Conservation Board Minutes – April 2025

Allamakee County Conservation Board Minutes April 2025

The Allamakee County Conservation Board met in regular session April 1, 2025 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing, Iowa.  Board members who were present were: Jesse Delaney, Marilyn Clark, Steve Weymiller and Jeanie Carroll.  Attending from the Allamakee County Conservation Board staff was Ross Geerdes, Erin Cubbon, Becca Hefflefinger and Brody Vanderkolk.  Attending from the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors was Tom Clark.  The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.    A motion was made by Weymiller and a second by M. Clark to approve the minutes of the March 2025 meeting.  All in favor.

During public comment T. Clark updated the board members on recent and upcoming public meetings that have been held by the Board of Supervisors.

The board reviewed and approved the claims with a motion by J. Carroll and second by M. Clark.  All in favor.

A discussion was had with members of the board on the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center rental agreement.  Geerdes presented an overview of the current rental policy.  Recently, a business has inquired about reserving the classroom area to host an event which they would be charging attendees for.  The board agreed that this was not the intent of the classroom area and suggested an amendment to the rental agreement to reflect that.  Geerdes will revise the rental agreement to present to the board at the May meeting for approval.

Hours of operation for the upcoming Summer holidays was discussed.  The Board of Supervisors have designated the following days as County Holidays:  April 18 Good Friday, May 26 Memorial Day, July 4 and September 1 Labor Day.  The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center will be closed April 18-April 20 for observance of Good Friday and Easter.  For the remaining Summer Holidays the center will be open from 12:00p.m. until 4:00p.m. on the designated Holiday.

Informational items presented to the board included an update on Shelly the snapping Turtle.  Kious Kountry is currently working on the applying a clear coat finish and is expected to be finished in the next week.  Geerdes gave an overview of advertisements that will be placed with regional publications promoting the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center as well as the other areas maintained by the ACCB for the tourism season.  The members of the board were updated on field operations including the placement of docks at Village Creek Boat Landing and the Harpers Ferry Boat Landing, the opening of restrooms, and controlled burns that have been finished at several areas.   Cubbon and Hefflefinger updated the board on their field trip schedule as well as their plans for Summer Day Camps that will be open to the public.

The time and date for the next meeting was set for May 6, 2025 at 1 p.m.

With no additional business the meeting was concluded at 1:37 p.m. with a motion by M. Clark and seconded by J. Carroll to adjourn.  All in favor.