Thirty Lakes Watershed District
Board of Managers Meeting
Monday, April 27, 2009

Board Present:  T. Ebnet, G. Hardy, B. Yund.  Present via webcam was K. Svee.  Absent:  M. Young.

Also present were Rick Johnson and Bob Albrecht of the Advisory Committee, and Thirty Lakes Staff T. Lauer and M. Peisch.

The meeting was called to order at 6:33 pm by President T. Ebnet in the office of the Thirty Lakes Watershed District, 17064 Commercial Park Road, Brainerd, MN. 

Open Forum:  Nothing from the Public.

Constent Agenda:  MOTION BY SVEE/YUND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDING THE MINUTES OF THE 4/13/09 BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETING, THE TREASURER’S REPORT AND THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Clow Manufacturing:  G. Hardy and M. Young had conducted an onsite inspection of the proposed project at Clow and taken photographs.  G. Hardy reported that they are going to cover a loading dock with a roof.  This will give additional protection to the vehicles that could possibly have petroleum debris that would wash off into the wetland.  There will be rain gutters directed to the west toward the Day Care Building.

It was agreed that no further action is required on the part of the Watershed District, and no permit will be required for this work.

Second Meeting in May:  Due to the fact that the second Monday in May is Memorial Day, the date must be changed.

MOTION BY YUND/HARDY THAT THE SECOND MEETING IN MAY BE HELD AT 6:30 PM ON TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009.  ALL AYE, MOTION CARRIED.

Pelican Lakes Stormwater Project:  T. Ebnet discussed the letter received from Jerry Schroden.  Ebnet felt confident that progress had been made at the April 25th meeting.  He also stated that the residents checked the Thirty Lakes website and asked for cost-share funds.

Administrator M. Peisch stated that Thirty Lakes has invested almost $20,000 in this project over the past few years.  She went on to ask the Managers to consider investing $40,000 for the land work, then have the Resort and Timeshare Maintenance Crews purchase and plant the plants.  The City is willing to either make the temporary berm now, or participate in the whole project, but not both.

G. Hardy stated that he agreed that something should be done, and he also agreed with M. Young that if nothing is done, it would be a bad reflection on the Watershed District.

B. Yund discussed the possibility of setting an unfavorable precedence by paying for too much of the project.  B. Albrecht suggested that Thirty Lakes stay within the 50% or $20,000 limit as stated in the cost-share policy.

The next meeting with the property owners will be at 7 pm on Friday, May 8th at the Pelican Lakes Conservation Club Community Center.

R. Johnson stated that this project is very important to the Breezy Point Community, and it would mean a lot to them to have it completed.  He also said that Thirty Lakes would want to be free of the permit issued in 1986.

The Administrator will contact the SWCD Engineer for a revised plan.  Attorney Kurt Deter will have to answer the question as to who the permit would be issued to.

MOTION BY HARDY/YOUNG THAT A REVISED ENGINEERING PLAN BE REQUESTED SO THAT THIRTY LAKES CAN ADVERTISE FOR RFP’S.  ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS:  B. YUND – AYE, G. HARDY – AYE, T. EBNET – AYE, K. SVEE – NAY.  MOTION CARRIED.

K. Svee stated that the Breezy Point Stormwater Project was “an accident waiting to happen”.

Earth Day Report:  T. Lauer showed photographs of the Earth Day Event at the Northland Arboretum.  M. Peisch reported on the various speakers and displays.

Organizing Lake Associations:  T. Lauer and Mollie Zins of Minnesota Waters hosted an event Saturday, May 25th at the Northland Arboretum.  The outcome was that Hartley Lake and Agate Lake want to form Associations. 

Etc.  T. Ebnet reported that Senator Mary Olson’s Bill to combine DNR, BWSR and MPCA is in committee and according to the MAWD Lobbyist, it will stay there.

Mike Dwyer had called Thirty Lakes to report that there was a beaver dam blocking flow out of Clark Lake.    The Administrator requested authorization to hire the beaver trapper and contact Sentence to Serve to remove the dams.  G. Hardy suggested that we contact the Teen Challenge group as they work much like the Sentence to Serve crews.

A workshop has been planned for 9:30 am on Monday, May 18th with Kurt Deter.

MOTION BY YUND/HARDY THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED AT 7:34 PM.