Thirty Lakes Watershed District
Board of Managers Meeting
Monday, July 14, 2008

Board Present:  D. Armstrong, T. Ebnet, J. Hampl, K. Svee.  Absent:  B. Yund.

Also present was Karen Sundeen, Alan Cibuzar of A. W. Research Laboratories, and Thirty Lakes Staff M. Peisch and T. Lauer.

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by President Ebnet in the office of the Thirty Lakes Watershed District, 17064 Commercial Park Road, Brainerd, MN.

Agenda:  MOTION BY ARMSTRONG/HAMPL THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE ADDITION OF THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS, DISCUSSION OF THE PALMER’S ADDITION TO DEACONS LODGE AND DISCUSSION OF THE PELICAN LAKE STORMWATER PROJECT.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Secretary’s Report:  MOTION BY ARMSTRONG/HAMPL THAT THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 23, 2008 MEETING BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Jolly Rogers Cooperative:  K. Svee stated that a permit should be required for the new storage buildings and a revised plan should be required showing the entire property.

At this time D. Armstrong left the meeting.

Mileage Rate:  Effective July 1, 2008, the Internal Revenue Service has raised the mileage reimbursement rate to $.585 per mile.

Parker Boy Scout Reservation:  A permit application has been received for the restoration of the hill on the south side of the Dining Hall.  K. Svee stated that a permit should also be required for the Castle structure now under construction.

MOTION BY SVEE/HAMPL THAT APPROVAL ON THE HILL RESTORATION PERMIT BE POSTPONED UNTIL A SITE DRAWING AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION IS RECEIVED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Clow Manufacturing:  Doug Buehl of Clow Manufacturing and Phil Martin and Brian Drown of Landecker & Associates were present to discuss some expansion of the facility.

The entrance on the south side of the parking lot will be eliminated, and Stormwater Pond A will be created.  One 100’ X 50’ building will be added to the northeast portion of the plant building, and a 200’ X 70’ building will be constructed between the two wetland ponds, with 35 additional parking spaces on the northeast portion of the property, and a road that goes around the wetland back to the new building.

Stormwater Ponds C & D, located on the north and south of the new building will be created.  Pond D will contain a 100 year storm event.  Pond C meets the MPCA wet sedimentation basin requirements, but will not contain a 100 year storm event.  Overflow for such an event would go into the wetland.

MOTION BY SVEE/HAMPL TO APPROVE THE CONCEPT OF THE STORMWATER DESIGN WITH POND C OVERFLOWING TO THE WETLAND IN THE EVENT OF A HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Final drawings will be done by Landecker & Associates and the roadway will be staked for the Manager’s inspection.

Advisory Committee:  Karen Sundeen was introduced to the Managers.  She is currently a student at the Central Lakes Community College in the Natural Resources Program.

MOTION BY HAMPL/SVEE THAT KAREN SUNDEEN BE APPROINTED TO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

A. W. Research Laboratories:  The Managers suggested to A. Cibuzar that a meeting be arranged to discuss and confirm expectations of the work performed for the Watershed District.

Werring Procedure:  K. Svee is concerned that the Werring Procedure will not be accepted by other State Agencies such as MPCA.  There is approximately $40,000 left to be spent of the original $91,000 budgeted for the Werring Procedure.  The original proposal did not include the screens.  A. Cibuzar stated that a contract for the remaining work is in order.

Cibuzar then presented the estimated costs of work to be performed in 2009 according to the Overall Plan.

At this time D. Armstrong returned.

Pelican Lake Stormwater Project:  Mark Hallan of Widseth Smith Nolting was present to discuss the project.  He stated that the next step would be to call for a Utilities Locate, conduct a re-survey, and then do an itemized cost estimate.  A new preliminary design would be drawn, presented to the Managers and then to the residents of the Condominiums and Timeshare.   A contract for these services will be forthcoming.

MOTION BY HAMPL/ARMSTRONG THAT APPROVAL UP TO $2500 BE GIVEN FOR COMPLETION OF TASK #1, INCLUDING THE LOCATION OF THE UTILITIES, NEW SURVEY AND UPDATED SITE MAP.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Aubrey McClendon:  An application for the Boathouse Track System was forwarded by the DNR.  It shows four tracks supported by piles that will extend 70 ft. into Pelican Lake.  A. Cibuzar stated that the Army Corp. of Engineers must be notified.

K. Svee reported that he has walked the entire McClendon site and met with Randy, one of the Foremen for Nor-Son Construction.  He will deliver a Permit Application and request a new site plan.  J. Hampl suggested that a follow-up letter be sent after Svee’s onsite.

D. Armstrong suggested that a representative from the Corp. of Engineers be invited to the Watershed District meeting when we have a revised site plan showing the boathouse.

MOTION BY ARMSTRONG/HAMPL THAT THE PLANS FOR THE BOATHOUSE AND TRACK SYSTEM BE SENT TO THE LOCAL OFFICE OF THE ARMY CORP. OF ENGINEERS WITH AN INVITATION TO HAVE THE ATTEND THE JULY 28, 2008 MEETING. ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

T. Ebnet suggested that we check with B. Hippert at the Crow Wing Soil & Water Conservation District and review any inspection reports she may have on the McClendon SWPP and possible NPDES Permit.

**Note:  Administrator discovered that Leo Grabowski of the Army Corp. of Engineers handled the Boathouse Track system application they received from Aubrey McClendon.  A letter was sent to McClendon on 6/16/08 informing him that a permit would not be required from the Corp. of Engineers since the project was not within the regulatory jurisdiction of the Corp.  Consequently a Representative from the Army Corp. of Engineers will not be invited to the July 28th meeting. **

There was some discussion about the amount of time A. Cibuzar spends attending Watershed District Meetings.

K. Svee suggested that Board of Manager meetings be tape recorded.

Jolly Rogers Cooperative:  D. Armstrong presented new drawings of the entire site showing that there are currently 27 units as opposed to the 40 in the original plan.  The existing storage building is located in Tiers 2 & 3.  The proposed second storage building would be in Tier 2.

Each unit is allowed 1,000 square feet of impervious area. The total impervious area represents 9.4% of the entire site, not including the storage buildings.

D. Armstrong showed the photographs taken at the Jolly Rogers site on this date.  Following a 3” rain event, one of the piles of dirt eroded only 3 ft.  The silt fences were still standing.  There were signs of erosions in some areas, but nothing serious.  A 16” berm has been created on the north side of the storage building, and mulch has been placed in the southeast corner of the storage area.

Ken Gunderson of Jolly Rogers has been invited to attend the July 28, 2008 meeting to discuss the storage buildings and future plans for the cooperative community.

Palmer’s Addition to Deacon’s Lodge:  J. Hampl and G. Gustafson had previously conducted an onsite inspection of the property, and found that there are many natural retention areas to collect stormwater.  The Palmer’s Plat property is contained in the original plan for Deacon’s Lodge.

An Amendment will be made to the original stormwater plan which will state that natural topography and contours will be used for stormwater retention.  A Permit Application will be obtained from David Landecker.

Pecarich:  Awaiting completed Permit Application and stormwater plan.

Brian Wiswell:  This dredging will be done at the Applicant’s home, 24085 County Road #4 in Merrifield.  Work will be completed during the winter to reduce the likelihood of disturbing sediment.  A new drawing will be submitted with the completed application.

Half Moon Saloon:  A letter has been sent to the owner, Brian Wiswell, requesting that the fence along the wetlands be repaired.  There was discussion regarding possible enforcement issues and what could be done if the owner refuses to cooperate.

Cost-Share Projects:  There was discussion about the percentages of participation and dollar amounts.  J. Hampl suggested that either the percentage or dollar limit could be adjusted for a project.  The letter drafted by South Ramsey Watershed District will be tailored to the needs of Thirty Lakes Watershed.

Calendar of Lake Association Meetings:  T. Ebnet will attend the Clark Lake and LARA meetings.  J. Hampl will attend the PLPOA meeting.  There was discussion about contacting Pelican Lake Conservation Club to be on their agenda for a future meeting.  J. Hampl suggested that a Manager attend the monthly Board Meeting of certain Lake Associations.

Newsletter:  The annual newsletter is almost complete.  J. Hampl stated that the current issue of the Lake Country Journal has a very good article on runoff that might be used as a guide for a newsletter article.

Meeting Room Chairs for the Public:  Straight back, padded, fabric covered chairs are available at Office Max in Brainerd for $30 each.

MOTION BY ARMSTRONG/HAMPL THAT TEN PADDED, STRAIGHT BACK CHAIRS BE PURCHASED.  IF A PRICE BREAK IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASING 12, THEN 12 SHOULD BE PURCHASED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Breezy Point Stormwater Project:  J. Hampl stated that detailed minutes of the public meetings should be kept to avoid any future difficulty or misunderstanding.  He also suggested that agendas should be made for the meetings, and deadlines be set (such as September 15th for the final plan).  D. Armstrong stated that the project needs to get moving.  J. Hampl reported that PLPOA is discouraged since the Watershed District has been working on this project for three years now with no obvious results.  It was suggested that Betty Ryan of the County Echo Newspaper be put on the mailing list for meeting notifications.

Election of Officers:  The Administrator stated that the current By-Laws state that the elections take place in February.  K. Svee suggested this be changed to December, with the new Officers taking office on January 1 of the following year.

MOTION BY HAMPL/ARMSTRONG THAT THE BY-LAWS BE AMENDED TO SHOW THAT ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE DURING THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE OF EACH YEAR.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

North Central Collaborative:  T. Ebnet suggested that Thirty Lakes Watershed District award plaques for environmental initiatives and other projects similar to the method used by the Collaborative.

Election of Officers: 

J. Hampl nominated D. Armstrong for the position of President.  Armstrong accepts.  D. Armstrong nominated J. Hampl for the position of President.  Hampl declines.
D. ARMSTRONG VOTED IN AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD BY UNANIMOUS BALLOT.

D. Armstrong nominated J. Hampl for the position of Vice President.  Hampl accepts. 
J. HAMPL VOTED IN AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD BY UNANIMOUS BALLOT.

D. Armstrong nominated K. Svee for the position of Secretary.  Svee accepts.
K. SVEE VOTED IN AS SECRETARY OF THE BOARD BY UNANIMOUS BALLOT.

J. Hampl nominated T. Ebnet for the position of Treasurer of the Board.  Ebnet accepts.
T. EBNET VOTED IN AS TREASURER OF THE BOARD BY UNANIMOUS BALLOT.

MOTION BY EBNET THAT THE MEETING BE ADOURNED AT 2. 37 P.M.