Steve Connelly, Andy Hart, Ann Mikesh, John Keefe. Floyd Whitaker, Dorothy Miller, Skip Langer. Michael Muzzy, NRCS; Mike Sheehan, Olmsted County

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1 MINUTES Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District August 27, 2015 Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District 1485 Industrial Drive NW, Room 102 Rochester, MN Facilitator: Steve Connelly Note taker: Board Present: Staff Present: Guests Present: Dorothy Miller Steve Connelly, Andy Hart, Ann Mikesh, John Keefe, Dorothy Miller, Skip Langer Michael Muzzy, NRCS; Mike Sheehan, Olmsted County Minutes Topics I. CALL TO ORDER II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS III. PUBLIC COMMENT IV. ADOPT AGENDA V. GUEST SPEAKERS A. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Report Mike Muzzy VI. CONSENT AGENDA Action A. Minutes of July 23, 2015 B. Treasurer s Report C. Accounts Payable $8, D. Journal Vouchers $15, E. Supervisor Compensation Steve Connelly $ meetings Steve Connelly $85.10 mileage John Keefe $ meeting John Keefe $17.25 mileage F. State Cost Share VII. DISTRICT REPORT A. State Cost Share (Items not included in Consent Agenda) Action a. FY 2016 & 2017 MN BWSR & SWCD Program and Operations Agreement b. 2016/2017 State Cost Share Policies c. 2015/2017 State Cost Share Fund Technical & Administrative 20% B. WCA Update a. Zumbro River Restoration within the old Lake Shady lakebed Authorize chair to approve application prior to next board meeting In concurrence with TEP Action b. DeCook Wetland Bank appeal extension from 8/30 to 9/30 Action C. South Branch Cascade Creek Update D. Miscellaneous VIII. COMMITTEE S REPORT and/or SUPERVISOR REPORT A. Resource Conservation & Development (RC & D) Report B. Whitewater Joint Powers Board Report (WWJPB) C. Zumbro Watershed Partnership (ZWP) D. One Watershed One Plan Policy Committee E. Environmental Commission (EC) F. Miscellaneous b. SET NEXT MEETING DATE September 24, :00 AM Olmsted County Government Center c. ADJOURN *Highlighted items reflect changes to the agenda. 1

2 I. Call to Order: Steve called the meeting to order at 8:15 am. II. Introduction of Guests: III. Public Comment: IV. Adopt Agenda Steve Connelly Action Items: Andy moved to adopt the agenda. Motion carries. V. Guest Speakers: VA. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Report Mike Muzzy Mike went over the written report he provided and answered questions. Discussion of CCRP followed of deadlines, payments, plans, and program rules. VI. Consent Agenda Andy moved to approve the consent calendar as follows: A. Approve the Minutes of July 23, 2015 B. Approve the Treasurer s Report as presented. C. Approve Accounts Payable for June $8, D. Approve Journal Vouchers for June $ E. Approve Supervisor Compensation for July 2015 a. John Keefe 1 meeting $75.00 b. John Keefe mileage $17.25 c. Steve Connelly 3 meeting $ d. Steve Connelly mileage $85.10 F. Approve State Cost Share: PAYMENTS CONTRACT CONSERVATION TOTAL CONTRACT FISCAL AMENDMENT NAME NUMBER PRACTICE CATEGORY PROJECT COST PAYMENT YEAR AMOUNT T&A BW15-05 Donna Stanger Well Sealing $ 2, $ 1, $ 1, $

3 VIIA. State Cost Share Andy moved to approve entering into a., adopting b. and accepting c.: a. FY 2016 & 2017 MN BWSR & SWCD Program and Operations Agreement b. 2016/2017 State Cost Share Policies c. 2016/2017 State Cost Share Fund Technical & Administrative 20% John Keefe entered at 8:35 AM VIIBa. WCA Zumbro River Restoration within the old Lake Shady lakebed Andy moved to authorize the chair to approve the application prior to the next board meeting in concurrence with the TEP. John second. Floyd explained the project with changes and the process. Due to deadlines he asked the board to authorize the chair to sign and approve the application based on TEP approval. Mike Sheehan answered questions on the bid process and project funding shortfalls. VIIBb. DeCook Wetland Bank appeal extension from 8/30 to 9/30/2015 Andy moved to approve the appeal date to 9/30/2015 for the DeCook Wetland Bank. John second. Floyd explained BWSR central office had issues with the plan. Mr. DeCook is working with BWSR on a compromise and the intent to amend the plan. The TEP will be meeting mid-september to discussion changes. The appeal process will end prior to allowing sufficient time to allow this to happen. Request to extend from 8/30/2015 to 9/30/2015. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Abstain: 0 WCA update: Floyd stated the Eyota violation has been issued a restoration order. The violator has appealed the decision to BWSR. Two extensions have been given for them to submit additional information. He has submitted an exemption application and a no-loss application requesting additional time to justify their claims. The final extension date is tomorrow, Aug. 28 th. We have not received anything as of yet. 3

4 VIIC. South Branch Cascade Creek Update Skip Langer Monday DNR supplied plans and specifications for the channel restoration project on Meadow Lakes Golf Course. County staff has added the necessary documentation and published the document to the website for contractor review. The plan includes establishing a new and stable channel, raising the creek bed and excavate a flood plain. Along with the channel restoration there will be wetlands restoration. Currently there are wetland areas along the channel in addition to some of the old oxbow areas. The old wetland areas and oxbow areas will be incorporated into the flood plains as wetlands. A diverse seeding will be incorporated into the area. Looking to the future, the County will transfer the easement to the City of Rochester which plans to construct a bike trail in the area. Project timing will tie with the City s Cascade Lake Project to utilize fill excavated from this project. The County Board will award the bid the 1 st week in October. VIID. Miscellaneous: Stonegate project: Skip stated the project will start post freeze up. The bid was awarded to US Site work, once started it will be completed within 50 days. Steve thanked Floyd for his service to Olmsted SWCD. Skip spoke on behalf of SWCD in appreciation of Floyd s 35 years, 5 months of service. He talked of the amount of work, landowners, practices Floyd has assisted during those years. He expressed the awesome work that was completed during that time and thanked him. Mike presented him with a plaque in appreciation of his years of service. Congratulations Floyd on your retirement! VIIIA. Hiawatha Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Report Ann Mikesh No meeting. VIIIB. Whitewater Joint Powers Board Report (WWJPB) John Keefe John stated the board discussed the fish kill near Crystal Springs, Bismarck Soil Health Tour, and Winona County is working on the buffer rule enforcement. John also stated Matt Flynn spoke about Olmsted SWCD moving to the County building. Mike Sheehan explained they have been working to move the Farm Service Agency, NRCS and Olmsted SWCD over to the 2122 building for the past months. He said a meeting was held on Monday with NRCS IT specialist, Lori Quinnell, County IT staff, Skip, Mike and Sue Struckman to work out details of IT support with Olmsted SWCD staff relocation to the 2122 building. Mike stated NRCS and FSA would not be able to move at this time due to leasing difficulties at the national level. Much discussion followed. Steve asked for an update at the next board meeting stating it is clearly a big discussion item. Steve stated the Olmsted SWCD board has expressed being co-located with USDA NRCS, FSA as important. For detailed discussion see addendum to Minutes. 4

5 VIIIC. Zumbro Watershed Partnership (ZWP) - Steve Connelly Steve stated he, Ann and Mike attended the Groundwater Workshop sponsored by ZWP which was well attended. Jeff Green, DNR spoke about the need to not only manage surface water but also address the interaction of surface and groundwater. He stated is was very interesting. VIIID. One Watershed One Plan Policy Committee Steve Connelly The next meeting is August 31. VIIIE. Environmental Commission Meeting - Steve Connelly Not present. VIIIF. Miscellaneous Next Meeting Date: September 24, 2015, 8:00 AM at the Olmsted County Government Center. IX. Adjourn: Motion and second was made to adjourn at 9.58 AM. Respectfully Submitted, Steve Connelly 5