03. CMSCWD Manager Endorsement- UpdatedStaff Report
Date of Meeting: March 31, 2026
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Re: Consider Nominations to Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District Board of Managers
The City has been notified that the terms of office for Ann Warner, Victoria Dupre, and Michael
White with the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District expire on June 21, 2026. At this time,
managers Ann Warner and Victoria Dupre have submitted their applications and are seeking
reappointment.
Minnesota Statute 103D.311 provides that the County Board will select Watershed District Managers
from a list of nominees submitted by the municipalities that are wholly or partially within the
Watershed District. The list must contain at least three nominees for each manager's position to be
filled. The statute directs the County Board to appoint managers to fairly represent the various
hydrologic areas within the Watershed District by residence of the manager appointed. If no list is
submitted, the County Board will then proceed to appoint a manager through its open appointment process.
Three Scandia residents have applied to Washington County for consideration of appointment and have
asked for endorsement by the City Council:
•Eric Boyles
•Sam DiVita
•Kimberly Hough
•Mark Marotzke
•Bret Maidl
If the Council of Scandia wishes to support the five applicants, the attached draft letter will be sent to
the Board of Commissioners.
If any other Scandia resident applies to the County before the application deadline of April 10, 2026,
staff will compose a similar letter of endorsement for that applicant.
County staff wrote that they encourage cities and municipalities to recommend a person (or multiple
people if that’s the case) that they feel would fit the position of Manager for Carnelian Marine St. Croix
Watershed District. Any names submitted by cities and townships will be compiled into a combined list.
If that combined list contains more than 3 names per vacant position, the Commissioners shall appoint
from that list.
Council has an opportunity to recommend any qualified candidates be appointed to fill the expiring terms.
Requested Action:
If the Council supports Eric Boyles, Sam DiVita, Kimberly Hough, Mark Marotzke, and Bret Maidl to be considered
for appointment, an endorsement letter will be submitted to the County before April 22, 2026. A motion to
approve the attached letter of endorsement should be voted on.
Attachments:
• Notice of expiring terms
• Draft letter of support for Eric Boyles, Sam DiVita, Kimberly Hough, Mark Marotzke, and Bret Maidl
• Eric Boyles application
• Sam DiVita application
• Kimberly Hough application
• Mark Marotzke application
• Bret Maidl email
Government Center • 14949 62nd Street North • P. O. Box 6 • Stillwater, MN 55082-0006
Telephone: 651-430-6001 • Fax: 651-430-6017 • TTY: 651-430-6246
www.co.washington.mn.us
Washington County is an equal opportunity organization and employer
Office of Administration
Kevin Corbid, County Administrator
Jan Lucke, Deputy Administrator
Jennifer Wagenius, Deputy Administrator
March 23, 2026
TO: Grant, Hugo, Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township, Stillwater Township
The terms of office for Ann Warner, Victoria Dupre, and Michael White with the Carnelian Marine St. Croix
Watershed District expire on June 21, 2026.
Minnesota Statute 103D.311 requires that the County Board select watershed district managers from an
aggregate list of persons nominated by the townships and municipalities that are within the watershed
district. Lists from townships and municipalities must be submitted to the county board at least 60 days prior
to the expiration of the term of office of a manager. The County Board shall make its appointment at least 30
days prior to the term expiration.
The county will aggregate the names of nominees from all the lists submitted by the townships and
municipalities for the board’s consideration. If the aggregate list of nominees contains at least three names,
the county must appoint a manager from the list of township and municipality nominees. In making the
appointment, the county must also consider the statutory requirement that managers be appointed to fairly
represent the hydrological areas of the district.
If the aggregate list contains less than three nominee names, or if appointing a nominee from the submitted
lists will not allow for fair representation of the various hydrological areas of the district, the county board
may appoint any individual who resides within the watershed district and is otherwise eligible to serve.
If you wish to submit a list of nominees for consideration or wish the incumbent to be considered for
reappointment, your list should be addressed to Commissioner Chair, Karla Bigham, and sent to me prior to
April 22, 2026.
The county's advisory board application form is available on the Washington County Website.
Thank you for your assistance in filling this important watershed position.
Sincerely,
Megan Carlson
Administrative Assistant
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Cc: County Board of Commissioners
Kevin Corbid, County Administrator
Stephanie Souter, Senior Community/Environmental Health Program Manager, PHE
Smita Rakshit, Public Health Program Supervisor, Public Health and Environment
Mike Isensee, Watershed Administrator
14727 209 th St. N., Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433 -2274 Fax (651) 433 -5112 http://www.cityofscandia.com
April 1, 2026
Chair Karla Bigham
Washington County Board of Commissioners
14949 62nd Street North, PO Box 6
Stillwater, MN 55082-0006
Dear Chair Bigham:
The City of Scandia received the County’s request for nominations for upcoming
appointments to the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District Board of Managers.
At their meeting on March 31, 2026, the Scandia City Council voted to endorse the
following applicants for consideration for an appointment to the Carnelian-Marine-St.
Croix Watershed Board of Managers:
• Eric Boyles
• Sam DiVita
• Kimberly Hough
• Mark Marotzke
• Bret Maidl
Please contact me at 651 433-2274 or by e-mail at k.morell@ci.scandia.mn.us if there are
any questions.
Sincerely,
Kyle Morell
City Administrator
cc: Fran Miron, Washington County Commissioner
Mike Isensee, Administrator, Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District
Washington County, MN Boards & Commissions
Date Submi ed: Feb 04 2026
Applicant: Mr. Eric S Boyles Email:
Pronoun:District: District 1
Address: 18510 Norell Ave N Marine on Saint Croix, MN 55047
Primary Phone: Alternate Phone: n/a
Is the address above your home mailing address? Yes
If the address above is not your home address, what is the address for?
Are you eligible to vote in Washington County, MN? Yes
Which Boards would you like to apply for:
Watershed Districts
Please list the experience or skills you have related to the appointment you are seeking:
Current board member of the Big Marine Lake Associa on, involved in aqua c invasive species monitoring,
resident educa on, and community outreach. Familiar with lake and watershed concerns from both a
homeowner and stewardship perspec ve. Nearly 20 years leading global marke ng and communica ons at
Medtronic, including stakeholder engagement, brand strategy, and transla ng complex technical topics for
diverse audiences across 62 countries. Experienced in collabora ve governance and board decision-making,
balancing compe ng priori es, and represen ng cons tuent interests. Led cross-func onal ini a ves
aligning goals, budgets, melines, and accountability—skills directly applicable to watershed planning,
project oversight, and community program delivery. Deep exper se in digital communica ons including web,
email, social media, and content strategy. Able to help modernize outreach, improve transparency, and
increase community par cipa on in District programs. PhD training in History of Science, Technology &
Medicine. Comfortable with technical material, data interpreta on, and understanding how complex systems
interact over me.
Please list special or personal interests rela ng to the appointment you are seeking.
I live on Big Marine Lake and have a direct personal stake in the health of the watershed. Through the Big
Marine Lake Associa on, I've been involved in aqua c invasive species monitoring, resident educa on, and
community coordina on around lake stewardship. I'm genuinely interested in how local governance, land
use, and water quality intersect—and in helping neighbors understand their role in protec ng shared
resources.
Why do you want this appointment?
I want to contribute to watershed governance in a meaningful, sustained way—not as a one-off volunteer,
but as someone commi ed to the long-term health of this community and its water resources. I'm already
engaged locally. As a Big Marine Lake Associa on board member, I understand resident perspec ves, the
prac cal challenges of stewardship, and the importance of building trust between ins tu ons and the
people they serve. I can strengthen public-facing communica ons. With 20+ years leading digital
communica ons, branding, and stakeholder engagement at the enterprise level, I can help translate
technical watershed topics into clear, ac onable informa on—what's happening, why it ma ers, and what
residents can do. I bring a systems mindset. I'm experienced in aligning goals, metrics, and cross-func onal
execu on. That same discipline applies here: clarify priori es, communicate transparently, track progress,
and close feedback loops so the community sees results.
Are you currently serving on any other County Advisory Boards or Commi ees/Commissions?
Have you no fied your local municipality of your interest in seeking appointment as a Watershed
manager?
Yes
Which watershed are you applying to?
Carnelian Marine St. Croix
My name is Sam DiVita and I am currently a resident of Scandia, Minnesota.
I am interested in the Carnelian - Marine - St. Croix Watershed District Board Manager position
because I care deeply about the water quality in my community. Within my work as a public
school educator, professional organization leader, and community volunteer, I have direct
experience operating within regulatory boundaries while communicating with a variety of
partners to achieve goals. During my 20 plus years of teaching, along with serving on non-profit
boards and a variety of volunteer positions, I have developed strong listening skills, the ability to
build consensus and lead while considering multiple perspectives. I believe my skill set would
be directly applicable to the Board Manager position and will make me an effective steward of
the high quality natural resources that exist within our watershed.
Please see my cv for further details regarding my experience. Please feel free to contact me
with any questions you may have.
Thank you,
Sam
Sam DiVita
13431 182nd St. N.
Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047
Sam DiVita: text of responses to application questions for CMSCWD Board Mgr
(submitted online)
21.
Please list experience or skills you have related to the appointment you are
seeking
Saint Paul Public Schools
2005-current
English as a Second Language teacher, Como Park Senior High School, 2022 - current
Designed, developed and taught curriculum for Language through Geography, Language
through Social Studies, and Language and Literacy courses to students in grades 9-10, levels 1
and 1.5
Supported World History and U.S. History curriculum for 9th and 11th grade ELs
Department Chair, 2023 - current
Peer Assistance and Review Educator (PAR), Saint Paul Public Schools - Office of Teaching
and Learning, 2019 - 2022
Through coaching, collaborating, and consulting, supported the professional growth of second
and third year probationary educators with a focus on culturally relevant and equitable
instructional practices
Developed and facilitated professional development for team members and teachers on
caseload
Gathered and analyzed teaching and learning data with educators to improve learner outcomes
Connected educators to district and other professional resources to promote differentiated
instruction
English as a Second Language teacher, Linwood Monroe Arts Plus - Upper Campus, 2018 -
2019
English as a Second Language teacher, LEAP High School, 2005-2008, 2009-2018
Designed, developed and taught curriculum for reading, writing and speaking & listening
courses to students in grades 9-12, levels 1-4
Initiated all-school programming to support and recognize student achievement as a member of
the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports Committee
Represented the English Learner department as the English Learner Department chair and
member of the Leadership Team
Developed programming, school-wide event protocols and activities, and community
partnerships as chair of LEAP Spirit Committee and chair of Annual Culture Party
Facilitated increased communication and family participation in school programming, as chair of
Parent-Teacher Conference Committee and chair of LEAP Site Council
Hosted ESL student teachers from St. Thomas University, Hamline University, University of
Northwestern and St. Olaf College
Initiated year round enrichment opportunities focused on physical and emotional health and
college and career readiness as YMCA Achievers liaison and YMCA Bold/Gold liaison
English as a Second Language teacher, Farnsworth Aerospace Magnet, 2008-2009
University of St. Thomas
2018-2019
Adjunct faculty, School of Education
MinneTESOL (Minnesota Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages)
2015-current
President
Advocated for and developed relationships with Minnesota legislators in support of English
Learners across Minnesota through TESOL Advocacy and Policy Summit in Washington D.C.
as member/President
Revised bylaws, supported membership
YMCA Family Camp Community Advisory Board - Camp du Nord and Camp Northern Lights
2013-current
Board Chair Camp Northern Lights, spring 2024 - current
Committee Chair, 2013 - 2024
As Outreach and Inclusion Committee chair and volunteer, led a group of volunteers to develop,
organize and implement a variety of opportunities and initiatives for new diverse families,
currently underrepresented in YMCA family camp programming, to access outdoor and
wilderness experiences
Initiatives centered on social responsibility have increased the number of families of color
participating in family camp and has expanded partnerships with local community organizations,
such as the Cultural Wellness Center in St. Paul and Minneapolis
As Community Advisory Board member, promoted educational experiences to increase
awareness of the diversity within the Twin Cities for board members and staff from all area
overnight camps with a focus on equity and inclusion, facilitated outreach events with local
organizations to highlight wilderness experiences for families, and fundraised to support
scholarships
22.
Please list special or personal interests relating to the appointment you are
seeking
Environmental and Natural Resources Interests -
Water conservation and quality: A strong commitment to protecting and improving water quality
in our local bodies of water, including lakes, streams, and groundwater within our watershed
Ecosystem Health: Interest in preserving and restoring natural habitats for wildlife, promoting
biodiversity, and ensuring the health of the overall watershed ecosystem
Outdoor Activities: A general interest in spending time outdoors and engaging with nature
through many different activities
Sustainability: An interest in promoting and implementing sustainable land use within our
watershed to minimize any negative environmental impact
Community Interests -
Community Engagement: A strong desire to work with and educate local residents, landowners,
and community groups on water conservation and environmental stewardship in order to benefit
our watershed
Public Service: The idea of contributing to something for the benefit and welfare of our
community
Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse stakeholders within our watershed and
developing partnerships that promote best practices and the health of the environment
23.
Why do you want this appointment?
My name is Sam DiVita and I am currently a resident of Scandia, Minnesota.
I am interested in the Carnelian - Marine - St. Croix Watershed District Board Manager position
because I care deeply about the water quality in my community. Within my work as a public
school educator, professional organization leader, and community volunteer, I have direct
experience operating within regulatory boundaries while communicating with a variety of
partners to achieve goals. During my 20 plus years of teaching, along with serving on non-profit
boards and a variety of volunteer positions, I have developed strong listening skills, the ability to
build consensus and lead while considering multiple perspectives. I believe my skill set would
be directly applicable to the Board Manager position and will make me an effective steward of
the high quality natural resources that exist within our watershed.
Washington County, MN Boards & Commissions
Date Submi ed: Feb 16 2026
Applicant: Kimberly Hough Email:
Pronoun:District: District 1
Address: 19189 Layton Ave. No.Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047
Primary Phone: Alternate Phone:
Is the address above your home mailing address? Yes
If the address above is not your home address, what is the address for?
Are you eligible to vote in Washington County, MN? Yes
Which Boards would you like to apply for:
Watershed Districts
Please list the experience or skills you have related to the appointment you are seeking:
I have 30+ years being employed in healthcare se ngs as an advocate for pa ents and their healthcare
needs. I have addi onal customer service experience ranging from a service clerk at the Washington County
DMV; a survey research associate for a large Twin Ci es retailer; an office assistant with a private Neurology
clinic; and a local greenhouse manager and sales associate. I have worked with a private homeowner as a
part me gardener and landscaper, where her yard included wetlands, woodlands, rock gardens, shade
gardens and prairie’s. I have volunteered as a youth baseball and so ball coordinator with FLAAA (Forest
Lake Area Athle c Associa on), Scandia boys and girls teams, spanning 11 years. I am currently a volunteer at
the Minnesota Arboretum, focusing on spring plan ng and gardens. I have a BS degree in Kinesiology; I
developed and implemented a strength training program for women; I have a background as a fitness
assistant in a clinic based center for TBI pa ents. I am detailed oriented. I feel comfortable with mul tasking
and being flexible in approaches to problem solving. I can fulfill a leadership role as needed.
Please list special or personal interests rela ng to the appointment you are seeking.
I grew up on a farm in central Minnesota. Our farm was very close to many lakes where I spent a lot of me
swimming, fishing and boa ng with my family. Now, I am a lakeshore owner on the west side of Big Marine
Lake. My kids grew up on Big Marine Lake and my grand kids visit frequently to our lake home. I am currently
enrolled in the MN Water Steward class instruc on through the MN Freshwater Society. This has been eye
opening to me as to the infancy of the Clean Water Act and the Legacy Act and all of the efforts being made
to keep our waters healthy and restore our waters to health. I am realizing the connec veness of our
communi es and our surface and groundwater resources and supplies. I feel being a lakeshore owner for
almost 9 years and having been a resident on Big Marine Lake for 45 years (as of this March, 2026), allows
me a perspec ve of ownership, a knowledge of changes I have seen and rela onships and history with
people who have been on this lake longer than myself. I am ac vely learning about the CMSCWD and I am
embracing the role All of us need to take to protect our water supply and keep it safe and beau ful for this
genera on and genera ons to come!
Why do you want this appointment?
I have been a ending the CMSCWD monthly mee ngs regularly to learn about the watershed and how it
func ons. I have a ended zoom mee ngs to view the Rice Creek Watershed, the CLFLWD and a few weekly
zoom mee ngs with the Washington County Commissioners. I am able to view similari es and differences in
the watershed mee ngs; observe the decorum of the Commissioner mee ngs. I will work to see increased
representa on and par cipa on for Big Marine Lake lakeshore owners and community concerns. As a
manager, I feel an emphasis to increase par cipa on in the CAC will be a very helpful and a much needed
bonus to get the current pulse of our communi es within the watershed. This, with all that I am learning in
the water steward program, the Freshwater Society and the Conserva on District can be formed into an
incredible network for all the watershed districts; we are not an island! This is an exci ng growth period for
the residents Minnesota (and agencies) to address water in our lives, from the lakes we enjoy to the water
we consume and use in farming and industry. I would like to be ac ve in that growth. This is a very important
opportunity to bring our watershed in the direc on of educa on and true transparency. Appropriate
monitoring for pollutants, keeping AIS Out, and educa ng our communi es and municipali es on small
efforts can make BIG differences to keep our watershed(s) and communi es Healthy!!
Are you currently serving on any other County Advisory Boards or Commi ees/Commissions?
Have you no fied your local municipality of your interest in seeking appointment as a Watershed
manager?
Yes
Which watershed are you applying to?
Carnelian Marine St. Croix
1
b.eklund
From:Kyle Morell
Sent:Monday, March 30, 2026 3:46 PM
To:b.eklund
Subject:FW: Watershed Manager Application
Kyle H. Morell
City Administrator
City of Scandia
14727 209th Street North
Scandia, MN 55073
Phone: 651.433.2274 Fax: 651-433-5112
Cell: 651.245.2654
Web: www.cityofscandia.com
Email: k.morell@ci.scandia.mn.us
From: Bret Maidl <
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2026 3:45 PM
To: Kyle Morell <k.morell@ci.scandia.mn.us>
Subject: Watershed Manager Application
Kyle, This email is to notify you that I have sent in my application for the Watershed Manager position for
Scandia district 1, under Fran Miron. My application was submitted today around 1430. I look forward to
meeting counsel members tomorrow evening at the meeting.
Thanks,
--
Bret Maidl
Liberty Home Service