Minutes of the January 17, 2008 Regular Board Meeting

 

 

Minutes of the January 17, 2008 Dodge Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Regular Board of Supervisor’s meeting, conference room, USDA Service Center, Dodge Center, Minnesota.

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Muriel French at 1:20 PM.

 

Members Present:     Muriel French, Chairperson

                                    Darrel Faulkner, Vice-chairman

                                    David Livingston, Secretary

                                    Glenn Hahn, PR&I                                                      

                                    Larry Scherger

 

Members Absent:      None

                                     

Others Present:         Klaus Alberts, County Commissioner

                                    Brian DeVetter, District Conservationist

                                    Jennifer Middelstadt, CPA

                                    Dave Peterson, BWSR Conservationist

                                    Mark Gamm, Dodge County Environmental Director    

 

Election of Officers:

·        Chairperson – Motion by Hahn, seconded by Scherger for Muriel French. Unanimous vote.

·        Vice-chairman - Motion by Hahn, seconded by Scherger for Darrel Faulkner. Unanimous vote.

·        Secretary – Motion by Hahn, seconded by Scherger for Dave Livingston. Unanimous vote.

·        Treasurer – Motion by Livingston, seconded by Scherger for Glenn Hahn. Unanimous vote.

·        PR&I – Motion by Livingston, seconded by Hahn for Larry Scherger. Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                                                                                   

Approval of Meeting Agenda A motion was made by Hahn, seconded by Scherger, to approve the January 2008 meeting agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

Approval of the December 20, 2007 Board Meeting Minutes – A motion was made Hahn, seconded by Faulkner, to approve the December 20, 2007 regular board meeting minutes as mailed. The motion carried unanimously.

Approval of the Treasurer’s Financial Statements and New Bill Payments – Jennifer Middelstadt reviewed with the Board the December 2007 treasurer’s financial statements. After discussion, a motion was made by Faulkner, seconded by Hahn to approve the December 2007 treasurer’s financial statements as presented and to pay all the presented bills which total $4,298.93. The motion carried unanimously.

Office Space Rental – Mark Gamm addressed the Board about the possibility of renting office space from the District for the County’s feedlot officer. He would need the space for 1-1.5 years. No action was taken.

 

Unfinished Business       

Soil Stewardship Inserts – After discussion, a motion was made by Hahn, seconded by Scherger to order 2,100 inserts at a cost of $157.50 plus shipping. The motion carried unanimously.

NRCS Computer Usage - The Board reviewed a letter from the NRCS concerning the reduction of computers connected to the NRCS network “to an affordable and acceptable level for all involved”. A decision on this issue must be made before October 9, 2008.

Personnel Committee Report – There was no report. A motion was made by Scherger, seconded by Hahn, to make any salary increase recommended by the personnel committee retro-active to the first full pay period in January 2008. The motion carried unanimously.

                                                                                                     

New Business

 

County Commissioner’s Report – Klaus Alberts reported on the following items:

·        The mileage rate for 2008 is $.505.

·        News-Enterprise is the County’s official paper for 2008.

·        The County will be re-modeling the old ag center bldg. and moving the public health department there.

·        A $500 donation was received from the amateur sports assoc. The money will be used to help fund the county trail system.

·        Feb. 19th will be the employee’s appreciation banquet at the courthouse.

BWSR Report – Dave Peterson informed the Board about the new BWSR “Performance Review and Assistance Program”. The performance review will look at how well each LGU accomplishes the land and water management goals in its own local plan.

 

 

 

District Conservationist’s Report – Brian DeVetter reported on the following items:

·        Reviewed with the Board the “Mutual Agreement between the USDA and the State of Minnesota and the Dodge SWCD.

·        EQIP – Approx. $85,000 has been encumbered as of this morning. If all interested landowners sign contracts I they would total $115,000.

·        Dec. 10th he, Jeff Koster, new RC&D coordinator and Darrel Faulkner toured Dodge County.

·        Contractors Meeting – The annual Dodge/Steele contractors meeting will be scheduled for some time in February. Last year the District donated $75 toward the noon luncheon. A motion was made by Scherger, seconded by Hahn to donate $75 towards this year’s contractor’s noon luncheon. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Meeting Reports

·        Livingston reported on a Cedar River Watershed meeting he attended. The group is looking into liability insurance and there seems to be some problems with watershed boundaries. The first “Planning Advisory Committee” will be January 23rd at 2:00 pm.

·        French reported on the Zumbro Watershed Partnership meeting she attended January 10th. There are 3 board positions open. They still need willing landowners to participate in demonstration projects. The ZWP should be a non-profit organization by the next meeting.

 

Payment Approval of Supervisor Vouchers – After review, a motion was made by Hahn, seconded by Faulkner to approve payment of the presented supervisor vouchers. The motion carried unanimously.

2008 Committee Assignments – After discussion, a motion was made by Livingston, seconded by Faulkner, to approve the following committee assignments for 2008:

·        Personnel Committee ……………………. French and Faulkner

·        SE SWCD Technical Support JPB ………. Scherger

·        Hiawatha Valley RC&D …………………. Faulkner

·        County Water Plan Technical Committee ... French – Livingston as alternate.

·        County Feedlot Advisory Board …………. Hahn

·        Cedar River Watershed …………………... Livingston – Hahn as alternate.

·        Zumbro Watershed Partnership …………... French – Scherger as alternate.                     

 

 

 

2008 Mileage and Per Diem Rates – A motion was made by Faulkner, seconded by Hahn, to set the 2008 mileage rate at $.505/mile and set the per diem rate at $70.00 for 2008.

2008 Cost-share Rates – A motion was made by Faulkner, seconded By Hahn, to set the maximum cost-share rate at 65% not to exceed $5,000 per project except for well sealing which will be 50% cost-share not to exceed $500 per well. The motion carried unanimously.

2008 Financial Institution Designations – A motion was made by Scherger, seconded by Hahn, to designate Wells Fargo Bank of Dodge Center, MN as the District’s financial institute for its checking account and Wells Fargo Investments of Owatonna, MN as the District’s financial institution for its money market account. The motion carried unanimously.

2008 Regular Meeting Day and Times – A motion was made by Livingston, seconded by Faulkner, to set the regular board meeting day as the third Thursday of each month for 2008. The starting times will be 1:15 pm for the November through March regular meetings and 7:15 pm for the April through October regular board meetings. The motion carried unanimously.

Pay Equity Report Approval – After review, a motion was made by Livingston, seconded by Scherger, to authorize the chairperson to sign the pay equity implementation report as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Correspondence – The Board acknowledged the following correspondences:

·        MASWCD flyer for legislative briefing & day at the capital.

·        Reviewed letter from MASWCD concerning election options. This will discussed in more detail at the February meeting.

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Other New Business

EQIP Contracts – The Board reviewed and signed new EQIP contracts as presented by Brian DeVetter.

Office Space Rent to County – After further discussion, a motion was made by Livingston, seconded by Faulkner, to have Scherger and Hahn meet with District staff to get their input on this issue. The motion carried unanimously.

Livingston indicated he would volunteer to be an alternate if need be.           

Adjournment

 

             Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairperson Muriel French at 4:10 pm on a motion by Hahn and a second by Faulkner.

Next Meeting

        The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Dodge Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Board of Supervisors will be February 21, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. in the conference room of the USDA Service Center building, 916 2nd St. SE, Dodge Center, Minnesota.

 

Approved____________________________Date_________Recorder__________________