Posted: 1/11/05
Board approves 2005 natural resources grant
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
County commissioners approved an application for a $81,951 grant on January 4 that will be used for local water and land projects.
The annual Natural Resources Block Grant grant from the state of Minnesota assists local government in administering natural resources programs within the county, many of them mandated by state law.
It has five areas, the biggest of which is feedlot, which will receive $43,200, for recently revised feedlot regulations.
The other components are:
ï Local water management, $19,353, for accelerating implementation of their Comprehensive Water Management Plan
ï Wetland Conservation Act, $14,793.
ï Shoreland, $3,105
ï Individual Sewage Treatment Systems, $1,500.
Ralph Tuck, director of the Root River Soil and Water Conservation District, said that the grant will pay for staff salaries, expenses, and administrative costs, as well as feedlot cost-share (50 percent of cost up to $500), push up ponds (50 percent up to $300), infant water tests, and various educational events.
To be eligible for the funds, Houston County must provide matching funds and follow administrative and statutory requirements of the respective programs.
The grant of $81,951 was down $5,440 from the 2004 allocation. While receiving the grant is expected, the exact amount is not known. That fact bothered Kevin Kelleher.
ìWeíre kind of at their mercy in terms of what theyíre going to provide,î second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher said.
Tuck agreed with that. He added that various county officials and citizens are putting a 10-year water plan together now. Houston County Water Planning has scheduled a series of meetings to gather public input on the selection and prioritization of issues for the Comprehensive Water Management Plan.
Meetings will be held on Wednesday, January 26, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on Monday, January 31 at 7 p.m. All meetings will be held in the Commissioners Room of the Houston County Courthouse located at 304 S. Marshall Street in Caledonia.
The Comprehensive Water Management Plan deals with both surface and ground water protection. There will be several priority concerns identified for the next ten years as well as the implementation activities that will address those concerns.
People wanting more information can contact Root River Soil and Water Conservation District at (507) 724-5261 ext. 3 or Houston County Environmental Services at (507) 725-5800.
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