The Tama County Conservation Board met in regular session on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, in the Nature Center library, Otter Creek Park.

Adolphs called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Members present were: Adolphs, Anderson, Benda, and Little. Also present: Gary Thien, Thien Farm Management, Etzel and Wise.

Minutes from the regular session of November 1, 2006, were read. Moved by Anderson, seconded Benda to approve the minutes as read, carried. (All voting aye)

The following bills were presented:

BILLS SUBMITTED, BOARD MEETING, DECEMBER 6, 2006
TO BE PAID FROM GEN'L FUND
		Amount of Bill	Category Total
0002-6100-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund	Etzel Family for December	1203.08	1203.08
0001-6100-261-22 Magazines, Books
Traer Star Clipper	1 yr subscription- Star Clipper	39.00	39.00
0001-6100-294-22 Uniforms
Land's End Business Outfitters	Inv#05178215 shirts (4), jacket with logos	185.00	185.00
0001-6100-413-22 Employee Mileage
Adolphs, Carolyn	For 2006, 728 mi @ $0.30/mi	218.40
Anderson, Eugene	For 2006, 195 mi @ $0.30/mi	58.50
Benda, Roger	For 2006, 221 mi @ $0.30/mi	66.30
Little, Jim	For 2006, 180 mi @ $0.30/mi	54.00
Wiese, Robert	For 2006, 368 mi @ $0.30/mi	110.40
		507.60	507.60
0001-6100-412-22 Postage
Etzel, Robert	As per three (3) receipts	14.94	14.94
0001-6100-414-22 Telephone
Iowa Telecom	17Nov06, 484-2231 (office), 484-4157 payphone	115.13
	17Nov06, 484-5314 (shop)	47.91
Verizon	16Nov06, 484-2231 (office)	9.59
	19Nov06, 484-4157 (payphone)	9.58
	16Nov06, 484-5314 (shop)	10.60
		192.81	192.81
0001-6100-422-22 School of Instruction
IACCBE	Winterfest Workshop, Regis- Dolash, Etzel, Wise	235.00	235.00
0001-6110-101-22-223 Salary- Main Supervisor
Wise, Craig	3-Nov-06	1384.80
	17-Nov-06	1410.77
		2795.57	2795.57
0001-6110-101-22-226 Salary- Conservation Tech
Dolash, Ron	3-Nov-06	1274.40
	17-Nov-06	1274.40
		2548.80	2548.80
0002-6110-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund	Dolash family for December	1203.08
	Wise (life insurance for December)	2.60
		1205.68	1205.68
0001-6100-250-22-050 Mt Veh- fuels
New Century FS, Inc.	#36-341266 130.9 gals #2 dieselex LS Dyed 500 ppm @ $2.05366/gal	268.82
	FET (LUST)	0.13
	soy biodiesel- 4 gals @ $2.05366/gal	8.21
	HazMat Material Handling fee	1.08
	#36-341267, 274.5 gals unleaded gasohol @ $1.70058/gal	466.81
	State MFT gasohol @ $0.19 per gal	52.16
	FET (LUST)	0.27
	HazMat Material Handling fee	2.20
		799.68	799.68
0001-6110-253-22-050 Mt Veh- Tires
Dick's Tire	1Nov06 4-LT225-75R-16 @ $124.90 ea ('95 Chevy pickup)	514.60
Z Line Tire & Repair	#1-38328 shop supplies- 2 plug patches	12.04
		526.64	526.64
0001-6110-254-22-050 Mt Veh- Minor Repair
Austin Motors	#0007168 wheel covers- '95 Chevy pickup	144.04
J&V Auto Parts	#361763 starter ('83 GMC), filters (Ford 5600)	107.91
	#361790 core charge (credit), air filters (Ford 5600), oil filter ('83 GMC)	20.34
	#361950, fuses, air filters, dist cao, rotor, clamps	109.21
	#361964 wire set ('93 Ford)	33.69
	#362010 ignition coil ('83 GMC)	21.09
Southard Implement Co.	#02-189930 o-rings (3), filters (3) JD4030	47.73
	#02-190636 filters (4) JD1445	55.00
	#02-190635 Kit (seat) JD 1445	49.50
	#02-190753 spindle, tie band	47.00
		635.51	635.51
0001-6110-292-22-052 Main & Supplies
Chyma's Welding	#26976 weld shackle on trailer	50.00
Etzel, Robert	parking while attending ISAC, 29Nov06	5.75
Fastenal	#IAMAR64201 batteries, insecticide, etc. (credit balance of $177.70 applied)	120.42
Hrabak Lumber	#0079032-IN 1x12x12 (2) @ $16.80 ea	33.60
IDALS	Commercial Pesticide Applicators Certification- 3 yr Dolash, Wise	30.00
Manatt's Inc	#444962 3.83T ice control sand @ $6.45/T	24.70
Menard's	#67581 knobs, adhesive, wall trim, faucet	216.42
	#69511 paint (3),tray liners, roller cover, paint pail, paint brush (2)	85.08
Premier Office Equipment, Inc.	#30729 service agreement, Platinum monthly plan, Canon IR-210S copier	35.00
Tama County Highway Dept	#128 hearing tests- Etzel, Wise, Dolash	58.05
Tama County Solid Waste Disposal Comm.	Landfill charges for October, November	76.10
Tama Timber & Lawn	#004727 4' starter rope	2.76
Ternus Electric	#24349 repair- trailer residence; #24273 NC- repair light- main activity room	168.46
Wilkerson Hardware	#B12958 4"x50' poly tree wrap; #A11494 3- GFI outdoor covers @ $10.99 ea	37.26
Wise, Craig	1- Amana deep freeze, Mdl C15B3W, S/N 9103036098	20.00
		963.60	963.60
0001-6110-294-22 Uniforms
Land's End Business Outfitters	Inv#05178215 t-shirts (2), jacket with logos	114.95	114.95
0001-6110-430-22 LP gas
New Century FS, Inc	#5873, 5Dec06 Applied against contract
	(Shop- 500, Trailer- 300, main residence- 300, woodshed- 350) = $2,148.90
	Begin Balance= $6,074.32 - 2,148.90 = $3,925.42 rem balance
0001-6110-431-22 Electricity
Grundy Co REC	OCP thru 2Nov06, 8,020 KWH- meter #1	608.19
	2,000 kwh- meter #2 (NC)	70.00
	security light charge	18.00
	main. Light charges	96.00
Traer Municipal Utilities	TFCP thru 13Nov06, 209 KWH	57.32
		849.51	849.51
0001-0210-610-22-642 Permanent Improvements
Dostal Construction	Rip-rap shoreline (OCP) partial payment	921.00
Hrabak Lumber	#0079392 window frames (10) for NC- main activity room	963.70
		1,884.70	1,884.70
	Total Bills Submitted, Gen'l Budget		14,702.07
TO BE PAID FROM NATURE CENTER TRUST
0031-6120-292-22-072 Rec Supplies
Betty Waterbeck	Refund damage deposit (NC Event of 3Dec06)	100.00
0031-6120-610-22-642 Art Supplies
Zach Wildlife Art	"Dream Bucks I"- print w/deluxe framing for Fun Nite 2007	187.50
	Total Bills Submitted, Nature Center Trust		287.50
TO BE PAID FROM LAD Account
0027-0210-600-22 LAD Account
Dostal Construction	As per contract- rip-rap shoreline- OCP	8,200.00
	Additional work	92.00
	Total Bills Submitted, LAD Account		8,292.00
	Total All Bills Submitted		23,281.57

Moved by Benda, seconded Little to approve bills, carried. (All voting aye).

Reports and Correspondence. Staff /Work. Wise updated board members on work accomplished during November. Projects included earth work in south loop camp area, service equipment, prepare snow-blowers and salt truck for snow removal, close Hladik Roadside Park and TF Clark Park for winter, winter park shut-down at Otter Creek Park./ Rip-rap Project Work is complete on the three areas of shoreline at Otter Creek Lake that received rip-rap. Dostal Construction was the contractor on the project. Etzel reported the finished product was really nice./NC User Questionnaires Several follow-up questionnaires were presented to the board. These surveys are filled out by renters of the facility following their event. All comments received were positive in nature.

Gary Thien, Thien Farm Management, Inc. of Council Bluffs, IA, reported to the Board on progress being made on the Salt Creek Mitigation Bank project. Thien presented two documents for the Board’s consideration: (1) Conservation Easement Deed, and (2) Option to Purchase. He indicated the documents reflected changes to the first draft of the documents as per the recommendations of Mark Ackelson, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and Etzel. Etzel reported the 1^st drafts, along with Etzel’s recommended changes, had been forwarded to Brent Heeren, County Attorney, for his review. Etzel reviewed both documents in depth with the Board members and the changes that he had suggested.

Both documents pertain to the following legally described property:

The South Half of the Northwest Quarter (S1/2 NW1/4) of Section Twenty-six (26), Township Eighty-three (83) North, Range Thirteen (13), West of the 5th P.M., in Tama County, Iowa EXCEPT Parcel "A" as shown in Plat of Survey recorded in Book 736, Page 302 of the records of the Tama County Recorder. AND The Southwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter (SW1/4 NE1/4) of said Section Twenty-six (26); AND Commencing at the Southwest corner of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NE1/4 SE1/4) of said Section Twenty-six (26), thence East 50 rods, thence North and West to a point 24 rods South of a point 40 rods East of the Northwest corner of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NE1/4 SE1/4) of said Section, thence North 24 rods to the North line of said Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NE1/4 SE1/4), thence West 40 rods, thence South 80 rods to beginning, in Tama County, Iowa.

After considerable discussion it was moved by Little, seconded Benda, that contingent on final legal approval of the proposed document by the county attorney, that the Conservation Board will accept the Conservation Easement Deed and agrees to serve as grantee for the easement, carried. (Roll call vote: Adolphs- aye, Anderson- aye, Benda- aye, Little- aye)

It was moved by Anderson, seconded Benda, that contingent on final legal approval of the proposed document by the county attorney, the Conservation Board will accept the Option to Purchase document, carried. (Roll call vote: Adolphs- aye, Anderson- aye, Benda- aye, Little- aye)

It was moved by Anderson, seconded Benda, that pending approval from the county attorney, Etzel be designated the agent for the Tama County Conservation Board and Tama County, IA, and will sign the two documents (Conservation Easement Deed and Option to Purchase) as approved by motion and vote of the Conservation Board. In the case this is not agreeable to the county attorney Adolphs will sign as Chairperson. Carried (Roll call vote: Adolphs- aye, Anderson- aye, Benda- aye, Little- aye)

The Board reviewed the Nature Center policy that allows dances to be held with permission of the County Conservation Board. Etzel shared concerns with dancing at the facility including additional wear and tear on facility, a suspected increase in no smoking and no alcohol policy being violated, maintenance following dances requires more staff time compared to other rentals, fear structural damage over time, minor damage to animal mounts, some growing interest to hold rock concerts/dances and charged admission dances at the facility. He also shared there are plenty of facilities that host dances in the county. The Nature Center is also transitioning towards a facility with interpretive displays which would not be compatible with dances in the facility. After discussion it was moved by Benda, seconded Little to not allow dances at the Tama County Nature Center effective immediately, carried. (All voting aye). [Note: Events already booked for 2007, that have requested use of facility for a dance, will be allowed to have dancing.]

Etzel requested the Board refund a $100 damage deposit to Betty Waterbeck, Toledo, relative to the December 3 event held at the Tama County Nature Center. Contrary to normal procedure, which is separate checks for rent and damage deposit, Waterbeck had paid the rent and damage deposit with a $200 check ($100- rental fee, $100- damage deposit). This check has already been deposited into the Tama County Nature Center Trust account. It was moved by Anderson, seconded Little to refund the $100 damage deposit paid by Betty Waterbeck from the Tama County Nature Center Trust account, carried. (All voting aye)

The Board discussed a request for two nights lodging for Etzel while attending Winterfest Training Workshop in Waterloo, January 22- 24, 2007. It was moved by Little, seconded Benda to grant the request to pay for two nights lodging for Etzel, carried. (All voting aye)

Election of County Conservation Board officers for 2007 was discussed. It was moved by Benda, seconded Little that Anderson serve as Chairperson for 2007, carried. (All voting aye). It was moved by Anderson, seconded Little that Benda serve as Vice-chairperson for 2007, carried. (All voting aye)

After discussion of conservation topics of interest it was moved by Benda, seconded Little to adjourn, carried (All voting aye). Adjourned 9:20 p.m..

______________________ ______________________

CHAIR VICE-CHAIR