Minutes from the April 9th, 2026 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 John Sonstegard 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; NRCS Team Lead, Jody Peek; County Commissioner, Joe Grund
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dohmen, to approve the agenda.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sopkowiak, to approve the March 12th, 2026 minutes.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The March 2026 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.
The First Quarter Budget vs Actual reports were reviewed.
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sopkowiak, to approve the bills as listed on the agenda.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Old Business
Letter to International Lake of the Woods Control Board
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Dunnell, to approve the joint letter to the International Lake of the Woods Control Board from the SWCD and the County Board and to allow for minor changes if any are requested by the County Board.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Letter regarding USDA staffing levels
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Dunnell, to approve the joint letter regarding USDA Staffing Levels from the SWCD and the County Board and to allow for minor changes if any are requested by the County Board.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
MGLCA – agreement update and request
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Dunnell, to approve an additional contribution of $100 to the MN Grazing Lands Association for a total of $800 per mentor/mentee pair in 2026.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Strategic Planning – mini session – goal review
This agenda item was tabled.
Special Reports
NRCS partner updates – Jody Peek, NRCS Team Lead, informed the board that the staff for the 5-county team is down one more, leading to fewer hours which will be allocated to Lake of the Woods and Koochiching producers. There are no EQIP contracts in LW County. Staff is currently completing CSP assessment and ranking, and there are eight applications.
New Business
Keep it Clean Donation Request
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Dohmen, to approve a $500 donation to the the Lake of the Woods Take a Kid Fishing Program from the Keep it Clean Account in exchange for the KIC logo to be included on tshirts.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Request to purchase pin flags
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sopkowiak, to approve $316.50 from the tree program to the purchase of pin flags for resale
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Tree Program payments
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize payment of invoices from nursery suppliers upon delivery of tree seedlings.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Grant fund transfer request
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Dunnell, to approve the transfer of MidPoint Assessment Grant payments from the SWCD to the LOW Joint Powers Board immediately upon receipt from the State.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Load Monitoring purchase request
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sopkowiak, to approve the purchase of a pH sensor in the amount of $225.00 through the Load Program contract.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Drone services
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dohmen, to approve utilizing Koochiching SWCD for drone services to complete a seeding for the living snowfence project.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Summer internship
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Dohmen, to approve a summer intern position at the SWCD in a possible partnership with the County Public Works Department.
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sopkowiak, Dunnell Opposed: None Sonstegard abstained. Motion carried.
Levasseur forest management plan cost share final payment
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sopkowiak, to approve the final payment for Levasseur’s 2026-02 FMP-RR contract in the amount of $531.00 upon receipt of all required documentation.
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
TSA8 Committee meeting
Area 8 Remote Meeting
General Information and Discussion
Southern Shore Barrier Island Erosion Investigation presentation from AMI Engineering
State Climatology Office Annual Summary 2025
Artificial Intelligence Usage policy
2026 Elections reminder
Resolutions
Rainy-Rapid WBIF update
The next regular board meeting has been set for May 14th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
Adjourn: Sopkowiak Seconded: Krause
Meeting adjournment time: 7:30 p.m.
Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________