Minutes from the July 13, 2023 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 Monica Dohmen at 5:00 p.m.
Members present: Monica Dohmen, John Sonstegard, 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
A motion was made by Krause to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Sindelir.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sonstegard to approve the June 8th, 2023 minutes. The motion was seconded by Sindelir.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The June 2023 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.
The 2nd Quarter Budget vs. Actual reports were reviewed.
The 2nd Quarter Supervisor expense reports were reviewed.
A motion was made by Dunnell 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 – none
Special Reports – Michael Steinhauer, NRCS Resource Conservationist, presented his report.
New Business
Request to amend LOW SWAG contract with MPCA
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to amend or revise the SWAG work plan in consultation with the District Manager and MPCA.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Authorize well testing clinic
A motion was made by Sonstegard with a second by Sindelir to authorize up to $1,500 in expenses for the 2023 well testing clinic and set the landowner cost per test kit at $15.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Maurice Dunn forest management plan cost share application
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize Dunn’s LW-WBIF Forest Management Plan cost share contract in the amount of $300 + $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 320 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Eklund abandoned well sealing cost share application
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir. to authorize Eklund’s Special Projects abandoned well sealing cost share contract in the amount of $500 or 75% of the total project cost, whichever is less.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Authorize final payment for Wiersma grassed waterway
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize the District Manager to approve final payment for Weirsma’s 2023-04-CS grassed waterway project upon receiving all necessary financial documents and project certifications.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Authorize amendment for Brateng shoreline protection
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve increasing 2023-02-WBIF Brateng’s cost share rate from 50% to 75% contingent upon the installation of the shoreline buffer.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Statewide Keep It Clean Digital Marketing campaign contract
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize entering into a contract with the Star Tribune for the 2023-2025 Keep it Clean digital marketing campaign funded through the MPCA grant.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Authorize newsletter expenses
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize expenses for the summer/fall SWCD newsletter.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Forest Stewardship Plan Cost Share – Rainy Rapid watershed
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize a forest management plan cost share program through the Rainy-Rapid watershed funding that aligns with policy and ranking of the LW watershed program.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Adopt resolution for use of SWCD Aid funding
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to approve the following resolution for the use of SWCD Aid funding:
LAKE OF THE WOODS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (SWCD)
2023 GUIDELINES ON USE OF SWCD AID PAYMENTS
Minn. Stat. § 477A.23, subd. 4(b)
(effective July 20, 2023)
State SWCD Aid payments will be used by the district board and staff to carry out the following duties as outlined in Minn. Stat. § 103C.332, subd. 1:
(1) respond to and provide technical and financial assistance to landowners to maintain and improve the quality, quantity, distribution, and sustainability of natural resources, including surface water, groundwater, soil, and ecological resources;
(2) provide technical assistance in implementing the soil erosion law under sections 103F.401 to 103F.48;
(3) arrange for employees to serve on technical evaluation panels to implement the wetland laws as required under section 103G.2242;
(4) locally administer the reinvest in Minnesota reserve program under section 103F.515 and rules adopted thereunder, using knowledge of local resources to manage each easement to maximize environmental benefits;
(5) participate in administering the Wetland Conservation Act as provided under sections 103G.221 to 103G.2375, either in an advisory capacity or as the designated local government unit administering the program;
(6) participate in the local water management program under chapter 103B, either in an advisory capacity or as the designated local government unit administering the program;
(7) participate, as appropriate, in the comprehensive watershed management planning program under section 103B.801;
(8) participate in disaster response efforts as provided in chapter 12A;
(9) provide technical recommendations to the Department of Natural Resources on general permit applications under section 103G.301;
(10) provide technical assistance and local administration of the agricultural water quality certification program under sections 17.9891 to 17.993;
(11) provide technical assistance for the agricultural land preservation program under chapter 40A, where applicable;
(12) maintain compliance with section 15.99 for deadlines for agency action;
(13) coordinate with appropriate county officials on matters related to electing soil and water conservation district supervisors; and
(14) cooperate to the extent possible with federal, state, and local agencies and with private organizations to avoid duplicating and to enhance implementing public and private conservation initiatives within the jurisdiction of the district.
In carrying out the above duties, the district board and staff will use state aid payments to deliver the following services as outlined in Minn. Stat. § 103C.332, subd. 2:
(1) performing administrative services, including comprehensive and annual work planning, administering grants, leveraging outside funding, establishing fiscal accountability measures, reporting accomplishments, human resources management, and staff and supervisor development;
(2) entering into cooperative agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other United States Department of Agriculture agencies to leverage federal technical and financial assistance;
(3) providing technical expertise, including knowledge of local resources, performing technical evaluations and certifications, assessing concerns, and providing oversight in surveying, designing, and constructing conservation practices;
(4) providing information and education outreach, including increasing landowner awareness and knowledge of soil and water conservation program opportunities to protect soil and water resources and publicizing the benefits of soil and water conservation to the general public;
(5) facilitating regulatory processes for impacted landowners and providing technical review and comment on regulatory permits and development plans for regulations relating to soil and water conservation;
(6) administering projects and programs, including but not limited to the nonpoint source pollution abatement program; reinvest in Minnesota reserve conservation easements program; disaster response; local water management and comprehensive watershed management planning programs; and projects related to floodplains, lakes, streams and ditches, wetlands, upland resources, and groundwater resources, to maintain and improve the quality, quantity, distribution, and sustainability of natural resources, including surface water, groundwater, soil, and ecological resources;
(7) monitoring and inventorying to collect data that provide a baseline understanding of resource conditions and changes to the resources over time and analyzing and interpreting the data to support program implementation; and
(8) maintaining a modern technology infrastructure that facilitates planning and projects, including geographic information systems, modeling software, mobile workstations, survey and design equipment and software, and other technology for linking landowners with conservation plans.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Authorize purchase of chemical for buckthorn removal
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize $1,570 for the purchase of chemical for the treatment of buckthorn using Local Capacity funds.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Training and Travel Requests – none requested
Staff Reports – the board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.
Committee Reports – the board reviewed committee reports as presented with the agenda.
General Information and Discussion
Soil Health Field Day – the staff presented a report on the recent soil health field day hosted by Sustainable Farming Association.
MCIT Updates and impacts to policies – see attachment to the July 13, 2023 board packet.
Cost share funding matrix – staff presented a draft matrix of cost share funding
Set quarterly meeting date – the board discussed holding a quarterly meeting at the end of August or early September
The next regular board meeting has been set for August 10th, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
Adjourn: Krause Seconded: Dunnell
Meeting adjournment time: 7:25 p.m.
Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________