2009-11-18 BWSR Spot Check
.-
Mi fa
~I
or-_4J_ - ~V-
l'..IJ/I./F
70 i \\1 iHti{'"ot} AH;rHll"
SUilt .?3-t
BelllldJi. \1\ 5(,t~lt
phone (11K) 75504235
fa\ InRi 75.:Lt20t
November 18, 2009
Larry Kruse, City Administrator
City of Albertville
5959 Main Avenue NE
P.O. Box 9
Albertville, MN 55301
This letter summarizes the results of the Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) "spot check" of the
City of Albertville's administration of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA).
Purpose of Spot Checks
BWSR conducts spot checks as part of our oversight responsibilities for administration of the Wetland
Conservation Act (WCA). The spot checks provide a relatively fast and efficient way to evaluate WCA
administration by local governments as compared to a full audit. These spot checks are not intended to
criticize or admonish local government units. They are intended to identifY oversights and errors in the
administration ofWCA, and most importantly to offer advice and guidance for improving WCA
administration in the future.
Methods
Our spot check of Albertville involved a meeting on 2/19/09 with City Staff and the City's wetland
consultants from Bolten and Menk. The first part of the spot check included a question and answer
session on general WCA administration. Topics such as the process that the City utilizes for
applications and decisions, TEP involvement, and staff roles were reviewed. The second part involved
reviewing specific project files that involved WCA decisions and determinations.
Results
The results of the spot check are based on reviews of specific files that we were provided and answers
provided by City Staff and the City's wetland consultants. If any of the reported results are in error, the
City may provide us with the information we either missed or were not given access to and we would
then modifY this report accordingly. The following is a bullet-point list of general information related
to the City of Albertville's administration ofWCA:
. The City has adopted the administration ofWCA through ordinance
. Record retention- Records for applications are kept by the City and by the consultant. Staff
indicated that the City's copies are scanned after 1 or 2 years.
. All WCA decisions except replacement plan applications are made by staff. However, there is
no resolution on file that formally delegates this authority to staff. Until formal delegation
BI'.,ioa..(
]110) \llIllle,,)t,j fld',.'
Hrain",J, \1'1 5M01
philoe 12111/ !\2!\.2.'II.\
t,I\ \218\ ~211 !103!J
Dullttl,
M. II:"" '"
[41(1 E. EYOll Street
Bo\ 2(} 7
Marshall. MN 5625!1
phpt1e l51m 537(){i6lJ
fax i 507) 537.6368
231xI Sih<'r Cr<,,';
R,laJ N.I.
lbdk"ler. \1'1 55'ill!>
ph"llt i5117 J 2~ 1- 77"):
L1\ ,SUi} 185..7144
l\,f('h(:~l('j"
SdiJd .nUt!
52CI Lat:13'cHr R\iad N
S:lim l'aJI. \1\ 5:\:))
plkinl' 1,6SI! 246,,~767
tn (6511 ~97-56!5
/\'<,11' ['III/
2hl 11l~ll";I~ 15
N<'I< l'lrn. \IN
ph"lle 1507/ 359.01174
fax ~5iJ7) 359~6018
Toy/II.' r.tll,
H~l4 Fro!ltier Trail
h'fgu, fall>. M \ 56537
phOll<' {21~! 7365445
fa~ (21!\1 736..1215
3'i-l S. Like AI e!lUe
RO(UH 403
Dulmh, /\IN 55802
pttllll" 12111172.\4752
hlx l1181 123-179,1
Web: \\Ww.tr\\sr.Malt,l11n.u;,
TIS: (800) 627-3529
An equal opportunity cmployer ~Prill(cd on rccyded paper
R"IJI1.,~"
\lltHlL''';'l}(;1 Ai;,\:ttU("
Suiti.' 234
[kmid)!. \It\ 5hhlll
phone 7554235
fax 'ij5~,l~{H
resolutions are passed by the City Council, staff or consultants do not have authority to make
final decisions on any WCA component. An example delegation resolution can be found on
the BWSR website.
. The Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) is involved frequently in WCA decisions.
. The City's consultant handles the administrative and technical components ofWCA for the
City. Todd Javens has the required technical skills and is familiar and experienced with
general WCA administrative procedures.
. WCA decisions on all types of applications appear to be formally noticed.
. The City requires a surety for all projects involving wetland alterations.
. The City Council serves as the local appeal panel for staff decisions.
. Replacement wetland monitoring reviews are handled by the City's consultant.
Specific file reviews:
Niemeyer Wetland Delineation file - 6/2/08 approval date
. Complete application is in file.
. Delineation report included in replacement plan application, however map of transect and data
sample point locations was not included.
. Required application notice with comment period designation in the file.
. TEP site visit was conducted, but no formal TEP findings in the file.
. Decision not made within 60 days and no extension granted, thereby violating 15.99 decision
time line requirements.
. Decision notice did not include a location map.
Niemeyer No-Loss approval file
. Complete application in the file.
. Copies of application sent to TEP, but no formal recommendation.
. Application sat on City's desk for extended period of time and was not passed on to the
consultant for processing. No decision has yet been made, a clear 15.99 decision timeline
violation.
Lachman Replacement Plan - 10/12/07 approval date
. Complete and adequate application materials in the file.
. Extensive TEP coordination and TEP recommendation.
. Application.properly noticed.
. Decision properly noticed and made within required 60-day timeline.
. Decision notice lacked location map and copies of approved plan.
Hunters Pass Monitoring
. The required declaration of restrictions and covenants form was not filed for the replacement
site.
. No as-built was submitted for the replacement as required.
. No TEP coordination on the review.
B,.lill<'''(
1601 \llIll\e"J[,j Dli'",
HrainnJ, \1'1 5MOl
phillle .2181 S2!\-2JII_'
t;n CIS Ili2S f\03!J
M.II:,""II
U'l'i L L)illl SU<Jet
Is,J\ 2h7
\1arshall. \IN 511258
ph\I1l" 15ili) 5::7 Ni(10
fJ\ i5/171 537-63118
i?'i.!..I'l'.-t/f'J
23(~) Si'l\-~:r ('rt.~d,
R.laJ N.L
R(,dli"l<:!' \1'1 55'iI.,
ph"D<: 2" 1- 77"17
tii' 2x5 7i4~
Sit/Ht Jllttf
520 L~tLlyCHc R~);id \
SiI'l',' bat. \1 \ 5,,: ,.)
ph\"f!r (651\ 29f}.37()-:
htx (6511 297~S615
Duluth
.N~ S. Lale A\tnur
R.lIllll 40"
Duluth_ "''I 55lil12
pltOll\' ,21Si 72.\ 4752
la\ 121lil 723-17<),1
hl,llll.' r.1II.,
liK14 rwnlie, Trail
I'crgu' hlb, \1 \ 56537
phone 1218. 73h5~~5
fax (1l81 73607115
NeW {.11m
2111 ll'~Il\\(I~ 15 S
Nt\\ l'lll). \IN 5(lJi3
plMIt 151.71 351) 01\74
li,\ 15(17) 351)-Mh
Weh: \\WW_hWsLstateJlln.u~
TTY: (800) 627-3529
An c(jual opportunity employer $Prinlcd on recyded p<lper
,.......
Rom./,,-
70t l\1iIUI~'ii.O!a A\'('Hue
Suitt: ?3-t
IkrmJji. M~ 5/~"t
pIHHi\,' (21('{l 755A2J5
Li\ t21R} 755~420i
Recommendations for Improvement
1. The City needs to either bring all WCA decisions to the City Councilor pass a formal
resolution granting some or all WCA decision authority to staff.
2. We recommend that the City utilize the wetland delineation review checklist to ensure that
submitted wetland delineation reports are complete.
3. City staff and consultants should establish a procedure to effectively convey applications to
the appropriate person for review and processing in order to make sure decisions comply with
15.99 time line requirements.
4. For wetland replacement plans involving project-specific replacement, the City must ensure
that the applicant records the required Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants form over
all replacement wetland areas. An easement is not sufficient, the BWSR form is required to be
recorded over the replacement site prior to allowing the applicant to impact wetlands.
5. For monitoring of replacement wetlands, the City should acknowledge receipt of monitoring
reports and document its review. In addition, the City must inspect and certifY replacement
wetland construction and document its certification in the file. An as-built survey is required
from the applicant to complete this.
BWSR thanks you for your cooperation in this spot check and looks forward to working with you in
the future to effectively implement the WCA. Please contact me (651-296-0874) if you have any
questions or concerns.
Ken Powell
Senior Wetland Specialist
MN Board of Water & Soil Resources
Saint Paul, MN
Cc: Todd Javens, Bolton & Menk
Colleen Allen, Wright SWCD
Jim Haertel, BWSR
Br"il1cn{
16iH Min!l6!,la Dl'iv('
Brainerd. 10.1, 5MOl
phone 12181828-238.1
1;1\(218) 818.OIH6
o"lltth
r.-,:.!"" r.rll,
1i~)..II"'lllier Trail
Ferg\l\ Falb, M~ 56537
phone (218) 73654~5
fax f2J8l736"7215
394 S. Afcnu~
R')"I11-tfJ:'
Duluth. M'I 551\11':
ph"Tll' ,118; 7H 4751
tax (21817':3..179.'
Weh: W\\\\.hwsr.slalr.l1ll1.us
TTY: (800) 627.3529
M.II~,lt.rI'
J4i~1 L Lynn Street
Bu,\ 267
Marshall. MN 56258
phOllt (507) 537W60
fax i 5(171 537-6368
N<,II' [JII/I
2hl1hdm;" 1.'
Ne\\ !'Im. \1\
phone 151171359 01174
hl\ 15,171 359-601;"
R,'!, l'l ':..:/t. 'I S,u,J/ l1u;f
2,;(~) SiJ'.~r Cn~(:~, 520 LafaY\.'Hc RiUd \
RnaJ N.I: Raim Paul. \1" 5) ,)"
RoclwSfCI", ,t\ 559(.16 pllnm< (65 It 2t)f}.}767
ph(mt' (51}!-) 281~7797 fax f651.\ 297.StlI5
fit\. 1,5fl'7J ~857j4.i .
An equal opportunily employer $Pdmcd on rCl:ydcd paper