MEMBERS PRESENT: Charlie Peterson, Jim Engelhart, Wayne Burmeister, Duane Johnson

MEMBERS ABSENT: Steve Briggs

OTHERS PRESENT: Dave Ferris, Ann Lane

CALL TO ORDER: 9:45 a.m. by Charlie Peterson

MINUTES APPROVAL: Motion by Wayne Burmeister/2nd Duane Johnson to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried.

FINANCE REPORT APPROVAL: Motion by Wayne Burmeister/2nd Jim Engelhart to approve the finance report as presented.
Motion carried.

AGENDA:

NRCS - Dave Ferris

*General update on activities.

WILDLIFE DAMAGE PROGRAM - Dave Ferris

*Update on trapping of bears running through village of Siren.
*Discussed property owner in Polk County that received a federal permit to shoot geese causing crop damage.

NWLCA/RC&D UPDATE - Dave Ferris

*Contrary to previous speculation, RC&D funding was included in the budget.
*NW meeting recap: discussed issues with the DNR and did update on state programs.

TREE PROGRAM - Dave Ferris

*Reviewed thank you letter from Wilderness Fellowship Ministries.
*Reviewed stats of the 2004 - 2005 program

AREA TOURS AND MEETINGS - Dave Ferris

*Dave reviewed upcoming tours:
*NW Assn Tour - 6/21/05 in Bayfield. Motion by Duane Johnson/2nd Jim Engelhart to have Dave Ferris attended this tour. Motion carried.
*West Central Summer Conservation Tour - 6/16/05 - in Barron.
*UW River Falls - 8/4/05 - Stormwater Management Seminar. Dave will attend.
*NW Lakes Conference - 6/24/05 - at the Telmark in Cable.

AQUATIC INVASIVES SPECIES PROGRAM - Dave Ferris

*We did receive the State grant, but not the Federal grant (to help offset payroll costs). Motion by Wayne Burmesiter/2nd Jim Engelhart to move dollars from the Land & Water contracted services expense line to the temporary help line to help offset the payroll costs of this full- time, limited-term position. Motion carried.

COUNTY CONSERVATIONIST REPORT - DAVE FERRIS

*Lots of referrals from Zoning coming in.
*Cindy Blonk will be helping Cheryl Clemens with shoreline restoration inspections.
*WLWCA Bylaws Committee - possibly 3 more meetings and then this committee should end
*WLWCA wants to create a Legislative Committee. Dave will be the representative for the Northwest provided that the by-laws committee has ended and that the legislative committee doesn't start til July.
*Forest Stewardship Committee - This state required committee determines how federal funds are dispersed. Dave participates as the WLWCA representative.
*Dams - Dave gave a status and maintenance update. Dave gave a presentation at the Webb Lake Assn meeting and they discussed that dam at the meeting. He also reviewed vandalism issues at the Clam Dam.
*Dave gave 3 lake assn talks over Memorial weekend and several more are coming up in the next few weeks.
*Conservation Camp is the 3rd week of June. We have no students attending from Burnett County.
*The need for an I & E person is growing. Would like to have the shoreline consultant do more of this, but she's very busy with shoreline inspections, restoration plans, etc…..
*RC&D contract has been signed for the native plantings out at Love Tree Farms.
*Dave relayed the news that Rod Paulson, the county financial auditor, passed away.
*Dave reviewed the 3 bids submitted for the grade stabilization project at the Tom Loomis property. The contract went to Hopkins Sand & Gravel.
*The first phase of the Mark Knoop project will start next week and the concrete/barnyard phase should begin in mid to late July.

NEXT MEETING: July 7, 2005, 9:30 a.m.

MOTION TO ADJOURN: 11:45 a.m. Duane Johnson/2nd Jim Engelhart. Motion carried.