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ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING JULY 28, 2004 <br />After discussion, Bauman made a motion for conditional approval with staff and <br />Board recommendations. Smith seconded the motion. Motion carried <br />unanimously. <br /> <br />Chair Kukonen mentioned that he hoped it would be a proactive venue. <br />Grundhofer added that it was possible that the buffer could be paid for by the <br />increased value of the lots. <br /> <br />6. DISCUSSION ITEMS <br /> <br />A. Peltier Island/Heron Update <br /> <br />It was noted the herons abandoned their nests and raccoon predation was possible. <br />It began June 1 and by June 10 it was all over. The graduate student was busy, <br />and the battery packs weighed 80 pounds each. He did not have a chance to <br />review the films at the time. A decision was made to trap the raccoons. Another <br />possibility was to put flashing around the trees. An owl predation was caught on <br />film once. There were also questions about the weather. On June 8, 2004 a pilot <br />documented no activity on the island. Some money was left from the funding. <br />Bauman stated it was about $10,000. <br /> <br />Asleson stated that they would try to renew old grants. <br /> <br />O’Dea inquired was there any consensus of opinion. Asleson answered that there <br />was a lot of information to consider. <br /> <br />Smith stated that the raccoon population paralleled the human population. <br />Asleson added that they were good swimmers. <br /> <br />Bor mentioned there used to be raccoon hunters with hounds in the area. <br /> <br />Bauman inquired how long it had been since they had hunted. Bor responded it <br />had been probably 10 years. <br /> <br />Grundhofer commented that pelicans had abandoned their nests in North Dakota <br />in a previous abandonment. Asleson indicated he was aware of that and someone <br />from Forest Lake said that they found a disease was wiping out the young birds. <br /> <br />Bauman stated that people were looking for the raccoon dens today. <br /> <br />Grundhofer inquired if 4-H or the Boy Scouts could help with putting up the <br />flashing on the trees. O’Connell questioned the reason for not doing it in the Fall. <br /> <br />Bor stated that if the Heron issue was going to be in the Newsletter, it would be <br />important to state that other factors were also important. Asleson agreed and <br />noted that the water quality issue was still very important. <br />6 APPROVED MINUTES