Thirty Lakes Watershed District
Board of Managers Meeting
Monday, August 11, 2008

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

Also present was County Commissioner Paul Thiede and Thirty Lakes Staff M. Peisch and T. Lauer.

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

Agenda:  MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED WITH THE ADDITION OF THE AUGUST 8TH WORKSHOP UNDER “ETC”.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Secretary’s Report:  MOTION BY HAMPL/YUND THAT THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 28TH MEETING BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Treasurer’s Report:  The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed by the Managers and filed for audit.

Monthly Bills:  MOTION BY HAMPL/YUND THAT THE MONTHLY BILLS LISTED ON THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 8/11/08 LIST BE PAID.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Pelican Lake Stormwater Project:  There was discussion about the proposal for engineering services from Widseth Smith Nolting.  Task #1 for $2,500 had been approved previously, however an additional $10,000 in engineering is proposed.  K. Svee stated that Thirty Lakes should be responsible for the $2,500 but no additional engineering fees. 

During the 8/8/08 Workshop, Julie Klocker and Dan Steward from BWSR and Attorney Kurt Deter suggested that the project be turned over to the one who initially brought it to the Watershed District, which is the Pelican Lake Property Owners Assoc.  They suggested that the engineering done to date would be the Watershed District’s contribution to the Project but that the Property Owners Assoc. and the Pelican Lake Conservation Club need to be involved.

MOTION BY SVEE/HAMPL TO INSTRUCT THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SEND A LETTER TO MARK HALLAN AT WIDSETH SMITH TELLING HIM TO STOP AFTER TASK #1, SUBMIT HIS BILL, AND SEND US COPIES OF ALL DATA COLLECTED TO DATE.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

J. Hampl provided the history of the Project and explained many of the photos of the Project Area.

B. Yund suggested that the District consider spending $1,500 for re-excavating the existing stormwater collection area and removing the impervious liner.  J. Hampl stated that the previous pond “blew out” because it was inadequate, and therefore re-excavation wouldn’t provide a solution to the problem.  K. Svee stated that the District should stop paying money into this project.

MOTION BY HAMPL/SVEE THAT REPRESENTATIVES FROM PLPOA AND PLCC BE INVITED TO THE NEXT BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETING AS THE WATERSHED DISTRICT IS SEEKING THEIR ACTIVE SUPPORT IN MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Commissioner Thiede asked what agency actually does have jurisdiction over the Pelican Lake Project.  J. Hampl explained that MPCA has different priorities for Point and Non Point Pollution sources.  He also discussed how the Assessment Process would result in much higher legal fees.

Brian Wiswell/Y-Store:  According to Attorney Kurt Deter, even though the original permit is in the name of Donald and Charles Haukos dba the “Y” Store, the permit applies to the property no matter who the present owner might be.

K. Svee reported on his meeting with Brian Wiswell.  He further stated that the vegetation is thick enough to stop debris from entering the wetland.

D. Armstrong pointed out pictures taken at the Y-Store on 7/9/08 which showed sweepings from the parking lot going in to the wetland.  He stated that he did not think the vegetation was adequate.

MOTION BY HAMPL/SVEE TO ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATOR’S RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE VEGETATION AS THE “BARRIER” REQUIRED IN THE ORIGINAL PERMIT CONDITIONS.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

A letter will be sent to Brian Wiswell requesting that the parking lot sweepings be put somewhere besides the wetland, and that the dumpster lid be kept closed at all times.

Thomas Haglin:  Permit to move an existing modular home to the north end of the property, construct a storage building adjacent to it, and construct a new dwelling where the modular home was previously located.  D. Armstrong voiced concern about the “no living quarters” in the relocated modular building and attached storage building.  K. Svee stated that he had conducted an onsite inspection of the property, and it appeared that there were no runoff issues but that a silt fence would be installed as a precautionary measure.

MOTION BY HAMPL/SVEE THAT PERMIT #080731 BE APPROVED FOR THOMAS HAGLIN WITH THE CONDITION THAT A SILT FENCE BE INSTALLED IMMEDIATELY.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Parker Boy Scout Reservation Medieval Castle:  A complete Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan from the engineering firm of Bogart, Pederson & Associates of Becker, MN was submitted.

MOTION BY HAMPL/SVEE THAT PERMIT #080729 BE APPROVED FOR THE PARKER BOY SCOUT RESERVATION MEDIEVAL TIMES CASTLE.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Parker Boy Scout Reservation Hillside Restoration Project:  This is a joint project of Thirty Lakes Watershed District, Crow Wing Soil & Water Conservation District, Crow Wing County Water Plan and the MN Dept. of Natural Resources.  A drawing was submitted showing the placement of silt fences, fiber logs and geo-jute fabric to control erosion until vegetation is established.

MOTION BY HAMPL/SVEE THAT PERMIT #080804 BE APPROVED FOR THE PARKER BOY SCOUT RESERVATION HILLSIDE RESTORATION.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Before leaving, Commissioner Thiede asked to address the Board on the issue of 2009 Budgets.  He stated that the County Commissioners will not approve budget increases for any Department.

Clow Stamping:  The amended Conditions for Permit #05008 and Conditions for Permit #080714 were reviewed by the Managers.  B. Yund suggested that A. Cibuzar review the engineering plans by Landecker & Assoc. 

D. Armstrong questioned whether the condition requiring “the drain tile lines to be cleaned or replaced when the sediment reaches a level of two (2) inches” was realistic.  K. Svee agreed that it was not.  That condition will be modified to read “drain tile lines shall be maintained to assure proper operation”.

MOTION BY SVEE/HAMPL THAT THE CONDITIONS BE APPROVED ON BOTH PERMITS #05008 AND #080714 AND FURTHER THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR CONTACT PHIL MARTIN OF LANDECKER & ASSOCIATIES AND REVIEW THE CONDITIONS WITH HIM.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

The Managers reviewed the Legislative changes to the Open Meeting Law and Increased Limits for Contracting Procedures.

Aubrey McClendon:  K. Svee is in the process of obtaining a Permit Application for this project.

Contracts with A. W. Research:  The Managers must determine exactly what is expected from A. W. Research.  K. Svee suggested that it be discussed at the Budget Workshop.

Employee Reviews:  J. Hampl stated that reviews must be structured and provide necessary documentation.  It was decided that the Administrator will complete an evaluation of T. Lauer and provides copies of it to the Managers.  The Managers will each complete an evaluation of the Administrator, and give it to D. Armstrong.

Revised By-Laws:  The Managers reviewed the By-Laws with the recommended revisions. 

MOTION BY SVEE/HAMPL THAT THE REVISED BY-LAWS BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Possible Projects:  B. Yund suggested that many of the Public Landings could be improved.  J. Hampl spoke about “herringbone troughs” installed at some boat launches by the Forest Department.

Etc.  J. Hampl read through some of the notes he made during the August 8th Workshop.  A Watershed District can focus one or all of the following:  Education, Incentives (cost share) and Regulatory (permits).

J. Hampl asked if anyone commented on that fact that Thirty Lakes Watershed did not have a booth at the Crow Wing County Fair.

MOTION BY SVEE THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED AT 12:20 P.M.