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Board Minutes Present:
SWCD Personnel: GUESTS: Dwayne Caldwell, Environmental Supervisor, Vanderburgh County
Health Department and his daughter Brianna Lauren Preske chaired the meeting until Chairman David Ellison arrived. The minutes of the June meeting were mailed to each member prior to the meeting.
A motion was made by Holly McCutchan to approve the minutes of the June 22, 2004 Lauren asked Bonnie to give the June financial report. The previous balance 6-1-04 $30,954.11, Receipts, $137.63, Debits $1,380 and balance as of 6-30-04 $29,711.74.
A motion was made by Wayne Fehd, seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried,
The following claims were submitted for Supervisors’ approval:
W4077 Department Natural Resources (Tree License) $50.00 W4078 Purdue University (Summer Splash Registrations/4) $810.00 W4079 Charles Rexing (Buffer Strip Program) $520.00 NOTE: The Auditor paid the following claims Verizon Wireless (Cell Phone Bill) $31.55 Norma Duckworth (Mileage/Fort Harrison) $122.92 Bonnie Bittner (Mileage/Indy/Access Class) $114.24 Bonnie Bittner Hotel/Access Class) $86.11 Bonnie Bittner (Mileage/Princeton/2 Telephone Conference) $11.62 Finance Chairman, Holly McCutchan reviewed the claims stating she recommended the claims be approved. She passed the claims register for board signatures. She also passed a claim register listing all claims sent to the auditor for the board to review and sign.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to approve the June claims, seconded by Holly Lauren asked Dwayne Caldwell to introduce himself and his daughter. She asked board members and staff to do the same. Mr. Caldwell described his program and answered questions. Holly asked what he felt was the main problem he deals with in his job. Dwayne said, "Septic systems"; he has about 1200 complaints a year in the city and county. The old septic systems worked fine when people were isolated but with the growth Evansville is experiencing that is no longer the case. The poor soil conditions for septic also compounds the problem. Lauren asked if Water Quality because of septic has been assessed. Mr. Caldwell said he didn’t have the staff. Fred Padget asked how much of the city is not served by sewer. Mr. Caldwell said he would guess 5-10%. Holly asked how open he would be to experimental systems if we could get a grant. He said he is very willing to work with us and has put in quite a few experimental systems. He works through the State Department for approval and they do approve the experimental systems. After much discussion it was decided SWCD would make their top priority Education and pursue a grant for a demonstration plot. Holly said she would call Mr. Caldwell when we hear about a grant. Dave thanked Mr. Caldwell for his time and said we would be in touch. OLD BUSINESS: Dave thanked Brian for coming and said they would see him in August. Lauren passed copies of the Sustainable Evansville invitation letter, asking members to please try to attend this meeting on August 4, 2004 at the 4-H center, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. She said the district is listed as a sponsor on all advertising pieces and she would like for the district to provide name tags, drinks and cookies. After some discussion
Dave Ellison made a motion to furnish refreshments and name tags for the Bonnie reported Danny Kercher, River Friendly Farmer for 2004 called and was very excited about the presentation at the Indiana State Fair. He is trying to get a substitute to take his bus route so he can attend. Darrell asked member to refer to copies in their packets of the 2004 Tillage Transect Data. He also passed a map showing the GPS points. He explained they had to stop before they got to the bottoms because of flooding. He explained when you drop points your data drops making it look like we aren’t doing a good job. The Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) grant for Locust Creek was turned down due to limited funds. They encouraged us to apply again next year. Holly McCutchan reported she talked with Diana Barber at the Mesker Zoo and she is very excited about the Indianapolis Zoo giving us the display. She would like to get the graphics right away and recreate the display so she can use it in the burned out area in 2005. They have no money but the work could be done on site with zoo maintenance people. We can contact Friends of Mesker to see if they can help finance the exhibit. It would be good to partner with the Greenway, Howell Park and Wesselman Woods. Paul Bousman is using a pervious pavement on the new parking lot. Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Phil Hoy, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson District Operation Committee – Chairperson Norma asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the report she presented to the commissioners. Lauren asked Bonnie to put District accomplishments on the agenda each month. Bonnie asked members to review a letter from the IASWCD president on the insurance from the association and what it covers. She asked Dennis Feldhaus to send a memo giving us an overview of what the county insurance covers. Bonnie asked members to refer to copies in their packets of a letter and certificate from the Food Bank thanking the district for donating the computer. Lauren said she wanted to wait until after the Sustainable Evansville meeting to ask Joe Tutterow to speak at our Annual Meeting. Staff could review the material on August 4th and report at the August 24th board meeting if they think the material will work well for Annual Meeting. NEW BUSINESS Darrell asked Chairman Dave Ellison to sign a Diversion/Waterway Plan for Darrell Adler and a Sod Buster Plan for Steve Luigs. Darrell asked board if they would allow cleaning out and seeding a gradient terrace running around a farm in the Buffer Strip Program. Amy thought it would be a good use for water quality before going into Barr Creek. Board agreed. Darrell will take an application on the project. Darrell reported Edwin is working on Succession changes for Gene Seib, Joyce McDurmon & Lucy Schmitt. He has to recreate the paper work with the new names on it. The "After the Storm" video was tabled until another meeting. It was also suggested anyone who would like to see it could borrow it from the office. Dave Ellison asked members to read at their leisure the reports in their packets on Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) updates and the CREP Funding for Pigeon Creek Watershed. Darrell asked board if they wanted to be included as a partner in the proposal sent to Toyota asking for $100,000 to match the CREP funds. Board said to tell Gibson Co. SWCD yes. Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Phil Hoy, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Holly reported the Indiana District Employees Association (IDEA) was sponsoring a workshop (Managing for a Higher Purpose) on September 22nd from 9:00 to 4:00 in the Daviess County Public Library. Cost is $10 for members. . The IDEA dues for 2005 are due with registration. This is $10 per employee.
Dave Ellison made a motion to send Bonnie and Norma to the September workshop IDEA’s fall workshop will be on October 26 & 27, 2004 in West Lafayette. The cost is $85 for members and Rooms are $65 plus tax Norma was out of the room so Dave said to table this one and put it on the August agenda. Holly asked for a motion to pay the Westside Improvement Dues for 2004.
Dave Ellison made a motion to pay the WIA dues for 2004 ($25), Holly asked members to refer to copies in their packets from Harry Nikides concerning the state funds to districts. Harry explained the checks would be cut and sent soon. Holly asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Leveraging sheet. Fred Padget asked why the money the county gives the district was figured in the equation. Bonnie said she would inquire and get back with him. District Operation Committee –, Chairperson Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Update from Executive Director of the state association, a letter from the IASWCD president and Amy Steeples’ monthly report. Norma pointed out the only discrepancy in her report was she did not make it to the storm water meeting with the mayor. On Thursday we have to send in our reports before noon for the week. She intended to make the meeting but some site visits took much longer than expected. Darrell reported he has three applications for the Grassland Reserve Program. Mike and Todd Thomas; the third one is Tim Hughs. He also reported he and Edwin met with representatives of Preston Farms in Henderson, KY. They have millions of dollars to invest; Mike Sandefur ask if he would come over and go over the federal programs with them. Darrell said he would like to hire a summer intern in 2005 for June July and August. He asked the board if they thought the county would fund the position for $3,000. Eugene Kuehn, a student at USI is interested. The county employee time sheets were passed for review and signature. The August meeting was set for August 24, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Vanderburgh County SWCD conference room. Norma reminded the board we wanted to meet at the Zoo for a conservation tour including our Clean Water Indiana Project. She will check with Dan McGuin and Paul Bousman and Bonnie will let board members know.
Holly McCutchan made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 p.m., The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Bittner Minutes approved on August 24, 2004 by David R Ellison _______________________ Wayne Fehd___________________________ Phil Hoy ____________________________ Holly McCutchan_________________________ Lauren Preske_____________________________ |
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