Thirty Lakes Watershed District
Board of Managers Meeting
Monday, October 13, 2008

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

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

The meeting was reconvened at 9:00 a.m. by President T. Ebnet 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 AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Secretary’s Report:  MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 MEETING BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Special Note:  There was a question in the Minutes of September 22 regarding whether or not a 2 to 1 vote carries.  The Administrator asked Attorney Kurt Deter, who said that with a quorum of three Managers, a 2 to 1 vote does pass.

Monthly Bills:  One bill in the amount of $270.58 was added to the list of Accounts Payable.  This was the Visa Card bill which included a new office phone and Rodeo weed killer for a cost-share project.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE BILLS LISTED ON THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOR 10/13/08 PLUS THE VISA CARD FOR $270.58 BE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Advisory Committee:  Coralee Fox is a year-round resident of the Thirty Lakes Watershed District,  a former City Administrator for the City of Sauk River, and a member of the Big Sauk Lake Association.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT CORALEE FOX’S LETTER OF INTEREST BE APPROVED AND THAT SHE BE APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Accounts Receivable:  RANJAN Properties has an outstanding balance of $216.59 for costs incurred to have A. W. Research compute the stormwater pond information collected by the Applicant.  Administrator M. Peisch requested that the balance be forgiven as the description of the work was unacceptable (ie. “working on Lake Edward pond stuff and trying to figure out how to bet the basin design capacity line”)

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BE ACCEPTED AS IS, AND THE BALANCE BE FORGIVEN.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Drahos Northwoods Development has an outstanding balance of $2,56.73.  $260.00 of that was for Attorney Kurt Deter to review the Homeowner Association documents.  A. W. Research charges of $2,306.73 broken down as follows:  $742.72 for planimetering the plat, $310.00 for entering the data in a spreadsheet, and $1,254.01 to review and analyze the information.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT NOTHING BE DONE, AND NO BILL SENT TO DRAHOS.  ALL NAY, MOTION FAILED.

At this time T. Ebnet passed the gavel and voiced his opinion that Drahos not be billed for the Attorney fees nor the cost to planimeter the plat, but that the Developer should be responsible for the remaining costs.  He then took the gavel back.

MOTION BY YUND/SVEE THAT DRAHOS BE BILLED FOR THE A. W. RESEARCH FEES TO ENTER INFORMATION IN A SPREAD SHEET AND REVIEW AND ANALYZE THE STORMWATER PLAN FOR A TOTAL OF $1,564.01.  ALL AYE, MOTIN CARRIED.

Schwerin Variance:  After the County approved the Variance on 9/18/08, the owner’s representative, Steve Genereux of Genereux Homes, Inc. submitted a stormwater plan drawn by Brian Drown of Landecker and Associates.  B. Yund stated that he wanted Alan Cibuzar of A. W. Research to review the plan, since he felt the Managers and staff did not have the expertise to do so.  T. Ebnet pointed out that Alan Cibuzar has not been involved in residential stormwater plans recently.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT PERMIT #080926 BE APPROVED FOR ROGER SCHWERIN SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS LISTED UNDER “CONSTRUCTION NOTES” ON THE LANDECKER STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN DATED 9/25/08.  ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS:  B. YUND – NAY, T. EBNET – AYE, K SVEE – AYE.  MOTION CARRIED.

Annual Audit:  A three year contract was proposed by Mathias C. Justin broken down as follows:  $3,500 for year ending 2008, $3,600 for 2009 and $3,700 for 2010.  The increase in fees reflects the change in GASB requirements.  Administrator M. Peisch stated that it was her preference to continue working with this accounting firm.  T. Ebnet stated that it is important that the Auditor compare the minutes with the actual payments made.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH MATHIAS C. JUST BE APPROVED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED. 

North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) Membership:  Membership renewal is $250.  B. Yund stated that Alan Cibuzar is a long time member of NALMS and he receives a lot of information from the organization, and has passed along that knowledge and expertise to the Watershed District.  K. Svee stated that this organization is technical in nature, and does not see any reason Thirty Lakes would want to be a member.  T. Ebnet stated that since staff is being used more, the membership was part of the education process.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THIRST LAKES NOT RENEW THE MEMBERSHIP IN NALMS.  ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS:  B. YUND – NAY, T. EBNET – NAY, K. SVEE – AYE.  MOTION FAILS.

MOTION BY YUND/EBNET THAT THIRTY LAKES RENEW THE MEMBERSHIP IN NALMS.
T. Ebnet passes the gavel and states that this is a trade organization with a periodic magazine that has useful articles in it.  K. Svee stated that he saw no benefit in joining this particular organization.  B. Yund stated that Thirty Lakes did not get its money’s worth.  R. Franzen stated that one magazine did not justify the cost of membership.

ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS:  B. YUND – NAY, T. EBNET – AYE, K. SVEE – NAY.  MOTION FAILED.

Bonnie Lake Vegetation Survey:  In a discussion with K. Svee and M. Peisch, a Bonnie Lake representative stated that they would like to have a Vegetation Survey done on their lake.  Blue Water Science out of St. Paul had estimated $1,800 to complete such a survey.  An offer was made to Bonnie Lake that Thirty Lakes Watershed District would participate in the project on a cost-share basis.  R. Franzen questioned approval of this cost-share split, and T. Ebnet explained that Thirty Lakes had done 50/50 splits with Lake Associations in the past.

According to A. Cibuzar, Thirty Lakes has many years of photographs taken with water penetrating cameras that will provide good information on the lake vegetation.  However in order to use this data, certain software is required and a certain methodology is followed.  Cibuzar estimated that he could download the software and instruct the staff in about one-half of a day.

T. Ebnet stated that Thirty Lakes had paid for that data, and it should have been “user friendly” when it was delivered.  If it was not, the cost of making it user friendly should have been included in the contract or up-front cost.  K. Svee stated that Cibuzar was holding the Watershed District hostage and any future contract will include the cost of explaining the data collected.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT APPROVAL BE GIVEN FOR ALAN CIBUZAR OF A. W. RESEARCH LABORATORIES TO WORK WITH THE STAFF IN RETRIEVING THE WATER PENETRATING PHOTOS FOR A COST UP TO $400.00.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Resolution to move Principal Location:  T. Ebnet has been in touch with the office building Landlord, and suggests the subject be tabled at this time.

Discussion followed on the term of the lease extension in light of the current condition of the economy.  B. Yund suggested a contract for three years instead of five.  T. Ebnet favored three years instead of five.  K. Svee said that the lesser number of years would be better and suggested one year, especially since the new building has vacancies.

Guide to Issuance of Permits:  K. Svee stated that this is the “first time around” for this Guide, and will be subject to “tune-ups”.  T. Ebnet said that if it doesn’t work, it will be changed.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE GUIDE TO THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS DATED 10/13/08 BE APPROVED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Palmer’s Place Addition to Deacon’s Lodge:  Previously Joe Hampl and Glen Gustafson conducted an onsite of this plat of homesites within the golf course and determined that the natural contours of the area would provide adequate stormwater control.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT APPROVAL BE GIVEN FOR THE AMENDMENT TO PERMIT #98114 TO SIENNA WORLD GOLF FOR THE PALMERS PLACE ADDITION.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Etc. and Other Matters to come before the Board:

Advisory Committee:  A letter of resignation was received from John David Wood.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT A LETTER BE SENT TO JOHN DAVID WOOD THANKING HIM FOR HIS TIME AND DEDICATION.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

A discussion of the Advisory Committee followed.  M. Peisch stated that the Advisory Committee is much more than a training ground for new Managers.  R. Franzen said that Committee Chairman B. Albrecht wanted a Memo of Understanding with the County Commissioners regarding the appointment of new Managers.  T. Ebnet expects Albrecht to be present at the October 27 meeting, and further explained that the previous Board of County Commissioners had recommended that Managers first serve on the Advisory Committee.  M. Peisch said that if there was a Memo of Understanding, it should be that the best qualified candidate be appointed for the position of Manager.  R. Franzen stated that it should be made clear what Thirty Lakes wants.

New Stationary:  T. Lauer showed two drafts of proposed stationary, one of which had two colors.  B. Yund stated that he preferred the old design with one color.  C. Fox said that it is important to have the physical office location on the stationary.  T. Lauer will present a revised draft at the next meeting.

Employee Review:  M. Peisch filed her evaluation of T. Lauer with the Committee and now requests that Lauer be given an increase from $13.50 per hour to $14.00 per hour.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT EFFECTIVE THIS DATE T. LAUER’S WAGES BE INCREASED $.50 PER HOUR FROM $13.50 TO $14.00 PER HOUR.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

MAWD Conference:  MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT APPROVAL BE GIVEN FOR CORALEE FOX TO ATTEND THE MAWD CONFERENCE IN ALEXANDRIA, WITH THE COST OF MILEAGE, MEALS AND HOTEL TO BE REIMBURSED.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

T. Ebnet suggested that a policy be written that only Advisory Committee members residing within the District boundaries be given approval to attend conferences.

B. Yund questioned whether or not Thirty Lakes would continue with one evening meeting per month.  He pointed out that the County and SWCD only issue permits during the day.

MOTION BY SVEE/YUND THAT THE MEETING BE CONTINUED TO OCTOBER 27, 2008 AT 6:30 P.M.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.