[Mpls] Hennepin Conservaiton District

[Steve Brandt]

Here's a story from last year that sheds some background on the issues
alluded to in earlier posts.  Earlier articles went into more detail on
the controversy over the direction charted by the board following the
2002 election:

Access #: 1123418
Paper: STAR TRIBUNE (Mpls.-St. Paul) Newspaper of the Twin Cities
Headline: Hennepin conservation board vows to go on // County leaders
voted Tuesday to cut off funding for the controversial district.
Date: 02/19/03
Section: NEWS
Page: 03B
Edition: METRO
Byline: Steve Brandt; Staff Writer
Length: 16.9
Subject: agency;budget
Slug: HCD19
         
   Although it lost most of its budget Tuesday, the Hennepin 
Conservation District plans to stay in business.    The soil and water
conservation district lost about 
three-quarters of its operating budget when the Hennepin County 
Board voted 5-2 to terminate its funding of the controversial 
district, effective in mid-May. And it's likely to lose portions of 
its state and local watershed funding, too.   With the potential of
losing its 11-person staff, it's uncertain 
how the district will stay in business. District board chairman 
Justin Blum said the board intends to operate to the extent that 
funding permits.   Just how daunting are the district's finance
problems? At year's 
end, the it had $385,902 in the bank, but only $193,860 was 
uncommitted.   Gerald Ostvig, the district's interim manager, estimates
that the 
present value of the district's remaining obligation on its 
five-year office lease is $269,000 and that severance costs for 
laying off staff members will add $220,000.   In fact, the district
could go from first to worst in budget 
ranking among the state's 91 conservation districts. Its budget of 
$1.2 million was the biggest of any district in 2001.   But now the
state expects to provide the district about $30,000 
this year, about half the usual amount. The lowest-funded soil and 
water district in Minnesota in 2001 had a budget of $55,000.   The
Hennepin district carries out programs such as working with 
volunteers, monitoring stream quality, determining what's a wetland 
and helping horse owners manage manure. It has no taxing authority.  
The new district board that took control this year submitted a 
2003 work plan to the county Tuesday morning, but the vote by 
commissioners made it moot by afternoon.   The plan called for the
district to drop its traditional role of 
defining wetlands. That task has led to several disputes with the 
district and other conservation agencies on one side and some rural 
landowners who disagree with what the district calls a wetland on 
the other. As a result some landowners tried to terminate the 
district, which county voters rejected by a three-to-one ratio last 
fall.   Phil Eckhert, the county's environmental services director,
said 
he might be continuing some of the district's work for less than 
the county's $654,485 annual subsidy that commissioners voted to end.  
Eckhert plans to meet this week with officials of the district 
and the state Board of Water and Soil Resources to discuss the 
transition. He said he'll also meet with representatives of local 
city governments and watersheds that rely on district services.   One
of them, Medina Council Member Jim Lane, said quick action by 
the county is needed to keep the district's staff from dispersing. 
"For the most part they're a good bunch and should be retained for 
the benefit of all county residents," he said.   Those employees voted
last week 8-0 in favor of unionizing with 
the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees as 
their bargaining representative.   County Board Chairman Mike Opat said
it's possible the county 
will appoint an advisory board on soil and water conservation 
issues as it assumes some of the district's traditional tasks.   Under
state law, state money for some soil and water programs 
such as conservation projects can go only to conservation 
districts. Statutory powers also are given to districts under 
wetland law. But state officials say the county could more easily 
assist landowners with technical advice programs and with the 
mapping of natural resources.   .   - Steve Brandt is at
sbrandt at startribune.com or 612-673-4438.   .   AT A GLANCE   The
Hennepin Conservation District is an independent agency that 
has no taxing authority and relies on county, state and watershed 
agencies for most of its money. The board of five supervisors is 
elected in staggered four-year terms.   The district began as a
farm-oriented organization in 1949, but 
its role has changed as the county has developed. It defines its 
job as helping citizens and local governments make wise use of soil 
and water.   Typical tasks include preparing wildlife habitat and
wetland 
restoration plans and monitoring streams, lakes, ground water and 
wetlands. 






 

Steve Brandt
Staff writer
Star Tribune
Phone: 612-673-4438
Fax:  612-673-4359
425 Portland Av.
Minneapolis, MN 55488