Conservation Board Minutes – January 2024

Allamakee County Conservation Board Minutes January 2024

The Allamakee County Conservation Board met in regular session January 2, 2024 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing, Iowa. Board members who were present were: Marilyn Clark, Jeanie Carroll, Dennis Koenig and Steve Weymiller. Attending from the Allamakee County Conservation Board staff was Ross Geerdes, Erin Cubbon, Emma Jacobs, and Brody VanderKolk Present from the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors was Mark Reiser. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. and the agenda and minutes from the December 5, 2023 regular board meeting were approved with a motion by Koenig and a second by Carroll with all members in favor.

There was no public comment.

The board approved claims and revenues from December 2023 with a motion by Clark and a second by Carroll. All in favor.

A discussion was had regarding the Iowa DNR management agreements for the Harpers Ferry Boat Landing and shops, Harpers Slough Fishing access, Nobles Island, and Heytmans Landing. The Iowa DNR has provided a revised copy of the agreements reflecting the desire to reevaluate the contracts after 5 years. After 5 years the contracts will automatically renew every 5 years. The revised contract does not allow for commercial use at the facilities. This would include renting the house at Harpers Ferry for income but would not prohibit the use of the house as seasonal staffing quarters. The board expressed interest in having the option to rent the house out for short term rentals if desired and director Geerdes will ask the DNR to revise the contract to read so and present the revised copy to the board at the February meeting.

The 2024/2025 fiscal year budget was reviewed. The proposed budget included the purchase of a 2024 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck from Torkelson Motors. A motion was made by Koenig and seconded by Carroll to approve the draft budget to be presented to the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors for 2024/2025. All in favor.

Informational items that were presented to the board included the reappointment of Steve Weymiller to the Conservation Board for a five-year term, January public programs at the Driftless Center and the Driftless Center being closed for Martin Luther King, Jr Day on January 15, 2024. The staff will be attending the Winterfest Annual statewide conference on January 23- January 24 in Iowa City and year end donations for the Allamakee County Conservation Foundation were also reviewed.

The time and date for the next meeting was set for February 6, 2024 at 1 p.m. in the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center.

With no additional business the meeting was concluded at 1:58 p.m. with a motion by Clark and seconded by Carroll to adjourn. All in favor.