POPE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
MEETING MINUTES
Supervisory Board Meeting 7:00 am January 27, 2009

 

USDA Ag Service Center, Glenwood, MN

Supervisors:

Mark Halls, Keith Nygaard, Gary Reents, Present; Randy Anderson, Ralph Peterson, Absent

SWCD Staff:

Kelly Erickson, Judy Johnston, Kyle Hanson, Luan Johnsrud

Craig Bower, NRCS

Guests:

Paul Gerde, Pope County Commissioner, Committee member

Pope County Commissioner

Meeting Minutes:

 

1.       The meeting was called to order at 7:00 a.m. by Chairman Keith Nygaard.  Welcome to guest Paul Gerde, Pope County Commissioner.

2.       Judy Johnson added the cost of living increase to current employees and information for the Area 2 Reorganization meeting to be held February 26, 2009 at Lakeside.  Motion by Mark Halls seconded by Gary Reents to approve the revised agenda. Motion carried.

3.       Motion by Mark Halls seconded by Gary Reents to keep the slate of Officers as is for 2009.  Motion carried.

4.       Motion by Gary Reents, seconded by Mark Halls to approve the December 2008 minutes and January 13, 2009 Special meeting minutes as presented.  Motion carried.

5.       Financial Report - Approve Current Bills. –Motion made by Gary Reents and seconded by Mark Halls to approve the bills as presented.  Motion carried.

  • Profit Loss year to date report
  • Treasurer Report
  • Check Register, Checking & Savings

Old Business

Tabled from December.  Luan Johnsrud is to check with Ralph Peterson to see if he would be interested in leading the SWCD Board for “Setting Priorities for Business of Conserving Our Resources” activity during the February 2009 Board meeting.  Mr. Peterson is recovering from surgery, so perhaps Soil & Water could hold their meeting at his home.

Ralph Peterson had suggested a Supervisor meeting with neighboring Swift and Stevens Counties in March.  The meeting will be discussed  further at the February meeting. 

Reports-

  • Introduction of new Committee Member, Paul Gerde, Pope County Commissioner. Paul was newly elected in November and will be the Pope County Commissioner representative on SWCD board.  Welcome Paul.
  • Judy Johnston, Office Interim 
    •  Judy has completed the reports for 2008 Fiscal year end.  The information is at the accountant’s office.
    • Motion by Gary Reents second by Mark Halls to authorize check signing by Board members, Keith Nygaard and Ralph Peterson; staff Kelly Erickson and Luan Johnsrud. Carried.
    • Motion by Gary Reents seconded by Mark Halls to use Eagle State Bank as depository for SWCD for 2009.  Carried.
    • Motion by Mark Halls and seconded by Gary Reents to continue to meet the third (3) Tuesday of each month at 7:00 a.m.  Motion Carried.  Remember to post meeting dates and times for open meeting laws.
    • Authorization of bi-weekly payroll Motion by Mark Halls and seconded by Gary Reents to continue with the bi-weekly payroll.  Motion carried.
    • Motion by Gary Reents seconded by Mark Hall to approve supervisor compensation rates following the State of Minnesota guidelines of a maximum of $75.00 and mileage rates (IRS mileage .55 effective 01-01-09).  Motion carried.
    • PERA Reporting Authorization. Judy needed to sign a form for PERA that indicated she had been completing the PERA reports while she was the office interim.  When the change in staff is completed, new staff will sign a new form indicating the change.
  • Motion by Gary Reents seconded by Mark Halls to pay the annual MASWCD Dues of $1875.00.  Motion carried.
  • Pope County SWCD will host the Area 2 Reorganization meeting February 26, 2009 at Lakeside Ballroom.  Ralph Peterson and Judy Johnson coordinated the event.  Meeting notices have been sent to representatives in the new 11 county area. 
  • WesMn is hosting a meeting February 11, 2009 at Pine Cove, Wadena.  The cost is $25.00 per person.  We need to register by February 4th.  Board members will check their calendars and get back to Luan to make the reservations.
  • Kelly Erickson, Technician
    • Legislative Briefing Day and Day at the Capitol will be February 23 & 24th.  Signup to attend is by February 15, 2009.  The District will pay for staff and board members that want to attend.  Check your calendars so that room reservations can be made promptly.
    • Kelly requested purchasing the 2009 version of QuickBooks.  SWCD usually purchases the updated version every 2 years.  He will download the 2007 into his system to track tree sales.  Motion by Gary Reents, seconded by Mark Halls to purchase the 2009 QuickBooks program.  Luan will decide which program version will be best for the office.  Carried.
    • Kelly and Luan will attend a meeting with Steve Hoffstad, WACA staff, to discuss programming.

 

8:30 a.m. Special Guest Presentation was made by Randy Shaw, Commissioner and Dean Paulson, former Pope County Commissioner.  Randy indicated that Pope County is not sure what their allocation from the State of Minnesota will be for the 2009 year, so budgeting will be difficult.  Therefore, the Commissioners are not sure they could continue our current allocation for SWCD office for 2010.  The County Commissioners were thinking of combining the SWCD, Extension and Environmental Services office as a cost cutting measure.  However, after some discussion, that did not appear to be very cost effective or productive.  SWCD, Randy Shaw, Paul Gerde and Dean Paulson discussed a letter that had been sent from the County Coordinators’ office regarding business practices.  After considerable discussion, it was determined that SWCD has a place in the market place and should be encouraged to cover their costs on various projects and programs that they administer.  Mr. Shaw and Mr. Paulson left the meeting at 9:50 a.m. 

                                                                                         

  • Kyle Hanson, SWCD Wildlife Tech
    • Kyle presented 12 contracts for payment. Payments totaled $8,132.00.  Motion to approve payment made by Gary Reents, seconded by Mark Halls.  Carried.
  • Craig Bower, NRCS
    •  Craig attended a meeting with MNDOT, January 14th.  Living snow fences has been identified as a priority by MNDOT to slow down drifting snow over roadways.  MNDOT has identified priority spots in Pope County that they believe would benefit from this program. 
    • NRC received new funding for the Working Lands Initiative program.  Program dollars are $45,000.00 in funds for projects and $1,000.00 for administration. 
    • Other meetings Craig attended included TMDL informational meeting discussing Chippewa River Turbidity impairment, LWG meeting for CRWP and Red Cross first aid training.
    • Craig presented a report indicating that the number of acres signed up for the Conservation Reserve program has decreased from previous years.
  • Grant Herfindahl, FSA—not available
  • Motion by Mark Halls, seconded by Gary Reents to appoint Ralph Peterson to the  WesMin Board. Carried. Meeting attendees passed the hat to purchase flowers or a plant for Ralph to brighten his days as he recovers from surgery.
  • Judy Johnson noted that the SWCD Board had not had a Christmas party.  It was decided to meet Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at Minnewaska House at 6:00 p.m. for social and dinner.  The evening will be at your own expense.  Luan is to call the Minnewaska House to make sure that they have room for a group and to call to remind everyone to attend.

6.       New Business (January 2008):   

  • Review Rough Draft of Annual Report (calendar of events, tree program revenues/expenses) Due to the change in staffing, preparing the Annual Report for publication was delayed.  Therefore, it will be a top priority for Luan to complete and have ready for publication in February. 
  • Review Rosholt Farm Mgmt Plan.  The loan documents for this project are in place.  SWCD will advance $25,000.00 form loan funds and use $5,000.00 from Prai-----------for the first payment of $29,000.00. 
  • Appointments to special committees-Personnel, Finance, WesMin
  • As of the January 2009 meeting, SWCD staff does not expect to purchase any equipment purchase for in 2009.
  • Discussed the 2009 Outstanding Conservationist.  It would be a good idea to choose someone fairly early in the year so that pictures of their project(s) could be taken throughout the year for display.
  • Review Insurance policies.  Our rates has increased, however, we received a premium refund in 2008.
  • Judy Johnson noted that in previous years, the SWCD Board had taken action on the Cost of Living increase per Federal guidelines.  The increase for 2009 is 3.52%.  Motion by Gary Reents, seconded by Mark Halls to follow the Federal Cost of Living increase of 3.52% retroactive to January 1, 2009 for current employees including Kyle Hanson.  Carried.

7.       Next scheduled meeting date February 17, 2009.àDue to Ralph Peterson’s surgery, Luan is to contact his to see if it would be alright to meet at his home instead of him trying to attend a meeting in the SWCD office.

8.       Motion by Gary Reents, seconded by Mark Halls to adjourn the meeting. Carried.