WINONA COUNTY SWCD MINUTES

Ag Service Center, Lewiston, MN

September 8, 2010

Meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by Chairman Rudie Spitzer.

Present were supervisors – Rudie Spitzer, Arlene Nelson, John Bronk, and Jim Riddle.

Also present were –Mena Kaehler, County Commissioner; Duane Herbert, County Administrator; Tim Terrill, Daryl Buck, Marlow Mielke, and Brein Maki, SWCD; and Naomi Corey, Rush-Pine.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA –Jim made a motion to approve the September 8, 2010 agenda adding under Cost-Share McGuire (FL-09D, #11) amendment and Kunst (FL-08B, #42) final payment; Naomi Corey ($2,689.80) and Kwik Trip ($273.61) to Bill’s Payable; and Don Buckhout letter response and employee grievances under New Business. Arlene seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

CONSENT AGENDA – Jim made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda items with the change made to the August 16, 2010 minutes taking out Closed; John seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVE DRAZKOWSKI – Representative Drazkowski gave a 2009-2010 legislative report.  There was discussion about 3/8th Amendment, State budget, local water quality, local water plan, prescription drug drop box, LCCMR, and FSA subsidies. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT – Commissioner Pomeroy update the Board on current County work; including the 2011 budget development, phase retirement program, Zoning Ordinance, organizational structure within the County, and the Water Plan coordination.

WINONA COUNTY PLANNING REPORT – Duane Herbert updated the Board on the ordinance, Environmental Services and Planning Department working together to provide services, Winona County Water Plan, and the Shoreland Ordinance.

D.C. REPORT –Sue Glende handed out a report and updated the Board on current NRCS workload, including CSP, CRP, EQIP, MRBI, NEPA Training opportunities, a new USDA loan program, and a new copy machine that will be provided by NRCS for District use at no charge.  She also told the Board that Claron Krogness retired and Naomi will be doing GIS training from NRCS. 

WHITEWATER JPB REPORT – Megan handed out a report on current WWJPB work.  She reported on the hiring for an outreach coordinator, monitoring turbidity reports, nitrate report on drinking water, and Olmsted’s response rate on their Shoreland Buffer program

RUSH-PINE REPORT – Naomi updated the Board on her work with MRBI, EQIP, and WHIP.  She has also been training on FAN Map and has been attending partner meetings.

SUPERVISOR REPORTS –

John reported that he attended staff meetings on August 19 and 26.

Arlene reported on the Midwestern Bio-Ag Day.

Jim reported on the Winona County Board meeting, Farmer’s Market, Graze Fest (September 10-11 in St. Charles), and the State Fair attendance work with the University of Minnesota regarding organic foods.

Rudie attended the Stockton-Garvin Brook meeting and the Altura Wellhead Protection meeting.

COST SHARE

1.      John made a motion to approve the final payment for FY-10, #01 – Mike Ruhberg for his sediment basin project.  The total cost of the project is $51,193.70.  Other funding is $30,551.83.  Cost-Share approved and payment requested is $4,500.00.  Arlene seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

2.      Arlene made a motion to approve the final payment for FL-08A – Earl Prigge for Streambank repair.  Total cost of the project and payment requested is $14,232.18.  John seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

3.      Jim made a motion to approve the amendment request for FY-08, #11 – Rick Nahrgang to extend his contract completion date to December 31, 2010.  John seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

4.      Arlene made a motion to approve the Cost-Share application for Francis Runkel for a new sediment basin.  The total estimate for this project is $8,980.00 and it is eligible for up to 75% Cost-Share.  Other funding sources are working with this project.  Cost-Share requested is $655.20.  Jim seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

5.      Jim made a motion approve the Cost-Share application for Steve Buckbee for sediment basin repair.  The total estimate for this project is $14,829.00 and other funding sources are working with this project.  The total Cost-Share requested is $5,696.00.  John seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

6.      John made a motion to approve the final payment request for FL-08B, #42 – Kunst Farms for sediment basin repair.  Total cost of the project is $33,941.33.  Other funding is $12,077.00.  Cost-Share payment requested is $21,864.33.  Jim seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

7.      Jim made a motion to approve the Cost Share amendment for FL-09D, #11 for Kathleen McGuire for Streambank protection.  After estimates have been received, the engineer justified additional costs.  This additional amount requested is $7,775.00.  Arlene seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

NEW BUSINESS

1.      Tim and Brein attended a meeting held on 9/1/2010 to discuss the CWL Feedlot technical/engineering funding and SRF not being able to accept technical funds from this grant for technical/engineering assistance.  The email from Matt Drewitz, BWSR with the meeting outcomes and request to update the actual amount of technical assistant requested locally was presented to the Board. 

Jim made a motion to leave the technical assistant/engineering amount request the same as applied and create a plan to resolve staffing concerns.  John seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.  It was also noted to work with staff and county to resolve staffing concerns.

2.      The Board discussed the presented Cover Crop program and made some guideline changes.  Jim made a motion to approve a county wide cover crop program as changed in the guidelines presented.  The District will use $5,000.00 of the District’s fund balance to fund this program.  Arlene seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

3.      Jim made a motion to hire an attorney as recommended by Don Buckhout, BWSR, contingent on the consultation of the Winona County Attorney regarding state statutory requirements for legal counsel from the County Attorney’s office, and to accept the offer from BWSR to pay half of these attorney costs.  John seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.  The preferred attorney noted was Ann Goering.  Tim will communicate back to Don Buckhout, BWSR on the Board’s response.

4.      The board did not adopt any new changes to the employee handbook at the special meeting August 16, 2010 and the district will continue at status quo.

MISCELLANEOUS DISTRICT NEWS AND INFORMATION

1.      The Area 7 meeting will be September 16.  All supervisors and staff plan to attend.  Duane reminded the Board that all quorums of the Board need to be given public notice.

PUBLIC COMMENTS – None.

ADJOURNMENT – Jim made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  John seconded it and carried by affirmative votes.

Meeting adjourned at 12:18 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by:

Tom Choinski, Secretary of the Board

 

 

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Winona County Soil & Water Conservation District
P.O. Box 39, 400 Wilson Street
Lewiston, MN 55952
Phone: (507) 523-2171 Ext. 3       Fax (507) 523-3717