The Tama County Conservation Board met in regular session on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, in the Nature Center Library, Otter Creek Park.

Chair Adolphs called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present were: Adolphs, Anderson, Benda, Little and Wiese. Also present: Terry Brown (Museum Professionals, Inc.), Etzel and Wise.

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

The following bills were presented:

BILLS SUBMITTED, BOARD MEETING, APRIL 5, 2006
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 April	1,307.70	1,307.70
0001-6100-260-22 Office Supplies
Staples Credit Plan		#6963426001, misc supplies	143.12
		#6973756002 Cruzer titanium (1)	79.99
		#6973756001, 3 reams paper	26.85
			249.96	249.96
0001-6100-400-22 Publications
Tama Toledo Newspapers		Ads- 15 & 22Feb06, crop lease- Reinig	117.84	117.84
0001-6100-412-22-990 Postage
Etzel, Robert		as per two (2) receipts	9.50
United States Postal Service		20Mar06 $0.39 stamps (500)	195.00
			204.50	204.50
0001-6100-414-22-990 Telephone
Iowa Telecom		17Mar06, 484-2231 (office), 484-4157 (payphone)	115.48
		17Mar06, 484-5314 (shop)	48.13
Verizon		16Mar06, 484-2231 (office)	16.57
		16Mar06, 484-4157 (payphone)	8.53
		16Mar06, 484-5314 (shop)	8.47
			197.18	197.18
0001-6100-636-22 Office Equipment
Ultimate Office		#PO990137301029 rotary business card file	45.95	45.95
0001-6100-480-22 Dues & Membership
County Conservation Direc. Assoc.		Dues- 2006 for Etzel	25.00	25.00
0001-6110-101-22-223 Salary- Main Supervisor
Wise, Craig		10-Mar-06	1,305.60
		24-Mar-06	1,305.60
			2,611.20	2,611.20
0001-6110-101-22-226 Salary
Dolash, Ron		10-Mar-06	1,189.60
		24-Mar-06	1,189.60
			2,379.20	2,379.20
0001-6110-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund		Wise family for April	2.60
		Dolash Family for April	1,307.70
			1,310.30	1,310.30
0001-6110-250-22-050 Mt Veh- fuels
New Century FS		#339332, 7Feb06 253.1 gals unleaded @ $1.90288/gal	481.62
		State MFT 253.12 gals @ $0.19/gal	48.09
		FET (LUST)	0.25
			529.96	529.96
0001-6110-254-22-050 Mt Veh- Minor Repair
CQ Auto Parts		#462240 lamp assembly	28.98
Z Line Tire & Repair		#1-33959 service + tube (road grader repair)	102.23
			131.21	131.21
0001-6110-292-22-052 Main & Supplies
Central Iowa Dist.		#2486 misc supplies	367.50
CINTAS		#OD89045064 first aid station supplies	16.95
Etzel, Robert		ISAC- parking & lunch (21Mar06)	13.16
Fastenal Company			181.57
Hrabak Lumber		#0072791-IN 60# bags concrete (6) @ $3..80 ea	22.80
Menards		#35461 light, flapper;#36601 credit memo, #36602 bulb	116.95
Poweshiek Water Assoc.		water, TF Clark Park for March, 0 gals	30.00
Radio Communications Co.		#64182 batteries for NC alarms	115.63
Schade Lime & Rock		Trucking 30.52T 1" rd stone to OCP	183.12
Spahn & Rose Lumber		#2608051 1/2"x10" c-bolt (16) @ $2.70 ea	43.20
Tama CO. Solid Waste Disposal Comm.		Landfill charges, March	35.00
True Value Hardware		#168230 rent tables (12) for Fun Nite @ $4 ea	48.00
Wendling Quarries Inc.		#276988 30.52T 1" rd stone @ $7/T	213.64
Wilson Bohannon Padlock Co.		#0003082 brass padlocks (12) mdl 513 @ $6 ea	78.73
			1,466.25	1,466.25
0001-6110-430-22 Gas- LP
New Century FS, Inc		3/20/2006, Ticket #38134, Inv # (Pre-paid contract)
		1,000 gals @ $1.229/gal = $1,242.00
		(Shop- 500, Trailer- 275, main residence- 225)
		Prev Bal $1,149.10 - 1,242.00 = -$92.90 rem balance
0001-6110-431-22 Electricity
Grundy Co REC		OCP thru 2Mar06, 5,000 kwh- meter #1, 4,540 kwh- NC	671.80	671.80
Total Bills Submitted, Gen'l Budget				11,248.05
FROM NATURE CENTER TRUST
0031-6120-292-22-072 Main & Supplies
My Mother's Place	Fun Nite (1Apr06), 210 adults catered meals @ $8.25/meal		1,732.50
	7 children @ $5 ea		35.00
	CCPOA Workshop (16Mar06), 32 lunches @ $7.50 ea		240.00
Fareway Stores	15Mar06 misc supplies for CCPOA workshop		25.78
			2,033.28	2,033.28
0031-6120-296-22-072 Art Supplies
Wild Wings	#990869, 990870, 990871,990872, 990873,990874,990875
	990876, 990319, 990213		1,346.63	1,346.63
Total Bills Submitted, Nature Center Trust				$ 3,379.91
Total All Bills Submitted				$ 14,627.96

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

Reports and Correspondence. Staff, Work. Wise updated board members on work accomplished during March./Fun Nite for the Nature Center The event was held on April 1. It was reported that 217 persons were served the buffet meal. A financial report will be presented at the May board meeting./Otter Creek Dam- Correspondence has been received regarding an upcoming inspection of the Otter Creek Lake dam by the Iowa DNR Water Resources Section. It is anticipated the inspection will take place during 2006 however no date was specified./Tama-Toledo Chamber of Commerce- A letter had been received requesting the Conservation Board to consider joining the local Chamber. Any decision tabled at this time to garner further information from other CCB’s./Emerald Ash Borer- Information was shared with board members regarding concerns with Emerald Ash Borer populations potentially entering the Iowa landscape. The greatest concern is with the insect getting into the state via firewood brought by campers who have visited, or are from, the Michigan, Ohio, Illinois area. Etzel indicated that posters will be placed at the camp registration stations and the visitor kiosk at the park./REAP Assembly. Etzel & Wise attended the REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection) Assembly held on March 30 in Marshall County. Etzel will be representing Tama County at the StateConvention to be held on July 15./Tama County Community Foundation Grant application. An application has been filed with the Foundation to help fund the design phase of the Tama County Nature Center project. It was reported that over 60 applications had been received by the Foundation/Wolf Creek Trail- Alliant Grant Application. A grant application for $2,500 had been filed with Alliant Energy Foundation. The grant application was made in the name of the Tama County Conservation Board by Dave Koester, Wolf Creek Nature Trail, to help fund Phase 2 of the project. Etzel gave Koester permission to file the grant in this method./Dolash Injury- It was reported that Ron Dolash had been injured during March while at work. Dolash is anticipated to out on Worker’s Compensation until sometime in mid to late April.

A presentation was made to the Board regarding development of displays at the Tama County Nature Center by Terry Brown of Museum Professionals, Inc.. Brown spelled out what his firm could bring to the project and his background in museum display design and fabrication. He has significant experience in the field and is currently working on a project for the University of Iowa Natural History Museum. His presentation included scale models of some of his diorama and fabrication techniques and also a slide presentation. The board asked many questions and thanked Brown for making the trip to explain his interest in the project.

After Brown departed the Board discussed how they will proceed in hiring a firm to begin the concept and design phase of the project. Etzel will check with other counties regarding the process they followed in hiring the design firms for their projects. He will also communicate with the county attorney regarding legalities in this selection process.

Etzel had been contacted by Gary Thien, Thien Farm Management of Council Bluffs, regarding a wetland mitigation bank that his firm will be establishing in Tama County. The bank will encompass an anticipated 73 acres and is expected to last approximately ten to fifteen years before the bank is “closed”. The firm is looking for a qualifying agency to serve as grantee of a conservation easement for the site. Etzel explained how a conservation easement works and the potential liabilities to Tama County by taking on the easement. He relayed information provided to him by Tim Sproul, Director, Harrison County Conservation Board, regarding the four conservation easements that his Board is serving as grantee for.

Any decision on the matter was tabled until the May board meeting.

It was reported that the casings for the five sets of Marvin windows located on the north wall of the main activity room of the Nature Center had rotted. Etzel had met with Moehl Millwork staff regarding the problem. He had been contacted recently by Kyle, Hrabak Lumber regarding the solution proposed by Marvin Windows and Moehl Millwork. The retail cost of the windows is $2,660 (Hrabak’s cost is $1,915.20). Marvin window is offering a 20% reduction in cost and Moehl Millwork will install (with no charge for labor or installation) for a total cost which includes all labor and windows of $1,532.16. After short discussion it was moved by Benda, seconded Wiese that the ten windows be replaced as per the outlined offer by Marvin Windows and Moehl Millwork, carried. All voting aye.

The compressor for heat pump #5 at the Nature went out on the last day of March. It was reported that the heat pump has been a constant headache since it’s installation in 1994. A new compressor was installed in 1995 and numerous service calls have been required for the unit. A quote from Don Lenz Heating and Cooling of Waterloo, the firm that services the units, indicate that the cost of a new compressor will run about $1,800. To replace the unit will cost between $7,800 and $9,000. Etzel will check with Command-Aire, manufacturer of the faulty unit and check with other heat pump vendors regarding options. He will report back to the Board with alternatives.

Little shared that he had been contacted by Marty McCoy regarding concern the McCoy had been having with activity at the Ike’s Tract Shooting Facility located in Section 17, Toledo Township. McCoy had indicated that some youth had been shooting fireworks at the site and that some after hours traffic had been coming and going at the site. McCoy speculated that perhaps some drug activity was going on at the site. After discussion Etzel indicated that he would contact Sheriff Dennis Kucera regarding the situation and ask for random drive throughs on that facility and the Reinig Wildlife Refuge and Nature Study Area (located in Section 16, Toledo Township) to deter unwanted behavior on the tracts. Etzel indicated that Kucera and his officers have always responded favorably and assisted with these types of problems in the past.

After discussion of conservation topics of interest it was moved by Anderson, seconded Wiese to adjourn, carried (All voting aye). Adjourned 10:10 p.m.

______________________ ______________________

CHAIR VICE-CHAIR