Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District November 4 th, 2015 LSRCD Board Room, Oak River Present: Board members: Ray Frey, Chair Kaye Wolstenholme Dave Falkevitch John Spaller Dennis Pedersen Don Huisman Bob Graham Cindy Murray Approved December 2 nd, 2015 #81A, Upper Central Little Saskatchewan River #72A, Upper Oak River, Chair #72B, Lower Oak River, Chair #82A, Upper Little Saskatchewan River, Chair #82B, Lower Little Saskatchewan River, Chair #81A, Upper Central Little Saskatchewan River, Chair #81B, Lower Central Little Saskatchewan River, Vice-Chair Provincial Appointee Colleen Cuvelier Anne Davidson Curt Westwood Bobby Bennett District Manager Financial Administrator Technician Watershed Planner Absent: Larry Cardy, #81B, Lower Central Little Saskatchewan River, Chair Chair Ray Frey called the meeting to order at 1:25 p.m. ADOPTION OF AGENDA #71/15: C. Murray D. Pedersen That the agenda be adopted as circulated. ADOPTION OF MINUTES #72/15: B. Graham J. Spaller That the minutes of the regular Board meeting held September 29 th, 2015 be adopted as circulated. COMMITTEES Personnel Employee Evaluations are to be completed and personnel committee will review and meet with employees. ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 1. Audit Management recommendations The board discussed the four recommendations from Sensus. Watershed Planning and Programs advised that the CD s are following the policy in the Conservation District Commission Policy. #73/15: D. Huisman C. Murray Whereas Sensus had recommendations for the board to review and address from the 2014/2015 Audit; Therefore, the Board of LSRCD authorizes and approves that the board will review and sign off on invoices at each board meeting; And, that LSRCD credit card invoices will be presented to the Administrator as they are charged and the statements will be reviewed by each employee, with receipts attached, and signed. The Chair will review the statements at each board meeting. The employees are authorized to continue with the use of the credit cards;
LSRCD November 4 th, 2015 Page 2 ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Audit Management recommendations (cont d): And, that the Chair will review the bank reconciliations monthly, sign them and they will be included in the minute book with the financial statements; And, the board authorizes and approves a signature stamp as the second signature. 2. Mail Log Administrator reported on mail procedures from other CDs. Protecting employees were discussed and the board approved continuing with present day procedure. 3. AGM & MCDA Conference - Reminder to all sub district members that the Annual General Meeting and elections for the LSRCD will be held at Basswood Community Hall on November 17 th. Administrator reviewed the registrations and costs for the MCDA Conference. 4. Alberta Soil Health The Western Canada Soil Health conference will be held in Edmonton, AB December 8 th to 10 th and a sub-district member has inquired about attending. There will be a carpool for travelling. #74/15: C. Murray R. Frey That the Board authorizes Greg Arnfinson to attend the Western Canada Soil Health conference in Edmonton, AB, December 8 th to 10 th. The LSRCD will pay the registration and expenses of $225.00. Remuneration will not be paid and the board requests a report on the conference at a board meeting. 5. Assiniboine River Basin Initiative the annual conference will be held in Brandon, November 12th & 13 th. The Chair may be able to attend. 6. Strategic Review & Discussion meeting positive comments were voiced regarding the meeting and the presentation was about the future not the past. The additional funding was very much appreciated. FINANCIAL 1. Financial Statement from September 29 th to October 31, 2015 was presented and reviewed by the Board. #75/15: K. Wolstenholme C. Murray That the Financial Statements from September 29 th to October 31 st, 2015 be accepted as presented. That the Board authorizes the expenditures recorded from September 29 th to October 31 st, 2015 in the amount of $39,158.47. That the Bank Reconciliation for September 30 th and October 31 st, 2015 be accepted as reviewed by Chair. 2. Payroll Direct Deposit and On-line payments & account transfers Administrator advised the board the direct deposit for payroll has been set up. On-line payroll payments and account transfers for ALUS were also discussed. #76/15: D. Pedersen D. Huisman That the Board authorizes and approves the direct deposit for payroll and on-line banking for filing the payroll deductions and transfers between accounts. A printed receipt of each transaction will be filed with the bank statements. 3. Outstanding Account - Administrator advised the Board of an outstanding account that will have lapsed for a year for an Abandoned Well Sealing, December 2014, J. Miller, Oak River. A letter has been forwarded for payment by the end of November. Administrator was advised to forward another letter regarding payment and that application will be made to Small Claims Court if payment is not received.
LSRCD November 4 th, 2015 Page 3 FINANCIAL (cont d): 4. Second Quarter Report - The Board was provided with a copy of the second quarter report that was submitted to Watershed Planning and Programs. The written portion of the report will be forwarded to our municipal partners. #77/15: D. Huisman B. Graham That the board accepts the second quarter report as presented by the Manager and will be forwarded to the municipal partners. 5. Year-End Estimates - Administrator reviewed the estimates for March 31 st, 2016. NEW BUSINESS 1. Otter Lake-Proven Marsh Ray and Don reported on the progress of the Water Retention Project. Letters of support have been received from the Municipalities of Harrison Park and Clanwilliam- Erickson. Crown Lands Branch and Rolling River First Nation have also been contacted. Ducks Unlimited have two control structures and agreements with surrounding landowners. A phone call was received from a concerned ratepayer adjacent to Proven Marsh regarding the project. The committee will continue to gather information and will apply for the grant for funds for a feasibility study and construction. 2. Hamiota Municipality invitation to Joint Councils Evening, Wednesday, November 18 th. Manager is authorized to attend. 3. David Juce, Park West School Division Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold Eco Adventure invitation. An adventure is planned for May/June 2016 with a canoe trip down the Little Saskatchewan River and the Manager has been invited to participate with the River Water Kit. The board authorized the Manager to attend. 4. ALUS presentation Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve has requested a presentation on ALUS for their January 2016 meeting. 5. CD Program 5-year Strategic Plan CD Managers have compiled a draft plan. The board discussed the plan and the Manager requested that everyone review the plan and bring written comments to the December meeting. OTHER A suggestion was brought forward regarding the AGM and Elections. The board discussed holding the elections at their sub-district meetings rather than at the AGM. Concerns regarding attendance at the AGM were noted or the need of an AGM. The board agreed to continue with the elections at the Annual General Meeting. PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS 1. ALUS A new draft Memorandum of Understanding was reviewed with suggestions for changes. Meetings are being set up with landowners for projects that were approved by the PAC. 2. Wedderburn dam a site meeting took place to discuss further construction. It was decided to leave until next year to see what the spring brings. 3. Tavernor Gully Stabilization Wet weather has delayed construction. 4. Rivers Wetland Centre of Excellence Cindy & Dave reported on the media event that took place September 30 th. Weather was good; a plaque was received from Ducks Unlimited. The students were shown how to plant a tree and the kids all seemed to be keen. A write-up & pictures will be in an upcoming issue of the South Mountain Press.
LSRCD November 4 th, 2015 Page 4 PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS (cont d): 5. Golf Course Seminar Manager will contact some of the golf courses to see if there would be interest in holding a seminar in the spring of 2016. REPORTS - CHAIR Ray reported on the boat wash station that the Riding Mountain National Park has set up on Clear Lake for the Zebra Mussels. He would like to see the LSR and the Biosphere work on a fee for service to assist with communications or something. It was suggested that perhaps Minnedosa and Rivers should also be contacted. MANAGER attached and filed with the minutes. TECHNICIAN attached and filed with the minutes. MCDA Ray reported on the ARBI Conference next week; a meeting of the whole was held on October 7 th. There was some concern from the Infrastructure CD s asking for stronger representation to the Province from MCDA. A presentation from H. Nelson, MB Forestry & Grasslands, W. McFadyen, Executive Director of ARBI and A. Preston, Chair of ARBI on Aquanty. This is a firm out of Waterloo, ON where a model was developed that predicts certain water events in an entire water basin and different impacts. The MCDA moved to support the Aquanty project with a letter of support, in-kind support of a representative on the Steering Committee and a financial contribution. PROVINCIAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM Bobby reviewed the November 2015 Provincial Conservation Districts update. CORRESPONDENCE 1. Manitoba North Dakota Zero Till Farmers Assoc. - ManDak Zero Till Better Yields through Better Soil workshop, Jan. 6 th - 7 th, 2016 Minot, ND. 2. Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corp. Notice of Intent to File a Caveat E1/2 of 7-19-22W (Tutkaluk). 3. Great Plains Fisher Workers Assoc. Annual workshop in Moose Jaw, SK, Feb. 1 st 3 rd, 2016. 4. Rural Municipality of Yellowhead re-appointment of David Sytnyk to SD #72A, Upper Oak River and Annabelle Pirie to SD #82A, Upper Little Saskatchewan River for a two year term. 5. Rural Municipality of Oakview re-appointment of John Thompson to SD #72A, Upper Oak River, Gord Paddock to SD #72B, Lower Oak River, Larry Cardy to #81B, Lower Central Little Saskatchewan, Gail Bridgeman to #82B, Lower Little Saskatchewan River for a two year term. 6. Watershed Planning & Programs, Kristin Hayward 2015-2016 budget approved. 7. Town of Minnedosa re-appointment of Bob Graham to SE #81B, Lower Central Little Saskatchewan. 8. Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson re-appointment of Wybo Vanderschuit to SD #81A, Upper Central Little Saskatchewan. 9. Municipality of Harrison Park re-appointment of Roger Desilets to SD #72A, Upper Oak River, Leonard Macksymchuk to SD #81A, Upper Central Little Saskatchewan River, Larry Huculak to #82A, Upper Little Saskatchewan River and Charles Tavernor to #82B, Lower Little Saskatchewan River. 10. Municipality of Harrison Park letter of support for a feasibility study for Proven Marsh Water Retention project. Under New Business. 11. Hamiota Municipality Joint Council evening, Wednesday, Nov. 18 th, 2015. Under New Business. 12. David Juce, Park West School Division invitation to join in Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold Eco Adventure. Under New Business.
LSRCD November 4 th, 2015 Page 5 CORRESPONDENCE (cont d): 13. Manitoba Environmental Industries Assoc. Remediation and Prevention 2016 conference, March 10 th, 2016. 14. Conservation Districts Program Provincial Update November 2015. Under Reports. 15. MCDA minutes of meeting held October 7 th. 16. Assiniboine Hills Conservation District minutes of meeting held September 28 th. 17. Pembina Valley Conservation District minutes of meeting held August 19 th. 18. Turtle Mountain Conservation District minutes of meeting held September 16 th. 19. West Interlake Watershed Conservation District minutes of meeting held September 17 th. 20. West Souris River Conservation District minutes of meeting held August 20 th. 21. Whitemud Watershed Conservation District minutes of meeting held October 15 th. 22. Lake Winnipeg Foundation The Watershed Observer. 23. TransCanada Energy East Pipeline Emergency Management and Response. ADJOURNMENT #78/15: D. Pedersen That the meeting now be adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, December 2 nd, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. or at the Call of the Chair. SD #82A and the council of the Municipality of Harrison Park invited to attend. TIME: 4:45 p.m. Ray Frey, Chair Anne Davidson, Financial Administrator