MEMBERS PRESENT: Doug Dewing, Charlie Peterson, Jim Engelhart, Steve Briggs, Duane Johnson

OTHERS PRESENT: Dave Ferris, Paul Cook, Cindy Blonk, Ann Lane, Tom Fredrickson, Chet Newman (BC Sentinel)

CALL TO ORDER: 9:40 a.m. by Doug Dewing

MINUTES APPROVAL: Motion by Charlie Peterson/2nd by Doug Dewing to approve minutes of last month’s meeting. Motion carried.

FINANCE REPORT APPROVAL: Motion by Duane Johnson/2nd Jim Engelhart to approve finance report as presented. Motion carried.

AGENDA:

NRCS – Tom Fredrickson

*Still waiting for EQIP budget to be approved by state (approx. $53K)
*Update on well abandonment projects with St. Croix Tribe.
*Update on upcoming projects; continuing review of Nutrient management plans.

WILDLIFE DAMAGE – Cindy Blonk

*Motion by Duane Johnson/2nd Jim Engelhart to approve grain prices as presented including updating soybean price average with any prices available from Mankato. Prices presented as: Corn $2.18/bushel; Soybeans $6.10/bushel; Hay – alfalfa = $117.00/ton, alfalfa/grass = $103.50/ton; Pumpkins $3.50 each (jack-o-lantern size); Sweet corn $2.50/dozen; Squash $1.00/each; Snapbeans $80.98/ton; Strawberries $1.65/lb. Prepicked - $1.10/lb. U-pick. Motion carried.
*Tri-County Working Agreement – Motion by Charlie Peterson/2nd Steve Briggs to approve the working agreement and to go forward as Tri County (now including St. Croix County). Motion carried.
*Deer donation program update – Burnett County donated 117 deer to date.
*Jim Byers 2002 damage claim – denied by State citing “lack of compelling evidence”

BIG WOOD LAKE – Paul Cook

*Reimbursement requested for West Sweden culvert project ($28k)
*ACRA carryover requested - $38k.
*NMM – update on 2004 applications

LWRMP – Dave Ferris

*Plan has been sent to Madison; have heard nothing back as of today.

OTHER BUSINESS – Dave Ferris

*NEMO update – possible workshops in the future for contractors and/or townships to address stormwater runoff control as well as new requirements of NR151
*Wetland mitigation bank – meeting with Bob Morehouse to start reviewing possible sites.

Jim Engelhart –

*Update on replacement of Pri-Ru-Ta secretary

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 5, 2004

MOTION TO ADJOURN: Steve Briggs/2nd Duane Johnson. Motion carried.