Minutes from the September 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
Members absent: Nancy Dunnell
Others present: Land and Water Planning Director, Josh Stromlund; Resource Conservationist, Corryn Trask; NRCS Team Lead, Jody Peek; NRCS Area Forester, Garrett Christianson
A motion was made by Krause to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Sonstegard.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
A motion was made by Sindelir to approve the August 8th, 2024 minutes. The motion was seconded by Krause.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
The August 2024 Treasurer’s Report was 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 Opposed: None Motion carried.
Old Business – none
Special Reports
NRCS partner updates – Jody Peek, Bemidji Team Lead DC presented on the recent CSP deadline, there are over 19,000 new contracted acres in the area and 10,000 are in Lake of the Woods county. There was discussion on how the CSP program is implemented. Garrett Christianson, NRCS Area Forester presented on implementing forestry practices in the region. He discussed several ways that NRCS could assist with forestry initiatives.
New Business
HEI Agreement for Services – GIS tool redevelopment
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the Board Chair to enter into an agreement for services with Houston Engineering to redevelop the culvert GIS tool for use in ArcPro.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
2025 Soil health delivery grant agreement
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to enter into the 2025 Soil Health Delivery Grant with the Board of Water and Soil Resources.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Vehicle windshield replacement
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize the replacement of the 2014 Dodge windshield.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Norske Acres Forest Management Plan cost share payment
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Krause, to authorize final payment for Norske Acres Forest Management Plan cost share contract 2024-02 FMP-RR in the amount of $1,930.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Woodsmen Properties well sealing cost share payment
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize final payment for Woodsmen Properties LLC 2024-04-SP abandoned well sealing cost share contract in the amount of $1,000.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Anderson Forest Management Plan Cost Share Application
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize Timothy Anderson’s Rainy-Rapid Forest Management Plan cost share application in the amount of $300 base payment plus $6.50 per acre, not to exceed 160 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Reinhart cover crop application
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to authorize Jean Reinhart’s cover crop cost share application in the amount of $50 per acre, not to exceed 61 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Estling cover crop application
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize Estling Farm’s cover crop cost share application in the amount of $50 per acre, not to exceed 38 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Canfield cover crop application
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize Beau Canfield’s cover crop cost share application in the amount of $50 per acre, not to exceed 36 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Hancock cover crop application
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize Jake Hancock’s cover crop cost share application in the amount of $50 per acre, not to exceed 32 acres.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Cover Crop Contract Final Payments
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to authorize final payments on all approved cover crop cost share contracts prior to the next regular board meeting contingent upon them meeting all requirements for technical and administrative sign-off.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Peppermint Creek final payment
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize final payment for Peppermint Creek’s 2024-11-CS-RRWBIF cost share contract in the amount of $12,416.25.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Certificates of Deposit
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the reinvestment of the four certificates of deposit expiring in 2024 for a period of up to two years and to replace the called certificate of deposit with a four year CD.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
AMI Shoreline Protection Proposal_REV1
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to enter into an agreement with AMI Consulting Engineers for the purpose of providing lakeshore technical and engineering services.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Edwards abandoned well sealing cost share application
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize Rodney Edward’s abandoned well sealing cost share application in the amount of $1,000 or 100% of the total project cost, whichever is less.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
FY22 Local Capacity Grant Extension
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Krause, to authorize the amendment of the FY22 Local Capacity Grant to extend the grant until December 31, 2025.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Training and Travel Requests
Trimble VRS Training, October 15
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize technical staff to attend the Trimble VRS training in Bemidji.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
BWSR Academy, all staff, October 29-31
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize all staff to attend the BWSR Academy in Brainerd on October 29th-31st.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
IJC Semi Annual, Hirst, October 21-24
A motion was made by Sindelir, with a second by Sonstegard, to authorize Hirst to attend the IJC Semi-Annual meeting in Ottowa, Canada on October 21st-24th.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Soil Health Assessments Field Day, staff, October 3
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize technical staff to attend the soil health assessment field day in Park Rapids on October 3rd.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Staff Reports – the board reviewed staff reports as presented with the agenda.
Committee Reports – none
General Information and Discussion
2025 Wage and Benefits discussion
A motion was made by Sonstegard, with a second by Sindelir, to authorize the personnel committee to meet and discuss 2025 wages and benefits.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
Annual well testing clinic summary
See attachment to the board packet for the annual well testing clinic summary.
Int’l Rainy-LOW Watershed Board’s Phase 2 Report
A motion was made by Krause, with a second by Sonstegard, to table the presentation of the International Rainy Lake of the Woods Phase 2 report.
Affirmative: Sonstegard, Dohmen, Krause, Sindelir Opposed: None Motion carried.
The next regular board meeting has been set for October 10th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the County Government Center.
Adjourn: Sonstegard Seconded: Sindelir
Meeting adjournment time: 7:25 p.m.
Secretary:_________________________________ Date:_____________________