Appointments open for Hennepin County Manager position

Posted: 11/06/22

Origin

Established in March 1960 to act as the local sponsor for the US Army Corps of Engineers operations to maintain a 9-foot navigation channel in the Minnesota River, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) now acts to "carry out conservation of natural resources through land utilization, flood control and other needs upon sound scientific principals for the protection of the public health and welfare and the provident use of the natural resources" (MN Watershed Act, Chapter 112).  The LMRWD is composed of the area primarily between the North and South bluffs of the Minnesota River, extending from the confluence with the Mississippi River at Pike, Fort Snelling, Island upstream to and including the City of Carver.

Duties and Responsibilities

The development and adoption of a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (Plan) is one of the most important responsibilities of the LMRWD Board of Managers.  The Plan is a statement of resource management philosophy, policies, and programs for the LMRWD pursuant to objectives stated in enabling legislation.  The Plan is reviewed and updated at regular intervals.  Additionally, the LMRWD is responsible for providing sites for the placement of material dredged from the Minnesota River to maintain commercial and recreational navigation.

Other responsibilities include protection and preservation of natural resources within the boundaries of the LMRWD.

Meetings

Board of Manager meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month at the Carver County Government Center, 602 East 4th Street, Chaska, MN.  Special meetings may be held from time to time, as well as field trips visit LMRWD project, review development requests, etc. Members are required to be able to give approxiamately 4-6 hours each month.

Eligibility

Members may not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a voting resident of the LMRWD. 

It is helpful to have members with backgrounds in water conservation, farming, development, law, engineering, environment, administration, etc.

Board Composition

5 members: Carver, Dakota and Scott Counties each appoint one member; Hennepin County appoints two. There is currently one appointment open for Hennepin County

Compensation

$125 per meeting day

Reimbursement

Managers are reimbursed for mileage and other expenses incurred while performing duties.

Other Information

Minnesota Statutes, which govern the establishment and operation of watershed districts, allow affected municipalities to nominate persons to service on the Boards of Managers of watershed districts. Nominees must be submitted to the County Board.  If no nomimations are received, the County Board of Commissioners may then select eligible individual from within the LMRWD.

Hennepin County will begin accepting application November 12, 2022.  The application period will end December 31, 2022.  Applicants will be interviewed by Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.  To submit and application please use this link: https://www.hennepin.us/your-government/get-involved/citizen-advisory-boards.

For more information please contact:

• LMRWD Administrator, Linda Loomis at naiadconsulting@gmail.com
• Hennepin County Environment and Energy, Karen Galles at Karen.Galles@hennepin.us
• Hennepin County Environment and Energy, John Evans  at John.Evans@hennepin.us