DNR Grants Journal: Issue #7 (July 2014)

DNR logo

 

DNR Grants Journal

for Pass-through Appropriation Recipients

Courtesy of the DNR Grants Unit

=============

July 2014 - Issue #7 Visit our website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/passthrough/

=============

Topics Include:

  • FY15 OHF and ENRTF Contracts
  • Up-Coming Training

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources

500 Lafayette Road

St. Paul, MN 55155-4010

 

Amanda Graeber

Grants Manager

(651) 259-5533

Amanda.Graeber@state.mn.us

 

Patrick Donnell

Grants Specialist Coordinator

(651) 259-5543

patrick.donnell@state.mn.us

 

Karen Mueller

Grants Specialist Senior

651-259-5559

karen.cibuzar-mueller@state.mn.us

 

Jason Tidemann

Grants Specialist Senior

(651) 259-5534

jason.tidemann@state.mn.us

 

=============
DNR Logo

The DNR’s Mission Statement:

Our mission is to work with citizens to conserve and manage the state’s natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life.

 

 

waterfall

FY15 ENRTF and OHF Contracts

The DNR Pass-Through Grants Unit is preparing to send out FY15 contracts to ENRTF and OHF 2015 appropriation recipients in early July. If your organization is a prior recipient, you will notice a few changes to Attachment E and the Reimbursement Manual.

The changes are  few and are a mixture of addressing changes in statute, questions that came up through the last year, and clarifying existing language/requirements. They include:

Attachment E - ENRTF

  • Acquisitions specifically identified in appropriation law are not subject to commissioner approval
  • Per Minnesota Statute 116P.17, appropriation recipients must submit the most recent tax assessed value, most recent tax statement of the real property, and the amount the recipient plans to offer for the interest in the real property to LCCMR and the commissioner of natural resources at least ten business days prior to acquiring an interest in real property with an appropriation from the Trust Fund
  • Separate Certifications required
  • Appraisals/reviews must have been completed no more than one year prior to obtaining an executed purchase agreement
  • Administrative reviews need to be completed by someone not involved with the negotiations
  • Title Insurance policy required 60 days after closing
  • 110% of appraised value language added. The Recipient will not be entitled to use funds available under this Agreement (alone or in combination with other funds) for a land purchase price in excess of the appraised value. Up to 110% of appraised value may be approved following review by the LCCMR.

Attachment E - OHF

  • Removed requirement that mapping information be submitted to the DNR
  • Separate Certifications required
  • Appraisals/reviews must have been completed no more than one year prior to obtaining an executed purchase agreement
  • Administrative reviews need to be completed by someone not involved with the negotiations
  • Title Insurance policy required 60 days after closing

Reimbursement Manual - ENRTF and OHF

  • Added a link to the contact pages of the council's websites
  • Guidance on allowable expenses on the LCCMR website
  • Budget line item definitions on the LSOHC website
  • Added additional brief statements on travel eligibility, capital equipment, and monitoring focus based on questions that arose in FY14

Changes to Threshold amounts:

  • Supplies and Materials/Subcontractors less than $5,000 require two or more verbal quotes
  • Supplies and Materials/Subcontractors $5,000 - $50,000 require two or more written quotes
  • If the supplies and materials/subcontractors exceed $50,000 it must be awarded through a process of competitive bidding unless the subcontractor is listed in session law or listed in the approved work/accomplishment plan
=============

Grant Monitoring

The Grants Unit has been busy the past few months finishing up monitoring visits for FY14. A big "Thank You!" to the grantees who have graciously met with us in person or over the phone. We have enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your organization while conducting State-required fiscal monitoring. 

=============

Friendly Reminders

When submitting reimbursement requests please use the appropriate budget spreadsheet for your project; the LCCMR and LSOHC have different spreadsheets.

Allowable Amounts

Mileage is .56 per mile

Meal reimbursement is as follows:

Breakfast; $9.00

Lunch; $11.00

Dinner; $16.00

=============

Up-Coming Training

The Grants Unit will again be offering training on the Reimbursement Manual and the associated processess on September 4th. Email notifications will be sent out in August. We encourage everyone who is invovled with your internal payment process to attend, as there is a lot of pertinent information shared. Even if you have attended before, there are some changes (to your benefit) that would be helpful to you.

=============