Heron Lake Watershed District

Regular Meeting
July 21, 2015
1. Call to Order
Jim Buschena called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
Managers present: Bruce Leinen, Dale Bartosh, Jim Buschena, and Roger Hartman
Manager absent: Gary Ewert
Staff: Amanda Schultz, Catherine Sereg, Jan Voit, and Michelle Chapel
Others: Marv Zylstra, Nobles County; Rick Nelsen, Nobles SWCD; Julie Buntjer, Worthington
Daily Globe; Dave Henkels, Jackson County; Dave Thiner, Murray County; Mona Henkels,
Murray SWCD; Jerry Christopherson, Butch Kuhnau, Craig Ryan, Sandie Ryan, Bob Dieter,
Allen Jensen, Mike LaMaack, Dean Schumacher, Delbert Freking, Bob Pelzel, Nancy Jensen,
Don Gentry, Sam Henkels, Mike DeWall, Jerry Wagner, Larry Wagner, Kris Sullivan, Jim
Sullivan, Mark Hassebroek, LeRoy Peterson, Cletus Freking, Richard Freking, Eric Hartman,
Sandy Hartman, and Gene Freking
2. Agenda
Bruce Leinen made a motion to approve the agenda. Dale Bartosh seconded this. Motion
carried unanimously.
3. Quarterly Meeting with Commissioners
Dave Henkels said that on behalf of Jackson County he is not in favor of the Heron Lake
Watershed District (HLWD) spending taxpayer money on the Schindler pond. Marv Zylstra
said that he had nothing to report. Dave Thiner has been attending ditch viewer meetings.
They are in the process of upgrading their website to include viewer names and contact
information.
4. Minutes
Dale Bartosh made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2015 regular meeting.
Roger Hartman seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Treasurers Report
Jan Voit presented the treasurers report and bills payable. Bruce Leinen made a motion to
approve the treasurers report. Jim Buschena seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.
6. 2016 Preliminary Budget and Hearing Notice
Jan Voit explained the budget information that Gary Ewert and she drafted.
Bruce Leinen made the following motion.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Managers of the HLWD proposes to adopt the
following budget for the year 2016 in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 103D.905
Subdivision 3.

BMP Implementation
Surface Water Monitoring
Impaired Waters and TMDL
Flood Damage Reduction
Regulatory and Permits
Public Drainage System Management
Capital Improvement Projects
General Operations
Education
Total

89,156.81
20,772.95
19,682.66
2,389.32
3,385.82
65,797.05
48,815.40
250,000.00

A hearing on the foregoing shall be held by the board of managers on the 12th day of
August, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at the HLWD office located at 1008 3rd Avenue in the City of
Heron Lake, Minnesota.
Jim Buschena seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.
7. Nobles County Fair Request
Ron McCarvel requested HLWD sponsorship of the Prairie Ecology Bus at the Nobles
County Fair. The cost is $650.00. The Nobles SWCD was also asked. They committed
$325.00. Dale Bartosh made a motion to contribute $325.00. Roger Hartman seconded
this. Motion carried unanimously.
8. Schindler Pond
Catherine Sereg provided a map of the site. Jim Buschena explained that Larry Schindler
contacted the HLWD about the possibility of purchasing the pond on his property. It is a
sediment pond. Larry asked for $15,000. Discussion was held regarding the price,
maintenance, the possibility of enrolling in state or federal program, possible interest by a
lake association, and the former Hardekopf property that was sold to the City of Fulda.
Catherine Sereg will gather more information to present at the next meeting.
9. Watershed Coordinator Resignation
Jim Buschena thanked Amanda Schultz for her service to the HLWD. Amanda thanked the
board for the opportunity to work for the HLWD. Bruce Leinen made a motion to accept
Amanda Schultzs resignation and authorize the District Administrator to begin the hiring
process. Jim Buschena seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.
10. Reports
District Administrator
Jan Voit reported on the Association of District Administrators meeting, Minnesota
Association of Watershed Districts Summer Tour, Jackson County Judicial Ditch (JD) #31,
Schindler pond, Third Crop Phosphorus Reduction Effort, Fulda Phosphorus Reduction
Initiative, low interest loan program, local work group meetings, West Fork Des Moines
River (WFDMR) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Project, Jackson County
JD #30, WFDMR Targeting and Prioritizing Endeavor Work Plan, semi-annual reports, and
the website.
Roger Hartman made a motion to remove Michael McCarvels signature authority and add
Bruce Leinens signature authority on checks at Security State Bank. Dale Bartosh seconded
this. Motion carried unanimously.
2

Dale Bartosh made a motion to approve the septic system loan applications for Jessica
Kremer and William Anderson, Alex and April Busch, and Lisa Limmer and Barbara
Amundson contingent upon providing all the necessary paperwork. Bruce Leinen seconded
this. Motion carried unanimously.
Watershed Technician
Catherine Sereg provided information on the cedar revetment projects, brush removal on
Reinvest In Minnesota site, Corn Systems Coordinated Agricultural Program annual
meeting, water sampling, streambank stabilization project on Okabena Creek through the
Jack and Okabena Creek Sediment Reduction project, terrace projects through the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, and the Bedford Technology
permit application.
Dale Bartosh made a motion to approve the permit for Bedford Technology, LLC. Roger
Hartman seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.
Catherine Sereg described the Kolander streambank project. Cost and location information
was provided to the managers before the meeting. Funding similar to this has been
requested for other landowners in the past. Mr. Kolander will pay 25 percent of the project
costs. The HLWD would contribute the difference between EQIP funds and 75 percent.
Bruce Leinen made a motion to provide funds to meet the 75 percent cost-share, not to
exceed $1,846.75 for the Kolander streambank project. Roger Hartman seconded this.
Motion carried unanimously.
Watershed Coordinator
Amanda Schultz gave an update on the water sampling for the Surface Water Assessment
Grant (SWAG), final feedlot inspections, grant work plan meeting with Katherine PekarekScott, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), executive summary summarizing the
results, maps and GIS layers for targeting efforts to reduce bacteria loading, newsletter to
feedlot producers, and the feedlot fixes funded through the grant. On July 7, 2015 a
conference call was held with Kelly OHara, MPCA regarding SWAG. She also attended the
tillage systems field day in Lamberton.
11. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Dale Bartosh
Secretary