MEETING MINUTES BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING DAKOTA COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT Thursday, April 2, 2015 8:30 a.m. 4100 220 th Street, Suite 102 Farmington, Minnesota Board Members Present: SWCD Staff Present: Others Present: Chris Nielsen,, Chair Brian Watson Michelle Wohlers, NRCS Dakota County* Joe Meyers Vice Chair Kevin Chamberlain, Treasurer Laura Zanmiller, Secretary Marian Brown, Public Relations *Denotes Partial Meeting Attendance 1. Call to Order Lana Rotty Curt Coudron Brad Becker Todd Matzke Joe Barten Chair Nielsen called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. A quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Nielsen 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 15.033 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to approve the agenda as presented. All members voting yes. Motion 5. Secretary s Report Zanmiller stated that on page 3 under in the Metro Conservation Districts Joint Powers Board section the officers should be listed as: Chair - John Rheinberger, Washington Vice-Chair - Mary Wetter, Wright Treasurer - Doug Schoenecker, Scott Secretary Gwen Willems, Ramsey N
15.034 Motion by Zanmiller, Second by Meyers to approve the March 5, 2015 Meeting Minutes as modified. All members voting yes. Motion 6. Treasurer s Report 6.1 April 2, Accounts Payable 15.035 Motion by Chamberlain, second by Zanmiller to approve the April 2, 2015 Accounts Payable. Members voting yes: Zanmiller, Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers. Motion 6.2 March 31, 2015 Financial Reports 15.036 Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyers to approve the March 31, 2015 Financial Reports; subject to audit. All members voting yes. Motion 7. Community Development Committee 7.1 Authorization to Execute Contract with City of Inver Grove Heights for Stormwater Retrofit at 47 th Street East and Boyd Avenue (15-CCP-01) Zanmiller stated that City of Inver Grove Heights is requesting cost share funds for a stormwater retrofit project that will divert runoff from impervious surface into a 2,600 square foot bioretention cell. The project will provide water quality treatment of stormwater that currently discharges into Seidl s Lake. The estimated project cost is $62,492.80. 15.037 Motion by Zanmiller, second by Meyers to execute contract with City of Inver Grove Heights to install stormwater retrofit project at 47 th Street and Boyd Avenue, Mississippi River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $46,869.60. Members voting yes: Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers, Zanmiller. Motion 7.2 Authorization to Execute Contract with City of Inver Grove Heights for Stormwater Retrofit at Bower Court (15-CCP-02) Zanmiller stated that City of Inver Grove Heights is requesting cost share funds to retrofit a hydrodynamic separator structure to provide water quality treatment of stormwater runoff that currently discharges into Seidl s Lake. The estimated project cost is $42,940. 15.038 Motion by Zanmiller, second by Brown to execute contract with City of Inver Grove Heights to install stormwater retrofit project at Bower Court, Mississippi River Watershed at 75 cost share, not to exceed $32,205. Members voting yes: Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers, Zanmiller, Brown. Motion 8. Rural Lands Committee 8.1 Authorization to Execute Contract with Wayne Kieffer for Installation of Water and Sediment Control Basins (15-IPP-01) Meyers stated that Wayne Kieffer is requesting cost share funds to construct two water and sediment control basins. The estimated project cost is $12,870. 15.039 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to execute contract with Wayne Kieffer for installation of two water and sediment control basins in Section 36, Marshan Township, Vermillion River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $9,652.50. Members voting yes: Nielsen, Meyers, Zanmiller, Brown, Chamberlain. Motion 8.2 Authorization to Execute Contract with Joe Moes for Installation of Grassed Waterways (15-IPP- 02) Meyers stated that Joe Moes is requesting cost share funds to construct four grassed waterways. The estimated project cost is $10,900. 15.040 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to execute contract with Joe Moes for installation of four grassed waterways in Section 12, Hampton Township, Vermillion River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $8,175. Members voting yes: Meyers, Zanmiller, Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen. Motion 2
8.3 Authorization to Execute Contract with Robert Nordling for Installation of Grassed Waterways (15-IPP-03) Meyers stated that Robert Nordling is requesting cost share funds to construct four grassed waterways. The estimated project cost is $19,470. 15.041 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to execute contract with Robert Nordling for installation of four grassed waterways in Section 5, Douglas Township, Vermillion River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $14,602.50. Members voting yes: Zanmiller, Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers. Motion 8.4 Authorization to Execute Contract with Elmegca Farms for Installation of Grassed Waterway (15- IPP-04) Meyers stated that Al Schaffer of Elmegca Farms is requesting cost share funds to construct a grassed waterway. The estimated project cost is $8,140. 15.042 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to execute contract with Elmegca Farms for installation of grassed waterway in Section 24, Douglas Township, Cannon River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $6,105. Members voting yes: Zanmiller, Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers. Motion 8.5 Authorization to Execute Contract with Ray Gergen for Installation of Water and Sediment Control Basins (15-IPP-05) Meyers stated that Ray Gergen is requesting cost share funds to construct a grassed waterway. The estimated project cost is $7,810. 15.043 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to execute contract with Ray Gergen for installation of grassed waterway in Section 6, Douglas Township, Vermillion River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $5,857.50. Members voting yes: Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers, Zanmiller. Motion 8.6 Authorization to Execute Contract with Donovan Lucius for Installation of Grassed Waterway (15- IPP-06) Meyers stated that Donovan Lucius is requesting cost share funds to construct a grassed waterway. The estimated project cost is $9,550. 15.044 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to execute contract with Donovan Lucius for installation of grassed waterway in Section 20, Douglas Township, Cannon River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $7,162.50. Members voting yes: Chamberlain, Nielsen, Meyers, Zanmiller, Brown. Motion 8.7 Authorization to Execute Contract with Rebecca Susag for Installation of Grassed Waterway (15- IPP-07) Meyers stated that Rebecca Susag is requesting cost share funds to construct a grassed waterway. The estimated project cost is $3,740. 15.045 Motion by Meyers, second by Chamberlain to execute contract with Rebecca Susag for installation of grassed waterway in Section 24, Douglas Township, Cannon River Watershed at 75% cost share, not to exceed $2,805. Members voting yes: Nielsen, Meyers, Zanmiller, Brown, Chamberlain. Motion 9. Committee of the Whole 9.1 Authorization to Amend Agreement with the Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization for 2015 Services Watson stated that at the March Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (WMO) meeting, the Board took action requesting the SWCD provide water monitoring on Pickerel Lake located in the City of Lilydale. This additional task was approved by the WMO Board at a cost not to exceed $4,030. Board action is being requested to authorize execution of an amended agreement to include the Pickerel Lake monitoring task. 3
15.046 Motion by Chamberlain, second by Zanmiller to approve the Amended 2015 Work Plan with the Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization with a new total cost not to exceed $38,490. All members voting yes. Motion 9.2 Authorization to Execute Contract with Peterson Company Ltd. to conduct 2014 Financial Audit Watson stated that we have obtained a cost estimate for Michael Peterson (Peterson Company) to perform our annual financial audit for year ending 2014. 15.047 Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyers to approve Peterson Company, Ltd to conduct the FY 2014 Financial Audit at a cost not to exceed $3,000. Members voting yes: Meyers, Zanmiller, Brown, Chamberlain, Nielsen. Motion 9.3 Legislative Updates Watson provided an update of SF 1158 and HF 1327. He stated that this bill includes new appropriations from the State general fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources which would then be distributed to soil and water conservation districts. It appears there is support for soil and water conservation districts, but the funding is yet to be determined. Letters of support have been submitted by the Association of Minnesota Counties, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Freshwater Society, and several other organizations on the need for additional State funds to support local soil and water conservation districts. Watson indicated that the buffer initiative and discussion continues but no funding has been identified. Watson stated that the Governor s buffer initiative is not just about enforcing the current shoreland rules. New legislation may include a new set of rules over additional watercourses outside of shoreland. 10. Inter-Agency Announcements and Reports Natural Resources Conservation Service Michelle Wohlers gave the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) agency report. She stated that she cannot recall a year like this; specifically how varying the resources are across the state. There have been numerous changes recently including prioritizing conservation planning to ensure funds are spent on protected resources. A natural resource inventory, the producer s crop rotation and tillage practices, and generating conservation plans are all entered into the contract software. The software will also be available to the producer s with landowners being able to view all of their information. In addition, the paperwork will be scanned and uploaded into this new system. Wohlers added that this will increase their workload. Wohlers stated that with the first round of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) they received funding for six applications totaling $60,000. All of which include cover crops. Wohlers noted that statewide they have roughly $8 million compared to $24 million in previous years. The funding is slated by initiatives and unless the landowner fits an initiative, they are not eligible. $11 million remains to be awarded. Wohlers also stated that they have nine new Conservation Security Program (CSP) applications. They will begin working on this program later in April when software is available. Regarding current construction projects, one project is complete and seeded. Wohlers also stated that the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) spot checks have become a priority and NRCS staff will be helping the Farm Service Agency with necessary field work. Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources There was no Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) report. Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Watson stated that the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) - Metro Area meeting was held on March 31. Tim Wilson provided the NRCS Update and also noted that the new State Conservationist, Cathy Pullman has been hired. Doug Thomas (BWSR) provided an overview of Governor Dayton s proposed buffer initiative as well as the One Watershed One Plan vision. Dave Weirens (BWSR) provided an overview of the proposed legislation on recommendations to improve the wetland 4
replacement outcomes of the Wetland Conservation Act. LeAnn Buck (MASWCD) provided legislative updates. A presentation was provided in the afternoon regarding Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDs) and how the program is being implemented as well as the role local soil and water conservation districts can play in stormwater management. Metro Conservation Districts Joint Powers Board The Metro Conservation Districts Joint Powers Board did not meet. Dakota County Watson indicated that the new vehicles and equipment budgeted in both 2014 and 2015 have arrived. Watershed Management Organizations There were no updates. 8. Upcoming Meetings and Events The upcoming events were reviewed. District Managers Report Watson stated that Kayla Horan has been hired as our new Program Specialist and will begin on April 6.. No decision has been made yet on the Resource Conservationist vacancy. Watson distributed a flyer on the upcoming Buffer Proposal Forum that the Cannon River Watershed Partnership has scheduled for April 6 at 1:30 at the Dave Legvold Farm in Northfield; he added that Governor Dayton is scheduled to be there. Watson also stated that he has been coordinating with Representative Rick Hansen to hold a Buffer Forum on April 7 at 6:30 at the Clarion Hotel in South St., Paul and that flyer was distributed as well. Watson stated that he will be out of the office April 27 through May 5 and Curt Coudron will be acting in his absence. Adjourn 15.048 Motion by Chamberlain, second by Meyers to adjourn the meeting. All members voting yes. Motion The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Laura Zanmiller, Secretary 5