The Tama County Conservation Board met in regular session on Wednesday, October 2, 1996, in the Nature Center library, Otter Creek Park.

The Tama County Conservation Board met in regular session on Wednesday, October 4, 2006, in the main activity room- Nature Center, Otter Creek Park.

Since Adolphs was to arrive late acting Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present were: Adolphs (arriving at 7:10 p.m.), Anderson, Benda, Little, and Wiese. Also present: Etzel, Wise, Pat Johnson- Montour, Clyde Bearden- Tama, Bill Martens, Marv Wente and Mike Henle of Toledo, Gary Thien, Thien Farm Management and Mark Ackelson, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

Minutes from the regular session of September 6, 2006, were read. Moved by Wiese, seconded Benda to approve the minutes as read, carried. (All voting aye)

Corrections to the minutes of the August 6, 2006, board meeting were considered. Moved by Little, seconded Benda, to accept the correction as read, carried. (All voting aye)

The following bills were presented:

BILLS SUBMITTED, BOARD MEETING, OCTOBER 4, 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 October	1,203.08	1,203.08
0001-6100-412-22 Postage
Etzel, Robert	As per three (3) receipts	4.95	4.95
0001-6100-414-22-990 Telephone
Iowa Telecom	17Sep06, 484-2231 (office), 484-4157 (payphone)	115.40
	17Sep06, 484-5314 (shop)	74.36
Verizon	16Sep06, 484-5314 (shop)	8.55
	16Sep06, 484-4157 (pay phone)	9.68
	16Sep06, 484-2231 (office)	16.54
		224.53	224.53
0001-6110-101-22-223 Salary- Main Supervisor
Wise, Craig	8-Sep-06	1,612.04
	22-Sep-06	1,443.23
		3,055.27	3,055.27
0001-6110-101-22-226 Salary- Conserv Tech
Dolash, Ron	8-Sep-06	1,274.40
	22-Sep-06	1,292.33
		2,566.73	2,566.73
0001-6110-101-22-224 Salary
Bergmann, Sandy	8-Sep-06	605.00
	22-Sep-06	655.00
Bisher, Casey (Contract Fulfillment Payment)	8-Sep-06	223.63
Kubik, Cassie	8-Sep-06	72.00
McMurray, Shea (Contract Fulfillment Payment)	8-Sep-06	252.25
Zody, John	8-Sep-06	328.01
	22-Sep-06	384.40
		2,520.29	2,520.29
0002-6110-113-22-013 Health Ins- Co Share
Health Ins Fund	Wise (Life Insurance only)	2.60
	Dolash family for October	1,203.08
		1,205.68	1,205.68
0001-6110-250-22-050 Mt Veh- fuels
New Century FS, Inc	Ticket#36-340664, 3Aug06, 262 gals unleaded gasohol @ $2.53214/gal	663.42
	State MFT tax @ $0.19 per gal	49.78
	FET (lust)	0.26
	118 gals Diselsex LS Dyed 500 ppm @ $2.71764/gal	320.68
	FET (lust)	0.12
		1,034.26	1,034.26
0001-6110-254-22-050 Motor Vehicle- Minor Repair
Central Iowa Farm Store	#46223 filters, oil	131.21
	CM45747	-431.46
	#45748 blades (3), front wheel & tire, rear wheel & tire (Kubota)	383.17
Southard Implement Co.	#02-187602 caps, bearings, bushings, washers, etc.	142.88
	#02-187603 turnbuckle, link	9.15
	#02-44697 repair overheating & deck drift (JD1445,TC1445D021260)	369.71
		604.66	604.66
0001-6110-292-22-052 Main & Supplies
Schade Lime & Rock	Trucking 60.53T 1" rd stone to OCP	423.71
Poweshiek Water Assoc.	Water, TFCP for OCT prev: 23K, current: 23K	32.00
Tama County Highway Dept	5Sep06 door lock #477257C94 for dump truck	61.87
Tama County Solid Waste Disposal Comm	Landfill fees- September	73.40
Tama Timber & Lawn	#2184 repair- ignition module, trimmer heads (2)	142.73
Ternus Electric	#24082 electrical problems @ NC	120.00
Thomas Co, LTD.	#92106 repair furnace- trailer residence	92.00
Wendling Quarries, Inc.	#293587, 60.53T 1" rd stone @ $7 per T	423.71
		1,369.42	1,369.42
0001-6110-430-22 Gas- Heating
New Century FS, Inc	LP gas contract, 4,135 gals gals LP @ $1.469/gal	6,074.32
	#56-727170 650 gals LP gas @ $1.399/gal (150-res., 160-trailer, 140-shop,
	200- showerhouse)	917.80
		6,992.12	6,992.12
0001-6110-431-22-990 Electricity
Grundy Co REC	OCP thru 15Sep06, 14,230 KWH- meter #1, 1,430 KWH- (NC)	1251.64
Traer Municipal Utilities	TFCP thru 15Sep06, 222 KWH	58.71
		1310.35	1,310.35

	*Total Bills Submitted, Gen'l Budget*		$22,091.34

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

Reports and Correspondence. Staff /Work. Wise updated board members on work accomplished during September. It was reported that the Seasonal Rangers will be done for the season on October 15./ /Nature Center Windows Moehl Millwork will be delivering windows in the next week. Hrabak Lumber will be installing the windows in late November./Rip-rapProject A permit issued under the National Permit process by the US Army Corps of Engineers has been received. A certificate of insurance has been received from Dostal Construction. Etzel anticipates a signed contract to be forthcoming and construction to begin this fall./Jesina expansion It was reported that an expansion of the Bill Jesina hog operation was being submitted to the Tama County Supervisors. The expansion was to include a nursery building and was to be located in Section 33, Carroll Township.

Pat Johnson, Montour, spoke to the Board regarding concerns that area fishermen have for the quality of the fishery at Otter Creek Lake. He commended the Board on the quality of work being done at the park including the grounds, camp areas and Nature Center however, he has personally experienced frustration in catching fish at the lake. He also said that in his business as a barber customers were voicing frustration regarding fishing success at the lake. He felt that a top quality fishery would be possible and was wondering what the Board’s plans were in this regards. Others in attendance voiced the same concern for the lake.

Etzel explained the history of the fishery at the lake and areas of concern. He shared the Board has had a concern with the quality of the fishery for a number of years. Steve Waters and Paul Sleeper of the Iowa DNR had spoken with the Board at their November, 2004, board meeting. At that meeting the Fisheries Biologists indicated the only viable method to refurbish a declining fishery is through total kill down of the basin. They stressed this decision should not be made lightly and only when the fishery had declined to an extreme state. They recommended study of the fishery over the next few years to determine it’s true status. Etzel indicated that the surveys had revealed the fishery was average and were awaiting results of a survey conducted at the lake during the past week.

The Board shared their concerns for the Otter Creek Lake fishery with the fishermen in attendance. Discussed was the possibility of getting volunteers to assist in placing structure in the lake basin. The Board thanked the gentlemen for attending the meeting.

Mark Ackelson, President, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, spoke to the Board concerning the use of conservation easements in protecting the natural resources in the state. He indicated the conservation easement is a good tool to use in those situations where the natural resource should be protected but public use of the site is not feasible or practical. He stressed it is not economically feasible to protect all the natural resources in our state by acquisition. He shared examples of how conservation easements have protected some critical areas across the nation..... the grasslands of Big Sur, CA, the open wildlands adjacent to Yosemite National Park , etc. Mark spoke to the requirements of being a “grantee” of a conservation easement and liabilities associated with this role. He answered questions posed by the Board.

Gary Thien, Thien Farm Management, spoke to the board regarding the wetland mitigation bank site and his request that the Conservation Board (TCCB) serve as the grantee on the conservation easement for the site. He answered questions posed by the TCCB. Thien indicated that there were a few different options he wished the Board to consider:

Grantee... serve as grantee for the conservation easement. Thien would provide $25,000 to the Board as a payment for the Board to serve in this role. He preferred the payment of $2,500 per year over the ten-year projected life of the bank. If the bank closes prior to payment in full the remaining balance will be paid out at that time.
Grantee/Option to Buy (Exercised) The TCCB would serve as the grantee with an option to buy on the property (77.19 acres). The option would be exercised at the time the bank is closed. Thien would be willing to agree to a purchase price of $190,000. He would be a willing donor of $90,000 off the purchase price bringing the bargain sale price on the land to $100,000. Thein would request a fee of $1 for the option to buy. The TCCB would have 18 months past the closing of the bank to either decide to purchase the ground or relinquish the option.
Grantee/Option to Buy (Relinquished) The TCCB would serve as the grantee with an option to buy as outlined above. If they choose not to exercise the option at the time the bank is closed Thien would pay the TCCB $25,000 at that time for serving as the grantee.

After considerable discussion it was moved by Anderson, seconded Benda, the Tama County Conservation Board, pending approval of all documents by the Tama County Attorney, agrees to serve as grantee on the Salt Creek Mitigation Bank site located in Section 26, York Township. Also, the Board wishes to enter into an option to buy on the property on the agreed price of $190,000 with $90,000 of the price donated for a fee of $1 with a period of 18 months beyond the closing of the bank to either exercise the option or not. The easement fee of $25,000 will be paid to the Conservation Board if they do not exercise the option, or will be waived if the option is exercised, carried. (Roll call vote: Adolphs- aye, Anderson- aye, Benda- aye, Little- aye, Wiese- aye.)

Etzel presented the Tama County Nature Center Exhibit Design contract. After reviewing the contents of the contract it was moved by Little, seconded Anderson to accept the contract as presented, carried. (All voting aye)

After discussion of conservation topics of interest it was moved by Little, seconded Benda to adjourn, carried (All voting aye). Adjourned 10:15 p.m..

______________________ ______________________

CHAIR VICE-CHAIR