During its meeting Tuesday, the Mower County Board of Commissioners approved a $17,000 budget aimed at working on the aquatic invasive species (AIS) issue. Included in the same resolution was the county’s plan of attack on AIS.

In addition to $2,500 for an AIS coordinator and surveying of invasive species in the county’s waters, the budget has items aimed at educating and advertising about the issue.

Of the $17,000, $1,500 will be spent advertising about AIS awareness and prevention in various media. The county will also spend $800 to install signage from the Department of Natural Resources at boat ramps.

The majority of the expenses, $12,200, will be used to bring back the Canoemobile programming in May, where fourth through sixth-graders from schools in Mower County will go to the Cedar River State Water Trail at the Ramsey Dam in Austin for education about AIS, including events on both land and water.

Organizers are also looking at holding events at Lake Louise State Park.

To have the nonprofit Canoemobile come out for six days, five for school groups and one for the community, will cost $11,860.

“It seems like a pretty good deal for the amount that they do,” said Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District Water Plan and Outreach Coordinator Tim Ruzek.

Last year, 700 people came to the event.

The Soil and Water Conservation District is also looking at bringing Blooming Prairie Schools into the event this year. Students from Hayfield School District will be participating in the program again.

Due to school ending early for construction reasons, Southfield School District will not be participating, Ruzek said.

The budget also includes money for purchasing a portable PA system for the land educational events, along with other AIS events in the future.

In 2020, the county is expected to receive $12,209 from the state for AIS programs. The remaining funds would come from the AIS fund balance.

There is a reason why Mower County receives less AIS funding than other counties, Ruzek said.

“It’s not a lot compared to most other counties in the state which have lakes,” he said.

The county is grateful for everything it gets, Ruzek said.

Commissioner Polly Glynn said Ruzek and others do a good job when it comes to the AIS issue.

“You do such a great job using these funds for something that is beneficial,” she said.

The Board approved the 2020 AIS budget and work plan unanimously.