Foster County Water Resource Board approves scope for Carrington Creek cleanout, authorizes Rocky Run representation

The Foster County Water Resource Board met March 11, 2026, at the Foster County Courthouse in Carrington. Brent Bachmeier, chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.; board members Ronn Stangeland, Alex Stedman, Jeff Edland and Doug Zink attended along with Secretary/Treasurer Dianne Straley. Attorney Brent Bachmeier, Kale Van Bruggen and Engineer Jennifer Malloy participated via Microsoft Teams.

The board approved routine business including the agenda amendment to add a “2027 Legislative Update,” acceptance of the February 11 minutes and the financial report. The board reported a general fund cash balance of $128,599.28 as of Feb. 28, 2026, and that Foster County had collected $45,869.63 of the 2025 Drain No. 1 assessment of $48,615.92; the county will remit collected funds to the board in April 2026. Rinke Noonan invoices totaling $2,556.00 and an Apex Engineering invoice for $1,527.50 were presented and approved.

On project work, Alex Stedman moved that Apex Engineering prepare a scope of work for a Carrington Creek cleanout and that Secretary/Treasurer Dianne Straley prepare the landowner authorization documentation; Ronn Stangeland seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The board stated the intent to have the Carrington Creek work completed in 2026 and directed staff and consultants to proceed with scope and outreach preparations.

The board addressed a pending stream crossing determination: the minutes note the state has not responded to Engineer Jennifer Malloy’s request for verification of the state’s finding. The board approved a motion authorizing Doug Zink to attend Rose Hill and Estabrook township meetings to discuss the state’s stream-crossing determination letter.

Separately, the board authorized Apex to submit three projects to the state for review or permitting: the Carrington Creek cleanout, Estabrook Drain and Kelly Creek. The board also authorized representation at a Rocky Run Joint Water Board meeting, naming Doug Zink as the voting representative and Ronn Stangeland as alternate, and granted Zink authority to approve up to $21,000 in additional cost-sharing expenses related to that matter.

The board discussed a Watercourse Maintenance Cost-Share Policy but took no formal action. Board members agreed there were no substantive comments to contribute on an Interstate Engineering letter and recommended forwarding it to the Foster County commissioners for their review. Kale Van Bruggen reported he is drafting a proposed 2027 water resource bill for consideration; no legislative language was acted on.

The board set its next regular meeting for April 8, 2026, in the basement Board Room and adjourned at 8:19 a.m.

Votes at a glance: The agenda amendment to add the 2027 Legislative Update (moved by Ronn Stangeland, seconded by Jeff Edland) passed unanimously. The February 11 minutes (moved by Doug Zink, seconded by Jeff Edland) passed unanimously. The financial report (moved by Ronn Stangeland, seconded by Alex Stedman) passed unanimously. Bills, including Rinke Noonan invoices totaling $2,556.00 (moved by Ronn Stangeland, seconded by Alex Stedman) passed unanimously. Motion to have Apex prepare the Carrington Creek scope and related landowner documentation (moved by Alex Stedman, seconded by Ronn Stangeland) passed unanimously. Motion to authorize Doug Zink to attend township meetings to discuss the state stream-crossing letter (moved by Ronn Stangeland, seconded by Jeff Edland) passed unanimously. Motion authorizing Zink as the board’s voting representative at the Rocky Run joint meeting and allowing up to $21,000 in additional cost-sharing approval (moved by Jeff Edland, seconded by Alex Stedman) passed unanimously.

The meeting record indicates unanimous approval on recorded motions; the minutes do not show any recorded dissent or recorded abstentions.