Minutes from the December 11th, 2025 Regular Board Meeting
The meeting of the Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District was held in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
The meeting was called to order by Nancy Dunnell at 5:00 p.m.
Members present: John Sonstegard, Monica Dohmen, Roger Krause, Nancy Dunnell, John Sopkowiak
Members absent: none
Others present: Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund; Resource Conservationist, Mike Hirst; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve the agenda.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to approve the November 6th, 2025 minutes.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The November 2025 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard to approve the bills as listed on the agenda.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Old Business – none
Special Reports – none
New Business
Forest management plan cost share rates
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dohmen, to approve amending the Forest Management Plan cost share rates for the Lake of the Woods and the Rainy-Rapid Watershed Based Implementation Funding effective January 1 for all new applications. The maximum allowed plan cost will be based on the DNR rate of $300 + $10 per acre. Total cost share will not exceed 75% of the allowed cost. The maximum cost share acres is 320 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
AIS Inspector Year End Appreciation Award
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to approve AIS Inspector appreciation awards for three inspectors in the amount of $150 each with funding to come from the AIS program.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
BWSR Keep it Clean Grant Agreement
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve the Keep it Clean Grant Agreement C26-0072 in the amount of $40,000.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
BWSR Keep It Clean Purchases
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Krause, to approve the purchase of KQ92 radio advertising, Star Tribune geofencing, ice road pass logo reimbursements, RV dumpstation banners, and Keep it clean buckets for the 2025-2026 ice fishing season with funding from the Keep it Clean grant.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Livestock Producer Workshop
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sopkowiak, to approve expenses not to exceed $1,000 for presenter stipend and mileage reimbursement, refreshments and facility rental to host a livestock producer workshop in Baudette.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
BWSR Rainy-Rapid WBIF Agreement
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dohmen, to approve the board chair to sign the FY26 Rainy-Rapid Watershed Based Implementation Funding grant agreement.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Lake of the Woods Watershed Joint Powers Board Cooperative Agreements
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dohmen, to approve FY26 cooperative agreements with the Lake of the Woods Watershed JPB for Admin/Coordination, Ag and Forestry cost share programs, Keep it Clean, Ag Education and Shoreline Stabilization.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Extend Phase 2 Peatland Restoration agreement
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sopkowiak, to approve the amendment to extend the Phase 2 Peatland Restoration agreement #276018 with the MN DNR until March 31, 2026.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
2026 Wages
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Krause, to approve a two-step wage increase for all employees effective January 1st, 2026.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
MN Leave Law
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve the following MN Leave Law policies:
*The District Manager will be designated as the Leave Law Administrator.
*Premiums will be split 50:50 between the SWCD and Employee.
*Supplemental payments or “topping off” will not be allowed but may be considered in the future if it is determined that the payroll system can support it.
*Intermittent leave may be taken in no smaller than one (1) hour increments.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
2026 Budget
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to approve the 2026 budget as presented.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The final budget will be included as an attachment to the December board packet.
Increase operational reserve fund
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to approve the increase to the Operational Reserve Fund by $35,000 to bring the balance to $185,000.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Peppel abandoned well sealing cost share payment request
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve final payment for Peppel’s 2025-06-SP abandoned well sealing cost share project in the amount of $1,000 with funds to come from the Well Sealing Special Projects fund.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Maus abandoned well sealing cost share payment request
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve final payment for Maus’s 2020-03-SP abandoned well sealing cost share project in the amount of $1,000 with funds to come from the Well Sealing Special Projects fund.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Hoscheid abandoned well sealing cost share payment request
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Krause, to approve final payment for Hoscheid’s 2024-13-SP abandoned well sealing cost share project in the amount of $1,000 with funds to come from the Well Sealing Special Projects fund.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Training and Travel Requests –none
Staff Reports – the board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.
Committee Reports
MASWCD convention – Trask updated the board on the results of the resolution voting held at the MASWCD convention.
General Information and Discussion
Update – Karvakko engineering service fees – the contract for on-call services will be used for the Brateng shoreline site.
Keep It Clean non-profit – LOW SWCD Staff participation – the Keep it Clean Coalition is forming a non-profit and has invited Lake of the Woods SWCD participation.
Office of State Auditor 2024 review – letter to Peterson Company LTD from the State Auditor International Lake of the Woods Control Board Correspondence – see attachment to the board packet First Quarter Special Meeting – staff will work on a strategic planning session in January
The next regular board meeting has been set for January 8th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
Adjourn: Sopkowiak Seconded: Sonstegard
Meeting adjournment time: 7:25 p.m.
Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________