installation of wind turbines. Commissioner Will Purvis: the Justice Center open house was a success, approximately 5000 people toured the building. The County Commissioners will be moving to 2nd floor and taxpayer services to 1st floor of the court house. Nichols building will be removed to create a green space and possible expansion in the future. County will be talking about a wage freeze next year. Ponderosa landfill is increasing size with 2 new cells this year. H1N1 virus was reviewed for county response time in case of epidemic. Shanahan complemented Blue Earth County on the Justice Center being an excellent facility.
Maple River CWP: (see attached) Billings presented report, noting grant ends June 11th, last payments will be submitted at the July meeting. Billings presented thank you notes from Maple River West School District for the trees and Faribault SWCD for the ecology bus.
Big Cobb – 319 Grant: (see attached) Schultz presented report.
District Manager: (see attached) Bach noted he was nominated to the Water Quality Trading committee. Bach requested Water Resource Center to present information to the board on the water monitoring information due to the ending of Crystal Loon Mills Grant. Bach gave an update on Zone 10 with a name change on July 1, to be known as South Central Technical Service Area or South Central TSA and a new agreement among the districts. Bach noted the back window of the district truck needed replacement.
Committees:
Maple River CWP Cost-Share:
MR-01-23: Ervin Wrucke, Billings is requesting payment of $3,648.00 for construction of Water & Sediment Control Basin located in Lyra Twp Section 22. Loeffler moved to make payment of $3,648.00 for the Water & Sediment Control Basin, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
MR-01-12: James Heins, Billings is requesting payment of $2,291.00 for construction of 10 alternative tile intakes located in Lyra Twp Section 16&17. Marble moved to make payment of $2,291.00 for construction of 10 alternative tile intakes, seconded by Gardner. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Maple River Education Grant:
Blue Earth County Agricultural Society: Sheryl Dobie, Billings requesting payment of $1,000.00 relating to the cost of $600.00 for the Prairie Ecology Bus and $400.00 for partial payment of costs of $540.00 total for the MN Raptor Center for educational experience to be held during the Blue Earth County Fair. Marble moved to make payment of $1,000.00 for the educational day at the Blue Earth County Fair, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Maple River School: Mark Jensen, Billings is requesting payment of $468.53 for cost of supplies used during River Quest. Marble moved to make payment of $468.53 for cost of supplies relating to River Quest, seconded by Gardner. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
Big Cobb – 319 Grant:
Cobb-BMP-07-06: Robert & Cathy Weckman, Schultz is requesting payment of $5,412.00 for 18.04 acre wetland buffer incentive. Marble moved to make payment of $5,412.00 for wetland buffer incentive, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Crystal Loon Mills Cost-Share:
CLM-03-08: Darrel Hylen: Bach is requesting to make payment of $375.00 for nutrient management of 73.66 acres. Loeffler moved to make payment of $375.00 for nutrient management, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all votes yes.
CLM-07-08: Doug Meixel: Bach is requesting to make payment of $3,766.00 final payment for nutrient management of 606.91 acres. Marble moved to make payment of $3,766.00 for nutrient management, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all votes yes.
CLM-02-08: Mike Sandt, Bach is requesting to make final payment of $956.00 for nutrient management of 141.6 acres from the Crystal Loon Mill Clean Water Partnership. Marble moved to make final payment of $956.00 for nutrient management, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all votes yes.
CLM-01-09: Harlan Bergemann: Bach is requesting to make payment of $270.00 for buffer incentive for .9 acres at 15 years at $20.00 per acre. Loeffler moved to make payment of $270.00 for buffer incentive, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
CLM-02-09: Dale Lachmiller: Bach is requesting to make payment of $2,067.00 for nutrient management of 312.47 acres. Marble moved to make payment for nutrient management of $2,067.00, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
CLM-03-09: Byron Rode: Bach is requesting to make payment of $2,925.00 for nutrient management of 433.36 acres. Shanahan moved to make payment of $2,925.00 for nutrient management, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
CLM-05-09: Carl Johnson: Bach is requesting to make payment of $2,932.00 for 12 alternative rock inlets. Loeffler moved to make payment of $2,932.00 for 12 alternative rock inlets, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all votes yes.
CLM-05-09: Carl Johnson: Bach is requesting to make incentive payment of $1,596.00 for 12 alternative rock inlets buffers. Marble moved to make incentive payment of $1,596.00 for 12 alternative rock inlets buffers, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all votes yes.
CLM-06-09: Brian Wallace: Bach is requesting to make payment of $498.00 for nutrient management of 74.8 acres. Marble moved to make payment of $498.00 for nutrient management, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
State Cost-Share:
Contract #1FY06: David Schultz: Bach is requesting to make payment of $2,926.00 for the installation of 4 water and sediment control basins completed in partnership with NRCS. Loeffler moved to make payment of $2,926.00 for the installation of 4 water and sediment control basins, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Contract #2FY06: Vonda Britton: Bach is requesting to make payment of $7,647.00 for the installation of 3 water and sediment control basins and 1 grade stabilization, completed in partnership with NRCS with Zone 10, Kyle Vogt engineer. Marble moved to make payment of $7,647.00 for the water and sediment control basins and grade stabilization, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Contract #9FY07: Scott Shouts: Bach is requesting to make payment of $3,698.00 for the installation of 5 waterways in partnership with NRCS. Marble moved to make payment of $3,698.00 for the installation of 5 waterways, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Contract #5FY08: Dale Westphal: Bach is requesting to encumber $2,600.00 for the installation of a water and sediment control basin. Marble moved to encumber $2,600.00 for the installation of a water and sediment control basin, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Contract #6FY08: Mark Gronewald: Bach is requesting to encumber $2,483.00 for the installation of a water and sediment control basin, with this project all FY08 funds are encumbered and/or paid. Loeffler moved to encumber $2,483.00 for the water and sediment control basin, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Native Buffer Cost-Share:
Contract #NB1FY08: James Zarn: Bach is requesting to make payment of $7,142.00 for the installation of 31 acres to native grasses. Shanahan move to make payment of $7,142.00 for the reestablishment of native grasses to existing CRP site previously seeded to brome, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Open Communications:
District Conservationist: Ryan Braulick gave updates for RIM/WRP and WHIP which are currently open for signup. NRCS has just completed 3 projects jointly with the district. General CRP will not likely be open for the remainder of 2009, look for it next year. Braulick noted a thank you to the board members for a very nice wedding gift.
Other Business:
South Central Technical Service Area: Bach noted the current Zone 10 JPO will become known as South Central TSA (for short) starting July 1, 2009. The new agreement was approved at the last JPO board meeting, including suggestions from Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust (MCIT) and Blue Earth County Attorney Ross Arneson. Just following the board meeting we received notice of an issue relating to Brown SWCD membership resulting in the creation of two agreements. Bach presented two agreements: one with Brown SWCD becoming a member and one without Brown SWCD included in membership. Bach is requesting the board vote to accept the agreements: with or without Brown SWCD to amend the existing Zone 10 JPO agreement. Marble moved to sign the South Central Technical Service Area agreement with and without Brown SWCD, destroying the one that does not apply, seconded by Loeffler. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
September 9, 2008 Secretary Minutes: Ziegler presented revised minutes for September 9, 2008 noting during a recent investigation of the minutes for a previous contact omitted from the records. Review of notes taken on September 9, 2008 provided the information relating to the contract missing. Loeffler moved to accept the revised minutes, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
Equipment Purchase: Bach is requesting the purchase of a GPS unit for the District. GeoXT Trimble unit are currently being purchased by NRCS cost will be $4,045.00, the county and BWSR are purchasing GeoXH at a cost of $5,210.00. Bach recommends purchase of the GeoXT as an appropriate unit for our use with additional costs for charger and replacement batteries, sales agent said would train staff on the use. This equipment will be used in the Maple River Watershed, therefore qualifying the purchase from Maple River Watershed CWP funding. Marble moved to purchase the GeoXT Trimble GPS unit with software and necessary accessories for operation at the District staff discretion from the Maple River Watershed CWP funding, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all voted yes.
CREP Truck: Ziegler noted the CREP truck, 1987 Ford Pickup, has been sold to B&R Auto Salvage in Beauford for $125.00. Insurance company has been updated.
Rental Agreement: Bach noted the DNR personnel are moving out of their office space, leaving the BWSR and Water Quality staff looking for a different space. Bach is requesting to look into the possibility of collating with BWSR and combining Zone 10, SWCD, and possible GBERBA Water Quality Trading staff into one area. A general consensus of the Board is to proceed with obtaining additional information.
Area VI Meeting: Ziegler noted Area meeting coming up on June 29th at 9:30 in Lafayette, MN. Shanahan, Marble, Bach and Ziegler will be attending.
Resolution: Ziegler read the resolution: Rain Garden Specification Revision, submitted by Brown SWCD for review at the next Area VI meeting.
Additional Training: Bach announced future staff and supervisor training: SWCD Supervisor and Employee Orientation and Refresher Conference, July 14-15 & BWSR Academy, November 2-4.
Supervisors/Chairman: Marble noted that RC&D has submitted a grant request to Wal-Mart for the Blue Earth County Fair; we will not be notified until after July 11th. The Executive RC&D meeting is discussing board membership decreasing due to 10-15% budget restrictions. Shanahan reported attending GBERBA executive and technical meetings this month to increase his understanding of grant dollars. He found the information for the Water Quality Trading position very interesting. Shanahan brought to the meeting a thank you card from Maple River School – Jackie Landsteiner classroom for the Ecology Bus. Gardner reported MN Pheasants, Inc. will be meeting with other groups in Blue Earth County to discuss how they can work together. The fall kickoff will be happening jointly with the Legion, Ducks Unlimited and MN Pheasants as a joint fundraiser. MN Pheasants, Inc. will participate at the County Fair with Prairie on a Stick and provide additional contact names to Ziegler.
Adjourn:
A motion was made by Marble and seconded by Loeffler to adjourn the meeting. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
• Meeting adjourned 6:30 pm
• Next meeting will be held July 9, 2009
• Minutes submitted by Lynette Ziegler, Office Technician
Signature: _________________________________ Harold Loeffler, Secretary/Treasurer
Signature: _________________________________ William Gardner, Chairman
Approved July 9, 2009
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