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Minutes of Regular Meeting Present:
SWCD Personnel: Lauren Preske chaired the meeting because Chairman David Ellison was out of town. The minutes of the December Vanderburgh Co. SWCD board meeting were mailed to each member prior to the meeting. A motion was made by Holly McCutchan to approve the minutes of the
December, Lauren asked the board to refer to the December financial report. The previous balance 12-01-06 $38,150.67, Receipts, $2,572.94, Debits, $6,837.37, balance as of 12-31-06 $33,886.24.
A motion was made by Wayne Fehd, seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried, DECEMBER CLAIMS Finance Chairperson, Holly McCutchan reviewed the claims and said they were all in order.
Holly McCutchan made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Wayne Fehd, OLD BUSINESS: Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison - Chairperson Darrell passed a copy of the Vanderburgh County Locust Creek Project Ranking sheet and a sheet showing the scores for each project. He explained the process, answered questions and asked the board how they wanted to divide the money. They discussed the pros and cons of allotting each participant $6,000, letting them choose which practice they wanted to complete or rank their practices.
Holly McCutchan made a motion to allot each of the five applicants The priority actions in the business plan for 2007; we are working on or they are on going priorities. Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperso Farmland Preservation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Bonnie reported she has the Farmland Preservation Video and will give it to Dave Ellison when he returns to town. Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee, Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Holly McCutchan made a motion for Bonnie to send in the check Holly McCutchan reported the auditor from State Board of Accounts came in the office and audited the district books for 2003, 2004 and 2005. She passed the report Bonnie received from State Board of Accounts showing everything was in order. Bonnie had attached the financial statement for 2006 that will be going to the state after the audit by supervisors of the 2006 books. District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Lauren reported she, Wayne and Bonnie attended the Region Meeting at Annual Conference where it was agreed by all in attendance that Ken Eck should start the process for the South Southwest region to participate in a Region Retreat put on by Janet Ayers. Information on the Retreat was passed for members to view. Lauren reported Ray McCormick, Knox County Supervisor, was elected Region Director. We discussed having a Tour for Representative Ellsworth. Supervisors and staff volunteered Darrell Rice to work with Ray on some possible projects we can show Representative Ellsworth. We have some projects close to his home which might be advantageous time wise for him. Lauren reported we need to have a committee meeting (staff and one supervisor) to decide what we need to do as a result of the outcome of the District Visits Program. Holly McCutchan volunteered to meet with staff. Lauren reminded members at the end of the December board meeting there was a discussion on what day of the week we would meet in 2007. Monday was discussed as an option. After some discussion it was decided to table this decision until the March Meeting when Dave Ellison will be present. NEW BUSINESS: Bonnie reported the Big Creek Watershed Coordinator interviews were this afternoon and will be tomorrow afternoon. She called Lauren to let her know in case she wanted to participate because she had talked to the Posey County supervisors at conference about it. Lauren asked Bonnie for the resumes to look over. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets of an e-mail Bonnie received from Chaz Moore, a member of the Link group from Bosse High School. They want to do another segment on what the SWCD is doing now for our community. Holly McCutchan said she would meet with Chaz and the group to decide what, when, where, etc. Norma reported the Pigeon Highland Steering Committee met on January 25, 2007. She felt they had a good representation from Vanderburgh County, Darrell gave an informative history of the Pigeon Highland Watershed and Chris Lee, NRCS Tech team leader, facilitated the meeting. There were two representatives from Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Bonny Elfritz and Alice Rubin. Jim Droege represented Posey County; we had no representation from Gibson or Warrick. It was decided at the meeting for each person to compile a list of people to contact who they thought would be interested in participating on the Pigeon Highland Steering Committee before the next meeting set for March 8, 2007, 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H Center. Jim Droege suggested applying for a Clean Water Indiana unaware we did apply in 2006. Norma will resubmit the grant this year. Lauren reported she talked to Bob McCormick, Bonny Elfritz and Darrell at Annual conference about sponsoring a workshop for builders/developers to give them some tools they can use like Urban Best Management Practices, pervious concrete, etc. We need to get the Home Builders Association on board to have ownership in the workshop. Lauren has been working with Ray Happe & Sons on a project at Howell Wetland. Ray is president of the Contractors and Jeff is president of the home builders. They are willing to work with us, offer credits for the workshop, etc. Lauren is thinking in terms of January, February or March of 2008 which would give us a full year to plan. She wants to pull a committee together and has a teleconference with Bob McCormick on February 22 at 10:00 a.m. Consensus of the board was to proceed; excellent idea. Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brownfield & Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Tom Niksch passed copies of literature on the Emerald Ash Bore including an APHIS Fact Sheet (Questions and Answers on the Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine), Homeowner Guide to Emerald Ash Borer Treatments and Ash Tree Identification. He informed members and staff on what you need to do to be in compliance with transporting fire wood. He asked members and staff to contact Larry Caplan or himself if you find evidence of the Emerald Ash Bore which is usually right under the bark. Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Holly reported the district needs to purchase a new laptop computer. She passed information Bonnie supplied on the CCE compliant laptop and a sheet listing the items needed to go with the laptop. Bonnie consulted with the NRCS IT specialist.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to purchase the laptop computer with the Holly asked for a motion to order 10 palms at $15.00 each from Zeidler’s Floral for Annual Meeting.
Holly McCutchan made a motion for $150.00 to order palms for Annual Meeting, Holly asked for a motion to pay the Four Rivers RC&D dues for 2007. She reported they brought $32,000 into Vanderburgh County last year and $540,000 into the region.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to pay the 2007 RC&D Dues for $300 Holly asked for two volunteers to audit the district books for 2006. Wayne Fehd and Fred Padget volunteered. They will contact Bonnie to set up a time. Holly asked for a motion to pay the $50.00 fee for each team that signs up from Vanderburgh County to participate in the Envirothon. We currently have two teams from Central High School.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to pay the $50 fee for each team that Holly reported Bonnie had in her notes for this year’s annual meeting we might want to consider magnetic business cards without individual’s names to market the district. After some discussion it was suggested they preferred the clips we had several years ago.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to allow Bonnie to spend up to $250 to Holly reported Bonnie checked to make sure we were on the books at the 4-H Center for Annual Meeting. We were not and they already had the whole building rented out starting at 6:00 a.m. the next day. She worked it out with the director to allow us to have Annual Meeting as planned on the 27th; but the Exposition Hall needed to be set up for the next morning after our meeting ended. They will call in their crew to do the job for $50.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to hire the 4-H Center crew for $50 to District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Wayne Fehd volunteered to contact Wagner Seed & Fertilizer, Daylight Farm Supply, Warrick County Co-op and PVC. Lauren will contact Wild Birds Unlimited and they asked Bonnie to contact Paul Bousman to see if the zoo would donate an admission to the zoo. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets for the State Soil Conservation Boards December draft minutes. She asked members to take them home to read. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets for the Water Quality Specialist’s report. . Darrell Rice reported on January 5, 2007 IDEM okayed the request for Habitat Homes to be built for members of the November 6th tornado. Part of the area is in a wetland. The wetland was mitigated to Bayou Creek. Darrell Rice, District Conservationist’s reported he is still accepting Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) applications. He received 3 Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in the first round and has 5 new ones. County employee time sheets were passed for review and signature. The February meeting will be the Annual Dinner Meeting set for February 27, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Exposition Hall at the 4-H Center. There will be a short business meeting following the Annual Meeting
Wayne Fehd made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m., seconded by
Respectfully Submitted Minutes approved on 2-27-07 Dave Ellison___________________________ Holly McCutchan ______________________________ Les Nunn _____________________________ Lauren Preske ________________________________ Wayne Fehd____________________________ |
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