December 8th, 2022

Minutes from the December 8th, 2022 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, Frank Sindelir.  Nancy Dunnell joined remotely

Members absent: none

Others present: Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund; Resource Conservationist, Mike Hirst; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask; NRCS Resource Conservationist, Michael Steinhauer

A motion was made by Dohmen to approve the agenda.  The motion was seconded by Krause. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the November 10th, 2022 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Dohmen.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

The November 2022 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.  

A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the bills as listed on the agenda.  The motion was seconded by Krause. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Special Reports

NRCS partner updates – Michael Steinhauer, Resource Conservationist – see attachment to the December 8th, 2022 agenda for a copy of Steinhauer’s report. 

Personnel committee report – the personnel committee presented their recommendations for health insurance refunds, and wages and benefits for 2023. 

Old Business

Health insurance refund
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to add $.07 of District funds to the 2021 health insurance settlement refund and distribute this fund equally to the three covered employees’ health savings accounts.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

New Business

2023 Wage and Benefits

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the wage increases for the following positions, effective January 1, 2023 as follows:
Resource Conservationist Senior, Grade 14 Step F6
Water Resources Technician Specialist, Grade 11 Step C3

Office Assistant Specialist, Grade 8 Step D4

Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

2023 Budget   

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Krause, to approve the 2023 SWCD budget.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

See attachment to the December 2022 agenda for a copy of the final budget.

Increase special projects fund balance    

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to increase the Special Projects fund balance up to $20,000 using District funds, effective January 1st of the new year.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.  

Authorize winter newsletter expenses    

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Krause, to authorize expenses for the SWCD winter edition of the newsletter.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Hendrickson abandoned well sealing cost share payment    

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize final payment for Hendrickson’s 2022-05-SP abandoned well sealing contract in the amount of $500.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Slick abandoned well sealing cost share payment   

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Dohmen, to authorize final payment for Slick’s 2022-08-SP abandoned well sealing contract in the amount of $500.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Keep It Clean Incentive for dump station use tracking    

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the purchase of two $100 gift cards to be used as part of a drawing for registered dump station users.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Accept donations for the Keep it Clean program   

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to accept memorial donations for Ron McAttee from Jeanette McAttee and Michelle Friend for the Keep it Clean program.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Request to purchase 500 forever stamps

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to purchase 500 forever stamps for $300.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: Dohmen Motion carried.

Training and Travel Requests – none

Staff Reportsthe board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.  

Committee Reports 

TSA 8  – Stromlund and Sindelir reported back to the board about the recent TSA8 meeting.  The 2023 budget was adopted.  The TSA is no longer budgeting for any staff.  Funding will be disbursed to all SWCDs who may then use the funds to hire their own engineering staff or private consultants.  Districts will be able to utilize the TSA’s equipment.  

General Information and Discussion

Update to CD Investments – see attachment to the December 2022 agenda

Conservation Corps Crew – District staff will be pursuing a summer conservation corps apprentice and also a summer crew.  

The next regular board meeting has been set for January 12th, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.  

Adjourn: Dohmen Seconded: Krause

Meeting adjournment time: 6:45 p.m.

Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________

December 9th, 2021

Minutes from the December 9th, 2021 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 5:04 p.m.

Members present: John Sonstegard, Monica Dohmen, Roger Krause, Frank Sindelir, Nancy Dunnell

Members absent: none

Others present: Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund; Resource Conservationist, Mike Hirst; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask; NRCS Resource Conservationist, Michael Steinhauer;  Joining remotely: County Commissioner, Joe Grund

A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the agenda.  The motion was seconded by Krause. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

A motion was made by Dunnell to approve the November 4th, 2021 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Dohmen.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

The October and November Treasurer’s Reports were reviewed.  

The 4th Quarter supervisor expense reports were reviewed. 

A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the bills as listed on the agenda.  The motion was seconded by Krause. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Old Business

Personnel Policy Waivers – no action was taken

Fadness forest management plan cost share application termination
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dohmen, to terminate Duane Fadness’s forest management plan cost share application due to cover-type ineligibility.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Audette cost share violation
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to send notification to Robert Audette regarding a cost share violation on his property.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Special Reports

NRCS Partner Updates – Michael Steinhauer, Resource Conservationist – see attachment to the December 9th board meeting agenda for a copy of Steinhauer’s report. 

New Business

2022 Wage and Benefits  

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sindelir, to adopt the 2021 Lake of the Woods County wage scale as the official wage scale of the SWCD. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

See attachment to the December 9th, 2021 agenda for a copy of the wage scale.  

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sindelir, to set wages effective January 1, 2022 at the following placements on the wage scale: Office Assistant: G8/B2; Water Resource Technician: G10/C3; Resource Conservationists: G14, D4. 

Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to set the SWCD monthly portion for family health insurance plans at $1,215.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to set the SWCD monthly portion for life insurance coverage at $3.86 per eligible employee. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Adopt 2022 Budget

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to adopt the 2022 budget.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

See attachment to the December 9th, 2021 agenda for a copy of the 2022 budget. 

Personnel policy updates   – no action was taken

Hapka abandoned well sealing cost share final payment   

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize final payment for the Hapka 2021-05-SP abandoned well sealing contract in the amount of $300. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Cost share rates for abandoned well sealing  

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Sindelir, to increase the cost share rate for the SWCD Abandoned Well Sealing Program from $300 per well to $500 per well, with cost share not to exceed 75% of the total eligible cost to seal the well.  Rate changes will be effective January 1, 2022.  

The following active contracts are eligible for the rate increase if the work was not completed prior to January 1, 2022: 2019-18-SP, 2020-03-SP, 2021-02-SP, 2021-03-SP.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Increase special projects fund balance

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to increase the Special Projects fund balance to $20,000 on January 1, 2022 with funding to come from District funds.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Authorize winter 2021 newsletter expenses   

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Dohmen, to authorize costs for the SWCD winter newsletter.  Total estimated cost is $1,025, based off of the spring 2021 printing and distribution costs. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Replenish Petty Cash Account    

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to replenish the Petty Cash Account with $81.30 to bring the total balance to $100. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

CD Investments  

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize CD investments up to $500,000, in increments of $125,000 or less, with final approval for investments to come from the District Manager. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

ACH bank draws  

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to approve ACH transactions from Border Bank checking to Medica and MCIT. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Rainy-Rapid 1W1P planning grant work plan and BWSR grant agreement        

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Krause, to authorize the Rainy-Rapid 1W1P work plan and grant agreement with the Board of Soil and Water Resources, and to designate Stromlund as the authorized signer for the grant agreement.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Rainy-Rapid 1W1P contract with Houston Engineering    

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to enter into a contract for services with Houston Engineering for the Rainy-Rapid 1W1P planning grant contingent upon the SWCD receiving approval for the BWSR grant agreement.  

Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Rainy-Rapid 1W1P contract with MN Extension for facilitation

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to enter into a contract for services with UMN Extension contingent upon the SWCD receiving approval for the BWSR grant agreement.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell        Opposed: None Motion carried.

Rainy-Rapid 1W1P – SWCD Policy Committee Member vacancy 

Dunnell will remain on the committee.  No action was taken.  

Training and Travel Requests – none

Staff Reportsthe board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.  

Committee Reports – none

General Information and Discussion

Fee for service – shoreline engineering vs. other services –
Keep it Clean Program – regional partnerships are being considered.  The Committee is pursuing with caution because they want to make sure the intent of the local program is preserved.  

The next regular board meeting has been set for January 13th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.  

Adjourn: Krause Seconded: Sindelir

Meeting adjournment time: 7:48 p.m.

Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________