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Minutes of Regular Meeting
VANDERBURGH COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
(SWCD) Office, Evansville, Indiana
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Present:                                                                                                     SWCD Personnel:
Les Nunn, Vice Chairman                                                                            Bonnie Bittner
Holly McCutchan, Member
Lauren Preske, Member                                                                              NRCS Personnel:
                                                                                                                   Darrell Rice

Les Nunn chaired the June board meeting. The minutes of the May meeting were mailed to each member prior to the meeting.

A motion was made by Lauren Preske to approve the minutes of the
May, 2005 meeting, seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried.

Les asked the Treasurer to read the May financial report, which showed a previous balance on 5-01-05 of $25,889.71, Receipts, $268.64, Debits $254.34 and balance as of 5-31-05 $25,904.01.

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

The following claims were submitted for Supervisors’ approval:
W4167 Linda Powell (Intern/22 hrs. @ $5.15)                                                                 $113.30
W4174 Susan Fowler (Leopold Workshop Facilitator)                                                     $350.00
W4175 Holly McCutchan (Camp Gallahue/Hotel Advanced Deposit 1^st Night)                   $71.04
NOTE: the Auditor paid the following claims
Norma Duckworth (Leadership Development/Gas, Food & Hotel)                                     $117.62
Bonnie Bittner (Box Stop/Mail 3 posters to Indianapolis)                                                        $9.92
Cingular (Cell Phone)                                                                                                           $19.19
Bonnie Bittner (Jasonville & Indy Meetings/food & Hotel)                                                     $95.58
Vanderburgh County Highway Dept (Gas)                                                                            $18.45
Budget Signs Company, Inc. (24’x7’Banner)                                                                        $84.00
Smith & Butterfield (3 boxes copy paper)                                                                             $80.70

Finance Chairman, Holly McCutchan reviewed the claims stating she recommends the claims be approved.

Holly McCutchan made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Lauren Preske,
and carried.

Les Nunn chaired through all business that needed a motion first because he had another commitment. Lauren ran the rest of the meeting; I am keeping business in order of the agenda.

Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison & Todd Thomas, Co-Chairpersons
Darrell reported the Tillage Plot looks great and the Tillage Tour will be August 16^th from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Bonnie called to get three bids for tent, tables & chairs. We signed a contract with Bauer; they had the best price. We have one sign ordered and are working on the other sign. Barry Fisher will be a speaker. Posey, Warrick and possibly Gibson will help with the expenses.

Rob reported Pickin’ on the Pigeon went very well. The SWCD booth was very well attended. Linda Powell demonstrated the Enviroscape (borrowed from Posey County SWCD) which shows how rain affects pesticides, fertilizer and soil leaving the site and traveling to our streams. This was accomplished with green and red kool-aide and cocoa powder. She let children spray the landscape to simulate rain. After experiencing how rain travels on top of the ground then participants watched as Darrell Rice demonstrated how ground water and whatever is in it affects underground wells. He accomplished this with food coloring in the water. The groundwater display box was on loan from the Regional office of Indiana Department of Environmental Management located in Petersburg. Also about 60 people took canoe rides on Garvin Lake.

Bonnie reported she left a messaged at Keep Evansville Beautiful office for the new director (Ann Ennis to call after she settles in her position which started day of June board meeting. She called that morning and said she is looking forward to meeting with the board and partnering. She will attend the July board meeting.

Lauren reported she has a possible project that would enable SWCD to partner with the parks department. She will bring it before the board if and when it works.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
Holly McCutchan reported Bonnie set up a Backyard Conservation Display booth at the Scott Twp Park Grand Opening on June 4^th. Vanderburgh Co. SWCD was recognized for their efforts to put Park officials in touch with the right people to organize and form the park. Dave Elgin and Rick Obenshain were recognized for taking the park under the Four River RC&D umbrella, writing the bi-laws, etc. The SWCD booth had handouts for participants interested in turning their backyards into a habitat for wildlife and eliminating the need for so much grass mowing. Coloring and puzzle books were given to the children to help them understand the importance of our soil and water.

Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
The Orphan Well Brine Day was sponsored by eight Southwest SWCDs, Four Rivers RC&D, IDNR/ Division of Oil & Gas, Indiana Oil & Gas Association and the Southwest Indiana Brine Coalition. What appeared to be a pristine rural pond, after draining the water was a gooey sludge pit that presented an environmental hazard. Darrell explained how they normally remediate an abandoned site and how they remediated the sludge pit. They were first told to haul the sludge to the landfill (approximate cost $50,000). Working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for remediation of the sludge in a pit was considered the best option. The sludge was mixed with hay and fertilizer to give the bacteria the nutrients it needs; it also needs oxygen so they stir the pit about once a month. At the time of the field day they could already stand in the middle of the sludge pit to give presentations. The cost will be $5,000 and they will eventually be able to farm the area. Great Job!

Bonnie reported she scheduled a meeting for staff with Bob McCormick on August 12^th at 10:00 a.m. in the office conference room. Bob will talk with us about the Smart Growth conference they put on in Porter and Lake Counties. Any supervisors that can are encouraged to attend.

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Resolution form. Anyone wanting to submit a resolution to the Indiana Association of Soil & Water Districts (IASWCD) should do so by August 1^st.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Bonnie reported she did a search on the internet for the best projectors that were $2,000 or less, 1800 lumens or more and the lamp lasted at lease 2,000 hours. The Infocus LP600 met all the criteria. She will call or e-mail the companies to talk with them and give our Tax ID number.

Lauren Preske made a motion to let Bonnie spend up to $1600 for a projector,
seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried.

Bonnie asked for a motion to send Dave Ellison and herself to the NACD North Central Region Meeting in Ft. Wayne, IN

Holly McCutchan made a motion to send Dave and Bonnie to the NACD
North Central Region Conference seconded by Lauren Preske and carried.

Bonnie asked members to read the letter in their packets from President of IASWCD Gene Weaver encouraging districts to attend the NACD NC Region Meeting.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Bonnie reported Andy Miller, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Director is not available to speak at our Annual Meeting. She asked if they would like his Deputy Director, Beth Bechdol. Board agreed Beth or Gail Peas, Director of the Division of Soil Conservation would be their choices.

Bonnie asked members to take a look at the banner, the district ordered from Budget Signs, hanging on the wall in the conference room. The banner hung on the front of the table at Pickin’ On The Pigeon.

Bonnie reported for Norma that our intern, Linda Powell has about four hours left to work.

Board directed Bonnie to tell Norma to be sure and list all the booths and education programs we have held or participated in the last month or two at the next County Commission meeting.

Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison & Todd Thomas, Co-Chairperson
SWCD will give founders of Scott Twp Park an award plaque at Annual Meeting. The name of the award and who will present it will be determined.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
Bonnie asked board members and staff to think about who could be contacted to donate matching money for the project Four Rivers RC&D has put together to add acreage to the Scott Twp. Park. Les Nunn said he will send the name of the person to contact at the Rotary Club Meeting that is held at noon on Tuesday. Westside Nut Club and Toyota was also suggested.

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

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Holly reported Petty Cash was in order and asked members to initial the report. Holly asked for a motion to replenish Petty Cash.

Lauren Preske made a motion to replenish petty cash for $35.74, seconded by
Holly McCutchan and carried.

            Lauren Preske made a motion to pay the Soil and Water Conservation
            Society dues ($75) for Norma Duckworth, seconded by Holly McCutchan
            and carried.

Bonnie reported Norma would like to replenish her River Watch Supplies and would like for a motion up to $150.00 for that purpose.

Lauren made a motion to allow up to $150.00 for replenishing the River Watch
Supplies, seconded by Holly McCutchan and carried.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Bonnie reported Great Mid-Western Publishing Co., Inc. would like for the district to sign a new contract so they can begin work on an updated plat book.

Lauren Preske made a motion for the contract to be signed, seconded by
Holly McCutchan and carried.

Les Nunn, Vice-Chairman signed the contract; Bonnie will copy and mail it to Great Mid-Western Publishing Co., Inc.

Rob Brown, Resource Specialist, Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), asked members to refer to copies in their packets for his report of activities. He commented on his new ISDA stationery. Rob also commented he participated in a conference call with Gail Peas, the Director of the Division of Soil Conservation under the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets for Norma Duckworth’s, Water Quality Specialist, report. Any questions or comments either call or e-mail Norma.

Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets for the Inspection and Mileage Logs.

Darrell Rice, District Conservationist, reported he completed the status reviews. The project at Angel Mounds was planted. He finished water and sediment projects for Indiana Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). He also made some EQIP payment to clients. We now have 4,000 acres of no-till through EQIP.

The county employee time sheets were passed for review and board member signatures.

The July meeting was set for July 20, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Vanderburgh County SWCD conference room. The board meeting was moved up a week because Bonnie will be on vacation the last week in July. She will put the date on the website, send a memo to all media and send a letter to the board meeting date database.

Les Nunn _________________________________ Holly McCutchan ______________________

Wayne Fehd ______________________________ Lauren Preske __________________________