Thirty Lakes Watershed District
Board of Managers Meeting
Monday, August 25, 2008

Board Present:  D. Armstrong, T. Ebnet, K. Svee, B. Yund.  Absent:  None.

*Note:  On August 20, 2008, Joseph J. Hampl submitted a letter of resignation to the Board of County Commissioners.

Also present was County Commissioner Rosemary Franzen.

The meeting was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by President Armstrong in the office of the Thirty Lakes Watershed District, 17064 Commercial Park Road, Brainerd, MN.

Agenda:  MOTION BY EBNET/SVEE THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Secretary’s Report:  T. Ebnet had a question about Commissioner Theide’s comments recorded in the minutes.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 28, 2008 MEETING BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Monthly Bills:  MOTION BY YUND/EBNET THAT THE MONTHLY BILLS BE PAID AS PRESENTED ON THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE LIST.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Pelican Lake Storm Water Project:  A public information meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2008, 9:00 a.m. at the Breezy Point City Hall Community Room.  D. Armstrong asked what the “Message” of that meeting should be.  It was decided that T. Ebnet and Administrator M. Peisch would work on the “Message” and draft an agenda.

Glen Gustafson of the Pelican Lake Property Owners Association and Clyde Clement of the Pelican Lake Conservation Club have been approached by the Administrator to contribute to the cost of the Project.  Both reported that their organizations did not have the funds to make such a contribution.

K. Svee recalled that Kurt Deter and Julie Klocker suggested that the Project be turned back to the original complainant, which is the Pelican Lake Property Owners Assoc.

T. Ebnet stated that the original retention pond, now out of operation, was originally intended to collect only the stormwater from the Point Place Condominium.  He further stated that if the total cost of the Project is $200,000, Thirty Lakes Watershed has already contributed 25%.

K. Svee said that the taxpayers of the Watershed District shouldn’t subsidize the Pelican Lake Project.  B. Yund explained that in prior years, the residents of Pelican Lake has subsidized projects on North Long Lake.

There was further discussion about the Minnesota Rule 7050 which prohibits discharge into the waters of the State, and Minnesota Statute 115.061 which requires that a source of pollution be immediately reported to the MPCA.  T. Ebnet suggested that the subject of MPCA enforcement not be brought up at the meeting on September 13th.

B. Yund brought up the fecal threat to the swimming beach in past years.  He stated that the runoff from the parking lot is placing increased pressure on the lake.

M. Peisch reported that she had discussed with Attorney Kurt Deter the possible legal liability on the part of the Watershed District if they chose to turn the project over.  Mr. Deter told her that there would be no liability on the part of the District if they do not complete the project.

2009 Budget:  With regard to the line item of “Sanitary Management District Support”, it was clarified that these funds are to pay the difference between the Watershed Per Diem and the Crow Wing County Per Diem for the Manager attending the Sanitary Management meetings.

MOTION BY EBNET/SVEE THAT THE 2009 PROPOSED BUDGET, WITH A TAX LEVY OF 210,000, BE APPROVED ON THE CONDITION THAT IF AN ADDITIONAL PART TIME EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED, THAT EMPLOYEE’S WAGES WILL COME OUT OF THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Dean Heger:  MOTION BY SVEE/EBNET THAT PERMIT #080818 BE APPROVED FOR DEAN HEGER AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GARAGE AT 8311 GLADSTONE LAKE ROAD, BRAINERD.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

T. Ebnet recalled speaking to Mrs. Heger about a rain garden when he conducted the original onsite inspection, and suggested that she might be interested in a cost-share project.

Personnel Policy dated November, 2007:  MOTION BY SVEE/EBNET THAT THE PERSONNEL POLICY BE APPROVED AS WRITTEN IN NOVEMBER, 2007.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Etc:  It will be necessary to have a replacement for J. Hampl on the Sanitary Management District Board.

MOTION BY YUND/SVEE THAT T. EBNET REPLACE J. HAMPL AS THE THIRTY LAKES WATERSHED DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SANITARY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

County Commissioner R. Franzen stated that she will move to table the issue of appointing a new Manager when it comes up on the Commissioner’s Agenda for August 26, 2008.  K. Svee suggested that the Administrator should have input during the selection process.  There was discussion about the Watershed District making recommendations to the County Commissioners for the appointment.  The Administrator will contact the County Administrator to discuss the possibility.

In the mean time, an advertisement for Advisory Committee members will be published in the Brainerd Dispatch newspaper.

Jolly Rogers:  Administrator M. Peisch requested permission to handle this project to conclusion, and the permission was granted by the Board of Managers.

D. Armstrong stated that he may have to tender his resignation in order to accept employment that will take him out of state for an extended period.

With J. Hampl off the Board, the position of Vice Chairman is vacant.  MOTION BY YUND/SVEE THAT TOM EBNET TAKE THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIRMAN.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION BY SVEE/EBNET THAT THE SECOND MEETING OF THE MONTH BE HELD AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE OFFICE OF THE WATERSHED DISTRICT, WILL ALL BILLS BEING PAID AT THE FIRST MEETING.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

T. Lauer showed photos of a possible shoreline restoration project.  The Managers agreed to give the project further consideration.

MOTION BY EBNET THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED AT 11:15 A.M.