The Combined Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District
Thursday, November 17, 2016
6:30 pm
Lake Delhi Trustees Administration Building
Delhi, IA
The regular meeting of the Combined Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District was called to order by President Steve Leonard at 6:35 pm.
Trustees present: Leonard, Kramer, Burger with Colgan, Gifford, Herman and Havertape participating by phone.
Trustees absent: None
Guests: Randy Rattenborg
Motion to approve the agenda as posted made by Burger, seconded by Kramer. Motion carried.
Motion to approve the October 20, 2016 meeting minutes and October 27, 2016 work session notes was made by Colgan, seconded by Burger. Motion carried.
Kramer presented payment claims for approval. Payments from the General Fund in the amount of $3,619.82 for electricity, supplies, internet/phone, copier usage, port-a-potty rentals, lobbyist, insurance and software license were presented. Payments in the amount of $27,427.87 for dam operations, riprap work, and engineering services were presented from the Dam/Spillway Project Fund. Motion to approve payments as presented made by Herman, seconded by Kramer. Motion carried.
Kramer presented the financial reports. The General Fund had revenues of $19,478.76 and expenditures of $27,539.99 ending October at $321,712.56. The Debt Service Fund had revenues of $36,406.86 and expenditures of $110,138.75 ending October at $173,283.36. The Dam/Spillway Project Fund had revenues of $1,411.02 and expenditures of $345,766.24 ending October at $1,828,398.35. Burger motioned to file the financial reports as read, Leonard seconded. Motion carried.
Colgan presented information regarding riprap options resulting from the September 2016 flood event. He indicated that due to the heavy rains from the September event, the riprap on the north downstream side was dislodged. With the exposed concrete walls that were uncovered this fall, the need for the riprap has changed. Colgan is working with the DNR to see if the District can extend the riprap further downstream. Since this is DNR property approval would require a permit from them and we may or may not get that approval. The cost to move the riprap would be approximately $17,000. If we have to remove the riprap the cost could increase significantly to approximately $40,000 to $60,000. Colgan said the work isn’t critical to the operations of the dam but it is work that will need to be taken care of sometime in early 2017. Leonard asked if there was a need for riprap on the south side upstream area. Colgan said there is not need for riprap in that area. Colgan stated no action was needed tonight. This was information to bring the Board up-to-date.
Leonard made a presentation regarding the Watershed Management Authorities that he worked on with both Gifford and Herman. He mentioned that there had been talks in the past about funding sources that can be utilized for watersheds. Larry Murphy, one of our lobbyists, brought this to the Board’s attention some time ago and since then there have been 7-10 meetings with key stakeholders around the area including Delaware County, Delaware Co. Conservation, City of Monticello, Jones Co. Supervisors, etc. Leonard stated that there have been twenty watershed authorities already established in the state of Iowa. We would be the 21st, which would cover the entire Maquoketa River area including all the way from Arlington down to the Mississippi River. Our partners throughout this process have been the Department of Agriculture at the federal level, the NRCS, the IDNR and other key stakeholders including cities and counties in the surrounding areas with Lake Delhi really driving the process. There’s been a hired employee that is part-time position that works with the different watershed authorities to help get us through the process to get watersheds established.
He explained that Maquoketa Watershed Authority is a locally led team driving financial and social benefits through sustainable water resource quality and conservation for urban and rural residents in the Maquoketa River Watershed. The Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority will work hard to create and implement tangible high ‘return on investment’ projects with maximum funding assistance for its members – that make this WMA a key component of every member’s development resources.
A lot of the funding will be driven from federal dollars that will go to the State of Iowa. The MWA would then apply for grants from the state. However, Leonard also said funding could come from the various participants in the watershed authority including the Lake Delhi District, other counties and cities depending on the level of funding requirements. We all have a value up and down the Maquoketa River to have high water quality and to minimize flooding.
Leonard stated that the District needs to make a decision either tonight or at the December meeting whether or not to enter into a 28E agreement for membership into the Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority because starting in January, 2017 this watershed authority will be kicking off, regardless of the number of participants, due to the fact that there’s money that is going to be earmarked for watershed authorities that are in the beginning stages of forming and could be in the neighborhood of $100,000 that could go toward significant studies of our watershed. We are one of two new management authorities being forms so we stand a good chance of getting some financial assistance right away. Leonard stated that the incentive to participate in this program is that there’s power in numbers.
Areas impacted surface and ground waters, flooding, recreational areas, soil erosion, environmental areas, natural habitats, water protection to name a few.
The structure is a 28E Agreement. There’s no financial obligation for any organization to participate, however, there will be financial requirements and needs as the authority moves forward. Our lobbyists are excited to participate and help lobby for funds at the state level. If the District directs our lobbyists to do that, it could be considered a part of our contribution to the group. There will be a board of directors formed. Each entity gets one vote. There will also be an executive committee that will do a lot of administrative and legal work. Several slides were presented showing the creeks that flow into the Maquoketa River. It also shows areas of erosion and siltation in our watershed. The NRCS has done some work previously but more studies are needed. That is why getting funding would help with further studies.
Leonard stated that if we choose to move forward with the 28E agreement it will give the District one vote within the group. He cautioned that by not participating it would make it extremely difficult for the District to get support for local initiatives.
Leonard asked for comments from Gifford and Herman. Herman stated that this agreement positions as very well for funding. If in the future, the Board decides it no longer wants to participate, it can get out. Herman stated he feels we have more to gain than lose by participating.
Leonard asked the Board to consider formally approving the 28E Agreement. Burger stated he had some questions. His expressed concern that if we approve at tonight’s meeting and other participants review the agreement and make changes we would have to go through another approval process. Herman said that was true but there was input from various groups and this document was streamlined. In addition, because of time constraints it was felt necessary to go ahead with the process. Burger asked if there’s enough time to send out to the other participants to make sure they have their legal counsel review and bring back any changes right away. Burger also asked about liability issues. Herman doesn’t disagree but he thinks we are a long way from being in that situation. Adding by-laws in the future could help address those concerns. Burger asked if the District representative would have the authority to obligate the District to a grant that required matching funds. Leonard and Herman said their understanding is that the District’s representative could not obligate the District to matching funds without the consent of the Board of Directors. Burger would like to have a presentation at the December meeting to see how many other participants have signed the 28E Agreement and if there are any suggested changes to the agreement.
Leonard asked for a motion to approve Resolution 11.17.16 authorizing him to sign the 28E Agreement as presented. Herman asked if Leonard was offering to be the representative for the District. Leonard said he would be the initial representative but that could change depending the interest of any other board member. Herman made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing Leonard to execute the initial 28E Agreement with the understanding that Leonard would be the initial representative of the District. A second was made by Havertape. Burger suggested and it was agreed that we should assign a representative/s annually at our August organizational meeting. Motion carried.
Committee Updates:
Beach Maintenance – Leonard has been in contract with Rich Hughes. Rich has some numbers put together for beach repair and work that would help mitigate water flow. There are no specifics at this point.
Lake Recreational Maintenance Issues – Gifford and Leonard contacted local marinas to see if they could help with debris removal in various parts of the lake. The two local marinas are not interest but Jeremy Klima who works with a Dubuque marina that has heavy equipment used for debris removal, might be interested. Jeremy was going to tour the lake area this coming weekend and give Leonard an estimate of what he thought it would cost to do some debris removal.
Dam Operations – Lunda reinstalled Gate 2. It does leak oil but the stem and bearing are working. We may be looking at options to make it work better. He also indicated that Lovewell has installed the new guardrail on the north side and that the asphalt work has also been completed. He also mention the sealcoating on the powerhouse is done and the bubbler system is ready to go. Leonard asked Colgan about the block path on the south downstream side. It appears to be complete on the bottom portion but not on the hill itself. Colgan’s understanding that it was never intended to go all the way up but that’s a question for Bill Holman. Leonard asked Colgan if he would confirm.
Water Quality – No other updates
Funding/Finance – Budget work for the 17/18 year will be starting soon.
Legislative Update – Leonard will get our lobbyists to give us an update with all the changes at the state level.
Herman noted that he would be attending a FEMA meeting in Manchester on Monday, November 21 to review the damages from the recent flood
Burger motioned to adjourn the meeting, Kramer seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:27 pm.