Minutes from the February 8th, 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; 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 Dunnell to approve the January 11th, 2024 minutes. The motion was seconded by Sindelir.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The January Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.
A motion was made by Krause 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
Vehicle purchase
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the purchase of a 2023 Ford F150 through the County Public Works Department state contract.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The consensus of the board was to authorize the purchase of vehicle accessories with total vehicle plus accessories cost not to exceed the amount budgeted in the 2024 SWCD budget.
Special Reports
NRCS partner updates – Michael Steinhauer, Resource Conservationist – see the board packet for a copy of Steinhauer’s report.
New Business
Henning RR Forest Management Plan Cost Share Application
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the Rainy-Rapid Forest Management Plan cost share application for Timothy Daniel Henning Revoc Trust at $300 base payment plus $6.50 per planned acre, not to exceed 240 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Vail 2021-03SP abandoned well sealing cost share payment
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize final payment for Vail’s abandoned well sealing contract in the amount of $500.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Operating Funds – Well Sealing Assigned Account
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the establishment of an assigned fund account for $20,000 with funding received from Lake of the Woods County to be used towards an abandoned well sealing program.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Cover crop policy and payment rates
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to adopt the Cover Crop payment rates of $25 per acre for single species and $50 per acre for multiple species, for a maximum of 80 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
LW WBIF FY24 Admin/Coordination Agreement
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to enter into the Lake of the Woods Watershed Joint Powers Board Watershed-Based Implementation Funding FY24-01 agreement for Administration and Coordination services.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
State of MN Master Joint Powers Agreement
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to enter into the State of MN Professional and Technical Services Master Joint Powers Board SWIFT Contract #241849 for RIM services and to authorize the District Manager to sign the agreement.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: Dohmen Motion carried.
MPCA Load Monitoring Contract 2024
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the District Manager to sign the 2024 MPCA Load Monitoring Contract when the final draft is completed.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Letter of support request from the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to send a letter of support for the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation’s funding application to the ECCC Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative for Lake of the Woods to support efforts to reduce phosphorus loading.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
First quarter meeting date, time, subject and budget
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to approve a budget of $1,200 for food, facilitator and location expenses for a special board retreat and planning session.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Gillie LOWW WBIF forest management plan cost share payment
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize final payment for Gillie’s forest management plan contract #2023-FMP-06 in the amount of $1,537.00 from the Lake of the Woods WBIF funding.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Horntvedt R-R WBIF forest management plan cost share application
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the Rainy-Rapid Forest Management Plan cost share application for Horntvedt, Norske Acres LLC at $300 base payment plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 320 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Blom R-R forest management plant cost share application
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize the Rainy-Rapid Forest Management Plan cost share application for Joann Blom at $300 base payment plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 40 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Walton LOWW WBIF forest management plan cost share application
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to authorize the Lake of the Woods Watershed Forest Management Plan cost share application for James Walton at $300 base payment plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 160 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Recognition for 2023 Rain Gauge Volunteers
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize $320 of Water Plan funds to be used towards rain gauge volunteer recognition.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
2024 Medica Plan Document
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize the District Manager to sign the 2024 Medica Plan document.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Training and Travel Requests
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to authorize Vrtacnik’s training and travel expenses to attend a Frontier Precision training
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
Proposed Keep It Clean legislation – presentation of proposed funding legislation
MASWCD Legislative Webinar, Briefing, and Day at the Capitol – March 13th is SWCD Day at the Capitol.
The next regular board meeting has been set for March 14th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
Adjourn: Sonstegard Seconded: Krause
Meeting adjournment time: 6:48 p.m.
Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________