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Home 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Present:
SWCD Personnel: GUEST: Blair Borries, Americorp, working with Canoe Evansville Les Nunn chaired the meeting because Chairman David Ellison was on his way from a meeting in Indianapolis. The minutes of the November 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
November, Les asked the board to refer to the November & December financial report. The
previous balance 11-1-04 $34,052.35, A motion
was made by Wayne Fehd, seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried, NOVEMBER CLAIMS DECEMBER CLAIMS
Finance Chairperson, Holly McCutchan reviewed the claims and said they were all in order.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Les welcomed our guest Blair Borries and asked each member of board and staff to introduce themselves. Blair said he gets a stipend from the federal government and works for Wesselman Woods Nature Center and Canoe Evansville. OLD BUSINESS: Bonnie reported Farney Farms (Eugene and Frank Farney) are the Conservation Farmers for 2005. James and Sylvester Elpers are the Master Farmers of 2005. Darrell interviewed the the Farneys on Monday and will interview the Elpers on Friday. Lauren reminded the board that sponsoring a canoe was discussed at the November meeting when Amy Brown gave her presentation. Members & staff wanted time to think about it and discuss the possibilities with some of our partners. Bonnie reported the feedback she got when discussing this sponsorship with Ken Eck, DNR and Dean Farr, IASWCD. Board feels this is an opportunity to teach children about Water Quality and view sponsoring a canoe with our name on it as a way to market the district. The media shows up when children are involved. Lauren attended a Canoe Evansville meeting; she and they want the district to partner with Canoe Evansville to get projects on the land for Pigeon Creek. There was a discussion on the technical aspects of Pigeon Creek, i.e. property owners own to middle of Pigeon Creek, there are specific spots where the canoes can be put in the water etc. The plan with Canoe Evansville and the district is to work with landowners, residents, have a workshop for businesses on Pigeon Creek and get a brochure out to residents. They will be meeting to work out the details.
Lauren made a motion to sponsor a canoe with our logo and name on it for Norma discussed what she has already done to meet the action item for January 2005 in the business plan. She taught a three hour class put on for developers by the Professional Training Institute (PTI). She also gives presentations to Engineers and/or contractors in the office as needed. We use the website and newsletter to keep the public updated and will continue to do so. Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Tom Niksch, Chairperson Farmland Preservation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Land Use Committee – Phil Hoy, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee, Holly McCutchan, Chairperson District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Norma asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the county commissioner report she gave in December. She attended the commissioners meeting on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. It was a round table with the commissioners and department heads. She gave them each a letter inviting them and a guest to our Annual Meeting (2 complimentary tickets). They want her to attend as often as she can to report. They want Bonnie and Norma to e-mail their time sheets, weekly reports and travel requests to BJ Farrell at this time. Eventually the commissioners want to have laptops and then we will e-mail directly to them. She told them DNR hired a Resource Specialist who will be helping her on Rule 5 part of the time. Jon Martin (Evansville Courier/Press) wants to meet with Norma and do an article on the district and what we do. One issue was discussed that Norma didn’t feel it appropriate to correct the information given. Fred Padget thought she should set the record straight because the County Officials can’t be on top of all the rules and laws. He cited an example. Norma said she agreed and would do it at a more appropriate time. Board members gave her some items they thought important for her to report at the next meeting. Wayne Fehd asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the IASWCD Insurance Policy. Bonnie asked members to read them when they had time and if they had any questions or comments to e-mail or call her. She thinks between the IASWCD insurance and the county coverage we are okay. Wayne asked members to refer to copies in their packets of an e-mail from Harry Nikides, director of DNR giving the Division of Soil Conservation Updates. It’s an FYI piece. Rob added, they hired five new people with his being one of them. They now have the rest of the positions they need posted for hiring. Les asked for any comments on Annual Conference. Lauren reported she and Holly talked to Krista Hardin, CEO of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) about what districts should do to polish their image and get the word out about what we do. Her suggestions was meet with the County Commissioners, get some articles in the paper, always be positive, always be truthful, give presentations to civic organizations and the school board. Get the word out who we are, what we do and where we are going. Lauren and Holly are meeting next week to work on a presentation that supervisors can take to different groups. Bonnie will get a list of civic organizations. NEW BUSINESS: Darrell asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). Indiana received an initial allotment of ¼ million dollars for the program for fiscal year 2005. The FRPP‘s objective is to assist eligible sponsoring organizations in acquiring conservation easements that protect topsoil by limiting conversion of productive farmland to nonagricultural uses. Bonnie asked supervisors to sign the Locust Locust Creek Lake and River Enhancement Program grant. Les asked members to refer to copies in their packets for the Summary Report for Clean Water Indiana Program Accomplishments. This report summarizes the use of the $1 million appropriated by the Indiana General in 2001 from the Build Indiana Fund for the Clean Water Indiana Program. Of the $1 million provided soil and water conservation districts utilized over $830,000 to implement the local water quality improvement projects highlighted in the report. Vanderburgh Co. SWCD used their money for a project at the Mesker Zoo and Howell Wetland. The balance of the funds are being held to provide a portion of the required state matching funds for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) proposal which the state anticipates USDA will fund yet this year. Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Tom Niksch, Chairperson Sam Carmen, Education Director (IDNR) Division of Forestry sent an excel spreadsheet asking district boards to contact organizations or individuals to see if they want to be involved in addressing non-native invasive plants in the Midwest. Tom Niksch asked Bonnie to e-mail him the spreadsheet and he would take care of it. Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the letter the district received from Larry Payne, Director, Cooperative Forestry (USDA Forest Service) and Krysta Harden, CEO, NACD. They signed a Woody Biomass Utilization Memorandum of Understanding to join forces in expanding the involvement of Conservation Districts and in developing local solutions for using trees to produce energy and improve forest health. Darrell asked Les to sign the two buffer strip cost share program contracts for the district on Gene Koester and KBS Farms LLC, Chris Kolb member. Farmland Preservation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Land Use Committee – Vacant, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson House Bill 1341 (Funding for Clean Water Indiana) was heard today, 10:30 a.m., at the Natural Resources Committee, room 156-C in the state house. Members asked Bonnie to keep them updated. Finance Committee –Todd Thomas, Chairperson Holly made a motion to replenish
Petty Cash for $50.00, seconded Holly, Norma and Bonnie met with Cris Cottom to discuss what the district could do to help the city with MS4s. Holly had talked to a Dexter School class and the neighborhood association about storm drain marking. She asked Cris several questions on what he preferred. She is currently trying to determine how many storm drains are in the area. Members told Bonnie to put it back on the agenda in February. Bonnie asked for 10 palms at $12.50 each from Zeidler’s Floral for Annual Meeting. Holly made
a motion for $125.00 to order palms for Annual Meeting, Holly reported our RC&D dues ($300) for 2005 are due. Dave
Ellison made a motion to pay the RC&D dues for $300, seconded Bonnie reported we need one representative for the RC&D council. Wayne Fehd volunteered. Lauren asked Bonnie to contact the clerk’s office to see what she needed to do to be sworn in to represent the County Commissioners on the RC&D council. Holly asked for a motion to pay NACD $150 for website hosting for 2005 Dave
Ellison made a motion to pay NACD $150 for 2005 website hosting, Holly reported the Southwest Indiana Crop Seminar put on by Purdue Cooperative Extension Service – Dubois County on March 10, 2005 is asking for assistance from districts. They are asking for sponsorship of $65.00. After some discussion David
Ellison made a motion to Sponsor the Southwest Indiana Crop seminar District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Bonnie asked for a volunteer or volunteers to be Master of Ceremonies at Annual Meeting. Lauren Preske and Darrell Rice volunteered. Les asked members to refer to copies in their packets of a grant writing seminar on March 2, 2005, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Johnson County. Anyone interested should contact Bonnie to make reservations. Holly said she would like to take it to the Friends of Scott Township Park Meeting. Dates for the 2005 board meeting will be on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 2:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Vanderburgh County SWCD office. The February meeting will be a short one after the Annual Meeting at the 4-H Center in the Exposition Hall. Bonnie will send out notices to the media. Les asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Spring Training Workshop for supervisors and staff. Bonnie asked member to put March 1, 2005 on their calendars for this workshop. There is a draft agenda included in the packets, more information will follow in the days to come. Les asked members to refer to the IDNR Resource Specialist’s report in their packets; any questions e-mail or call Amy Steeples. Les also asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Water Quality Specialist report, inspection report and mileage log. Any questions e-mail to Norma or call her. Darrell Rice reported he has been talking to clients in Pike and Vanderburgh County about the Conservation Security Program. He gave a power point presentation in Owensboro to Miles Farm Supplies. He will be meeting with Brian Herr and Allen Stahl for an update on the tillage plot. Board asked him to put an article in the April newsletter. County employee time sheets were passed for review and signature. Holly reported she is working with Susan Fowler to put on a multi county Leipold workshop at the Scott Township Park. She is advertising it at USI. They target SWCD educators, high school students and adults. They may put one on again the first of June for EVSC teachers. Bonnie asked for a motion to pay Norma’s renewal in EEAI for $25.
Holly made a motion to pay Norma’s renewal in EEAI for $25, The February meeting will be the Annual Meeting set for February 22, 2005 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.
Les Nunn made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:30 p.m., seconded by
Bonnie Bittner Minutes approved on 2-22-05 Dave Ellison___________________________________ Wayne Fehd___________________________________ Holly McCutchan ______________________________ Les Nunn _____________________________________ Lauren Preske __________________________________
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