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DNR offers water permit report

FAIRMONT — Martin County commissioners on Tuesday heard from representatives of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who presented a water permit report.

The report is an effort to build awareness of the DNR’s Division of Ecological and Water Resources and the work it does. District manager Todd Kolander spoke about the division’s efforts and ways for communities to look at water resources.

“We’re really about water supply and sustainability,” he said. “One of the things that we’re rolling out to communities is opportunities for Community-based Aquifer Management Partnerships, or CAMP. This is a chance for communities to think about their water supply as it pertains to agriculture or industry, rural or economic development, looking at how much water do you have available, how much do you need, and is it sustainable.

“A lot of people don’t understand how much water is under the ground. Even if you have water, you don’t know the quality of that water, if it’s potable or can we use that in a sustainable way. We also look at how that aquifer is recharged.”

According to information provided by the DNR, water use has been increasing throughout Martin County for the last 15 years. 2009 saw a big jump in use due to two ethanol plants going online.

DNR area hydrologist Bryan Nygaard also spoke concerning general permits for feedlots.

“A general permit for an existing feedlot is $100,” he said. “If it’s a new site, they need to drill the well and get approval prior to doing so. We’re trying to make it as easy as possible and streamline the process to get a permit for a feedlot.”

“Water appropriations permits for DNR have been required for quite some time,” said Pam Flitter, Martin County zoning official. “We have always put it on our check off list for all of our new permits that we have had, and the DNR is taking more of an active role in that.”

In another matter, Flitter, along with zoning technician Wendy Chirpich, briefly updated the board on the county’s septic system database, septic contractors meeting and submitted grant reports. Chirpich mentioned an upcoming free septic class from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fairmont. The event is sponsored by Martin County Planning and Zoning, and will cover a variety of topics for septic owners. Those interested can RSVP at (507) 238-3242.

In other news, the board heard from County Engineer Kevin Peyman, who gave a brief update on the effects of the recent blizzard.

“In my opinion, we came out pretty well,” he said. “By about 11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m., it got to the point where the plows couldn’t be out, and I think all the counties around us pulled the plows, but we kept our guys out a little bit longer. Then by about 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m., the wind died down enough where you could see so we actually sent our guys out to do one round.

“I think we were the only county to do that, and because of that I though our roads were clear way before any of the people around us,” Peyman said. “It was still a challenge and it took a while but we came out OK in my opinion.”

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