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Minutes of Regular Meeting Present:
SWCD Personnel: GUEST: Rodney Buchanan, Travel Aide for Congressman Brad Ellsworth Chairperson, Lauren Preske introduced Mr. Buchanan and asked members to introduce themselves. She welcomed him, thanked him for coming and periodically through the meeting explained the background of the agenda items. NOTE: Three members could not attend at the beginning of the meeting so business that did not require a motion was conducted until they arrived; but I kept the minutes in the order of the agenda. 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 Dave Ellison, seconded by Lauren asked the board to refer to the March financial report. The previous Balance on 3-1-07 was $31,353.15 Receipts, $5,483.31, Debits $1,737.81 and balance as of 3-31-07 $35,098.65.
A motion was made by David Ellison, seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried,
The following claims were submitted for Supervisors’ approval:
W4301 Hamilton County SWCD (Registration workshop/Norma) $50.00 Note: the Auditor paid the following claims Office Depot (Office Supplies) $124.94 Norma Duckworth (Hotel, Breakfast/Workshop Hamilton Co.) $114.60 Zeidler’s (Palms/Annual Meeting) $156.99 Oaks Printing, Inc. (Annual Report) $714.00 Norma Duckworth (Mileage/workshop Hamilton Co.) $121.50 Cingular (Cell Phone) $18.05 Smith & Butterfield (Office Supplies/Paper) $173.40 Finance chairman, Holly McCutchan reviewed the claims stating she recommended the claims be approved
David Ellison made a motion to approve the claims, seconded Holly passed the District and County Claim Registers for supervisors to review and sign. OLD BUSINESS: Natural Resource Committee – Dave Ellison, Chairpersons David Ellison and guest, Rodney Buchanan reported the tour for Congressman Ellsworth sponsored by Vanderburgh and Posey County SWCD went very well. They met in a barn at Congressman Ellsworth’s neighbor, Dave Nurrenbern for a short power point presentation on what the partnership has accomplished and what they can do for the community. David Ellison & Darrell Rice represented Vanderburgh County SWCD & NRCS. Jim Droege and Bill Norfleet represented Posey County SWCD & NRCS. After the presentation and welcome at the Nurrenbern barn they loaded in a van and did a tour of projects and a brine site. Bonnie passed a folder (of information that the partnership has accomplished, the grants brought into the area and what we can do for the community that was passed out to members day of tour) for supervisors to view. She also reported Commissioner Bill Nix was in the office Monday morning for a meeting and she gave one to him as he was leaving. Mr. Buchanan reported Jay Howser, Chief of Staff for Congressman Ellsworth will be moving on and Juan a new legislative Assistant in DC who came from Senator Bayh’s office will take his place. His phone number is 202-225-4636. Norma reported she understands the state wants to send the district enough money ($88,000) to do all the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Locust Creek projects we have signed up. She expects to get something to that effect in writing soon. The state is also saying they want to send us more money to do projects with an urban edge. Norma wants to wait until Doug Nussbaum calls to see if he is going to change the forms, which would make sending each client a letter that was discussed in the March board meeting. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets for the minutes of the Big Creek Steering Committee Meeting. Ken Eck reported John Bittner, Vanderburgh County and Jim Droege, Posey County have the steering committee going better than any he has seen. They have people volunteering to bring more people on board for the ($130,000) 205j Big Creek Grant Steering Committee. Lauren reported Darrell, Norma & Bonnie had a conference call with Bob McCormick, Jill Hoffman and Bonny Elfritz concerning a Builders/Developers Workshop the district is planning for early 2008. Norma talked to Bill Jeffers, Mike Wathen, John Stoll, Pat Keepes and Karen Barnhill telling them we value their input on what they would like in the workshop. Norma brought flyers from the Hamilton County developers/builders Workshop; she attended, for the group to view. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the forms for River Friendly Farmer. She asked members if they had someone in mind to nominate. Bonnie reported she talked to Rob Brown, Conservation Implementation Team Co-Leader, Indiana Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and he recommended Alan Stahl because of the all the filter strips he has put in with the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Members agreed with Rob’s recommendation.
BUSINESS PLAN
ACTIONS FOR 2007 Water Quality: Educate public on maintenance of septic related issues
by SWCD & Partners with Preservation of Natural Areas: Preserve existing wetlands, forests &
wildlife areas Preservation of Farmland: Reduce the loss of prime farmland to urban development Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson David Ellison reported he viewed the Farmland Preservation video and thinks it is appropriate for middle and high school. He thought it was a lot like the workshop we co-sponsored in St. Meinrad a few years ago. It was suggested Bonnie get in touch with Kay Hoffherr, Central High School to see if she would be willing to let her Environmental class view it and give us their recommendation. Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Holly McCutchan reported the state deposited the Clean Water Indiana Training Incentive Grant for $750 in the district checking account. Bonnie applied for it to offset the expenses for Annual Conference. District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson NEW BUSINESS Lauren commented it is amazing what the partnership accomplishes in this area and asked Bonnie to send Mr. Buchanan a copy of the 20/20 Indiana Conservation Partnership Strategic Plan. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets for the Conservation and Master Farmer of the Year application form. Maurice suggested Bonnie should send copies of past recipients to the three board members who farm. Lauren asked for volunteer’s to help her work on a reorganizing the District Committees. Holly McCutchan, Bonnie & Norma volunteered to meet and reorganize the District Committees. Bonnie will get with each to schedule a date and time. Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee– Lauren Preske, Chairperson Maurice Berendes made a motion to add Kudzu to the Business Plan, Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Holly asked for a motion to replenish Petty Cash for the amount of $29.25 to
bring it back to $50.00 Holly reported the district received a 2007 IASWCD membership dues bill for $2000.
David Ellison made a motion to pay the 2007 IASWCD dues for $2000.00 Holly reported the state funds ($10,000) was direct deposited into the district’s checking account. Ken Eck explained to our guest that the state matches up to $10,000 what the county gives the district at this time. Holly reported the district needs imprinted pencils to give participants at Norma’s presentations, fair, etc. Lauren asked Bonnie to check on the cost of pencils made from recycled materials. Solid Waste gives them out and people think they are cool. It was decided to order the regular pencils at this time and check on the price of the recycled pencils.
David Ellison made a motion to order 1000 imprinted pencils at $.15 each, Holly asked for a motion to rent a booth at the 4-H Fair and asked Norma what size booth she needed. After some discussion it was decided a 10x14 booth at $150.00 for the district display.
David Ellison made a motion to pay for a 10 x 14 fair booth, Norma also said she needs a table and they charge $20.00 to rent one. After some discussion on how much she would use a table in the different presentation she does it was decided not to rent one but David Ellison will purchase a folding table that will be easy to pack.
Wayne Fehd made a motion for David Ellison to purchase a folding District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Bonnie reported she has a 95% okay from Don Villwock, President of Indiana State Farm Bureau that he can speak at our Annual Meeting. He has been all over the United States attending session & talking about Ethanol, etc. All that is needed is to confirm the date with his secretary. David Ellison suggested we ask Mayor Weinzapfel to speak and volunteered to call him. After some discussion about topics members thought would be good for him to address they decided to let Dave contact the mayor and let Bonnie know if he is willing to speak at Annual Meeting in February 2008. Lauren passed the list of the County Commissioner and County Council meeting dates for members to sign up to attend. They asked Bonnie to send them a copy when the dates were filled in. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the State Soil Conservation Board’s April minutes. Bonnie passed an expanded version of the report for April. Norma passed copies of her report. She also reported "Pickin on the Pigeon" is June 2nd from 10:00 until 5:00 p.m. when she is on vacation. She has Connie Walts working from 10:00 to noon and Linda Powell can help from noon until 2:00 p.m. Norma is contacting the Master Naturalist attendees to see if any one would like to work to get in their volunteer hours. Norma did Earth Day at Howell Wetlands, Earth Day at Evans School and she is working Mother’s Day weekend at the Master Gardner’s plant sale giving out Rain Garden information. Her Soil Stewardship poster contest was a success with 66 posters submitted. Connie Waltz judged the posters and Bonnie typed Certificates for each participant. Norma will be delivering the checks, etc. to the three winners and certificates to each participant. Norma also reported Rule 5 for the city is in transition; they have hired Karen Barnhill. Karen asked her to add a few sites to her water quality monitoring so she can give the information to the city and county for their reports to the state. Norma will have a request for a college student intern (to put together education programs so they are ready to pickup and go) before July. Darrell reported he has 10 new Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) applications for $10 M, 3 Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) for $8,000, 3 potential new Lake & River Enhancement (LARE) applications for the Locust Creek Grant and sent out 30 letters to clients for compliance checks on their farms. Darrell asked members to refer to copies in their packets of some talking
points he wanted to go over with them on Bonnie and Norma passed their time sheets for review and signature by the board. Lauren announced the date for the May board meeting will be May 22, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Vanderburgh County SWCD office.
Dave Ellison made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m., Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Bittner Minutes approved on 5-22-07 Lauren Preske, Chairman ____________________________________ David Ellison, Vice-Chairman _________________________________ Les Nunn, Secretary _________________________________________ Wayne Fehd ______________________________________________ Maurice Berendes ___________________________________________ |
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