Category: October

Minutes from the October 10th, 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: John Sonstegard, Monica Dohmen, Roger Krause, Frank Sindelir, Nancy Dunnell

Members absent: none

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

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

A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the September 14th, 2023 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Dunnell.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

The September 2023 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.  

The 3rd Quarter budget vs actual reports were reviewed. 

The 3rd Quarter Supervisor expense reports were reviewed. 

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

Old Business – none

Special Reports – Michael Steinhauer, NRCS Resource Conservationist – Steinhauer gave a report of recent activity along with a presentation of EQIP and CSP contracts summarized on a county-wide and area-wide basis. 

New Business

MASWCD Resolution voting   
The Supervisors voted on the 2023 MASWCD resolutions.

FY21 Local Capacity grant end date extension   
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to approve the FY21 Local Capacity grant amendment to extend the end date for one year. 

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

FY24/25 SWCD Programs and Operations Grant Agreement   

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to authorize the FY24/25 SWCD Programs and Operations grant agreement with the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources. 

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

Authorization to purchase promotional items
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to approve the purchase of 300 promotional pens from Nelson Ink.

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

Website ADA compliance tool   
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to renew the annual website hosting contract with SandPieper Design without the ADA Compliance Checker tool.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Certificates of Deposit   

A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize investment in two $150,000 certificates of deposit with Multi-Bank Securities at a term of up to one year.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Sonstegard excused himself from the meeting. 

Authorize Estling’s abandoned well sealing cost share application  
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize Rod Estling’s abandoned well sealing cost share contract at a rate of $500 or 75% of the total cost, whichever is less.  

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

Pine Island bathymetry contract with AMI Engineering   
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize the District Manager to approve a contract for services if one is needed with AMI Engineering for the SWCD’s portion of the bathymetric survey on Lake of the Woods as part of the Southern Shore – Barrier Island Study.  

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

Approve forest management plan application for Brad Levasseuer   
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize Levasseuer’s Rainy-Rapid Cost Share Contract for a forest management plan at a rate of $300 plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 317 acres.  The contract start date will be upon final approval of grant funding.  

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

Approve forest management plan application for Evan Mawyer

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize Mawyer’s Rainy-Rapid Cost Share Contract for a forest management plan at a rate of $300 plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 320 acres.  The contract start date will be upon final approval of grant funding.  

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

Approve forest management plan application for Mitch Chrzianowski

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Krause, to authorize Chrzianowski’s Rainy-Rapid Cost Share Contract for a forest management plan at a rate of $300 plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 222 acres.  The contract start date will be upon final approval of grant funding.  

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

AMI Contract for Services
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize a contract for services with AMI Engineering for shoreline stabilization designs. 

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

Outstanding Conservationist Convention Expenses

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dunnell, to approve expenses for the Outstanding Conservationist to attend the MASWCD Annual Convention. Expenses approved for reimbursement include a 1-night stay at the convention hotel rate, meal expenses with receipts up to $75 and round-trip mileage at the federal rate.
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Training and Travel Requests

WPLMN Training
The board approved travel reimbursement for Vrtacnik’s attendance at the WPLMN training under District bills. 

MASWCD Annual Convention
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Krause, to authorize staff and supervisors to attend the MASWCD Annual Convention.
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Staff Reports – the board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.  

Committee Reports – none

General Information and Discussion

Peterson Company LTD. letter to the Board of Supervisors  – see attachment to the board packet. 

2024 Budget and Vehicle Purchase 

2024 wages and benefits 

The next regular board meeting has been set for November 9th, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.  

Adjourn: Dunnell Seconded: Sindelir

Meeting adjournment time: 7:00 p.m.

Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________

Minutes from the October 13, 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

Members absent: none

Others present: Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund; Resource Conservationist, Mike Hirst; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask; NRCS Soil Conservationist, William Lee;  County Commissioner, Joe Grund

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

A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the September 8th, 2022 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Dunnell.

The September 2022 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. 

The Third Quarter budget vs actual report was reviewed.

The third quarter supervisor expense reports were reviewed. 

A motion was made by Dunnell to approve the bills as listed on the agenda with the addition of Sandpieper Design Website #7347 ($645).  The motion was seconded by Dohmen.  

Old Business

Health Insurance Supplemental Programs
The board did not select any supplemental programs to offer to employees.  No action was taken.  

Special Reports

Chad Severts, BWSR – Severts presented on the future of the TSA8 structure, as it relates to engineering services.  A recent Performance Review report was completed by Houston Engineering which provides recommendations on possible restructuring.  

William Lee, Soil Conservationist – Lee presented the NRCS report to the board.  See attachment to the October 13, 2022 agenda for a copy of the report. 

New Business

MASWCD Resolution voting

The board conducted voting on the 2022 MASWCD resolutions. 

Hahn 2022 FMP-05 final payment for forest management plan cost share    

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize final payment for Hahn’s 2022 FMP-05 forest management plan cost share contract in the amount of $1,372.50.

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

Stodgell abandoned well sealing cost share application   

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize the abandoned well sealing cost share application for Stodgell in the amount of $500 or 75% of the total cost, whichever is less.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Slick abandoned well sealing cost share application  

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the abandoned well sealing cost share application for Stodgell in the amount of $500 or 75% of the total cost, whichever is less.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Estling shoreline protection cost share payment request    

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to authorize final payment for Rod Estling’s #2022-06-CS/WBIF shoreline protection project in the amount of $31,875.00.  

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

FY23 State of MN BWSR CWF Local Capacity and Buffer Law Implementation grant agreement    

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Krause, to enter into the FY23 Local Capacity and Buffer Law Implementation grant agreement.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

See attachment to the October 13, 2022 agenda for a copy of the agreement. 

FY23 Soil Health Cost Share Grants  

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dohmen, to enter into the FY23 Soil Health Cost Share grant agreement.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

See attachment to the October 13, 2022 agenda for a copy of the agreement. 

Grant extension for FY20 Local Capacity  

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize the FY20 Local Capacity grant extension.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

See attachment to the October 13, 2022 agenda for a copy of the agreement. 

Outstanding conservationist – convention expenses  

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the following expenses for the 2022 Outstanding Conservationist: round trip mileage for one vehicle from home to event at federal rate, one hotel room at convention rate, and the following at SWCD meal allowance rates: evening meal for two people, breakfast for two people, outstanding conservationist luncheon for two people. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

AIS watercraft inspector appreciation stipends   

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize two $100 stipends for the AIS watercraft inspectors in Lake of the Woods County for the 2022 inspecting season with funding to come from the state Aquatic Invasive Species grant.  
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Keep It Clean Website
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dohmen, to authorize $450 of the Keep it Clean Larson Memorial fund to be utilized to develop a Keep it Clean website and fund one year of hosting in partnership with Regional Keep it Clean members. 

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

2021 Audit    

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to approve the management representation letter to Peterson Co. Ltd and to approve the 2021 draft audit.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried

Training and Travel Requests

A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize all interested staff and supervisors to attend the MASWCD Convention on December 12-14th in Minneapolis.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried

Staff Reports – the board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.  

Committee Reports – none

General Information and Discussion

Arena stormwater outfall – Trask notified the board of a potential cost share project to repair the stormwater outfalls at the arena building.  The project would be installed in the spring of 2023.    

Cost share and landowner assistance – the board was informed of challenges regarding lack of cost share funding and multiple requests due to the flooding.  The board discussed holding a special meeting to discuss how to be equitable to NW Angle residents but also address issues such as cost-benefit ratios. 

The next regular board meeting has been set for November 10th, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.  

Adjourn: Dohmen Seconded: Krause

Meeting adjournment time: 7:05 p.m.

Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________

Minutes from the October 14, 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 Frank Sindelir at 5:00 p.m.

Members present: Monica Dohmen, Roger Krause (joined remotely), Frank Sindelir, Nancy Dunnell
Members absent: John Sonstegard

Others present: Resource Conservationist, Mike Hirst; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask; NRCS Resource Conservationist, Michael Steinhauer; County Commissioner, Joe Grund (joined remotely)

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

A motion was made by Dunnell, seconded by Dohmen, to approve the September 9th, 2021 minutes.
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

The September 2021 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. 

The 3rd Quarter budget vs. actual reports were reviewed.

The 3rd Quarter supervisor expense reports were reviewed.

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

Old Business

Health Insurance: Employee Assistance Program and Medicare Part D Notification
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Dohmen, to enter into the Employee Assistance Program offered through Medica at a cost to the SWCD of $1.80 per covered employee per month, and to also purchase Medica’s plan upgrade to ensure compliance with Medicare Part D notice requirements at a cost to the SWCD of $0.05 per employee per month. 
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Special Reports

NRCS partner updates: Michael Steinhauer, Resource Conservationist – Steinhauer presented information to the board on current NRCS programs. 

New Business

MASWCD Resolution Voting

The 2021 MASWCD Resolutions were reviewed and voted upon. 

Change date for November SWCD board meeting due to Veteran’s Day 

Due to the normal regular board meeting date falling upon a federal holiday, the board set November 4th at 5:00 p.m. in the Lake of the Woods County Boardroom as the new date and time for the November meeting.

FY2022 BWSR Buffer Program Implementation Supplemental Program Grant Agreement    

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Dohmen, to enter into the FY2022 BWSR Buffer Program Implementation Supplemental Program Grant Agreement.
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
  

FY2022 BWSR Local Capacity and Buffer Law Implementation Program Grant Agreement  
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Krause, to enter into the FY2022 BWSR Local Capacity and Buffer Law Implementation Program Grant Agreement.
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Fourth quarter work session – personnel and planning discussion
No action was taken.  The board will work to address all topics at the November board meeting. 

2020 Audit 
A motion was made by Dohmen, seconded by Krause, to approve the draft 2020 audit from Peterson Company Ltd. and submit the Management Representation Letter.
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Set policy committee members for the Rainy-Rapid One Watershed, One Plan
A motion was made by Dohmen, with a second by Krause, to approve John Sonstegard and Nancy Dunnell as members for the Rainy-Rapid One Watershed One Plan policy committee.

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

Authorize purchase of SWCD promotional pens
The board discussed spending limits.  No action was taken.  The board directed the staff to price out options through Nelson Ink, a local retailer.

Final payment on Fadness Forest Management Plan Cost Share contract

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize final payment in the amount of $2,380 for Calvin Fadness’s forest management plan cost share contract.  Funding will come from the LOTW One Watershed One Plan grant. 
Affirmative: Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Training and Travel Requests – none

Staff Reports – the board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.  

Committee Reports 

LW Watershed Joint Powers Board – Dunnell presented on the tour sites for the Joint Powers Board
Area VIII Meeting – Dohmen discussed sites visited on the Area 8 fall tour

General Information and Discussion

2021 cost share applications – staff are currently reviewing applications and will present recommendations to the board.
2021 watercraft inspection data summary – see attachment to the October board packet

The next regular board meeting has been set for November 4th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.  

Adjourn: Krause Seconded: Dohmen

Meeting adjournment time: 6:45 p.m.

Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________