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<br />February 5, 2018 <br />If the partners in the county geographic area will have one fiscal agent responsible for managing and <br />distributing the funds, it may be in the best interest of the partners to have some type of formal <br />agreement. In some cases, existing contracts for services between entities may suffice depending on <br />the terms of the contract. Other options may include Joint Powers Agreements, Memorandums of <br />Agreement (MOA) or Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). Ultimately, is for the local governments <br />to decide what is necessary. <br />Q9. Are activities identified in a SWCD Comprehensive Plan or a City Water Plan considered eligible? <br />A: The policy for this pilot programs requires eligible activities to be identified in the state approved, <br />locally adopted comprehensive watershed management plan developed under Minnesota statutes <br />§103B.101, Subd. 14 or §103B.801, watershed management plan required under §103B.231, or county <br />groundwater plan authorized under §103B.255 and have a primary benefit towards water quality. So, if <br />the activity in the SWCD Comprehensive Plan or City Water Plan is also identified in the plans listed in <br />section 3 of the policy, it is eligible. <br />It is not expected that implementation activities, programs or projects that are being proposed by a <br />SWCD for the Pilot be identical to those that are in a watershed management or county groundwater <br />plan, but rather they should align with priorities and objectives of these plans. For example, if watershed <br />management plans all identify surface water volume control as a priority goal or objective, then a cover <br />crop or soil health initiative proposed by the SWCD would align well with those objectives and could be <br />brought into the collaborative work request process. <br />Q9: How does the competitive funding work if multiple counties decide to go to a competitive <br />process? <br />A: Funding for counties that decide to go to a competitive process will get pooled, and all eligible local <br />governments within those counties will be able to compete for the total pool of funding. <br />Q10: Do Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) get the first right of refusal as the group <br />convener? <br />A: BWSR is acknowledging the Local Government Water Roundtable Policy Paper recommendation that <br />the SWCD, if they so choose, be the organization to convene and facilitate the meetings of local <br />governments within the county. However, the local governments can decide which entity they want to <br />organize the process. <br />Q11: Does a WD, WMO or city or township whose boundary spans more than one county need to <br />participate in multiple county meetings if they wish to access funds in each area? <br />A: Yes. <br />Q12: Does funding from one county only go to projects within that county, or can it be spent ou tside <br />the county border by a participating partner who boundary spans multiple counties? <br /> A: A situation of this type would have to be reviewed by BWSR staff.