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BWSR Meeting Minutes May 26, 1999 Page Three Jim commented on staffing changes. Linda Prail was hired in January as the administrative services director, to strengthen the administrative side of BWSR programs. Jim previously worked primarily with Ron Harnack and the regions. Jim now supervisors the (and and water management section, the engineering and technical services section and regional offices. Hopefully, these changes wilt pull together programs and program implementation, blending working relationships. These changes also affect our executive director's responsibilities, helping him focus on efforts as the chief executive officer of the agency. Jim distributed the BWSR organizational chart for board members' information. Darin Nelson was recently hired as the network administrator, and Steve Woods recently hired as the metro region supervisor. Jim commented on soil conservation issues involving soil quality and carbon balance which BWSR can positively affect. He also expressed an intent to think more about the economics of what the BWSR and local governments do in {and and water resource management. Jim reported that the BWSR all staff meeting, will be held June 2-3, at Camp Ripley. The agenda includes training, team work, and making sure all staff are informed on agency issues. Jim announced that an agreement has been signed by BWSR with the Corps of Engineers regarding coordinated efforts on wet{and banking activities. Dispute Resolution Committee -Chair Roer reported that there are five pending appeals, all are WCA appeals, however, two appeals wit{ not likely result in a hearing before the DRC. One of those is in Murray County where a settlement has been agreed to by the landowner, Murray SWCD and the DNR. The settlement agreement is being finalized. The other appeal is in McLeod county involving a violation and it appears settlement will be reached. Two of the other appeals involve the Wild River Audubon Society and Chisago County appealing a replacement plan approval that the City of Forest Lake made for a Cub Foods site. There is a lot of water resource controversy in this area of Forest Lake as development occurs rapidly in an area with many wetlands and no comprehensive plan. The other appeal involves a flood control project in Big Stone County and Judicial Ditch 4. DNR funding has been used and about half of the flood control project was completed when a cease and desist order was issued. An exemption was then requested but denied, and the exemption denial has been appealed. In this case the Big Stone County Board and the County board acting as the drainage authority is appealing the exemption denial of the Big Stone SWCD.