The Tama County Conservation Board met in regular session on Wednesday, August 2, 2006, in the Nature Center Library, Otter Creek Park.

Prior to the meeting interested board members met at the South Loop campground to view the new t-dock.

Chair Adolphs called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Members present were: Adolphs, Anderson, Benda, and Little. Also present: Etzel and Wise.

Minutes from the regular session of July 5, 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, AUGUST 2, 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 Fam for August (Adjusted due to June payment)	1,098.46	1,098.46
0001-6100-412-22 Postage
Etzel, Robert	As per five (5) receipts	18.23	18.23
0001-6100-414-22 Telephone
Iowa Telecom	17Jul06, 484-2231 (office), 484-4157 (payphone)	115.48
	17Jul06, 484-5314 (shop)	59.75
Verizon	16Jul06, 484-5314 (shop)	8.33
	16Jul06, 484-4157 (payphone)	9.61
	16Jul06, 484-2231 (office)	13.06
		206.23	206.23
0001-6110-101-22-223 Salary- Main Supervisor
Wise, Craig	14-Jul-06	1,384.80
	28-Jul-06	1,384.80
		2,769.60	2,769.60
0001-6110-101-22-224 Salary- Seasonal
Bergmann, Sandy	14-Jul-06	652.50
	28-Jul-06	452.50
Bisher, Casey	14-Jul-06	574.00
	28-Jul-06	640.00
Kubik, Cassie	14-Jul-06	72.00
	28-Jul-06	72.00
McMurray, Shea	14-Jul-06	552.00
	28-Jul-06	640.00
Zody, John	14-Jul-06	470.25
	28-Jul-06	380.54
		4,505.79	4,505.79
0001-6110-101-22-226 Salary- Conservation Tech.
Dolash, Ron	14-Jul-06	1,274.40
	28-Jul-06	1,274.40
		2,548.80	2,548.80
0002-6110-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund	Dolash family for Aug (Adjusted due to June payment)	1,098.46
	Wise- life insurance (JUL)	2.60
	Wise- life insurance (AUG)	2.60
		1,103.66	1,103.66
0001-6110-253-22-050 Mt Veh- Tires
Z Line Tire & Repair	#7551 tires (2) JD 4030, #7540 23x10.50-12, #7815,#7722,#7567	385.17	385.17
001-6110-254-22-050 Motor Vehicle- Minor Repair
J &V Auto Parts	#357171 hose ends, hose;#357155 alternator, #356956 rotor, brakes	653.36
Southard Implment	#02-185670 wheel;#185427 PTO switch;#185671 Pins;#185385
	hyd fitting;#185722 filter;#44255 repair- JD1445;#44486 repair PTO;
	#44183 replace fuel tank; #185423 misc supplies	1,257.53
		1,910.89	1,910.89
0001-6110-292-22-052 Main & Supplies
Central Iowa Dist.	#7115 misc supplies	825.15
Crescent Electric	#044-275373-00 2- GFCI breakers (30A)	261.30
Dolezal Farm Supply	#6392 5 bags catfish food 32% floating	67.50
Fastenal	#IAMAR62012 welding rod	12.40
Hygienic Labatory	11Apr06 Coliform tests (E&W), 20Jun06 Nitrate test (E&W)	52.00
Low's Repair	#5109 used tire, 195/70R14 for boat trailer	10.00
Poweshiek Water Assoc.	TFCP for July, Prev: 23,000; current: 23,000	32.00
Thomas Co., Inc.	#71205 elec service work on Site #25	55.00
Ultrapure & Industrial Services	Labor, materials charge- install replacement tank- east well house	173.25
WW Grainger	#9133273582 12 lamps 65R/FL/MI-1	12.00
		1,500.60	1,500.60
0001-6110-431-22 Electricity
Grundy Co REC	OCP thru 5Jul06, 17,250 KWH- meter #1, 1,050- (NC)	1434.60
Traer Municipal Utilities	TFCP thru 14Jul06, 296 KWH	66.61
		1,501.21	1,501.21
0001-0210-610-22-642 Permanent Imporvements
JW Dock Systems	Partial payment #348652- new dock- south loop camp area	7,959.52
Traer Cabinet & Construction	#2493 & #2485 Labor & materials for abutment- south loop dock	1,012.18
		8,971.70	8,971.70
	Total Bills Submitted, Gen'l Budget		$ 26,520.34
TO BE PAID FROM Nature Center Trust Account
Etzel, Robert	#252327 Subway- Exhibit Team Mtg, #446666 CCPOA workshop	64.89
Fareway Stores	#31 Food items for Exhibit Team Mtg (29& 30Jul06)	44.78
	Total Bills Submitted, Nature Center Trust		$109.67
TO BE PAID FROM LAD Account
JW Dock Systems	#348652 rem balance- new dock- south loop camp area	6,478.48	$6,478.48
	Total All Bills Submitted		$ 33,108.49

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

Reports and Correspondence. Staff Work. Wise updated board members on work accomplished during July./ T-dock Project Photos of the project were shared./ Thank yous. A thank you received was shared with the Board./ NC Evaluations. Several recent Nature Center User Evaluations were shared.

Etzel and Little updated the Board on the recruitment and initial meetings of the Nature Center Exhibit Team. Team members include: Geri Eilers, Gladbrook; Yvette Berner, Traer; Cathy Wieck and David Hill, Dysart; Melody Bro, Montour; Josh VanHamme, Chelsea; George Corum & Ginny Elliott, Tama; Dennis Appelgate, Jim Little, and Bob Etzel, Toledo. The team had met with Terry Brown and Janet Danek of Museum Professionals on July 29 and 30, and then on their own on August 1, logging over twelve hours of meeting time. Work on the weekend included developing a Content Outline, determine the target audience, outlining the “absolutes”, sharing preferred exhibit techniques, and establishing things that team members do not like in exhibits. At Tuesday’s meeting the team developed objectives for the Content Outline.

The team will be working hard over the next month to get information to Danek to enable her to begin actual design ideas for the project. Other items discussed relative to the display component included finding a glacial boulder to exhibit in the grounds near the Nature Center, a “water quality” theme throughout the exhibit space, development of a wetland diorama, the otter remaining the “mascot” or theme carrier through the building.

Relative to the display project for the Nature Center Etzel shared two issues which need to be addressed prior to completion of the design component.

1. Ventilation/condensation problems are being experienced in the “formal display room”. These will have to be corrected prior to any installation of displays in the room. The problem is caused by lack of air flow ventilation between the insulation and the roof. Terry Brown will be discussing the problem with his HVAC source and will make recommendations.

2. Storage space for tables, chairs- inadequate storage space exists in the building. Up to this point many tables and some chairs have been stored in the “formal display area”. Etzel will explore possible alternatives.

Quotes for a new diesel, four wheel drive, out-front mower with a 72” deck were discussed. Following are the quotes that were received:

Company	Unit Bid	Price (including trade-in)
Central Iowa Farm Store- Marshalltown	Kubota F2880E	$6,700
Central Iowa Farm Store- Marshalltown	New Holland, MC28F	$7,900
Tri-State Company- Grimes	Toro Groundsmaster 3280-D	$8,857
Southard Implement- Tama	John Deere 1445 Series II	$9,000

Etzel shared that the Poweshiek County Conservation Board have run Kubota and John Deere units side by side in their operation since about 1988. Vavroch indicated that both units perform equally well with neither unit being superior to the other. It was moved by Little, seconded Benda to purchase the Kubota mower from Central Iowa Farm Store, carried. (All voting aye)

Little mentioned that a camper had indicated a sentry light in south loop camp area was not working for some time. Etzel explained that two sentry lights were placed in the south loop camp area during initial campground development. Two lights actually cast too much light into the camp space so the light has been inactive for several years. Also too much light in the camp areas can serve as a detriment to the camping experience and can encourage late night activity in violation of quiet hours. Little felt that perhaps a timer should be implemented to allow the light to work until a designated hour. Etzel will check into this.

The Board discussed the wetland mitigation bank being developed in the SE part of the county. Etzel has conversed with Mark Ackelson, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), regarding discussion with Thien Farm Management. The Board is interested in exploring this further with the assistance of the INHF.

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

______________________ ______________________

CHAIR VICE-CHAIR