Regular Meeting
May 12, 2008

The regular meeting of the Webster County Conservation Board was called to order at the Kennedy Park Reception Center on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

Board members present were:
      Kirk Seltz, Jim Eslick, Brad Luke

Staff present:
      Matt Cosgrove, Karen Hanson

Guests present:
     Drew Sieben

Kirk Seltz made a motion to approve the minutes of the April Board Meeting, with the removal of his name for attendance at the meeting.  Brad Luke seconded the motion.  Motion unanimously carried.

Item #1 on the agenda – Update on the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust – Drew Seiben made a request to give his presentation at the end of the board meeting.

Brad Luke made a motion to approve temporary employment of Shane Allen, Taylor Clausen, and Matt Thrams as Park Ranger Interns for May – August 2008, at a rate of $8.25/hr.  Kirk Seltz seconded the motion.  The motion unanimously carried.

The board reviewed a Request For Qualifications for engineering firms to design the trail from Fort Dodge to Kennedy Park.  Kirk Seltz made a motion to approve the RFQ and to solicit qualifications.  Brad Luke seconded the motion.  The motion unanimously carried.

The director gave brief updates on land acquisition projects:

Badger Lake Watershed Improvement Project – Water testing continues and the survey will be completed by NRCS within the next few months.

Miller Marsh – the director presented a 28E Agreement with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  The agreement is for the closure of the Ag. Drainage Well.  IDALS will cover 75% and WCCB will pay 25% of the closure costs.  Brad Luke made a motion to tentatively approve the agreement with a few days to review the document and send changes/additions to the director.  Kirk Seltz seconded the motion.  The motion unanimously carried.

Additional Business

The director presented a cost estimate from Fort Dodge Asphalt to place a 3” lift on all of the park roads and parking areas. The estimate was approximately $412,000.00.  The director informed the board that he was putting together a packet of recreational needs for further review.

The director informed the board that he received a call from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation regarding a pothole area near Moorland that has not been tilled. The INHF wanted to know if WCCB would be interested in the property.  The director will present more information at the June meeting.

Kirk Seltz made a motion to approve the bills as presented.  Brad Luke seconded the motion.  The motion unanimously carried.

Dr. Drew Seiben, the WCCB representative to the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust, gave a presentation to the board regarding the activities of the trust.  Recent activities include: conservation practices on the farms, overview of the learning farm near Otho, home repairs, community activities, and donations to the WCCB.  Karen Hansen put on a Power Point Presentation that added to Seiben’s comments.  The board thanked Seiben for his representation on the trust and for his report.

Brad Luke made a motion to adjourn. Kirk Seltz seconded the motion.  The motion unanimously carried.

Submitted by,
Matt Cosgrove, Director,Webster County Conservation