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My name is Brad Kramer, and I’d appreciate your vote for Freeborn County Soil & Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) District 5 Board of Supervisors.

The SWCD is an important local body that manages our soil and water resources. I’ve been on the Shell Rock River Watershed District (SRRWD) Board of Managers for almost a decade, so am very familiar with the issues facing our local community and watershed management, and represent our local watershed on the MN Watersheds (formerly MN Association of Watershed Districts) board of directors.

Through my role on the SRRWD, I’ve been directly involved in dredging, implementation of wetland restoration and flood reduction projects, lobbying for our community at the capital, engaging with local stakeholders to learn how watershed issues impact them and what their needs are, and other issues. I’ve held both the secretary and vice-chair roles on the executive committee, and am on the personnel, strategic plan/budgeting, fish management and Albert Lea Lake committees.

My role with MN Watersheds includes roles on the events and education and resolutions committees. In other words, I help implement training and staff development opportunities for watershed managers and staff across Minnesota and determine which legislative resolutions we should support and lobby for, to support the needs of watersheds across the state.

There are several projects I will pursue locally that will improve the collaboration between the SRRWD and SWCD, so we do not duplicate resources, and will improve the communication between both entities, save taxpayer dollars, improve efficiency and be more effective overall in the goals of both organizations. Currently, there are no common board members between both organizations to help align our goals and resources. I hope to be that voice for you.

In addition to the roles noted above, I have a background in agriculture and understand the profound impact that agriculture has on our local economy, quality of life and water quality. I’ll be a voice for farmers. I live on Fountain Lake and my children and I swim, recreate and eat fish coming from our lakes. I want clean water and the protection of our natural resources. I’ve been an environmental professional and managed the environment permitting, including stormwater and wastewater permits for businesses and understand the balance between industry and our resources.

Through my business, Provenio Consulting, I train many local hazmat response teams and guide them through challenges to ensure our community and their employees are protected from chemical releases, and I’m on the MN Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Regional Review Committee, which evaluates southeastern Minnesota counties’ emergency management plans related to catastrophic chemical releases.

I will make the bold statement to say that nobody in our county is more informed about the numerous stakeholders and challenges to our watershed than I am. Being able to represent residents, ag and industrial businesses, outdoorsmen, government, emergency responders and the many other stakeholders who rely upon clean water and common-sense government management is what I will bring to this role. Thank you.

Brad Kramer
Albert Lea