The Board of Supervisors of the Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District held its monthly meeting on April 19, 2016 in the Ag Service Center.

Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

Present were Ron Dilley, Doug Hanson, Terry Schaefer, Brandon Smith, and Jane Youngkrantz. Also present were Rick Reimer, District Manager, Sandy Laumer, Office Coordinator, Ryan Peterson, RIM Coordinator, Laura Merten, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist, Melanie Dickman, District Conservationist, and Tanner Bruse Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist Manager.

Chairman Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Vouchers were prepared.

Secretary’s Report was presented. Motion by Youngkrantz, second by Schaefer to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on March 15, 2016. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Dilley read through the bills for reviewal and payments and presented the Treasurer’s Report. Motion by Hanson, second by Schaefer to accept the Treasurer’s Report and pay the outstanding bills as listed in the agenda. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Schaefer, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Motion by Schaefer, second by Dilley to approve local cost share contract 2wbFY16 Irving Town Hall for Windbreak in the amount of $900. Discussion was held. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Schaefer, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Motion by Youngkrantz, second by Hanson to approve local cost share contract ddFY16 Irving Town Hall for Fabric in the amount of $455. Discussion was held. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Schaefer, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Motion by Hanson, second by Dilley to approve State cost share contract CWMA 1FY16 Donald Jones in the amount of $825. Discussion was held. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Schaefer, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Motion by Dilley, second by Youngkrantz to approve State cost share contract CWMA 2FY16 Gary Noehl in the amount of $825. Discussion was held. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Schaefer, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Motion by Hanson, second by Dilley to pay cost share contract cr1FY16 Terry Schaefer for Corn Rows in the amount of $494. Discussion was held. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Abstain Schaefer. Motion carried.

Laumer presented the quarterly review of the annual plan.

Bruse entered the meeting at 10:25 a.m.

Bruse handed out a review of Laura Merten’s position and asked for feedback about the position.

Peterson entered the meeting at 10:40 a.m.

Discussion was held on the Conservation Technician Position which included Interviews were held April 1st with 5 applicants; still haven’t been approved computer access from NRCS; and discussed waiting till computer issue is resolved until filling the position.

Reimer’s Manager’s Report included: submitted Biennial Budget Report (BBR) to BWSR; 17 windbreak visits; 14 lakeshore site visits; attended 1W1P North Fork meeting; attended 1W1P Chippewa meeting; assisted with Technician interviews; attended Area 2 meeting in Foley; tree delivery this week; tree handout dates are next week; helping with Earth Day; City of Willmar on Robbins Island; attending committee meetings on Smithsonian Museum exhibit at PWELC; helping with Envirothon; will be attending forestry committee meeting this summer for NACD; attending Agro Forestry training; working with Laura Molenaar on Pollinator Grant with Department of Ag; and had 8 WCA site visits.

Peterson’s District Report included: discussion on seeding for this spring; helping with Earth Day; attending County Board meeting today; and attended committee meetingsfor Smithsonian Exhibit.

Peterson left the meeting at 11:05 a.m.

Motion by Schaefer, second by Youngkrantz to close Heritage Bank savings account and Home State Bank Money Market checking account and open money market saving account at Home State Bank. Discussion was held. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Schaefer, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Laumer’s District report included: Election filing dates are May 17-May 30 for Dilley, Hanson, and Youngkrantz; discussed will need audit for 2015; helping with Area 2 Envirothon April 20 and State Envirothon May 16; admin session will be June 22-23 in Bemidji; most current Memo of Understanding (MOU) with NRCS is dated 1985; working on 2017 MCIT Payroll estimate request; and led discussion that Adam Beilke from BWSR has taken new position and Greg Berg will be new Board Conservationist.

Merten entered the meeting at 11:17 a.m.

Merten’s report included: working on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) re-enrollments; 183 contracts are expiring; 8 new CRP contracts; and wrote article for Tribune on Walk in Access (WIA) program.

Merten left the meeting at 11:24 a.m.

Dickman entered the meeting at 11:27 a.m.

Dickman’s NRCS report included: attended DC/Ultima meeting March 30th; obligating contracts for Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP); starting CMT interviews for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP); working on 1026s and discussed new process; working on status reviews and modifications for 2016 for Wetland Reserve Program (WRP); and led discussion on Memo of Understanding (MOU) for computer access.

Dickman left the meeting at 11:33 a.m.

Motion by Schaefer, second by Youngkrantz to offer two $250 scholarships and one of the scholarships representing Clough Family. Discussion was held. Voting in the affirmative were Dilley, Hanson, Schaefer, Smith, and Youngkrantz. Motion carried.

Discussion was held to have staff choose the scholarship winners.

Hanson led discussion that at Area 2 meeting it was discussed when writing grants to review them to target other offices besides BWSR.

Motion by Hanson, second by Schaefer to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

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Doug Hanson, Secretary Date