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BWSR Meeting Minutes September 26, 2001 Page Eight ** 01-72 ** 01-73 CREP Grants to SWCDs -Kevin Lines presented the SWCD CREP staffing grants which would cover special staffing to further the implementation of CREP. Four SWCDs would receive a combined total of $41,500 for implementation of CREP beginning July 1, 2001 to June 20, 2002. Kevin presented the CREP Specialist Administrative Grant that staff recommend be provided to 19 SWCDs to support BWSR CREP specialist positions located in their SWCD office. This grant is for a total of $76,000 ($4,000 to each SWCD office), and would be awarded upfront rather than as a reimbursement. This grant would cover CREP expenses (office space, copying, and misc.) from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002. Kevin presented the third grant for the 14 SWCD CREP technicians. Staff recommend that the SWCD CREP technicians grant recently received from BWSR be amended to achieve a total of $36,000 per SWCD, grand total of $509,000 This grant amount more accurately reflects the actual costs needed to support a CREP technician employed at the district office. It's also the intent that this supplemental grant be used to compensate the CREP staff from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002. Moved by Jerome Deal, seconded by Victor Ormsby, to approve the SWCD CREP Staffing Grant allocation of $41,500; the CREP Specialist Administrative Grant allocation of $76,000; and the CREP Technician Grant allocation of $509,000. Motion passed on a voice vote. Process for Removal of SWCD Supervisor -Jim Birkholz presented information and five recommendations: 1) Amend existing statute -modernize and standardize; 2) Who may petition; 3) Qualifying petitions; 4) Cost considerations; and 5) Office of Administrative Hearings. Discussion followed. Jim stated that these interim procedures will be in place; any additional information from the Attorney General's office will be incorporated. Jim stated that this process for removal of SWCD supervisor will be presented to the 2002 legislature as a legislative initiatitive. Moved by Darrell Bruggman, seconded by Jerome Deal, to move forward on the five recommendations as presented. This process for removal of SWCD Supervisors will be submitted as a legislative initiative. for 2002. Motion passed on a voice vote. Chair Coe thanked Jim for his work and efforts on this project. Legislative Initiatives -Doug Thomas reported that the deadline for submitting technical and housekeeping preliminary proposals for legislative initiatives was September 21. BWSR submitted four legislative initiatives to Minnesota Planning: 1) Water Planning Tax Levy Authority; 2) Clarifications to 1036.101; 3) Water Planning Statutes Unification; and 4) Modernize and Standardize SWCD Statutes regarding Removal of Elected Supervisor and Discontinuance of SWCDs.