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Minutes of Regular Meeting Present:
SWCD Personnel: The minutes of the March meeting were mailed to each member prior to the meeting.
A motion to approve the March minutes was made by Wayne Fehd, seconded by Dave asked the board to refer to the March financial report. The previous Balance on 3-1-06 was $25,984.31, Receipts, $1,576.06, Debits $2,151.69 and balance as of 3-31-06 $25,408.68.
A motion was made by Wayne Fehd, seconded by Lauren Preske, and carried,
The following claims were submitted for Supervisors’ approval:
W4216 Old National Bank (Petty Cash) $20.89 W4223 I.D.E.A. (2007 Dues for Norma and Bonnie) $20.00 W4219 Hoosier Heartland RC&D (Norma Registration/Camp Gallahue) $70.00 W4220 Great Mid-Western Publishing Co. Inc. (Plat Books 34x$7.50) $255.00 W4221 IFET/PLT (Norma Project Learning Tree Workshop) $15.00 W4222 Muscatatuck Wildlife Society (Norma Project WILD Workshop) $10.00 Note: the Auditor paid the following claims Oaks Printing, Inc. (Newsletter, Business Cards, Certificates) $1,245.84 Norma Duckworth (4 Gas Tickets/1 Lunch/Workshop in South Bend) $72.24 Cingular (Cell Phone) $19.16 Bonnie Bittner (Reimbursement/Lunch/Supplies/Drinks-Smart Growth) $87.30 Advanced Lasers and Instruments (Topcon Receiver LS-70C) $195.00 Wayne Fehd reviewed the claims stating he recommends the claims be approved
Wayne Fehd made a motion to approve the claims, seconded Wayne passed the District and County Claim Registers for supervisors to sign. GUEST: Harold Kempf Dave welcomed Harold Kempf and asked members to introduce themselves to Harold and tell him their connection to the District. Dave explained Harold was invited to set in the board meetings to see if he would like to join us as an associate supervisor. OLD BUSINESS: Natural Resource Committee – Dave Ellison, Chairpersons
BUSINESS PLAN
ACTIONS FOR 2006 Continue developer’s workshop to highlight urban control practices and legislation (partnering with other agencies) Determine SWCD level of involvement with local MS4 Educate public on maintenance of septic related issues by SWCD & Partners with newsletter, flyers, fair booth (Ongoing) Locate and promote programs that provide incentives to adopt conservation practices (Newsletter/ongoing Develop a video for youth on impact of farmland conversion by July 2006 (Susan Fowler & Lauren Preske) Partner with City/County parks department to preserve/create parks & related areas (Ongoing) Develop information resource on farmland conversion for public officials & general public (Ongoing) Develop "Farm Day" to promote conservation & related practices by December 2006 (Norma & Committee) Develop related workshops to promote available programs for natural area preservation by February 2006 Explore role of SWCD by SWCD & Committee (Ongoing) Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson 1. Purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Pigeon Highland Watershed Management Plan and reform a steering committee to revise and update the plan so local groups can continue to use it as a tool for funding conservation projects. 2. The four counties will work on compiling water quality data and sampling efforts, as well as agricultural BMPs that have been established, and forward that information to Four Rivers RC&D to compile and map. This will allow the new steering committee to evaluate progress and review critical areas and implementation needs. 3. A website for the Pigeon Highland Watershed may be established on the Four Rivers RC&D website so stakeholders can easily keep up with the projects in the area. 4. Vanderburgh Co. SWCD intends to develop a new 319 implementation proposal for the September 1, 2006 deadline. Dave Elgin will work on the Addendum to the plan and will work with Norma on the proposal. (319 Application form will be available in May). 5. Folks at today’s meeting will contact other stakeholders in the watershed representing urban, suburban, forested and agricultural land uses, especially those representing Warrick County and the City of Evansville, to invite to the next Steering Committee meeting on July 18. 6. Vanderburgh County will meet with Four Rivers RC&D, et al on June 7 to work on the 319 proposal. Darrell reported there was a Pigeon Highland Steering Committee in the 1990s and we want to pull one together again. Thousands of dollars have already come in for the Pigeon/Highland Watershed and it is important to continue this work. Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson NEW BUSINESS
Wayne Fehd made a motion to partner with Pike County SWCD on the Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packet of a letter from Priscilla Kelly, President of Four Rivers RC&D Council asking for pledges from Pike, Posey, Gibson, Warrick and Vanderburgh County to assist in the purchase of an YSI 6600 Water Research System. Several questions were brought up at the Pigeon Highland meeting on April 18th and it was decided to wait and see what develops before making a decision. Dave Ellison, chairman signed the conservation plan on Terra LLC – Tract - 8958. Dave asked members to contact Bonnie if they had any nominations for River Friendly Farmer. He also ask Bonnie to send him and Wayne a copy of former River Friendly Farmers. Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of a letter from IDEM to John Stoll regarding Construction MCM Implementation Permit Number INR040030. Since Norma Duckworth, Water Quality Specialist was at a workshop out of town; Darrell asked Bill Jeffers if he would like to comment. Bill said the letter was telling John Stoll IDEM acknowledges the implementation of the MCM beginning on April 3, 2006 by the MS4. The letter also outlined how the transition of the Construction Site program with the local Soil and Water Conservation District should take place. Bill stated now Norma could do full time what she is very good at -- education. Bonnie reported for Norma that she would be teaching River Watch Workshops on May 2, 2006 in Chandler (Warrick County) on June 29, 2006 in Fort Branch (Gibson County) and she is working on one for Vanderburgh County sometime in July (date yet to be determined). Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee– Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Bonnie did an online survey on DVD/VCR combinations. They gave Samsung Progressive-Scan DVD/VCR Combo Model: DVD-VR320 a five star rating. They said you could purchase one at Best Buy for $229.99. After checking at the local Best Buy Store, they said it was discontinued a couple of weeks ago and replaced with a Samsung Progressive Scan DVD/VCR Model: DVD-VR330 for $242.99 until 4-29-06 or $256.99 after 4-29-06. After some discussion the board felt we should spend no more than $125.00
Lauren Preske made a motion to purchase a DVD/VCR Combo for Dave reported the district received a 2006 IASWCD membership dues bill for $2000.
Lauren Preske made a motion to pay the 2006 IASWCD dues for $2000.00 District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Wayne Fehd made a motion to adopt this as policy, seconded by Bonnie reported she sent letters to the associate supervisors thanking them for their service and asking them to commit to two more years. She received replies from everyone but Joyce Fitzgerald and Dave Fehrenbacher. She sent a second letter explaining if she didn’t hear from them by the May 24th board meeting it would be assumed they were no long interested in serving. Todd Thomas, Phil Hoy sent their regrets of not being able to continue serving as associate board members. Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of Norma’s report. Bonnie passed hers and Norma’s time sheets for review and signature by the board. Dave announced the date for the May board meeting will be May 24, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Vanderburgh County SWCD office. Lauren reported she, Darrell Rice and Jeff Thompson talked about using the Howell Wetland Burn they have planned for early February as an education tool. She would like for the districts to co-sponsor, make it a seminar and advertise it in district newsletters. . It will be on a Saturday from 9-12 in the morning. Lauren thought Earth Day at Howell Wetland was a great success with probably over 500 people attending throughout the day. She thought Norma did a great job at her booth with the Enviroscape. W.A.V.E. had a booth and handed out tomato plants. Darrell reported they are still accepting EQIP applications; second round cut off is March 15th. Standard CRP retires whole fields; clients can re-enroll now but not much new land is being enrolled because most of the marginal land is already enrolled. Darrell explained the scoring for the program. Darrell said he is on a task force with Farm Service Agency to look at office consolidations. They will have a plan by June 5, 2006 of how offices should look in ten years.
Dave Ellison made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 p.m., Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Bittner Minutes approved on 5-31-06 David R. Ellison, Chairman ________________________________ Les Nunn, Vice-Chairman _________________________________ Wayne Fehd ___________________________________ Holly McCutchan __________________________________ Lauren Preske____________________________________ Top of page Home |
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