The Tama County Conservation Board met in regular session on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in the main activity room, Tama County Nature Center, Otter Creek Park.

It was moved by Anderson, seconded Adolphs that, in Chairman Benda’s absence, Little serve as acting chair, and Wrage as acting- vice chair, carried. (All voting aye)

Little called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present were: Adolphs, Anderson, Little, and Wrage. Also present: Etzel.

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

The following bills were presented:

BILLS SUBMITTED, BOARD MEETING, June 4, 2008
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 June	1,203.08	1,203.08
0001-6100-294-22-050 Uniforms
Etzel, Robert	Reimburse Etzel for two pr unifmr slacks	98.83	98.83
0001-6100-400-22 Publications
Tama/Grundy Publishing	Help wanted ads, 2 & 30Apr08	271.62	271.62
0001-6100-413-22 Mileage
Etzel, Robert	One way to Des Moines, WHSF Grant app delivered 60 mi	18.00	18.00
0001-6100-414-22 Telephone
Iowa Telecom	17May08, 484-2231 (office), 484-4157 (pay phone)	117.42
	17May08, 484-5314 (shop)	56.81
Verizon	16May08, 484-5314 (shop)	11.07
	19May08, 484-4157 (payphone)	11.69
	16May08, 484-2231 (office)	15.78
		212.77	212.77
0001-6110-101-22-223 Salary- Main Supervisor
Wise, Craig	2-May-08	1,439.20
	16-May-08	1,439.20
	30-May-08	1,439.20
		4,317.60	4,317.60
0001-6110-101-22-226 Salary- Conserv Tech
Dolash, Ron	2-May-08	1,328.80
	16-May-08	1,328.80
	30-May-08	1,335.03
		3,992.63	3,992.63
0001-6110-101-22-224 Salary- Seasonal
Beenken, Shawn	30-May-08	680.00
Bergmann, Sandy	16-May-08	419.06
	30-May-08	667.98
Gettle, Clayton	16-May-08	45.00
	30-May-08	507.50
Peska, Derriss	30-May-08	680.00
		2,999.54	2,999.54
0002-6110-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund	Wise family for June	1.25
	Dolash Family for June	1,203.08
		1,204.33	1,204.33
0001-6110-254-22-050 Mt Veh- Minor Repair
CQ Auto Parts	#54435 band clamp, 54938 hose, antifreeze, 51936 washer pump	59.89
J&V Auto Parts	#381102 screw, washer;#381610 clamp;#381618 pipe, u-bolt	362.31
	#381826 hose, calmps, oil fil; #38172 radiator, hose
USS Polaris	#065202 fuel valve (Ford 5600)	129.00
		551.20	551.20
0001-6110-290-22-050 Min Equip- hand tools
Pioneer Mfg. Co.	#297136 squeege head, pouring can	44.50	44.50
0001-6110-292-22-052 Main & Supplies
Central Iowa Dist.	#33426 misc janitorial products	902.50
Dolezal Farm Supply	#0010747 50# bags catfich food 36% (6) @ $18 ea	108.00
Fastenal	#77078 misc supplies	438.35
Hrabak Lumber	#0093100-IN Quikcrete (8 bags) @ $3.60 ea	28.80
Jerico Services	#0053576-IN 850 gals CaCl for OCP @ $0.83/gl	705.50
Kroymann, Robert	As per ROW agreement to TFCP Addition (15Jun08-14Jun09)	30.00
Norton's Greenhouse	#592269, #592272,#592272,#592258 flowers, fert for OCP	165.50
Pioneer Mfg. Co.	#297136 Por Crax (10 gl), Sta Fill (10 gl), handle	440.73
Poweshiek Water Assoc.	Water, TFCP for May	32.00
Premier Office Equipment, Inc.	#45414 premier platinum plan for Canon IR-210S copier	39.00
RJ Thomas Mfg	#00120387 anchor pins for fire rings (8)	37.59
Schade Lime & Rock	Trucking 332.71T 1" rd stone to OCP	2,321.43
Scharnweber Water Conditioning	22May08 Work on water problems- tent section	561.45
Tama County Solid Waste & Disposal Commission	Landfill charges for May	80.00
Thomas Co	#51304 repair water heater @ showerhouse	72.50
Wendling Quarries	#641576 30.14T 1" rd stone;#339303 59.81T 1" rd stone
	#340057 242.76 T 1" rd stone	2,495.33
WW Grainger	#9651007180 ear plugs (200), Lamps 100 W (72)	208.14
		8,666.82	8,666.82
0001-6110-294-22-050 Uniforms
Wise, Craig	Reimburse for 1 pr of uniform pants	30.99	30.99
0001-6110-431-22-990 Electricity
Grundy Co REC	OCP thru 2May08, 4,930 kwh- meter #1, 2,750 kwh- NC	661.10
Traer Municipal Utilities	TFCP thru 15May08, 212 KWH	125.11
		786.21	786.21
0001-0210-610-22-642 Bldgs & Perm Imp
R&T Construction	#39 gutter, downspout- warehouse as per contract	217.50	217.50
	Total Bills Submitted, Gen'l Budget		$24,615.62
FROM NATURE CENTER TRUST
0031-6120-292-22-072 Main & Supplies
Thrivent Financial	Payment to receive reimbursement for grant- Fun Nite Fundraiser	4,641.76	4,641.76
	Total Bills Submitted, Nature Center Trust		$ 4,641.76
	Total All Bills Submitted		$ 29,257.38

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

Reports and Correspondence. Staff /Work. In Wise’s absence Etzel presented the report of work completed during May. Seasonal Staff Etzel reported that all seasonal positions have been filled. Conservation Aides ate Shawn Beenken, Buckingham, and Derriss Peska, Toledo; Rangers are Sandra Bergmann, Grinnell, and Clayton Gettle, Elberon./Flood Damage- Otter Creek Park The rains last week washed away a substantial amount of soil from the main culvert entering the lake on the north end. It appears the wash out is about six feet deep and in an 18’ wide arc./Water Hydrants- tent section The hydrants at sites 8 & 13 are still not working properly. Personnel from Scharnweber Water Conditioning are having difficulty pinpointing the problem./Nature Center Exhibits Etzel reported that he and Terry Brown, Museum Professionals, took a day long tour of the Iowa River in Tama County for Brown to use as inspiration in designing the diorama for the Nature Center. Also the Exhibit Team had met on May 12^th to provide input regarding the Conceptual Design of the display room. It is anticipated the final document will received in the not too distant future./Youth Fishing Seminar The annual youth fishing seminar will be held on Tuesday, June 17. The event is for girls and boys 10- 13 yrs old./Catfish The catfish will be delivered tomorrow for placement into the rearing cages at the lake. It is anticipated that 3,700 fish will be received./Hansen Addition- Parcel D/Wildlife Habitat Stamp Grant Application The application for consideration under the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Grant program to assist in purchase of Parceld D- Hansen Addition was delivered on Friday, May 30. The review for the grants will be held on July 11.

Etzel spoke to the Board regarding annual discussions with the Board of Supervisors to place year end funds into the Land Acquisition and Development Account (LAD) and the newly formed Machinery & Motor Vehicle Account. He recommended that the following be placed into the LAD Account: year end balance of the Capital Improvements portion of the conservation general fund budget, all crop rental payments for the Reinig Tract and Hansen Addition, FEMA payments from the spring ’07 storm, Whitetails Unlimited Donation, etc. Etzel explained that he intentionally hadn’t spent the approximate $18,000 remaining balance of the Capital Improvements budget (0001-0210-600-22 & 0001-0210-610-22-642) to assure some funds would be available to address the flood damage to the Wolf Creek Trail near Gladbrook if needed.

There will be a planned remaining balance in the Motor Vehicle (0001-6110-635-22-050) line item of the conservation budget at the end of the fiscal year. These funds were budgeted with the intent of placement into the Machinery & Motor Vehicle Account in preparation of purchase of new 4x4 tractor with loader to replace the Ford 5600. He also pointed out that some older vehicles will be sold via sealed bids with the intent of these moneys being placed into the same account early in FY ’09.

After discussion it was moved by Adolphs, seconded Wrage that, contingent upon an adequate remaining balance at the end of FY ’08, that funds equal to the year end balance of the Capital Improvements line items of the conservation budget (0001-0210-600-22 & 0001-0210-610-22-642), plus the following funds : Whitetails Unlimited donation including all other donations, FEMA payments from the spring ’07 storm, and all crop rental collected on the Reinig Tract & Hansen Addition property, be placed into the Land Acquisition & Development Account, carried. (All voting aye)

It was moved by Adolphs, seconded Wrage that, contingent upon an adequate remaining balance at the end of FY ’08, funds remaining in the Motor Vehicle (0001-6110-635-22-050) line item of the conservation budget be placed into the Machinery & Motor Vehicle Account, carried. (All voting aye)

The Board discussed purchase of a laptop computer, mainly for use in displaying power-point and DVD presentations. Etzel pointed out the laptop purchase had originally been budgeted for the past two fiscal years but had been bypassed due to year end shortfall of revenues. After discussion it was moved by Wrage, seconded Little that, contingent upon an adequate remaining balance at the end of FY ’08, a new laptop computer be purchased by Etzel not to exceed $1,200, carried. (All voting aye) [Note: The Board gives Etzel the freedom to search for the best laptop for the price and purchase the equipment at his discretion.]

Damage sustained by the Wolf Creek Nature Trail this spring and early summer was discussed. Etzel reported that additional damage was incurred by recent flooding during the past ten days. It is hoped that due to damage throughout the county during this last incident that disaster relief will be forthcoming. He felt that repairs could be as much as $75,000. The Board was also reminded that much of the work would have to be contracted out as the small staff of the conservation board will be unable to address the damage in a timely manner.

It was encouraged that alternatives during reconstruction be explored with the goal of reducing future damage especially targeting the eastern end of the trail. One idea is to have the trail remain at ground elevation for as long as possible and then rising to meet the eastern bridge on the trail. The Board members voiced concern that if damage due to flooding becomes the norm the Conservation Board will not be financially in a position to keep repairing the trail. Etzel will keep the Board posted on further developments.

After discussion of conservation topics of interest it was moved by Anderson, seconded Adolphs to adjourn, carried. (All voting aye) Adjourned 8:55 p.m.

______________________ ______________________

CHAIR VICE-CHAIR