Heron Lake Watershed District (HLWD)

Regular Meeting
August 14, 2017

1. Call to Order
Bruce Leinen called the meeting to order at 8:02 p.m.
Managers present: Bruce Leinen, Jim Buschena, Harvey Kruger, Wayne Rasche, and Gary
Ewert
Staff: Jan Voit, Catherine Wegehaupt, Adam Franck, and Samantha Wolfe
Others: Mona Henkels, Murray SWCD; Jim Eigenberg, Jackson County; Kevin Stevens,
Cottonwood County; Jerry Christopherson
2. Agenda
Gary Ewert made a motion to approve the agenda. Harvey Kruger seconded this.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. Minutes
Wayne Rasche made a motion to approve the minutes from the July 18, 2017 Project 2
Partial Abandonment Hearing and HLWD meeting. Jim Buschena seconded this. Motion
carried unanimously.
4. Treasurer’s Report and Bill Payment
Jan Voit presented the treasurer’s report and bills payable. Jim Buschena made a motion
to approve the treasurer’s report and pay the bills. Harvey Kruger seconded this. Motion
carried unanimously.
A question was asked regarding the expenditures for the Minnesota Conservation Corps
grant. The costs were for the anchors to hold the cedar trees in place.
5. 2018 Preliminary Budget Hearing Notice
Harvey Kruger offered the following Resolution and moved its adoption.
Whereas, the Board of Managers of the Heron Lake Watershed District have had a
hearing on its proposed budget for the year 2018, after publication thereof, and have
heard all persons interested therein,
Now, therefore, be it resolved that a mill rate sufficient to produce $250,000.00 be
levied upon all taxable property in the Heron Lake Watershed District, situated in the
Counties of Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, and Nobles for the year 2018, for the
purpose of the General Operating Levy pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 103D.905
Subd. 3. The Secretary be and he here is advised and directed to certify this levy to the
County Auditor of the said Counties.
Jim Buschena seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Order and Notice of Final Hearing on Petition for Improvement of Jackson County
Judicial Ditch 19
Bruce Leinen offered the following Resolution and moved its adoption.

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WHEREAS, a petition for the improvement of Jackson County Judicial Ditch No. 19 has
been filed with and is pending before the Board of Managers of the Heron Lake
Watershed District acting as the drainage authority under Minnesota law; and,
WHEREAS, the drainage authority, at a preliminary hearing upon said Petition for
Improvement pursuant to Minn.Stat. § 103E.261, determined that further proceedings
on the Petition for Improvement of Judicial Ditch 19, Jackson County, Minnesota, were
necessary and proper, and appointed a project engineer and ordered the preparation of
a detailed survey report; and also, appointed viewers and ordered preparation of a
viewers’ report; and,
WHEREAS, the detailed survey report has been filed with the drainage authority; and,
WHEREAS, the viewers’ report has been filed with the drainage authority; and,
WHEREAS, the drainage authority has determined that the petition, the detailed survey
report, and the viewers’ report shows that Judicial Ditch No. 19, Jackson County, lies in
Heron Lake, Hunter, and Des Moines Townships in Jackson County, Minnesota. The JD
19 mainline tile begins in Section 12 of Hunter Township and spans across Sections 2, 3,
11, and 12 of Hunter Township and Section 34 of Heron Lake Township where it outlets
into an intermittent stream which leads into Jackson County Judicial Ditch No. 3. Other
tile branches drain land from Sections 34, 35, and 36 of Heron Lake Township; Section 1,
2, 3, 10, 11, and 12 of Hunter Township; and Section 6 of Des Moines Township. To
provide at least a 0.50 in/day drainage coefficient and add depth to the system,
approximately 16,000 feet of new mainline tile with a 48-inch outlet and approximately
60,300 feet of new branch tile will be constructed. The entire system will be replaced
and flow from Branch L in Sections 1 and 12 of Hunter Township and diverted through a
secondary outlet which drains into the DNR Wetland on the south side of CSAH 14. A
second culvert would be added underneath CSAH 14 to help equalize the water level on
both sides of the road and the wetland would provide storage for all of the water from
the Secondary Outlet. In the southwest corner of the existing wetland, where the
existing 30” culvert is, a berm would be constructed to contain the wetland during
extreme events and a water control structure would be placed on the north side of the
berm to give the DNR the ability to regulate the wetland water levels. There are
numerous branches that connect to the existing mainline. Branches B, C, C1, C2, C3, C4,
CX, D, D1, H, H1, J, K, K1, L, L1, L2, L6, L7, L7A, L7A1 M, N, O, P, Q, R and R1 will replace the
existing tile as new and larger tile. All remaining branches will remain as is and will be
connected into the new tile where applicable. Branch B will consist of 462 feet of pipe
with an 8-inch outlet. Branch C and its tributaries will consist of 8,480 feet of pipe with a
24-inch outlet. Branch D and its tributaries will consist of 1,005 feet of pipe with a 10-inch
outlet. Branch H and its tributaries will consist of 5,785 feet of pipe with a 15-inch outlet.
Branch J will consist of 575 feet of 8-inch pipe. Branch K and its tributaries will consist of
3,550 feet of pipe with a 15-inch outlet. Branch L and its tributaries will consist of 20,905
feet of pipe with a 30-inch outlet. Branch M will consist of 535 feet of 10-inch tile. Branch
N will consist of 5,152 feet of pipe with a 15-inch outlet. Branch O will consist of 500 feet
of 8-inch tile. Branch P will consist of 1,495 feet of pipe with a 12-inch outlet, and Branch
Q will consist of 525 feet of 8-inch tile. Branch R and its tributaries will consist of 6,265
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feet of pipe with a 24-inch outlet. In addition, a Secondary Outlet will be constructed to
drain the Southeast portion of the watershed formerly drained by Branch L. This tile will
consist of 12,730 feet of pipe with a 30-inch outlet.
WHEREAS, the drainage authority has determined that the petition, the detailed survey
report, and the viewers’ report shows that the property benefited and damaged by the
proposed drainage project is located within Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12 of Hunter
Township, Sections 34, 35, and 36 of Heron Lake Township, and Section 6 of Des Moines
Township, Jackson County (the specific properties benefited and damaged are
contained in the viewers’ report); and that the owners of property benefited and
damaged by the proposed drainage project are: Larry G. Miller, Ann Gladys Schultz,
Dennis Salzwedel, Marilyn J. Bauer Trust, Gary Bailey, Jackson County, John N. Nauerth,
III, Janice Gentz, Milford Gentz, Juel Teig Trust, Emil M. and Martha L. Buresch, Jon and
Amy Timko, Minnesota DNR Division of Land and Minerals, Lakefield City, Michael A. and
Susan Buresch, David and Sandra Svoboda, David R. Bauer, Leon and Violet Voss, Phillip
and Lori Krueger, Doyle Svoboda, Steven D. Voss and Patricia Fricke Voss, Larrell and
Jodi Dejong, Timothy and Wendalyn Tungland, ITC Midwest, LLC, Chris Bauer, Kirk and
Darla Rossow, Linda K. Jerlow, Byron and Keri Buresch, David A. and Barbara Holt Trust
et al., Elaine E. Pohlman, C. J. Schumann Trust, Alliant-Interstate Power Company,
Robert J. Ambrose Living Trust and Diann L. Ambrose Living Trust, Daron J. and Jody E.
Buresch, Bonnie B. Fricke, Darlene Wedeking Living Trust, Norma E. Monson, Donald
and Judith Hodenfield, Larry and Cynthia Koep, Milton Fricke Trust and Dorothy Fricke
Trust, Douglas C. and Pamela A. Schroeder, Dwaine and Gertrude W. Hodenfield, Fred
and Arlyce Henning, Kayle L. and Jamie N. Koep, Ardith Westergard, Debra Bailey, Gene
and Leslie Oeltjenbruns, Delores E. Kolander, and,
WHEREAS, the drainage authority has determined that neither the detailed survey
report nor the viewers’ report shows that the proposed drainage project affects any
municipalities nor other corporations other than as listed in the viewers’ report
(Lakefield City, Jackson Highway Department, Hunter Township, Heron Lake Township,
and Des Moines Township); and,
WHEREAS, the Final Engineering Report has been submitted to the Commissioner of the
Department Natural Resources and the Director of the Board of Water and Soil
Resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED AND NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That a hearing will
be held before the drainage authority on the 28th day of September, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in
the morning at the Heron Lake Senior Citizens’ Center for the purpose of further
considering the petition and bond, examination of the Engineer’s Detailed Survey
Report, examination of the Viewers’ Report, examination of Commissioner’s and
Director’s Final Advisory Report. All interested persons may attend and be heard
thereon.
The petition and bond, report of the commissioner of natural resources, engineer’s
detailed survey report and the viewers’ report, may be examined prior to the hearing by
any interested person on request at the office of the drainage authority located at the

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 Heron Lake Watershed District office, Heron Lake Community Center, Heron Lake,
Minnesota, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Gary Ewert seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.
7. Seward 29 Bid Packet
Catherine Wegehaupt explained the bid packet. Discussion was held regarding fall and
spring construction options. The project start date is scheduled for fall 2017 or spring
2018, weather dependent. The completion date is the summer of 2018.
Discussion was held regarding posting requirements. Jan Voit will contact the Board of
Water and Soil Resources to determine publication requirements for bids. Catherine will
send the bid packet to the list of contractors that has been used in Nobles County.
Board members will contact her if they have a specific contractor they want to receive
the information.
The date to receive bids is October 17, 2017. The HLWD has the right to reject any and all
bids. Jim Buschena made a motion to move forward with the bid process, making sure
that any statutory requirements are met. Harvey Kruger seconded this. Motion carried
unanimously.
8. Reports
District Administrator
Jan Voit reported on Jackson County Ditch 3, Jackson County JD 19, West Fork Des
Moines River (WFDMR) Targeting and Prioritizing Endeavor, Consolidation of Projects 4
and 84-4A, Heron Lake Phosphorus Reduction Project 2, financial information, the
website, Clean Water Fund grant applications, Prairie Lakes Conference, WFDMR
Watershed Project Phase 2, the governor’s 25 by 25 initiative, and clothing.
She presented information regarding the Zuno Hernandez septic system loan
application. Wayne Rasche made a motion to approve the application contingent upon
providing the required documentation. Jim Buschena seconded this. Motion carried
unanimously.
Watershed Technician
Catherine Wegehaupt explained the rock intake project for Troy Thompson. Jim
Buschena made a motion to provide $300 cost-share for the Thompson rock intake.
Harvey Kruger seconded this. Motion carried unanimously.
She also provided information about the five-year cover crop program, WFDMR
Targeting and Prioritizing Endeavor field validation sites, Seward 29 permit comment
deadline, and the free family picnic night in Brewster sponsored by Jackson County
Farm Bureau.
Summer Interns
Adam Franck and Samantha Wolfe gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding their
summer internship with the HLWD and North Heron Lake Game Producers Association
(NHLGPA). A question was asked regarding the distribution of the nest survey data. The
information is given to NHLGPA, but not to any other organizations.

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 The interns were asked if they would recommend the internship to others. They said
that they would. The believed the internship helped further their knowledge and would
help with their careers.
Adam and Samantha thanked the board for the opportunity to work as interns and for
offering the internship. The board thanked them for their work and wished them the
best in their future.
9. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.

Harvey Kruger
Secretary