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BWSR Meeting Minutes <br />October 25, 2001 <br />Page Two <br />Chair Coe called the meeting to order at 9:.00 a.m. <br />Chair Coe thanked the Root River SWCD for the great tour yesterday. Chair Coe <br />stated that it's amazing to see the diversity in the state. <br />** Adopt Agenda -Moved by Jerome Deal, seconded by Clair Nelson, to approve the <br />01-75 agenda as presented. Motion passed on a voice vote. <br />** Minutes of September 26, 2001 -Moved by Char Kahler, seconded by Dwain Otte, to. <br />olas approve the minutes of September 26, 2001, as circulated. Motion passed on a voice <br />vote. <br />Reports <br />Chair's Report -Chair Coe reported that he attended the Wetlands Committee <br />meeting, October 12, in St. Cloud. Chair Coe attended the EQB meeting on October <br />18. The EQB granted an exemption request for the Fibrominn Biomass Power Plant. <br />Granting the exemption request would mean that Fibrominn and the City of Benson <br />would proceed to obtain approvals for the project from local governmental bodies with <br />jurisdiction, which is the City itself, and from various state and federal agencies, <br />including PCA which has to issue an air permit. EQB adopted the draft amendments to <br />the. power plant siting rules as interim guidance for processing site and route permits <br />under the new Energy Security and Reliability Act. <br />Executive Director -Ron reported on the 2002 bonding narratives. Ron anticipates <br />agency budget reductions. Ron stated that he looks to the BWSR Administrative <br />Advisory Committee as an oversight for agency budget adjustments. Ron reported that <br />BWSR has two legislative policy initiatives: WCA and local water planning authorities. <br />BWSR has submitted four legislative initiatives: water planning tax levy authority; water <br />planning statutes unification; modernize .and standardize SWCD statutes; and <br />clarifications to M.S. 103B.101. Ron stated that the strike is over; he's happy to have <br />staff back in place. There are some backlogs, but. things will get caught up. <br />Conclusions of the contract negotiations will be absorbed by agencies. Ron <br />commented on a letter from the Joint Powers Board in Bemidji regarding their grant <br />allocation. Ron stated that the Administrative Advisory Committee will review this and <br />make a_ recommendation to the full Board. Ron recommends that the December <br />BWSR meeting be held on December 19. Ron said it's good to be back after his back <br />injury and trip to Europe. Chair Coe commended Doug Thomas for his good work while <br />Ron was out. <br />Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) -Chair Coe reported that there are eight appeals <br />pending.. All eight appeals involve WCA. This is the most appeals BWSR has ever had <br />