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Blue Earth County Soil and Water Conservation District
1160 South Victory Drive, Suite #3
Mankato, MN 56001
Board Meeting Minutes
November 5, 2009
Supervisors Present: John Shanahan, Chairman: William Gardner, Vice Chairman: Allen Marble, PR&I: John Rollings
Supervisor Absent: Secretary/Treasurer: Harold Loeffler
Staff Present: District Manager: Jerad Bach, Big Cobb Technician: Michael Schultz, Office Technician: Lynette Ziegler
Guests Present: District Conservationist: Ryan Braulick, County Commissioner: Kip Bruender, Board of Water and Soil Resources Regional Supervisor and Board Conservationist: Jeff Neilson & Chris Hughs
Proceedings:
Meeting called to order by Chairman, Gardner, at 4:06 pm.
Housekeeping:
Agenda: Marble moved to approve revised agenda, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted, all present voted yes.
Introduction: Gardner called for introductions of members in attendance.
Minutes: Rollings moved to approve the October 8, 2009 minutes, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all present voted yes.
Treasurer’s Report: (see attached)
Balance on hand $ 663,680.60
Receipts $ 32,743.30
Disbursements $ 49,174.46
Total $ 646,949.44
This record notes total dollar activity held by Blue Earth County SWCD.
Disbursements and receipts were reviewed and Supervisor monthly Per Diem/Expenses read. Marble made a motion to pay Supervisors Per Diem/Expenses as submitted and to accept the Treasurer’s Report subject to audit, seconded by Rollings. Unless otherwise noted, all present voted yes.
Open Communications:
Guest Speaker: Co. Commissioner Kip Bruender noted a LCCMR grant has been submitted to the State Legislator to improve water quality to County Ditch 57 located near Mapleton. A joint project has been proposed to upgrade a bridge system on the Cobb River; this will include a wetland restoration if land owners are willing to participate. The County Commissioners have approved a 3% levy in anticipation of further reductions next year. Bids have been opened for purchase of the Nichols Building. If purchase does not happen, building will be recycled and land will be held for future expansion site. Rollings commented on possible joint project with county on the installation of fish barriers on Loon/Mills Lakes.
Board of Water and Soil Resources Regional Supervisor: Jeff Neilson and Board Conservationist Chris Hughs wanted to thank the staff for all the assistance in moving the BWSR offices to Joint Powers previous location. This move required time, patience and physical abilities to move the BWSR staff. Thanks for all the help.
BWSR (see attached) would like to congratulate the Blue Earth County SWCD Board and Staff on their 50th Anniversary of successful operations. The Blue Earth County SWCD began operations in May of 1959 and has completed many projects to improve conservation in Blue Earth County.
Big Cobb – 319 Grant: (see attached) Schultz presented report.
District Conservationist: (see attached) Braulick noted the NRCS office is required to report any outbreaks of H1N1 in our location. Braulick noted the additional acres which apply to the approved RIM application has not yet been finalized in state offices.
District Manager: (see attached) Bach presented report. Bach noted visit with Water Resource Center on the Beauford Ditch tile inventory project and will be contacting landowners. Our office will be reimbursed for staff expenses associated with the project. A joint project to implement a green stabilization on the LeSueur River has recently met and hopes to begin a project this coming year.
Committees:
Big Cobb Cost-Share:
COBB-BMP-07-02: Ellen Howley: Schultz presented a letter of cancellation from Ellen Howley due to the project not aligning with current farming practice. Shanahan moved to accept the letter of cancellation for two terraces and a grass waterway, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
State Cost-Share:
07FY07: Jerome Pluym: Bach is requesting to amend the contract end date, to allow for installation of a Water Sediment Control Basin this fall, due to the 2 year time limit. BWSR Board Conservationist, Chris Hughs, has granted an extension to the contract from November 7, 2009 to June 15, 2010. Rollings moved to amend the contact time limit, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted, all present voted yes.
02FY09: Jack Ward: Bach is requesting to encumber $6,592.00 for Water Sediment Control Basin with total cost of $8,790.00. Marble moved to encumber $6,592.00 for Water Sediment Control Basin, seconded by Rollings. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
03FY08: BENCHS: Bach requested partial payment of $6,480.00 of the $8,640.00 total cost of construction for three Bio-retention Basins, dirt work has been completed, and installation of plants is targeted for spring to finalize the project. Rollings moved to make partial payment of $6,480.00 for construction work completed, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
Other Business:
MASWCD Convention: Ziegler noted the reservations have been completed to attend the MASWCD convention in December, also noted last day to cancel and receive most of the reservation money back is November 13th. Ziegler requested a motion to obtain an auction item in support of conservation education activities. Rollings moved to spend $50.00 to obtain an item for the auction, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
SCMACDE: Ziegler presented letter received from Michelle Stindtman and Linda Berndt announcing the discontinuation of the Area VI South Central Regional Envirothon and the request to continue a $150.00 contribution to the Education Fund. Rollings moved to continue the contribution of $150.00 to the Education Fund for Area VI, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
Personnel – Descriptions: Bach reviewed the job descriptions requested and wage tables for the Technician and Assistant Technician positions. Discussion was held. Rollings moved to retain the current Technician and Assistant Technician with an increase in pay effective January 1, 2010 at $14.91(Technician) and at $13.00 (Assistant Technician) for 80 hours per pay period with a review of the positions at 6 months. Marble seconded, noting a goal for 6 month review is to correlate a time period for the positions. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
Area VI Meeting: Ziegler presented information for the Area VI meeting to be held at Turner Hall in New Ulm on November 24 with a cost of $13.00/person. 2 Supervisors and 2 Staff will be attending.
Newsletter: Ziegler presented a rough draft of a newsletter to accompany the tree order form. The goal of the newsletter is promote the Soil and Water Conservation District to a variety of landowners in Blue Earth County. A newsletter has not been published since 2005 when it was in conjunction with Blue Earth County Farm Service Agency. Rollings moved to publish a newsletter and invite NRCS to participate with an insert and mailing list, possible number count of 1100-1500 mailings and not to exceed $1,750.00, Marble seconded. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
MACDE 2010: Ziegler presented the Membership dues for the MACDE, requesting the district to pay for the employee memberships. Rollings moved the district to pay membership dues for 4 staff at $20.00 per membership, seconded by Shanahan. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
2008 SWCD Audit: Ziegler presented an update on SWCD audit completed by James Maiser. He has sent our office a preliminary audit and the billing for his services at $1,800.00. Ziegler is requesting to make payment by submitting billing to the County for payment. Rollings moved to submit billing to County for payment, seconded by Marble. Unless otherwise noted all present voted yes.
Supervisors/Chairman: no comments at this time.
Adjourn:
A motion was made by Marble and seconded by Rollings to adjourn the meeting. Unless otherwise noted, all voted yes.
•Meeting adjourned 5:58 pm
•Next meeting will be held December 10, 2009
•Minutes submitted by Lynette Ziegler, Office Technician
Signature: Harold Loeffler, Secretary/Treasurer
Signature: William Gardner, Chairman
Minutes approved at December 10, 2009 meeting |
