The Tama County Conservation Board met in regular session on Monday, February 6, 2008, in the Nature Center library, Otter Creek Park.

Chairman Benda called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Members present were: Anderson, Benda, Little and Wrage. Also present: Etzel and Brad Benda, Toledo.

Minutes from the regular session of January 7, 2008, were read. Moved by Anderson, seconded Wrage to approve the minutes as read, carried. (All voting aye)

The following bills were presented:

TO BE PAID FROM GEN'L FUND
		Amount of Bill	Category Total
0001-6100-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund	Etzel Family for February	1,203.08	1,203.08
0001-6100-260-22 Office Supplies
Staples	#783330001 misc office supplies	243.50	243.50
0001-6100-261-22 Magazines, books
Tama Toledo Newspapers	1 yr subscription- Chronicle, News-Herald	55.00	55.00
0001-6100-400-22 Publications/Notices
Tama/Grundy Publishing	31Jan08 Crop rental ads (Hansen Addition) 23 & 30Jan08	95.58	95.58
0001-6100-412-22 Postage
Etzel, Robert	As per five (5) receipts	43.13	43.13
0001-6100-414-22 Telephone
Iowa Telecom	17Jan08, 484-2231 (office), 484-4157 (payphone)	117.22
	17Jan08, 484-5314 (shop)	57.37
Verizon	16Jan08, 484-2231 (office)	17.76
	19Jan08, 484-4157 (payphone)	11.32
	16Jan08, 484-5314 (shop)	10.40
		214.07	214.07
0001-6110-101-22-223 Salary- Main Supervisor
Wise, Craig	11-Jan-08	1,439.20
	25-Jan-08	1,439.20
		2,878.40	2,878.40
0001-6110-101-22-224 Salary
Dolash, Ron	12-Jan-07	1,324.80
	26-Jan-07	1,324.80
		2,649.60	2,649.60
0001-6110-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund	Dolash family for February	1,203.08
	Wise- life insurance for February	2.60
		1,205.68	1,205.68
0001-6110-254-22-050 Mt Veh- Minor Repair
Auto Glass Center	#RG08-12684445 Windshield '06 Dodge	237.54
J&V Auto Parts (NAPA)	#377542 welding rod; #377134 bulbs, lamps, tail light	41.52
Southard Implement	#02-47623 repair JD 1445 ('04), oil leak rear seal	803.51
		1,082.57	1,082.57
0001-6110-290-22-050 Min Equip- hand tools
Grainger	#9538636458 pliers- straight jaw	20.42
Menard's	#23918 pry bar, 7" curved jaw pliers, byass pruner	18.17
		38.59	38.59
0001-6110-292-22-052 Main & Supplies
Etzel, Robert	meals- 11Jan08 WHSF Grant; 15Jan08 Fish Habitat Stamp	12.07
Fastenal	#IAMAR74164 quick thaw 50# (10)	103.60
Grainger	#9538636466 lamps;#9538636458 h2o preserv; #9557371698
	thermostat (NC);#9557371680 filters (NC)	463.63
Hrabak Lumber	#0050674 handle (1)	5.80
Kenkel Law Firm	#6689 legal fees- Hansen Acquisition	576.00
Menard's	#23918 handle- scoop shovel	7.88
Premier Office Equipment, Inc.	#42635 Platinum Monthly Service Plan- Canon IR-210S copier	39.00
Scharnweber Water Con.	30Jan08 trouble shoot heat pump #2 problems	55.00
Tama County Highway Dept.	#124 22Jan08 7.25 T salt @ $54.55/T	395.49
Tama County Solid Waste	Landfill fees for Jan	10.00
Wilkerson Hardware	#B36989 50W spot;#A29384 hammer handle, etc.;#B37703
	[adlock, keys, signs, etc.;#B38004 keys, hoe handle	102.52
Wise, Craig	Parking, meal while attending Winterfest	9.15
Z Line Ltd	#1-46539 cross links (8);#1-46949 cross links (8)	31.79
		1,811.93	1,811.93
0001-6110-431-22-990 Electricity
Grundy Co REC	OCP thru 3Jan08, 6,440 KWH- meter #1,	563.22
	5,380 kwh- meter #2 (NC)	231.34
	Security light charge	18.00
	maintenance light charge	96.00
		908.56	908.56
	Total Bills Submitted, Gen'l Budget		$12,429.69

Moved by Anderson, seconded Wrage to approve bills, carried. (All voting aye).

Reports and Correspondence. Staff /Work. Wise was absent due to the snow storm and no report was given../ Donations- Etztel reported that he had been contacted by three persons interested in donating memorial benches honoring a loved one to be placed in the park./Fun Nite for the Nature Center The date for Fun Nite is Saturday, March 29. Board members were reminded to begin soliciting items for the open and silent auctions./Otter Creek Lake Fishery (Report from DNR) Etzel had spoken with Paul Sleeper, Iowa DNR, regarding setting a date during February or early March to report to the Conservation Board and interested citizens on the status of the Otter Creek Lake fishery. Etzel will contact board members as soon as word is received.

Two sealed bids have been received for the three year crop lease on 14.93 acres located in the newly acquired Hansen Addition (Parcel A) to Otter Creek Lake & Park (Section 31, Carroll Township). The following bids were received:

Bob Husak	Toledo	$6,778.22
Steve Titcomb	Toledo	$5,805.00

After discussion it was moved by Anderson, seconded Little that the bid submitted by Bob Husak be accepted for a three year crop lease as per the terms established by the board, carried. (Roll call vote: Anderson- aye, Benda- aye, Little- aye, Wrage-aye)

Brad Benda, Toledo, addressed the board regarding the recent acquisition of Parcel A- Hansen Addition to Otter Creek Lake and Park. Brad posed several questions to the Board regarding the recent acquisition and future planned acquisitions, plans for the management of the ground, possible improvements on the property, etc. Etzel updated Benda on the acquisition schedule, grants applied for, management anticipated, and background history.

Benda spoke to the board regarding the 1998 agreement struck between Central Iowa Pork and the County Conservation Board. The agreement pertained to a hog confinement located approximately ½ mile east of the existing park property. He had concerns that if eventually cabins or a group camp area is developed in Parcel A the improvements will be inside the distance requirements allowed under the master matrix and that complaints may be filed against CIP regarding this development area. He felt the development was not covered by the agreement and should not be protected under the parameters of the agreement.

The Board assured Benda that they recognize the hog confinement was already established prior to any future development planned for Parcel A. Any future developments on newly acquired ground will be done with knowledge of the hog confinement operation’s presence and not have elevated expectations regarding odors or other problems for this property. Etzel, citing the good management practices that CIP has exhibited to date and, expecting those practices to continue, voiced there would be no reason to believe the CIP operation should negatively impact new developments in Parcel A. He also pointed out that if CIP operations impacted the newly developed area it would, most likely, affect the park property covered by the agreement (i.e. Nature Center, beach, and campground area).

The Board expressed a desire to continue the cooperative relationship with CIP in the spirit of good neighbors.

It was reported the LAN connection for internet access has been experiencing problems since last summer. Outlook (e-mail) has become very problematic and extremely slow and does not often send e-mails with attachments. Etzel explained the importance of e-mail in the day to day operation of the main office and how it would be a big step backwards to return to dial up or return to snail mailing everything. He stated that in today’s professional world others expect instantaneous response in matters including the ability to correspond and share documents.

The internet access has been provided free of charge for several years in an agreement between PC Partner/Iowa Telecom and Tama County. The IT person serving Tama County offices indicates that there is really nothing that can be done on their end to address the problem unless a substantial investment in hardware is pursued. One option may be to establish a relay near the county home but the cost of hardware would be approximately $5,000. Also, there is no long term guarantee that Iowa Telecom will continue offering LAN connections since it is expanding DSL service in the area.

Etzel reported he will be speaking with a local wireless internet provider about performing a site survey. Actual cost won’t be available until the site survey is complete however he is hopeful costs will be around $500 in hardware and approximately $50 per month for high speed internet. This would provide a practical and dependable high speed internet access in the immediate future. (A side note of discussion centered around a potential change in high speed internet provider services for rural customers with release of the band widths of analog TV signals. It is expected some of the current band widths will be freed up after February, 2009, when digital TV signals will become the standard.)

Benda reported that he had made initial contact with Alliant Energy about possible donation of pvc pipe for fish habitat structures at Otter Creek Lake. He will update Etzel when more information is received.

After discussion of conservation topics of interest it was moved by Anderson, seconded Wrage to adjourn, carried. (All voting aye) Adjourned 8:30 p.m.

______________________ ______________________

CHAIR VICE-CHAIR