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Minutes of Regular Meeting
VANDERBURGH COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
SWCD Office, Evansville, Indiana

2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 27, 2005

Present:                                                                                                     SWCD Personnel:
Dave Ellison, Chairman                                                                                Norma Duckworth
Les Nunn, Vice Chairman                                                                            Bonnie Bittner
Wayne Fehd, Member
Lauren Preske, Member                                                                              NRCS Personnel:
Fred Padget, Associate                                                                                                          Darrell Rice (Absent)
Bill Jeffers, Associate
                                                                                                                   IDNR Personnel:
                                                                                                                  
Rob Brown

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 Les Nunn, seconded by
        Lauren Preske, and carried.

Dave asked the board to refer to the March financial report. The previous Balance on 3-1-05 was $26,398.14, Receipts, $220.51,
Debits $478.26 and balance as of 3-31-04 $26,140.39.

        A motion was made by Les Nunn, seconded by Lauren Preske, and carried,
        to approve the treasurer’s report as presented.

The following claims were submitted for Supervisors’ approval:
W4152 Hoosier Heartland RC&D (Camp Gallahue (2) Registrations)                                         $110.00
W4154 NACD (Stewardship Materials)                                                                                     $232.38
W4153 Linda Powell (Intern 23 hrs. @ $5.15                                                                            $118.45
W4160 Linda Powell (Supplies for Zoo Program)                                                                        $17.43
W4159 Post Office (April Newsletter Postage)                                                                           $171.99
Note: the Auditor paid the following claims
Cingular (Cell Phone)                                                                                                                    $18.74
Oaks Printing, Inc. (April Newsletter/2new ads)                                                                       $1,018.70
Vanderburgh County SWCD (Reimbursement postage April newsletter)                                      $171.99

Les Nunn reviewed the claims stating he recommends the claims be approved and

        Lauren Preske made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Les Nunn
        and carried.

Les passed the District and County Claim Registers for supervisors to sign.

OLD BUSINESS:
Natural Resource Committee – Dave Ellison/Todd Thomas, Chairpersons
In Darrell Rice’s absence, Bonnie reported the committee tentatively set a date for the Tillage Plot Tour for August 16, 2005. The plot is planted and he is working with the surrounding counties to partner with us and possibly help with the cost of the signs.

Dave asked if anyone had nominations for River Friendly Farmer. Bonnie reported Darrell suggested Robert and Scott Kissel. Dave suggested Larry Kron, reporting he has an awesome Hog Operation.

Norma and Linda Powell (Intern) had a booth at the Zoo on Backyard Conservation and Celebrate Conservation the Soil Stewardship theme. They reported a good crowd, handed out a lot of materials and good questions.

Linda Powell, intern, gave all three days of presentation during the Ag Day celebrations at the 4-H Center for 1600 4th graders from all over the city and county. Her presentation and display was on "Soil Pizza." The handouts for the teacher and students were boxed and given to them as they left the building. The handouts were Spring Waters Gathering Places for the teacher; for the students Discover Ground Water and Springs, Wonders of Soil and the Celebrate Conservation Educational Activity Sheet.

Norma, Rick Obenshain and Rob Brown gave an Earth Day presentation at Evans School. Bristol Meyer sponsored the day. They presented to nine classes of 6th graders (180 students). Norma mentioned Rob gave an excellent presentation on PH.

Holly McCutchan, SWCD supervisor gave an Earth Day presentation at Dexter School on the Incredible Water Journey.

BUSINESS PLAN
April: Preserve existing wetlands, forests & wildlife areas: Educate & promote programs to general public in 2005

May: Preservation/Creation of Natural Areas: Partner with City Beautiful to promote relevant programs by 2005. Bonnie asked if anyone knew who the contact person is for City Beautiful. Fred Padget said he would e-mail Bonnie the name, etc. Bonnie will invite this person to a board meeting to see how we can partner.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
Bonnie reported Holly McCutchan contact Roger Lehman and left a message; she is waiting to hear from him. She wants to ask him if he would consider having her contact as part of the Professional Training Institute for the contractors’ workshops.

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Wayne Fehd reported he and Tom Niksch audited the 2004 district books, found everything in order and signed the report going to the state.

Bonnie reported the district has seven people signed up so far for the Leopold Workshop and she ordered the materials needed yesterday. Lauren Preske, supervisor asked if she could attend, but would let Bonnie know for sure after she checked her schedule.

Norma reported the Area Envirothon held in the auditorium at the 4-H Center went very well. Vanderburgh Counties’ two teams from Central won 1st and 4th and both will advance to the state contest. Bonnie said Kay Hoffherr, Central Teams’ teacher, called and asked if the board will pay their registration fee of $50 for each team. Central will pay the other expenses.

            Les Nunn made a motion to pay $50 each for the two Central teams’ registration
            to attend the state Envirothon competition, seconded buy Lauren Preske, and carried.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Norma reported she asked the commissioners if they would sign a Soil and Water Stewardship Proclamation, proclaiming April 24 to May 1, 2005 Soil and Water Stewardship Week. Holly attended the commissioners meeting on Tuesday and the commissioners signed it. They asked what the district was doing for the week. She reported we had materials that were handed out in presentations at the Zoo, Ag Days and both Earth Day activities. Bonnie mailed a proclamation and letter to the mayor, but did not receive a response. Norma said she is especially impressed with this year’s material that talks about what has improved over the last 30 years. Our poster contest also was the Stewardship theme "Celebrate Conservation".

Norma said she told the commissioners that she would miss two weeks because of programs she was giving. The main thing talked about in Tuesday’s meeting was for road information to go through Central Dispatch.

Dave asked members to contact Norma if they had any district activities they wanted presented at the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS
Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison/Todd Thomas, Co-Chairpersons
Bonnie reported for the district conservationist that he has a contract for EQIP with Michael R. Gries

Rob Brown, Resource Specialist, asked the board to refer to copies in their packets of an e-mail we received regarding the transfer of the Division of Soil Conservation into the Department of Ag and what has transpired with respect to certain personnel who are staying with DNR. All other have been transferred to the Department of Ag as of the signing of HB 1008.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
Lauren Preske reported she was unable to take the canoe trip on Sunday due to illness. Wayne Fehd took the trip in the canoe sponsored by the district. Wayne reported the canoe trip started at the Weinbach Sewer Station and ended at the Heidelbach canoe launch. He was surprised at how clean Pigeon Creek is in that area; he suggested the trips be a little longer and a little slower. There was a lot of good discussion as Wayne told about turning the canoe over at one point.

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
Les reported Rural King bought the K-Mary on St. Joe Avenue and will turn it into a distribution center for several states and a Westside Rural King Store. Bonnie will get pictures of the before and after and we will contact Rural King to thank them for cleaning up a Brownfield.

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie ask members to refer to copies in their packets of a legislative update on HB 1431 for Clean Water Indiana from Dean Farr, Executive Director, IASWCD.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Les passed the Petty Cash report for review and signature reporting petty cash is in order.

Bonnie reported she visited one library to check on comparison reports for a power point projector. They had none; the librarian suggested she call Central Library to see if they had anything. The librarian at Central Library gave her two websites. She and Darrell will be checking them and also check with the Natural Resource Conservation Services’ Technical person for his input.

Bonnie said she will get with Holly McCutchan, Finance Committee chairperson to set a date for working on the County Budget Proposal. She will then contact committee members. The proposal must be in the commissioners’ office by June 1st.

Les reported the district received a 2005 IASWCD membership dues bill for $2000. IASWCD, at the 2005 Business Meeting, the delegates changed the Association’s fiscal year to end on September 30th. $345 of our dues is for the districts share for liability insurance coverage.

            Les Nunn made a motion to pay the 2005 IASWCD dues for $2,000.00
            seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried.

Bonnie asked for a motion to purchase an 8 ft. banner to be used for displays, the fair booth and Annual Meeting. After some discussion and suggestions

            Lauren made a motion to purchase a banner with a ceiling amount of $200,
            seconded by Les Nunn, and carried.

Norma asked for a motion to attend Natural Resources Leadership Development Workshop on June 2, 2005, which is an update of the one she attended about a year ago. It was the best workshop she has ever attended.

            Lauren made a motion for Norma to attend the workshop on June 2nd and for the
            district to pay her small fee and lodging, seconded by Les Nunn and carried.

Bonnie reported she was asked by Bob Weaver, IASWCD Treasurer and Dean Farr, IASWCD Executive Director to attend a brainstorming meeting on May 10th at the Farm Bureau Building in Indianapolis. The District Employee president from Posey County will be going with Bonnie to a training in Jasonville on Monday and then they will travel to Indy. Posey County will pay half of the expenses, mileage and hotel. After some discussion

            Les Nunn made a motion to pay Bonnie’s expenses to attend the IASWCD
            meeting in Indy, seconded by Lauren Preske, and carried.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of a draft agenda for the NACD North Central Region Meeting which will be held July 10th to the 13th in Fort Wayne, IN. Put these dates on your calendar and plan to attend.

Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of Rob Brown’s report. He asked Rob if he had anything to report. Rob said he feel his efforts in Rule 5 are starting to pay off. After reporting the status on several projects, Fred Padget asked if he looked at Schutte Village. Rob showed him pictures and gave him a report.

Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of Norma’s report and also the inspection and mileage logs. Any questions or concerns contact Norma by phone or e-mail.

Bonnie reported Darrell was in Switz City for an Area NRCS Meeting. Dave tabled the NRCS report.

Bonnie and Norma passed their time sheets for review and signature by the board.

Dave announced the date for the May board meeting will be May 25, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Vanderburgh County SWCD office.

            Les Nunn made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:15 p.m., seconded by Lauren
            Preske, and carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Bittner
Executive Assistant

Minutes approved on 5-25-05

David R. Ellison, Chairman ________________________________

Les Nunn, Vice-Chairman _________________________________

Wayne Fehd ___________________________________

Holly McCutchan __________________________________

Lauren Preske____________________________________

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