POPE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
MEETING MINUTES
Supervisory Board Meeting 7:00 am May 19, 2009

 

1680 N. Franklin Street, Glenwood, MN 56334

 

Supervisors:

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

SWCD Staff:

Kelly Erickson, Kyle Hanson, Luan Johnsrud, Darrin Welle

Craig Bower NRCS

Guests:

Paul Gerde, Committee member, Pope County Commissioner

 

Meeting Minutes:

 

1.       Call the meeting to order at 7:10 a.m. Keith Nygaard, Chair.

2.       Motion by Ralph Peterson to approve the agenda with the following changes; move Kelly Erickson’s report ahead to accommodate work schedule, review Kyle Hanson’s work schedule, add Darrin Welle to reports.  Second by Gary Reents. Motion carried

3.       Motion by Ralph Peterson second by Gary Reents to accept the April 21, 2009 meeting minutes as printed.  Motion carried.

4.       Financial Report-April,  2009 bills. 

Motion by Mark Halls second by Randy Anderson to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented subject to audit.  Motion Carried.  Luan is to give the MCIT phone number to Randy Anderson so that he can follow up with them regarding the pass through funds for programs that Pope SWCD administers.

Motion by Randy Anderson to table the final budget for 2009 until further notice.  Second by Gary Reents. Motion carried.

 

5.       Reports-

Kelly Erickson, Technician.

He’s been busy planting trees for tree plans.  We have some trees and shrubs left.  The next few weeks he will be busy planting food plots and seeding grass.

The drills and packer have been rented a lot this season.  The disk blades on the drill are wearing out and need to be replaced. 

The electrician is at Rosholt Farm hooking up the irrigation unit so that Prairie Lakes Co-op can put water on the corn.  Kelly was notified that mice got into the well pump motor and chewed through the wires.  They will need to be repaired.  Motion by Randy Anderson second by Ralph Peterson to purchase replacement parts for the drill and well pump motor repair.  Motion carried.  Randy Anderson noted that we will need to update the budget for the Rosholt Farm project.

 

Craig Bower entered at 8:00 a.m.

 

Darrin Welle

Board members welcomed Darrin Welle, CWMA Intern.  Darrin has been working with Kelly on tree planting for his first week.  Pope SWCD and NRCS staff are working on his clearance to be able to access the computer system.  Ralph Peterson asked him to identify weeds growing in the ditch on the way up to A&W.

6.       Reports-

MN River Source Joint Powers Board (JPB#7)-Termination 2009

Motion by Gary Reents to authorize elimination of the old JPB#7 and to approve the new Technical Service Area II.  Second by Ralph Peterson.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

7.       Reports-

 

Paul Gerde- County Commissioner

County Commissioners met with Legislators in April.  It appears that road funds are in flux and that there will be cuts in just about everything.  Property taxes could increase up to 11%.

Paul outlined the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) issue.  Paul and Gordon Wagner are on the citizen committee to review LEC options.  The committee is taking another look at building above the east wing of the courthouse.  A structural engineer has verified that the wing could support one more floor.  They are waiting for the blessing from the sheriff and are meeting with other architects to review the project.

Paul attended a meeting with for the Chippewa River Watershed District on April 30, 2009.  They received a SWAG grant to conduct additional TMDL studies on lakes in Pope County.  Dr. Brown will be coordinating that study.

We discussed the Working Lands Initiative program.  Paul indicated that there was a significant difference in the vegetative growth on the land grazed west of Terrace that is owned by Fish and Wildlife. 

Paul asked if Megan Goebel has called from the County Coordinator’s office to set up a meeting with the Committee of the Whole.  We are scheduled to attend the meeting and make our presentation at 9:30 a.m. to the County Commissioners. Paul was under the opinion that since Pope SWCD was approved for $70,000.00 for 2009 and SWCD had received the first half of the appropriation, we were assured of receiving the second half.  However, Paul indicated that this may not be the case.  Pope SWCD may have the fight for our second half of the appropriation.  We need to review our presentation for the COW meeting to affirm that SWCD is here as a service to the county to provide programs that promote clean water and conservation.  We are not here to make money.

 

Paul Gerde left at 8:45 a.m.

 

8.       Old Business-

Outstanding Conservationist-

Kim Kruger declined the nomination.  After discussion, Gary Reents made the motion for Kelly to contact Dennis and Daryl Danielson, Lowry, for the Outstanding Conservationist recognition for their sediment basins and reduced tillage practices.  Second by Ralph Peterson.  Motion carried.

 

Website Proposals-

Luan presented four proposals from four different web designers.  Ralph had the name of another website designer to contact for an estimate.  Motion by Mark Halls second by Gary Reents that Luan use her best judgment to determine best value for website development.  Motion carried.

     

Discussed Kyle Hanson, wildlife technician, work schedule.  Kyle’s position is funded through the farm bill technician grant, however, there is the opportunity for Kyle to work on SWCD projects. Kyle had contact BWSR regarding splitting his time.  He was informed to be careful so that we don’t loose local support for his position/program.  The work schedule for Kyle will be 60% farm bill 40% SWCD.  Luan will work 40% farm bill for paperwork involved with managing that program.  Motion by Mark Halls second by Gary Reents to approve Kyle Hanson working 60% farm bill technician 40% SWCD.  Motion carried.  Staff was instructed to keep good records to track time.

 

 

9.       Reports

o        Kyle Hanson, SWCD Wildlife Technician

.

The Wildlife Technician Grant application is due May 29, 2009.  Based on program

 to date funding, the position costs about $1,600.00 per pay period.  Motion by Gary Reents second the motion by Randy Anderson to continue the Farm Bill position and apply for the grant.  Motion carried.

 

Kyle presented two Clean Water Legacy buffer strip proposals totaling 5.1 acres.  Swift county proposal was for $270.00, Chippewa county proposal was for $240.00.  Motion made by Mark Halls second by Randy Anderson to pay the incentive, administration and technical payments for these proposals.  Motion carried.

 

Wetland Deliniator training will be held August 24-28th in St. Cloud. This training will be helpful for Wetland Conservation  Act (WCA) determinations. The cost of the training is $900.00.  To help defray the cost of training, a grant is available for $450.00.  The grant application is due June 1st.  Notification of grant award will by June 12th.  Motion by Randy Anderson second by Ralph Peterson to pursue the grant funds to help defray the costs for Kyle to  attend the training.  In the event that SWCD does not receive grant funds, the district will pay for the registration.  Motion passed.  There is an exam on Friday following the training session.  The cost of the test is unknown at this time.

 

o        Luan Johnsrud, Office Manager

Continued to work on the proposed budget for 2009. 

We have been scheduled to present SWCD budget and supporting information June 9, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. to the  Pope County Commissioners COW meeting.

Melissa Behrens and Luan worked on the spring newsletter.  A cost comparison was conducted for mailing the letter and contacted advertisers to help defray the costs.

Made Arbor Day presentations and gave trees to MAHS, Glacial hills and Cyrus Elementary 6th grade students.

Gathered bids for website construction and hosting.

Coordinated the Public meeting the MPCA pope County 8 Lakes TMDL Study.  Per the work plan, Luan’s time will be reimbursed at $100 per hour, Kyle’s technical assistance time will be billed at $50 per hour.

Gathered posters and murals for this years’ “Dit It! the Secrets of Soil” poster contest.

Assisted with scoring at this year’s Envirothon held in Fergus Falls at the Prairie Lakes Learning Center.

Sent letters to area teachers for September 11, 2009  Water Fest registration.

Helped Kelly plant trees one day.

Attended a FAC meeting to discuss our building lease.

 

o        Craig Bower, NRCS

Report attached. 

EQIP applications are due May 22, 2009.  ranking and obligating deadline is fast approaching.

There are a few CRP contract that have been offered re-enrollment.  They have received a letter from KC at FSA.

 

o        Grant Herfindahl, FSA  no report

 

o        Ralph Peterson, WesMin RC&D/MN River Resource/Glacial Trail

 

WesMin RC & D

The transition of Smoky Timbers to the Foundation continues to move through the Attorney General’s office.

The Grazing Workshop contract is ongoing.

Glacial Model T tour received a grant from Alexandria Hospitality to help defray the costs of the tour.

Dry hydrants are installed and signs are installed as well.  Keith helped to put them up.  The area firemen are very appreciative of this program. 

Per the Alexandria Echo Press, Sheila Barsness, former WesMin RC & D employee, will be serving jail time and pay a fine for activities that she engaged in while working at WesMin RC&D.

The Area II re-organization meeting was held March 5th at Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood.  Ralph acted at the chairman for the event.  The next meeting will be held June 4th at Lakeside.  Kandiyohi SWCD will host the event.

 

Discussed a potential Rain Barrel project similar to the one Douglas County SWCD has started.  Luan has started searching for large barrels that could be repurposed as rain barrels.

 

Glacial Trail

The new four page birding brochure should be ready in the next two months.  These will be inserted into the existing brochure.

The committee has also noticed that some of the Glacial Ridge Trail signs are in need of repair or replacement.

 

Ralph noted that come SWCD offices have applied for hardship to MASWCD Finance Committee.  These counties would not have to pay their dues for this year.  There are programs in place to assist agencies that have applied for hardship to regain fiscal solvency.

 

 

10.   New Business

 

 

o        The Rain Garden at the fair grounds appears to have had standing water too long and some of the plants will need to be replaced.  Contact Holly to see who is in charge of maintenance of this project.

 

o        Luan presented letter of Credit from Eagle Bank.  Motion by Randy Anderson second by Ralph Peterson to accept the Letter of Credit.  Motion carried.

o        2009 will commemorate 60 years of conservation.  Use this theme at the Pope County Fair booth.  We will also receive a plaque from NRCS.

 

o        Area II meeting will be June 4, 2009 at Lakeside.  Ralph, Keith, Luan, Kyle and Kelly will attend the meeting. Mark and Gary will check their schedules.  Randy will not be able to attend.

 

o        Keith Nygaard, Mark Halls, Gary Reents, and Ralph Peterson judged the posters and murals for the poster contest.

 

o        Discussed presentation to the Pope County Commissioner’s COW meeting June 9th. Board members should do some brainstorming and send their ideas to Randy or Luan by Friday May 22nd.  The ideas will be gathered into a presentation for COW.  We should highlight what SWCD does for the county as a whole and compare our programs with surrounding counties.

 

11.    Motion by Mark Halls, second the motion by Gary Reents to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m.