WORTH COUNTY CONSERVATION BOARD

MINUTES

MAY 1, 2008

 

 

 

 

President Vansteenburg called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM.  Board members also present were Randy Sime and Matt Smith.  Others present were T.J. Davis, an unidentified individual, Dan Block and Dean Mueller.

 

Smith moved to approve the agenda.  Second by Sime.  Motion carried.

 

Smith moved to approve the minutes.  Second by sime.  Motion carried.

 

Directors report:

  1. The parks are open.
  2. ISU has been trying to get the archaeological work at Silver Lake done but the weather has hindered them.
  3. Had a complaint on the timber work done at Brunsvold-Haugen.
  4.  We have completed 2 burns this spring.  Hope to do 2 or 3 more.
  5. Ice has heaved the outlet tube on the Mehus tract at CT.
  6. Found that someone has cooked meth at Ochee and WCL when we opened the parks.
  7. Picked up the new Harley today.
  8. We had someone drive the ¾ T but has not made an offer.

Sime moved to accept the Director’s report.  Second by Smith.  Motion carried.

 

Naturalist report:

2-Apr

NK Mammals

19 classes

3-Apr

nc 2

Caves (2)

12-Apr

NK Ecol

Walleyes

13-Apr

NC 5

Candles (2)

16-Apr

NK 5

Hatchet story field trip (2)

24-Apr

NK 5

Bows

25-Apr

NC 2

Trees (2)

26-Apr

NK 2

Trees (2)

30-Apr

NC 3

Groundwater (2)

 

 

 

 

 

33 programs

 

Had my former ISU professor come in and guest lecture the Mamma logy class.  Dr. Bill Franklin talked about the South American Camelids. 

 

Rearing pond stocked with fingerling northern.  It should hold water through the time of release.  Received Casino grant to build the permanent structure.  Donny Pangburn signed 5 year use grant (had Dean and County attorney look it over).

 

Would like to try and sell some more firewood at Ochee and Silver Lake.  We have a rough idea what people might pay for it.  Silver lake walnut tops would be very accessible.

 

Sime moved to approve the Naturalist’s report.  Second by Smith.  Motion carried.

 

The Director reported that the water levels were back up at Kuennen’s Quarry, but had been the lowest ever seen.  We have started taking measurements every week to tract the level.  With Falkstone dewatering their pit the levels will go down again.

 

The price for patio stone for the new shelter at Kuennen’s  would be $8.10 per sq. ft. or just over $4,000.  Concrete would be about $1,000 for material.  The Board will meet at 6:00 on May 8 to look at the project and consider colored concrete with a pattern.

 

After discussion the Board asked the Director to have colored brochures made for the 50th anniversary and vinyl banners for the trailer.  The cost would be around $1200.

 

Smith moved to ask the Worth County Conservation Foundation to buy out the lease on the Diamond mower and the Board would pay them back in July.  Purchase of the contract is in the FY 08/09 budget but the contract needs to be purchased before June 1 to save interest and penalty.  Second by Sime.  Motion carried.

 

The Director presented his work and research on a river trail.  The consensus was to have the plan, cost estimates, pictures of the signs to be used and some copies of Emmet Counties brochures ready for a fall meeting with all the landowners along the river.

 

Block presented a short power point on the timber stand improvement work done in the last 2 years.  Vansteenburg then open the bids for selling fire wood.  Smith moved to accept J.D. Richardson’s bid of $600 for the tops at the Brunsvold-Haugen timber.   Second by Sime.  Motion carried.

 

Block was asked to get an opinion from the state forester on the best use of the tops; wildlife vs. firewood.

 

Sime moved to change the work week to begin at 12:00 AM Saturday and end at 11:59 on Friday to help reduce comp time build up.  Second by Smith.  Motion carried.

 

After noting that the description of the bills is off by one line, Smith moved to pay the following bills:

Alliant

 

 $ 898.00

Central Iowa Distributing

 

 $ 578.62

Lawson Products

 

 $ 295.37

Trading Post

 

 $ 276.10

Heartland Power Coop

 

 $ 274.78

City Shoe

 

 $ 241.27

Manly Junction Signal

 

 $ 240.30

Northwood Anchor

 

 $ 100.00

Carquest Auto Parts

 

 $ 100.00

CNH Capital

 

 $   98.55

Alltel

 

 $   70.86

Worth Co. Public Health

 

 $   68.55

A&I Auto, Inc

 

 $   35.00

Progressive Ag Coop

 

 $   14.71

Northwood Welding

 

 $   12.10

 

 

 $     9.50

 

total

 $3,313.71

Second by Sime.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

Submitted by:                                                 Approved by:

 

 

__________________________                    _____________________________

Dean A Mueller                                              Jeff Vansteenburg

Director                                                          President