LINCOLN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Minutes of the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, Regular Meeting, USDA Building, Ivanhoe, MN, May 21, 2008.

Meeting called to order by the Chairman, Daniel Christianson, at 7:05 a.m.

Members Present:    Daniel Christianson, Chairman

                                Glen Sorensen, Vice Chairman

                                John Boulton, PR&I

Members Absent:     Joe Weber, Treasurer

                                Conrad Schardin, Secretary

Others Present:        Pauline VanOverbeke, District Manager

Terry Dybsetter, Education Coordinator

Ron Madsen, Engineering Technician

Dale Sterzinger, Conservation Technician, present @ 7:10 a.m.

Randy Kraus, Farm Bill Assistant

Curt Blumeyer, County Commissioner

Randy, Sheik, NRCS, Soil Conservation Technician, @ 7:40 a.m.

Dennis Johnson, NRCS, District Conservationist, @ 8:25 a.m.

MINUTES: The minutes from the April 16, 2008 meeting, were approved as mailed.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Sorensen, seconded by Boulton to approve the Treasurer’s Report for April, 2008.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

BILLS: Motion by Sorensen, seconded by Boulton to approve the payment of the bills for $22,376.27 (see attachment).

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS: Motion by Boulton, seconded by Sorensen to approve the transfer of $10,000 from the Money Market Savings Account to the checking account for payroll.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

Sterzinger present at this time.

CD RENEWALS: CD#857190-Purchases: Interest of $209.78, total CD amount of $9,870.72; and, CD#857968-Comp. Absences: Interest of $237.64, total CD amount of $11,181.62.  Motion by Boulton, seconded by Sorensen to renew the two CD’s #857190 of $9,870.72 and #857968 of $11,181.62 for another 7 months.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

ACTUAL AND BUDGETED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE STATEMENT: VanOverbeke handed out the monthly and yearly actual and budgeted income and expenditure statement for April, 2008.

WORKING LANDS INITIATIVE-STATE OF MN ENCUMBRANCE WORKSHEETS: Motion by Sorensen, seconded by Boulton to approve and sign the two Working Lands Initiative Agreements/Worksheets with DNR as follows: WLI 2008 with DNR for $371,251.64 and WLI 2008 Lincoln-Lyon CP38E for $75,500.00.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

FARM BILL ASSISTANT GRANT PHASE VIII RFP-WLI APPLICATION: Motion by Boulton, seconded by Sorensen to approve and sign the Phase VIII Farm Bill Assistant Grant RFP-WLI Application in which BWSR is using a $45,000 budget for 1 FTE.  BWSR will cover 90% of the approved budget with 5% coming from the SWCD and 5% from a local partner organization or SWCD.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

LQP-YELLOW BANK CWP RESOLUTION AND LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR IN-KIND: Motion by Sorensen, seconded by Boulton to approve the Lac qui Parle Yellow Bank Clean Water Partner ship Resolution and letter of support for in-kind of $9000 over a 3-year period.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

STATE COST-SHARE PAYOUT: Motion by Boulton, seconded by Sorensen to approve the State C-S Payout for Jon Worth, FY07-03 for WSCB; C-S amount of $654.00.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

Sheik present at this time.

REVIEW/APPROVE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR MIKE SKOGLUND: Motion by Boulton, seconded by Sorensen to approve the performance evaluation done by Madsen for Mike Skoglund.

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

USE OF DISTRICT VEHILCE FOR SPOUSE/FAMILY: VanOverbeke reviewed with the Board the information obtained from phone conversation with Gail Sater, MCIT and MCIT Incidental Personal Use of Member Owned Vehicles resource bulletin concerning restricted uses/personal use; and meetings in which employees spouse/family members ride along in district vehicles.  Motion by Boulton, seconded by Sorensen to allow employees/supervisors spouse/family members to ride in the districts vehicles for meeting purposes; with employee/supervisor knowing that their personal injury protection coverage is primary coverage for the spouse or family members of an employee that is injured as a passenger in a Member owned vehicle. 

Affirmative:  Christianson, Sorensen, and Boulton.

            Opposed:  None

Motion Carried.

REPORTS:

COUTNY COMMISSIONER’S REPORT: Curt Blumeyer, County Commissioner, reported as follows:

·      2009 levy limits back on 3.9% for 3-years.

·      Saddle Horse Days- 2-week setup; MCIT will not cover.

·      Bath house going up at Lake Shaokatan Picnic Point.

·      Labor contracts this year.

·      New furniture in Commissioners room.

·      Looking at redoing windows in courthouse.

·      County currently does not have an Assessor; working on filling that position.

·      Lee Amundson interviewing with Lyon County; he is one of the finalists.

·      Gator Insurance was discussed; Insurance is through the County; the district insures the trailer for the gator.

·      Treated Lake Benton Lake about 3-weeks ago; cost $107,000.

DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT: Pauline VanOverbeke, District Manager’s reported as follows:

·      MCIT now has resource materials specifically for SWCD’s on line.

·      Planting trees; my property; Board okayed this as VanOverbeke rode the tree planter all day plus supplied a tractor driver.

·      MRBJPB;YMRWD; attended the meeting held in Minneota and helped with the folders, etc; event was held on May 19th.

·      Helped at the Envirothon on April 30th.

·      Upcoming meetings: RCRCA/RC&D-May 28th; Women’s Day Planning meeting-June 5th; Convention planning meeting-June 10th; Employee meeting and Grazing Workshop-June 11th.

·      Representative Aaron Peterson resigned in May.

·      PERA Notice for re-qualifying the tax-deferred status with the IRS; includes all four funds administered by PERA.

·      Van/vehicle policy already discussed.

EDUCATION COORDINATOR’S REPORT: Terry Dybsetter, Education Coordinator, reported as follows:

·      Thanked Kraus for his help at the 4th Grade Field Day and Sterzinger for helping find plant seeds for summer Library Program.

·      Education: Lake Benton 1st grade presentation today; Soil Stewardship material out; had one women’s day presentation in Arco; RTR, Lincoln HI and Lake Benton schools attended the 4th grade field day in Lake Benton; promoting grazing workshop; poster contest judging done; preparing for library programs; will be a presenter for Environmental Fair in September; working on fair booth idea that VanOverbeke suggested.

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN’S REPORT: Ron Madsen, Engineering Technician, reported as follows:

·      Working on a survey project; wetland situation.

·      Working on old and new projects.

·      Working with Mary Homan on the Lac qui Parle Blind intakes program.

 

CONSERVATION TEHCNICIAN’S REPORT: Dale Sterzinger, Conservation Technician, reported as follows:

·      Approximately 15,000 trees planted; with 18,000 out the door.

·      DNR pulled Buller’s tree planting funding.

·      WCA-Have two-no-loss determinations to do.

EASEMENT TECHNCIAN’S REPORT: Randy Kraus, Farm Bill Assistant, reported as follows:

·      Two CP38 contracts signed.

·      WLI contracts; holdup at BWSR.

Johnson present at this time.

DISTRICT CONSERVATIONIST’S REPORT: Sheik reported that the new Area Conservationist will be starting shortly; PRS and reporting.  Dennis Johnson, District Conservationist; reported as follows:

·      The past month: 1026’s; and reporting; check of residue on no-till fields; discussion of French drains/rock inlets.

Other items of business: RCRCA-Sorensen reported that they will be advertising for Jim Doering’s position; Dredging-Houston Engineering-need more dollars for the project; canoeing-June 17 & 19.

The next meeting of the Lincoln SWCD will be on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at 7:00 a.m.

The meeting declared adjourned by the Chairman, Christianson, at 8:45 a.m.

APPROVED:    ______________________________     __________________________________

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