Minutes from the January 11th, 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; BWSR Board Conservationist, Chad Severts
A motion was made by Krause to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Dunnell.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Annual Organizational Meeting Items
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to approve the annual business items as follows:
- Officer Elections
2024 SWCD offices are as follows:
District Chair, Monica Dohmen
Vice Chair, Frank Sindelir
Treasurer, Nancy Dunnell
Secretary, John Sonstegard
Public Relations, Roger Krause
- Monthly Meeting date, time and location
Second Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
- Designate Official Depositories – (Minn Stat. 118A.02, subd 1 provides that the governing body, or its designee, shall designate the depository in which all the District’s funds shall be deposited.)
Border Bank of Baudette, Multi-Bank Securities, Inc.
- Check Signing Authority –
Josh Stromlund, District Manager; Nancy Dunnell, Treasurer; Mike Hirst, Resource Conservationist; Corryn Trask, Resource Conservationist; Becky Buegler, Office Assistant
- Supervisor Compensation Rate
$125 per meeting. This rate is per day, no matter how many meetings are attended. Supervisors may receive a per‐diem for travel days necessary for attending out of town meetings.
- Mileage Rate
Mileage compensation will reflect the most current IRS mileage rate.
- Meal Allowances
Maximum meal allowance for supervisors and employees at $75.00 per day for approved meetings.
- Spending Limits ‐
District staff have permission to:
*Pay all district related bills prior to the next board meeting including: payroll, payroll liabilities, fuel account at Howard’s Cenex, Marco copier, other invoices not exceeding $200. *Pay invoices for: emergency vehicle repairs exceeding $200 or other emergency items exceeding $200 as authorized by the SWCD manager or Board Chair.
*Purchase miscellaneous supplies up to $200.
- Designated Official Newspaper
Northern Light Region
- Annual membership dues for 2024
Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts $ 4,916.35
MASWCD North Central Area (VIII) $ 275.00
Minnesota Association of Conservation District Employees $ 125.00 $25/employee
C/C/OGA Membership Dues $ 84.00
Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers $125.00
National Association of Conservation Districts $775.00
- Committee Assignments * = new committee on the list
| Committee | Board | Staff | Mtgs/yr (approx.) |
| Area VIII Meetings | All supervisors | All staff | 3 |
| North Central MN TSA 8 | Frank Sindelir | Josh Stromlund, Alternate: Corryn Trask | 2 |
| County/SWCD Joint Powers Agreement Liaison Committee | Monica Dohmen Roger Krause | Stromlund | as called |
| Personnel Committee | John Sonstegard, Nancy Dunnell | 1 | |
| International Multi-Agency Technical Advisory Committee | n/a | Mike Hirst | 3 |
| Lake of the Woods Control Board | Nancy Dunnell | Mike Hirst | 3 |
| International Rainy Lake of the Woods Watershed Board | n/a | Mike Hirst | 10 |
| Rainy/Rapid Board Citizen’s Advisory Committee | Nancy Dunnell | Mike Hirst | 1 |
| Rainy-Rapid One Watershed One Plan Policy Committee | Monica Dohmen, John Sonstegard | 4 | |
| School Forest Committee | n/a | Corryn Trask | 8 |
Lake of the Woods Watershed Joint Powers Board | Nancy Dunnell Alternates: John Sonstegard | 4 | |
| Local Work Group | Frank Sindelir, Nancy Dunnell | 1 | |
| AIS/Keep it Clean Committee | Monica Dohmen | Mike Hirst | 6 |
| AIS/Keep it Clean Committee (at large member) – $40 per diem | Mike Larson | 6 |
- Review Fixed Asset List
Authorize removal of the following items from the comprehensive fixed asset list:
Waders -LaCross Big Chief Insulated size 10; thermometer – traceable ultra long-stem; thermometer – VWR, Staff gage 4 ft; Keep it Clean Banners with website; Keep it Clean banners old style.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to acknowledge the review of the housekeeping items.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the December 14th, 2023 minutes. The motion was seconded by Krause.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The December 2023 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.
The 2023 Fourth Quarter Budget vs Actual 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 – none
Special Reports
NRCS partner updates – Michael Steinhauer, Resource Conservationist – Steinhauer presented a report of NRCS activities.
Chad Severts – BWSR Board Conservationist – Severts presented an overview of the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). He also presented on the policy changes to the cost share programs and upcoming soil health grants available.
New Business
Comstock LWW Forest management plan cost share application
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the Willard Comstock Lake of the Woods watershed forest management plan cost share contract in the amount of $300 or $6.50 per acre for a maximum of 144 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Abandoned well sealing cost share rates
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to increase the cost share rate for the abandoned well sealing cost share program to $1,000.00 per well, with payment not to exceed 100% of the total practice cost.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Sustainable Farming Association Agreement
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize the agreement with the Sustainable Farming Association for on-call soil health outreach consulting services for January 1, 2024-December 31, 2025 in the amount of $20,000.00 with added language to include compensation for “related travel expense reimbursement.” Funding will come from the Lake of the Woods Watershed-based Implementation funding.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Always There Staffing Agreement
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to approve the agreement for AIS inspector staffing services with Always There Staffing for the 2024 inspection season with funding to come from the AIS program.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
AIS promotional contracting services
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to approve the 2024 Promotional Partnership agreement with Curt’s Quesnell’s NCOR Guide Service LLC in the amount of $3,000 for AIS promotional services with funding to come from the AIS program. .
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Peterson Company LTD 2023 audit bid
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to approve the bid from Peterson Co. LTD in the amount of $4,500.00 for 2023 audit services, and to authorize the District Manager to sign the engagement letter upon receipt.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Karvakko proposal for engineering services
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the Karvakko Engineering, Inc. Agreement for Engineering Services for the Stuart Rice project, not to exceed $13,750.00, with funding to come from the TSA8 engineering allocation.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Approve BWSR 2024 Clean Water Fund Competitive Grant #C24-0033
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to approve the BWSR 2024 Clean Water Fund Competitive Grant #C24-0033 for the City of Baudette Stormwater Project in the amount of $150,000.00.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Training and Travel Requests
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize staff and supervisors to attend Rainy-Lake of the Woods Water Quality Forum on March 6th and 7th in International Falls.
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
MASWCD Resolution – DNR shoreline protection task force
First Quarter Special Meeting
MCIT Open Meeting Law and Remote Participation Webinar
Correspondence: Giziibii RC&D
The next regular board meeting has been set for February 8th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
Adjourn: Krause Seconded: Sindelir
Meeting adjournment time: 6:52 p.m.
Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________