Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Marilyn Bernhardson, Pamela Blixt, Earl Bukowski, Brian Davis, John Greer, Delvin Haag, Scott Hoese, David Jeronimus, William Moore, Steven Pedersen, Louis Smith, Sarah Strommen, Deborah Swackhamer, Paul Torkelson, and Robert Vogel to the Clean Water Council.

Marilyn Bernhardson, of Redwood Falls, is an employee of the Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District. She currently serves as the chair of the legislative committee for the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Bernhardson is appointed as the representative of soil and water conservation districts and will serve a four-year term which ends January 3, 2011.

Pamela Blixt, of Minneapolis, is the manager for public health preparedness for the City of Minneapolis. She is a member of the board of managers of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and is the current chair of the Metropolitan Watershed Association. Blixt is appointed as the representative of watershed districts and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2009.

Earl Bukowski, of Sauk Rapids, currently serves as a Benton County Commissioner. He also serves on the Natural Resources Committee for the Association of Minnesota Counties. Bukowski is appointed to the position for a representative of rural counties and will serve a four-year term which ends January 3, 2011.

Brian Davis, of St. Paul, is an attorney in private practice. He is a board member of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative and a member of the Friends of the Mississippi River and the Trust for Public Lands. Davis is appointed to a position for a representative of an environmental organization and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2009.

John Greer, of Albany, is an attorney for Hughes Mathews, P.A. He also serves as a member of the Albany City Council and the Stearns County Feedlot Review Committee. Greer is appointed to a position for a representative of cities and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2009.

Delvin Haag, of Buffalo, retired in 2004 as the public works director for the City of Montrose. He currently serves as a member of the Buffalo City Council. He is a past president of the League of Minnesota Cities. Haag is appointed to a position for a representative of cities and will serve a four-year term which ends January 3, 2011.

Scott Hoese, of Mayer, owns and operates a dairy farm in Carver County. He currently serves as the chair of Carver County Farmers Union. Hoese is appointed to a position for a representative of a statewide farm organization and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2009.

David Jeronimus, of Duluth, retired in 2004 as senior vice president of environmental services for ALLETE. He is a past chair of the Environmental Policy Committee for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Jeronimus is appointed to a position for a representative of a business organization and will serve a four-year term which ends January 3, 2011.

William Moore, of Woodbury, currently serves as the general manager of the Environmental Services Division of the Metropolitan Council. He is appointed to the position for a representative of the Metropolitan Council and will serve a four-year term which ends January 3, 2011.

Steven Pedersen, of Coon Rapids, is a senior staff scientist for BAE Systems, Inc.-Armament Services Division. He serves on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Pedersen is appointed to a position for a representative of a business organization and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2009.

Louis Smith, of Minneapolis, is an attorney with Smith Partners PLLP. He serves as legal counsel for the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and for the Red River Watershed District Management Board. He also serves as Vice Chair of Minnesota Waters. Smith is appointed to the position for a representative of a nonprofit organization focused on improvement of Minnesota lakes and streams and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2011.

Sarah Strommen, of Ramsey, is central region conservation director for the Minnesota Land Trust. She is a member of the Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network and the Minnesota Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology. Strommen is appointed to a position for a representative of an environmental organization and will serve a four-year term which ends January 3, 2011.

Deborah Swackhamer, of Stillwater, is the co-director of the Water Resources Center and a professor of environmental health sciences at the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She is appointed to a position for a representative of a state higher education system and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2009.

Paul Torkelson, of St. James, grows corn and soybeans and raises hogs on a Watonwan County farm. He currently serves as vice president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Torkelson is appointed to a position for a representative of a statewide farm organization and will serve a four-year term which ends January 3, 2011.

Robert Vogel, of New Market, is the president and CEO of Market Bancorporation, Inc. He also currently serves as a Scott County Commissioner and as vice chair of the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board. Vogel is appointed to the position for a representative of metro area counties and will serve a two-year term which ends January 5, 2009.

The Clean Water Council was created by the legislature in 2006 to provide advice on how to administer and implement the Clean Water Legacy Act, including making recommendations to the Governor on the appropriation of funds in the Clean Water Legacy Account. The council consists of 23 members, including 19 appointed by the Governor.