Thirty Lakes Watershed District
Board of Managers Meeting
Monday, September 8, 2008

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

Also present were County Commissioner Rosemary Franzen, John Wood, and Thirty Lakes Staff M. Peisch and T. Lauer.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2009 BUDGET:  The Public Hearing was called to order by Vice Pres. T. Ebnet at 9:10 a.m. in the office of the Thirty Lakes Watershed District, 17064 Commercial Park Road, Brainerd, MN. 

The Budget for 2009 is down $43,600 or 17% from 2008.  The levy amount increased 7.69%.  Commissioner Franzen asked if the Watershed District is affected by the same levy limits imposed on Crow Wing County, and T. Ebnet replied that it was not.  There were no other questions or comments from the audience.

MOTION BY YUND/SVEE THAT THE 2009 BUDGET BE APPROVED, WITH A LEVY AMOUNT OF $210,000.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

The Public Hearing was then closed and the regular meeting called to order at 9:15.

Agenda:  MOTION BY YUND/SVEE THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE ADDITION OF DRAHOS NORTHWOODS DEVELOPMENT.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Secretary’s Report:  T. Ebnet had a question regarding the levy amount of $210,000 and the total income of $216,400.

MOTION BY YUND/SVEE THAT THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 25, 2008 MEETING BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

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

M. Peisch reported that Bookkeeper Mary Lou Cody broke her wrist and is unable to prepare the Treasurer’s Report this month.

Advisory Committee:  John Wood had shown interest in serving on the Advisory Committee.  He owns property on Lake Edward, and is the former Vice President and Treasurer of the Lake Edward Conservation Club.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT JOHN WOOD BE APPOINTED TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Maintenance Contract for Copy Machine:  MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT APPROVAL BE GIVEN TO CONTINUE THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT ON THE CANON COPIER FOR ONE YEAR.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

2008 Overflight:  The Managers discussed specifications for the annual overflight.  It was decided that if would be done after the trees had shed their leaves but prior to snowfall.  It would be done on a documentation basis rather than identifying possible land use violations.  And the Watershed District would be divided into sections, with each section being done on a rotation.  There could be three to five sections.  B. Yund objected to five sections, since an area being photographed every five years is too long and too many changes could take place.

MOTION BY YUND/SVEE THAT THE STAFF AND BOARD PUT THESE SPECIFICATIONS IN A WRITTEN CONTRACT FORM SO THAT A. W. RESEARCH MIGHT SUBMIT A PROPOSAL.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

K. Svee suggested that Staff check for other vendors that conduct similar overflights.  He also offered to contact other Watershed Districts to see if they conduct them, and if so, what firms do they employ.

BWSR Academy of the North:  The Managers reviewed the Curriculum of this three day event to be held at the Grand Casino in Mille Lacs.  Registrations will be submitted at the next meeting.

Etc.:  The Board of Managers reviewed the letter of resignation submitted by Dale Armstrong.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE POLICY OF HAVING THE ADMINISTRATOR ATTEND THE CROW WING COUNTY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETINGS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE, WITH THE PRESIDENT ATTENDING ONE MEETING TO DISCUSS THE ANNUAL BUDGET.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT TOM EBNET TAKE THE POSITION OF BOARD PRESIDENT.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION BY YUND/EBNET THAT KEN SVEE TAKE THE POSITION OF BOARD VICE PRESIDENT.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Commissioner Franzen reported that the new Crow Wing County Land Services Director is doing a good job and that Customer Service has improved.  Enforcement was going to be done on a territory basis, but has now been changed to a rotating basis between the three enforcement employees.  There was some discussion about the County Commissioners remodeling their meeting room.

T. Ebnet reported on the Clark Lake Association meeting he attended on August 30th.

Draos Northwoods Development:  Tim Ramerth of Westwood Professionals was present to represent Drahos.  He provided a map indicating the Environmental Easement area lakeward of the housing development.  He also presented a drawing of the Community Sewer Site.  The sewer system will pre-treat the sewage before it enters the trenches.  It should be noted that the Homeowner Association  documents had previously been reviewed by Attorney Kurt Deter, who determined that the interests of the Thirty Lakes Watershed District were protected.

Tim Ramerth then showed a drawing of an additional pond that was created to manage the runoff from a section of the road.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND TO APPROVE WATERSHED DISTRICT PERMIT #080909 FOR DRAHOS NORTHWOODS DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THE DRAWINGS PROVIDED BY WESTWOOD PROFESSIONALS.  THE COMPLETE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION DOCUMENTS WILL BE SUBMITTED AT A LATER DATE.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Pre-Construction meetings are scheduled for Drahos Development.  Thirty Lakes Watershed District will have a representative in attendance, and it was requested that a member of the North Long Lake Association also be included in the meetings.  Mr. Ramerth agreed and asked that Thirty Lakes extend the invitation to the Lake Association.

Jolly Rogers Cooperative:  Administrator reported that a letter has been sent to Jolly Rogers informing them that if a stormwater plan is not received, legal action may be taken.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE MEETING BE CLOSED AND CONTINUED UNTIL 9:00 AM WEDENSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2008.