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Minutes of Regular Meeting
VANDERBURGH COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
(SWCD) Office, Evansville, Indiana
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Present:                                                                                                                     SWCD Personnel:
Dave Ellison, Chairman                                                                                                Norma Duckworth (Absent)
Les Nunn, Vice-Chairman (Absent)                                                                             Bonnie Bittner
Wayne Fehd, Member
Holly McCutchan, Member                                                                                         NRCS Personnel:
Lauren Preske, Member (Absent)                                                                                Darrell Rice
Fred Padget, Associate                                                                                                Dave Elgin, RC&D
Susan Fowler, Associate                                                                                
                                                                                                                                    ISDA Personnel:
                                                                                                                                   
Ken Eck

GUESTS: Maurice Berendes, Candidate for elected position
                  Eugene Farney, Potential candidate for elected position

Chairman welcomed our guests and asked members, staff and guests to introduce themselves.

Dave asked for a motion to approve the minutes as mailed to supervisors with the draft agenda last week.

                    A motion was made by Holly McCutchan to approve the minutes of the November,
                    2006 meeting, seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried.

Dave asked the board to refer to the November financial report, which showed the previous balance on 11-1-06, $39,626.08, Receipts, $1,014.87, Debits $2,490.28 and balance as of 11-30-06 $38,150.67.

                    A motion was made by Wayne Fehd to accept the treasurer’s report, seconded
                    by Holly McCutchan, and carried.

NOVEMBER CLAIMS
The following claims for November were submitted for supervisor approval:
W4287 National Pen (200 Imprinted Pens)                                                                         $239.36
W4286 Muensterman’s Car Service Center (Alignment Blazer)                                             $45.00
W4285 CPESC, Inc. (Norma’s Renewal 2007)                                                                   $75.00
W4284 Cingular (Cell Phone)                                                                                               $18.01
W4271 Old National Bank (Replenish Petty Cash)                                                                $27.11
Note: The Auditor paid the following claims:
No Claims This Month County Budget Depleted

Finance Chairman, Holly McCutchan reviewed the claims.

Wayne Fehd made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried.

OLD BUSINESS:
Soil & Water Resource Committee – David Ellison-Chairperson
Darrel Rice reported he had a good dilemma with the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Locust Creek Grant; he has more request than money. We had an excellent turn out for the public meetings where Greg Biberdorf gave a power point presentation explaining the grant. We had about six people already schedule for site visits after the first of the year. At the present time we already have more people that have committed to projects they would like to have done than we have money. Darrell explained some options with federal programs that we can work with the grant to get some of the work done. Darrell asked the board to look at the projects and give him their priorities. After some discussion Dave asked for a committee to work on the priorities which he volunteered Norma to chair. Dave Ellison, Wayne Fehd, Holly McCutchan, Susan Fowler and Maurice Berendes volunteered.

Maurice Berendes reported he spoke to Richard Burek, grounds and building supervisor for Mater Dei and Memorial, who said he would come to the board meeting with a proposal for the erosion project at Mater Dei. Mr. Burek called and said he will present the proposal at the January board meeting.

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’s
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
No Business This Month

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd-Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie reported she sent letters to the legislators inviting them to the Legislative Breakfast at Annual Conference. She asked for a volunteer to call or e-mail them in January asking them to attend. Holly McCutchan volunteered to do so. Bonnie passed Holly a copy of each of the legislators info and said she would e-mail her a copy of the letter with all the information on the breakfast.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan - Chairperson
No Business This Month

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the IASWCD officer candidates which will be elected at the business meeting at Annual Conference. We tabled this last meeting to give members time to look over their bio’s. Members gave Wayne Fehd (Delegate for the business meeting) their choice.

President: Jim Droege, Vice President: Ray Chattin, Secretary: Jon Roberts and Treasurer: Jeff Meinders.

Dave asked Bonnie to pass the report of the district visits program to members who participated in the program. He asked them to read it over carefully and at some time we will have an executive session to discuss the items members feel the district needs to work on. Ken Eck explained if members who were unable to attend the luncheon when the District Visits Team went through the report and explained the different points and how they were arrived at them had questions they are willing to meet with them.

Ken also explained the program to guests and how it works. Everyone who attended the luncheon was pleased with the report and very proud of the district.

NEW BUSINESS:
Soil & Water Resource Committee – David Ellison/Todd Thomas – Co-Chairperson
Chairman asked members to refer to copies in their packets of an e-mail from Posey Co SWCD concerning the Big Creek meeting which will be held on January 23rd, place to be announced. Dave Elgin, Four Rivers RC&D reported he met with Posey County SWCD and currently Blair Borries is working out of the Vanderburgh Co. SWCD office. Gibson Co. SWCD and Vanderburgh Co. SWCD is partnering with Posey on this grant which is under the umbrella of the Four Rivers RC&D. The meeting on January 23rd goal is to put together a steering committee. Posey Co. SWCD put an ad in the Courier for a Watershed Coordinator to administer the grant. This person will conduct public meeting, do water testing to assess the needs in big creek, write a watershed plan and then look for funding and federal programs that will meet the plan. The SWCDs are trying to be proactive to help landowners with cost share for projects that will enhance water quality. It is still all voluntary and IDEM is encouraging people with the money from 319 grants. Eventually IDEM will mandate projects to ensure water quality.

Chairman asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the brochure on the 2007 Annual Erosion Control Seminar. Bonnie reported it came in the mail today and she assumes Norma will want to attend. Since she works for the government she is exempt from the registration fee. Dave asked Ken Eck why supervisors don’t receive their cards stating they are elected or appointed government officials. Ken said he would inquire at the state office and try to get that procedure reinstated.

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

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd-Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan - Chairperson
Holly McCutchan checked the petty cash and reported it is in order. She asked members to initial the report.

She asked for a motion to replenish petty cash for $27.13 to bring it back to $50.00

                    Holly McCutchan made a motion to replenish petty cash for $27.13,
                    seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried.

Holly asked for a motion to purchase up to $200 worth of Soil Stewardship materials. There was a discussion on the possibility of getting the materials to the council of churches and/or at least to the supervisors to take to their respective churches.

                    Wayne Fehd made a motion to purchase up to $200 worth of Soil
                    Stewardship materials, seconded by Holly McCutchan and carried.

Holly McCutchan reported it is time to pay Alan Stahl his annual payment for the Tillage Plot contract. Darrell explained to guests our partnership with Daylight Farm Supply and Allen Stahl to put a tillage plot on the Stahl farm to promote No-till. It is a five year contract in which the district pays Mr. Stahl $2,000 a year for five years for this plot and in return he helps put out some of the crops, allows the district to have a field day once a year and farmers can walk along the paths in the plot to view the crops.

                    Wayne Fehd made a motion to send Mr. Stahl a check for $2,000,
                    seconded by Holly McCutchan and carried.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Chairman asked for a volunteer to be Master of Ceremonies at Annual Meeting. After some discussion it was tabled until the January meeting to give the district chairman time to possibly adjust his schedule.

Chairman asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the draft minutes from the December State Soil Conservation Board meeting. They were encouraged to read over them.

Dave Elgin, RC&D director asked for another volunteer from Vanderburgh County supervisors to be on his board. He reported Vanderburgh County has five people currently on his board in one capacity or another and he directed $33,000 to Vanderburgh County in 2006 which speaks highly for the district. After some discussion Wayne Fehd volunteered to continue attending the meetings. Bonnie passed the form to Wayne to fill out and sign.

Chairman tabled the Water Quality Specialist’s report due to her being on vacation.

Darrell reported he has pretty well covered his activities for the district. He is still in a round of sign-ups in Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

Bonnie passed her time sheet for review and signatures.

Chairman set the next board meeting for January 30, 2007 due to the fact the Posey Co. SWCD Big Creek meeting is already scheduled for the fourth Tuesday. He asked Bonnie to send a Memo to all media to that effect. Some members talked about having the board meeting on Monday night in 2007.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

                                                                                                                            Respectfully Submitted
                                                                                                                            Bonnie Bittner
                                                                                                                            Executive Assistant

Minutes approved on January 30, 2007

David R Ellison _________________________________

Les Nunn ______________________________________

Wayne Fehd _______________________________________

Holly McCutchan ___________________________________

Lauren Preske ______________________________________

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