Minutes from the May 9th, 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, Frank Sindelir, Nancy Dunnell
Members absent: Roger Krause
Others present: Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask; NRCS Resource Conservationist, Michael Steinhauer; County Commissioner, Joe Grund
A motion was made by Sonstegard to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Sindelir.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the April 11th, 2024 minutes. The motion was seconded by Dunnell.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
The April 2024 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.
A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the bills as listed on the agenda with the addition of the Always There Staffing Invoice #11239535. The motion was seconded by Sonstegard.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, 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
Additional E. coli sampling
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to approve up to $1,080.00 of county allocation funding for additional E. coli sampling in the Zippel and Bostic watersheds.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
pH Module purchase request
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to approve the purchase of a replacement pH module probe in the amount of $204.00 through the Surface Water Assessment Grant.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Chrzanowski forest management plan cost share payment request
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize Chrzanowski’s 2023-03 FMP-RR cost share payment in the amount of $1,684.50.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Walton forest management plan cost share payment request
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize Walton’s 2024-02 FMP-LW cost share payment in the amount of $1,314.00.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Forest Management Plan R-R cost share applications
The board reviewed the pending cost share applications for the Rainy-Rapid Watershed. No action was taken due to lack of available funding.
Peppermint Creek cost share project application
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the Peppermint Creek – Paul Johnson cost share application for a streambank crossing with payment not to exceed $14,047.50 or 75% of the total project cost, whichever is less.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Certificate of Deposits
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the following with Multi-Bank Securities: rollover of CD (mat 5/30/24) and CD (mat 6/27/24) to 3-year terms and CD (mat 7/1/24) to a 1-year term. Additionally, purchase one new 6-month CD not to exceed $125,000.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Soil Health Tests and July Soil Health Workshop
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sonstegard, to utilize Lake of the Woods Watershed Based Implementation Funding for soil health tests and an upcoming soil health workshop tentatively scheduled for July.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
AIS Bait Disposal Education purchases
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize $600.00 for the purchase of 2,000 bait bags using Aquatic Invasive Species funds.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Keep It Clean Governor’s Fishing Opener purchases
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the purchase of 500 decals through SandPieper Designs in the amount of $431.05 plus shipping using MPCA Keep it Clean program funds.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Keep It Clean volunteer exp @ Governor’s Fishing Opener
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize a travel stipend of $200.00 for Ann Brucciani Lyon through the MPCA Keep it Clean program funds.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Keep It Clean Donation
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to accept a donation for the Keep it Clean Program from the Sporting Journal Radio in the amount of $500.00.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Take A Kid Fishing request
The board consensus was to move forward with a funding request from the Take a Kid Fishing committee for a promotional graphic which would include the Keep it Clean logo. The graphic would be applied on a cargo trailer purchased for the Take a Kid Fishing program. Funding would come from the MPCA Keep it Clean contract.
Stop payment on check
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to stop payment at Border Bank on check #8945 due to loss and reissue the check.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Local Work Group – set meeting time
The Local Work Group will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13th at the County Government Center boardroom. The SWCD board meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. at the same location.
Ecklund abandoned well sealing cost share payment
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize Ecklund’s 2023-05 SP abandoned well sealing cost share payment in the amount of $500.00.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Paulseth-Bautch forest management plan LW cost share application
A motion was made by Dunnell, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize Allison Paulseth-Bautch’s Lake of the Woods watershed forest management plan cost share application in the amount of $300 base payment plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 160 acres pending that it meets eligibility requirements in the ranking process.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Sindelir, Dunnell Opposed: None Motion carried.
Training and Travel Requests
MACDE Admin Conference
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Dunnell, to authorize Buegler’s registration fee and travel expenses to attend the MACDE Admin Conference in Brainerd on June 25-26.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, 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
Area VIII Treasurer appointment
Area resolution process and June meeting host
State Forestry Nursery resolution
Keep It Clean – Star Tribune Digital Report Winter Campaign 2023/24
The next regular board meeting has been set for June 13th, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
Adjourn: Sindelir Seconded: Sonstegard
Meeting adjournment time: 6:40 p.m.
Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________