MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 16th, 2011 MONTHY BOARD MEETING
The meeting of the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District was held on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 at the USDA Service Center Conference Room, at 801 Jenny Ave. S.W., Perham, MN.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Lyle Dittmann at 7:32 a.m.
Members Present:Chairperson – Lyle Dittmann
Treasurer – Marion Gill
Public Relations – Terry Greenwaldt
Others Present:County Commissioner – Doug Huebsch
District Conservationist – Bruce Becker
CSP Specialist – Alan Lepp
District Manager – Darren Newville
Office Manager – Deb Werner
Members Absent: Vice Chairperson – Steve Inwards
Secretary – Denny Reynolds
Adopt Agenda: Motion made by Greenwaldt, seconded by Gill to adopt the agenda as presented.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Approve January Board Meeting Minutes: Motion made by Greenwaldt, seconded by Gill to approve the January Board Meeting Minutes as presented.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Bruce Becker and Alan Lepp entered Board Meeting at 7:34 a.m.
Treasurer’s Report: Motion made by Gill, seconded by Greenwaldt to approve the Treasurer’s Report subject to audit. Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Bills Paid and Payable: Motion made by Greenwaldt, seconded by Gill to approve the Bills Paid and Payable.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Cost Share: Water Plan Cost Share: Motion made by Greenwaldt, seconded by Gill to approve contract 3-WPLS-2011, Bolland, Todd; authorization to approve an abandoned well sealing with a cost estimate of $400.00 and cost sharing not to exceed $300.00 or 75% which ever is less in Leaf Lake Township, section 31.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Motion made by Greenwaldt, seconded by Gill to approve contract 4-WPLS-2011, Deerslayer, LLC; authorization to approve an abandoned well sealing with a cost estimate of $500.00 and cost sharing not to exceed $300.00 or 75% which ever is less in Henning Township, section 1.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Native Shoreland Buffer Initiative Grant: Motion made by Gill, seconded by Greenwaldt to approve cost share on contract 5-NSIG-2010, Hendrickson, Cindy; on a Shoreland Restoration with a cost estimate of $970.20 and cost sharing not to exceed $727.65 or 75% which ever is less in Hobart Township, section 1.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Native Prairie Buffer Grant (Watershed): Motion made by Gill, seconded by Greenwaldt to approve contract 9-NPBG-2008, Birchem, Darlene; authorization to approve final payment on a Shoreland Habitat Restoration with a cost of $3,076.60 and cost share to be $2,307.45 in Everts Township, section 7. The total cost of the project is $6,974.39 with a total cost share of $5,230.80.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
State Cost Share: Motion made by Greenwaldt, seconded by Gill to approve contract 1-CSW-2011, Degn, Jerry; authorization to approve cost share of a Windbreak with a cost estimate of $9,667.50, and cost sharing not to exceed $7,250.63 or 75% which ever is less in Parkers Prairie Township, section 2.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
County Commissioner Doug Huebsch entered meeting at 8:01 a.m.
District Manager’s Report: As attached.
District Conservationist’s Report: Bruce Becker thanked the Board of Supervisors for allowing him to attend the Tillage Conference that was held in Fergus Falls on February 10th, 2011.
Evaluations on 38 CSP, 20 EQIP and 30 WHIP applications have been done. The applications are getting ready for submission.
County Commissioner’s Report: The County Commissioners are working on reducing the number of departments for Otter Tail County. Currently there are 17 departments.
The County has bought sandbags for people in the county that are dealing with flooding issues. There will be stations set up in Perham, Pelican Rapids, Battle Lake and Fergus Falls. Townships are responsible to notify county dispatch of any roads that are under water for emergency dispatch involving Ambulance and Fire Departments.
The BWSR Sub Committee will be meeting on April 13th, 2011 to discuss the Otter Tail Watershed.
WesMin RC & D: Discussed the bylaw changes that will be voted on at the Annual Meeting today. There was discussion on the Phelps Mill bathroom and water improvement project. An email was reviewed and discussed that was received from Dean Schmidt in regards to this project.
Ag Advisory Committee Update: Discussion at the meeting that was held on February 1st, 2011 was on the need of a feedlot officer, soybeans crushing plant, and a Master Gardener as an Extension Agent for the county.
RRVSC:There will be 2 meetings a year unless special meetings are called. The executive committee will meet regularly.
Water Plan: No report.
Building Update: A meeting is planned following this board meeting.
Department of Ag Project Update: A current budget of $85,000.00 to fund this project though Minnesota Department of Ag. Dollars will be used to purchase three weather stations to be located in Ottertail, Parkers Prairie and Wadena areas, to hold public meetings, purchase additional equipment for the irrigation scheduler program to name a few. An Irrigation Clinic will be held on February 23rd in New York Mills. A precision Adaptive Nitrogen Management presentation funding for 30-40 fields in a multi county area will be a presented to producers at the meeting. This tool is tohelp make better management decisions. Approximately 50 people are planning on attending this meeting.
A Irrigation State Forum will be held on March 8th, 2011 in St. Cloud. The District is coordinating this event with Minnesota Department of Ag in getting this Forum set up.
Meetings and Trainings to be approved: Motion made by Greenwaldt, seconded by Gill to approve Deb Werner to attend the Spring Administrative Training to be held on March 23rd & 24th, by Lake Mille Lacs.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
NRCS Privacy Act: The NRCS Privacy Act was discussed.
Otter Tail County Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship: Shawn Olson from COLA is looking for funds to print additional Otter Tail County Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship books. Motion made byGill, seconded by Dittmann to give an additional $300.00 towards the printing of additional Otter Tail Shoreland Guide to Lake Stewardship books.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Envirothon Request from Water Plan: Motion made by Gill, seconded by Greenwaldt to give $150.00 from the Water Plan dollars to help support the Area I Envirothon.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Clean Water Fund Grant: Motion made by Gill, seconded by Greenwaldt to apply for A Clean Water Fund Grant for converting high pressure irrigators to low pressure and irrigation management for these systems.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
MEETINGS AND TRAINING SESSIONS ATTENDED:
CMIC Meeting, Park Rapids – January 27th, 2011 (Darren Newville, Arnie Rethemeier & Bruce Becker attended)
Conservation Tillage Conference, Fergus Falls – February 10th, 2011 (Bruce Becker & Darren Newville attended)
UPCOMING MEETING AND TRAINING SESSIONS:
Irrigation Clinic, New York Mills – February 23rd, 2011 (Arnie Rethemeier, Darren Newville & Bruce Becker attending)
Legislative Day at the Capitol, St. Paul – February 28th – March 1st, 2011 (Darren Newville & Marion Gill attending)
Township Annual Meeting, Ottertail – March 7th, 2011 (Darren Newville attending)
Spring Administrative Session, Mille Lacs – March 23rd & 24th, 2011 (Deb Werner attending)
Area I Envirothon, Fergus Falls – May 9th, 2011 (Deb Werner & Arnie Rethemeier attending)
State Envirothon, Duluth – May 16th, 2011
Jr. Envirothon, October 5th, 2011 (Deb Werner attending)
MASWCD State Convention, Bloomington – December 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2011
Motion made by Gill, seconded by Greenwaldt to adjourn the meeting at 10:02 a.m.
Affirmative: Dittmann, Gill & Greenwaldt.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.