MEETING MINUTES BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING DAKOTA COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Transcription

1 MEETING MINUTES BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING DAKOTA COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT Thursday, February 5, :30 a.m th Street, Suite 102 Farmington, Minnesota Board Members Present: SWCD Staff Present: Others Present: Chris Nielsen, Chair Brian Watson Mike Slavik, County Commissioner Joe Meyers Vice Chair Lana Rotty Michelle Wohlers, NRCS Dakota County* Kevin Chamberlain, Treasurer Joe Barten Tim Wilson, NRCS Area Office Marian Brown, Public Relations Brad Becker Curt Coudron *Denotes Partial Meeting Attendance 1. Call to Order Chair Neilsen called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. A quorum was present. Zanmiller previously indicated she would not be in attendance. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Neilsen led the Board of Supervisors in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Audience Chair Nielsen asked if there was anyone in the audience that wished to address the board on an item that is not on the agenda. No one appeared. 4. Approval of Agenda Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to approve the agenda as presented. All members voting yes. Motion carried. 5. Secretary s Report Motion by Meyers, Second by Chamberlain to approve the January 8, 2015 Meeting Minutes. All N

2 6. Treasurer s Report 6.1 February 5, Accounts Payable Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyers to approve the February 5, 2015 Accounts Payable. Members voting yes: Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers. Members absent: Zanmiller. Motion carried. 6.2 December 31, 2014 Year End Financial Reports Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyers to approve the December 31, 2014 Financial Reports; subject to audit. All 6.2 January 31, 2015 Financial Reports Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyers to approve the January Financial Reports; subject to audit. All 7. Community Development Committee 7.1 Authorization to Provide Final Payment to Dakota County for Inver Glen Library Stormwater Retrofit Watson stated that Dakota County has completed installation of a retrofit bioretention cell at the Inver Glen Library in Inver Grove Heights. The Board approved a cost share contract at the April 2014 meeting at 65%. The final project cost was $19, Staff has certified the installation Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to approve final payment to Dakota County for stormwater retrofit at the Inver Glen Library, City of Inver Grove Heights, Mississippi River Watershed at $12, (65%) cost share. Members voting yes: Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers, Brown. Members absent: Zanmiller. Motion carried. 8. Personnel Committee 8.1 Consideration to Adopt New Organizational Chart Watson stated that with the retirement of Jim Davidson and resignation of the part-time communications specialist back in March of 2014, there are currently 1.5 full-time equivalents vacant. A Program Assistant was hired in September of 2014 under a six-month temporary term. Watson further reviewed the updated organizational chart and noted that it would involve the following: Replace the part-time Communication Specialist position with a full time Program Assistant Replace the Senior Resource Conservationist with a Resource Conservationist Generate a net increase in FTEs from 9.5 to 10. Staff as a whole have benefitted greatly from having the Program Assistant available over the past few months to help with various task such as developing Fact Sheets and water monitoring tasks, and answering phones. Seeking acceptance to move forward with new organizational chart Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to approve the Organization Chart as presented. All 8.2 Authorization to Hire Program Assistant Motion by Meyers, second by Brown to authorize hire of a Program Assistant. All members voting yes. Motion carried. 8.3 Authorization to Hire Resource Conservationist Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyers to authorize hire of Resource Conservationist. All 2

3 9. Committee of the Whole 9.1 Authorization to Execute Agreement with Metropolitan Council for Watershed Outlet Monitoring Program on Vermillion River Watson stated that we have received a grant agreement from Met Council to continue assisting with water quality monitoring on the Vermillion River. The grant agreement has a term of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016; with a reimbursement of $5,000 per year Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to approve the Met Council Vermillion River Watershed Outlet Monitoring Program (WOMP) Grant Agreement at a total of $10,000. All members voting yes. Motion passed. 9.2 Authorization to Execute Agreement with Metropolitan Council for Watershed Outlet Monitoring on Cannon River Watson stated that we also received a grant agreement from Met Council to continue assisting with water quality monitoring on the Cannon River. The grant agreement also has a term of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016; with a reimbursement of $5,000 per year Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyer to approve the Met Council Cannon River Watershed Outlet Monitoring Program (WOMP) Grant Agreement at a total of $10,000. All members voting yes. Motion passed. 9.3 Adopt 2015 Cost Share Policies Watson stated that staff has considered and updated cost share policies in preparation for the 2015 construction season. He noted that that SWCD implements a number of comprehensive and diverse cost share programs and policies. He stated that the proposed changes were included in the meeting mailing, however, he highlighted the following: Staff credentials, delegation of signature authority and noncompliance policy added. Includes language requiring access to property to inspect conservation practice is installed. Hourly rate for use of heavy equipment and for professional services increased. Dates for submittal of Blue Thumb grant applications modified to reflect 2015 schedule. Life of cost share contracts reduced from 15 years to 10 years to follow the minimum state requirement. Eliminate 85% cost share option that leveraged USDA-EQIP funding. All programs modified to maximum of 75% cost share for consistency Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to approve the 2015 State Cost Share Policies as presented. All 9.4 Fiscal Year 2015 State Cost Share Technical Assistance Option Watson stated that the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) has continued to allow soil and water conservation districts to use state cost share program funds technical staff assistance rather than for cost share. This option became available over the past several years largely because soil and water conservation districts now have access to project funds through a competitive process through the constitutional amendment. The allocation for FY15 State Cost share funding is $22, Motion by Chamberlain, second by Nielsen to approve allocating up to $22,054 of Fiscal Year 2015 State Cost Share Base Grant for technical assistance. All 10. Interagency Reports and Announcements Natural Resources Conservation Service The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) agency report was provided by Tim Wilson and Michelle Wohlers. 3

4 Wilson stated that they are operating on continuing resolution and the hope is to actually have the funding finalized today for this fiscal year; which started October 1, The NRCS is regionalizing much of their human relations, leasing, and purchasing tasks to use a more team-work approach, rather than State level directives. Sign up dates are being finalized for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Training and the initiatives will also be announced soon. Wilson added that there was a Soil Health Session yesterday, which Todd Matzke attended. They anticipate receiving three or four Mississippi River Basin Initiatives (MRBI) which will provide grant funds to targeted watersheds. There are approximately 1,700 CSP renewals pending funding availability. Funding for the Easement Program is on hold, they are working to meet criteria at the state and national levels. Wilson added that with the retirement of Don Baloun, they are hiring a State Conservationist; the positon has been advertised and is closed. Walter Halveron from Florida is currently the Acting State Conservationist. Wilson also stated that he recently came back from serving as the Acting State Conservationist for Utah. Wohlers stated that locally, they are finalizing ranking and scoring for 24 applications, 3 are structural, four are involving pollinators, and 10 are cover crops initiative. They are also working to ensure engineering designs are ready for spring construction. Wohlers also clarified that all landowners that have EQIP contracts and those that are not progressing timely will be charged liquidated damages. Wohlers wanted to be sure the Board of Supervisors were aware of the reason for these charges, as they may receive calls from constituents. Wohlers added that the local CSP signup deadline is February 28. They currently have five landowners interested, Wohlers requested staff and Supervisors forward and names of landowners that may possibly be interested in the program. Watson commented that the Farm Service Agency training on the new farm bill drew a large crowd of landowners and added that the meeting room was full and the hallway was used for overflow. Watson also inquired on the MRBI as to the selected watershed funding amounts being distributed. Wohlers further stated that with the new Farm Bill, the easement program has changed. Watson added that Dakota County is slowing down the Agricultural easement application process for 2015 and will focus more on natural areas. In the future, the County will be looking at the farm bill for details of the easement program. Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources There was no Board of Water and Soil Resource report presented. However, Watson distributed the handout that BWSR provided at the recent legislative briefing. This identified best management practices installed statewide from 2003 to 2013 and indicated levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, sediment, and soil loss reductions. Dakota County reported high reductions in all categories. Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Watson reported that the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Legislative Briefing and Day at the Capitol was held on January 26 and 27. He stated that Supervisor Zanmiller and he were able to meet with 13 of the 18 Dakota County delegates. Metro Conservation Districts Joint Powers Board There was no Metro Conservation Districts Joint Powers Board (JPB) report provided. Dakota County Watson stated that there recently has been a number of news articles on buffers and the recent proposal by Governor Dayton to enforce the 50 foot no cultivation zone on State designated water. He added that this issue also came up at the legislative meetings. Dakota County Commissioner Slavik indicated that he plans to attend a few SWCD Board meetings annually. 4

5 Watershed Management Organizations Watson mentioned that the 2015 SWCD Work Plan with the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization was approved at their January Board meeting. 11. Upcoming Meetings and Events The upcoming events were reviewed. 12. District Managers Report Watson had no additional items to report. 13. Adjourn Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to adjourn the meeting. All members voting yes. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Laura Zanmiller, Secretary 5