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December 12th, 2024

Minutes from the December 12th, 2024 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, Mike Hirst; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask; NRCS Resource Conservationist, Michael Steinhauer;  County Commissioner, Joe Grund

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

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to approve the November 14th, 2024 minutes. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to approve the November 21st, 2024 special meeting minutes as amended. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

The November 2024 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.  

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

Old Business – none


Special Reports

NRCS partner updates – Michael Steinhauer, Resource Conservationist – see the board packet for a copy of Steinhauer’s report. 

New Business
Approve the 2025 Budget
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to approve the 2025 budget.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

Approve Herzog’s LW Forest Management Plan Cost Share Application
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to approve Herzog’s Thundering Herd Hunt Club Lake of the Woods Watershed Forest Management Plan cost share application in the amount of $300 base payment plus $6.50 per planned acre, not to exceed 320 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

Approve Johnston’s abandoned well sealing cost share application  

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to approve Kara Johnston’s abandoned well sealing cost share application in the amount of $1,000 or 100% of the total cost, whichever is less. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

Approve abandoned well sealing application blanket extensions

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve a one-year extension for Arnesen, Stodgel and Maus well sealing contracts with the requirement that the practice be completed or the contract be terminated, and a one-year blanket extension for all other active well sealing contracts.   

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

Approve Kvarnlov’s R-R forest management plan cost share payment 

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dunnell, to approve Chris Kvarnlov’s Rainy-Rapid forest management plan cost share final payment in the amount of $1,387.50.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

AgBMP low-interest loan request for reduced tillage equipment   

A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to approve Arnesen’s AgBMP low-interest loan application for reduced tillage equipment. 
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

New hire  

The board consensus was to extend the job posting for an additional three weeks.  Sonstegard and Dohmen will be on the hiring committee.  

Regen Ag Courses 

A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve the purchase of 2025 online training seats for Regen Ag and Adaptive Grazing.  Total cost is not to exceed $2,000 with funds to come from the Lake of the Woods watershed-based implementation funding. 

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

Keep It Clean sign purchases

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to approve the purchase of Keep it Clean 3’x5’ metal signs and lumber to construct four access signs.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

Approve LW County’s 2024-14-SP well sealing cost share final payment  

A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to approve Lake of the Woods County’s abandoned well sealing cost share final payment in the amount of $1700.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

Approve Vansickle’s 2024-16SP abandoned well sealing cost share final payment

A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to approve Jay Vansickle’s abandoned well sealing cost share final payment in the amount of $1,000.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried. 

Thompson abandoned well sealing cost share application
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to approve Dean Thompson’s abandoned well sealing cost share application and final payment in the amount of $1,000.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.

Training and Travel Requests – none

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

Committee Reports 

MASWCD Convention – the annual convention was held December 2nd-4th. Sonstegard and Hirst were in attendance. 

General Information and Discussion

2024 SWCD Election Results and Reminders   

Hiring and Personnel Policy updates – staff is waiting on the grant agreement from BWSR on the performance grant.  

Williams Creek Settlement Agreement – Correspondence with the County Board – the consensus was to request that the County board keep the SWCD board updated on the use of funds related to the settlement agreement.  

The next regular board meeting has been set for January 9th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.  

Adjourn: Sonstegard Seconded: Krause

Meeting adjournment time: 6:45 p.m.

Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________