Carlton Water & Soil Conservation District

By Jenny Sherren SWCD News

This year, the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District has three supervisor positions up for election. Candidates are elected county-wide but must reside in one of the supervisor districts up for election.

The supervisor districts and candidates running for election this year include:

District 1: Barbara M. Dahl and

Michelle Boyechko

District 4: Gary E. Peterson

District 5: Bruce Heikes and Roger Hurd

SWCDs are special-purpose units of government that manage and direct conservation programs at the local level. Important programs and priorities of Carlton SWCD include technical assistance and cost share to land users of all kinds, comprehensive watershed management planning, woodland stewardship planning, pollinator habitat protection and enhancement, outreach and education, and administering the Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program and other agriculture and soil health-related practices.

An elected board of supervisors governs each of Minnesota’s 88 SWCDs. SWCD supervisors meet monthly to discuss business, including state grant allocations to landowners, district conservation priorities, coordination with other local units of government and state agencies, and legislative priorities. Supervisors do not receive a salary but receive compensation for attending meetings and expense reimbursements.

To learn more about the SWCD, please visit https://carltonswcd.org/. Remember to vote for SWCD supervisor in the general election Nov. 5.

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Editor’s note: Roger Hurd was the only SWCD candidate who responded to the Pine Knot News.

Roger Hurd

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

I have been a resident of Carlton County since 1984. I’m an Air Force veteran, and have many years of work in the timber and construction industries. I have a degree in architectural technology and I’m a licensed subsurface sewage treatment system inspector and designer.

What made you decide to run for the Carlton County SWCD?

I felt that with my lifelong trade skills that I should share them with the people of Carlton County the best I can.

Elaborate on something you think the SWCD does well locally.

I believe that the stream and creeks restoration projects throughout the county have been a real success. Soil Testing is also a good project in the county.

What would you like to see done differently at our local SWCD?

After speaking with some of the county landowners, I have been told the timeframe for dealing with the SWCD is a slow process, so I think we can improve that for the landowners.