Brown Soil & Water Conservation District

In accordance with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, notice is hereby given that the May 28^th Regular Board Meeting of the Brown Soil & Water Conservation District has been rescheduled for Monday, May 21^st, 2012 at 7PM.   The meeting will still be held at:

Brown Soil & Water Conservation District Office
300 2^nd Ave. SW, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085

Questions about the rescheduling of this meeting may be directed to the Brown SWCD office at (507) 794-2553.

Date of Notice:                       May 11^th, 2012
Person Preparing Notice:     Vanessa Richie, Brown SWCD Administrative Assistant

This notification has been…

• Posted by the door to the Brown SWCD office/meeting location
• Posted on the Brown SWCD website at www.brownswcdmn.org
• Distributed to those who have requested notification of special meetings

The 2012 theme for the annual Brown Soil & Water Conservation District Poster Contest was “Trees—Rooted in Our Future”.   This year’s theme focused on Minnesota’s trees and how they relate to our environmental, economic, and aesthetic future.  Each year an education packet with information pertinent to the theme is distributed to the fifth and sixth grade teachers in the county with an invitation to have students submit poster entries.

Brown SWCD received 57 posters this year. All of which were submitted by students of Washington Elementary in New Ulm.  Each poster entrant received an evergreen tree seedling for participating with cash prizes for the top three winners.  Winning poster artists for Brown County were:  Lauren Schueler (1^st Place), Alexandra Bidwell (2^nd Place), and Amy Harris (3^rd Place).  The three finalists’ posters will move on to the area competition in June.

Pictured in the front row from left to right: Amy Harris, Lauren Schueler, Alexandra Bidwell
Back row:  Mr. Ellingson (Washington Elementary), Tom Maher, Brian Hoskins and Vanessa Richie (Brown SWCD)

Information Updated May 8th, 2012.

Brown County voters will elect Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors for three of the five nominating Districts in the County in the fall election.  Terms are four years.

The following Nomination Districts will have an open seat:

• Area One consisting of the Townships of Albin, Lake Hanska, and Linden plus all of the incorporated area of Hanska.
• Area Two consisting of the Townships of Bashaw, Leavenworth and Mulligan plus all of the incorporated area of Comfrey in Brown County.
• Area Four consisting of the Township of Burnstown, North Star and Stately plus all of the incorporated area of Springfield.

Area Four is represented by Jack Vogel.   Vogel is planning on re-filing for his position.  Area One is currently represented by Dick Schroepfer and Area Two by Ervin Windschitl.   Both are not planning on filing and will be retiring at the end of 2012.

Others serving on the District Board are Greg Roiger, representing Area Three, consisting of the Townships of Eden, Home, Prairieville and Stark plus all of the incorporated area of Sleepy Eye, Evan and Cobden and Ralph Stadick, representing Area Five, consisting of the Townships of Cottonwood, Milford, and Sigel plus the incorporated area of New Ulm.

Supervisors are elected “at large” meaning that all eligible voters within the boundaries of the County may vote for them; however, the nominee must live in the nomination district they will represent.  All elected Supervisors are required to complete a Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure form.  Filings will be accepted at the Brown County Auditor’s Office during the filing period of May 22nd – June 5th.

For additional information, please contact the Brown SWCD Office at  (507) 794-2553.

More election and filing information:

• Brown County Auditor Election Information
• Minnesota Secretary of State Elections and Voting Information

Soil & Water Conservation Districts are special purpose units of government that manage natural resource programs.  Minnesota’s 90 SWCDs cover the entire state; their boundaries usually coincide with the county lines.  Each SWCD is run by a board of five elected Supervisors.

To be a Supervisor you need:

Knowledge

Supervisors must have, or be willing to learn, some basic knowledge to effectively carry out their responsibilities.  They must understand:

• Some of the fundamentals about the environment and know how it works;
• The relationship between land use decisions and the environment;
• The effect environmental decisions have on other aspects of our lives; and
• Local concerns, attitudes, and needs.

Concern

Supervisors must be concerned about:

• Our environment and natural resources;
• Maintaining and improving water quality; and
• Protecting our soils

Leadership

Supervisors must be willing to take an active leadership role in the community.  This can involve:

• Setting local conservation priorities;
• Education friends and neighbors about the environment;
• Working with other local government units, state and federal agencies, and other elected officials;
• Setting a positive example;
• Taking unpopular stands;
• Balancing economic needs with environmental concerns; and
• Sacrificing short-term gains for long-term benefits.

Being a Supervisor involves one SWCD board meeting a month, three area meetings per year, and many incidental responsibilities.  Supervisors receive no salary, although they do get per diem ($75.00 per meeting per day), and are reimbursed for mileage and expenses.  For more information, call the Brown SWCD at (507) 794-2553.