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Minutes of Regular Meeting
VANDERBURGH COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
(SWCD) Office, Evansville, Indiana
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 23, 2005

Members Present:                                                                                         SWCD Personnel:
Les Nunn, Vice-Chairman                                                                                 Norma Duckworth
Holly McCutchan, Member                                                                               Bonnie Bittner
Lauren Preske, Member
Bill Jeffers, Associate                                                                                         NRCS:
Susan Fowler, Associate                                                                                    Darrell Rice

                                                                                                                          IDNR Personnel:
                                                                                                                          Rob Brown

GUEST: Blaine Oliver, Assistant Director, Area Plan Commission
               Bonny Elifritz, Watershed Specialist, Indiana Department of Environmental Management

The minutes of the February meeting were mailed to each member prior to the meeting.

Les Nunn asked the board to refer to the February financial report. The previous balance 02-01-05 $27,289.31 Receipts, $906.89, Debits $1,798.06 and balance as of 02-28-05 $26,398.14

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

Vice-Chairman Les Nunn welcomed the guests. He asked guests, board members & staff to introduce themselves.

Blaine Oliver gave a presentation on the zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan for Vanderburgh County. Lauren Preske told him the district doesn’t want to dictate what he does; we want to work with Area Plan. There was a discussion on preserving land for open space; Blaine commented you need to find a group to raise money to purchase land to be preserved as open space. Fred Padget said there is a fund in Indiana one can access for development of open space that is rarely used and Indiana returned some of their funds. Holly reported the Scott Twp. Park, through Four Rivers RC&D, tried to purchase adjoining 100 acres with the Indiana funds but they wouldn’t let the land owner match the funds. There is a grant available to preserve forest land which has a due date of May 2^nd. Bonnie was asked to forward the information by e-mail to Blaine Oliver. Blaine reported the building & zoning layers are available in GIS and they are working on the land use layers. Assessor has layers; County Surveyor has contour flood plans, water lines and section points. Fred Padget asked if there is a way to slow development down in Agriculture and outlying areas. Blaine thought that is an education process. The city and county have money and tools to get development in downtown. More developers will be interested once they see a market for loft and infill in city. Fred commented for the time and effort put into the Comprehensive Plan it’s a shame that so many times rezoning is outside the plan and it goes through. Is there something that would put more teeth into it? Blaine suggested talking to the people making the decisions. Indiana state law says all you have to do is consider the plan. Fred said anything you want to do on your personal property you must have city and county approval.

Les thanked Blaine for coming to the board meeting, saying he could stay for the remainder or feel free to leave at anytime.

Due to the fact Les Nunn had to leave at 3:10 p.m. the agenda items that needed a quorum or might need a quorum to vote were taken first; but I am keeping everything in order of the agenda for reporting.

OLD BUSINESS:
Natural Resource Committee: David Ellison/Todd Thomas, Chairpersons
Darrell reported he sat down with Brian Herr to talk about the Tillage Plot and to get materials ready. Bonnie is getting estimates for signs. We will have to get an okay from Area Plan for the signs. Some of the surrounding counties want to get on board and maybe help pay for the signs. FFA classes will help with parking when we have the summer tour.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
Holly reported the Indianapolis Zoo sent two disks with all the graphics on them from "The Great Watershed Journey" and the "Indiana Wetlands Exhibit". Bonnie burned two new CDs and will take them to Diana Barber at Mesker Zoo before the end of this month.

Farmland Preservation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brownfields & Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
Holly reported she met a guy by the name of Toby Days at Annual Conference who said he would be willing to come down and be a presenter at a workshop to help people look at creative ways to solve problem areas that are wet. Holly thought PTI (Professional Technical Institute) might consider offering this as part of their conference for contractors in the fall. It was suggested she contact Roger Lehman because he is the one that decides what classes they need at the PTI workshop. Holly thought while Toby is down here we could possibly have a class at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve for homeowners that evening.

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Bill Watch she signed up for to track the Clean Water Indiana Bill. It is for supervisors’ information.

Finance Committee, Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Bonnie reported the audit committee (Tom Niksch & Wayne Fehd) will be in to complete the audit next week.

Holly asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Leopold Workshop flyer. Holly said Susan Fowler will be presenting the workshop which lasts for six hours plus prep and follow up time. Other counties usually get Pheasants Forever to sponsor the workshop, but since we do not have a chapter here would the board sponsor her. Susan charges $350 which is reasonable since the person in northern IN charges $500 to $1,000. Les suggested in the future we look to civic clubs to sponsor people.

                    Holly made a motion to sponsor Susan Fowler to teach the Leopold Workshop f
                    $350.00 seconded by Lauren Preske and carried.

Susan asked if the board would like to sponsor her to take the Lewis and Clark program into the schools in conjunction with water education. Due to time restraints Les asked her to submit a written proposal at the April board meeting.

Bonnie explained that within the restructuring and downsizing of the National Association of Conservation Districts you have to either order online with a credit card or send in your order with a check and the check must clear before they can mail your materials. The materials were not available until late, so she took advantage of the board giving her permission to spend up to $250, without a prior motion, and ordered the materials Norma needed for the Zoo weekend. The cost of the materials was less than $250.

District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Norma reported she now has an intern working two days a week five hours a day to get the files in order. She is also going to help with Celebrate Conservation at the Zoo and Ag Days. She is working out very well. Lauren asked if she will be putting together education kits. Norma said probably not because the files are the priority at this time. Darrell Rice said he thinks the board should think about a part time intern to work twenty hours a week filling in wherever needed in the office. Les said to work up a proposal.

Norma reported the county commissioner’s meeting covered the changes they want in health insurance.

She said anyone can contact her with suggestions or questions they want brought before the commissioners.

Bonnie asked if anyone had any suggestions or changes they wanted for next year’s annual meeting. Members said if they thought of any they would let her know.

NEW BUSINESS:
Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison/Todd Thomas, Co-Chairpersons
Bonnie asked members to consider who they would like to nominate for River Friendly Farmer this year. The forms are due in June. She said she would also talk to Wayne Fehd, David Ellison and Darrell Rice.

Rob Brown reported the changes at the state level of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) were Harry Nikides and Randy Braun both lost their jobs. They have not been replaced as yet.

Norma reported she will combine the materials she received through the Splash Program and the Backyard Conservation at the Celebrate Conservation at the Zoo program. Holly is going to help on Saturday and Lauren and Susan will check their schedules.

Norma will be doing a program with Rick Obenshain for Earth Day at Evans School on April 22^nd. She will be unable to attend the Earth Day at Howell Wetlands because of her obligations at Evans School. Holly said she will check her schedule and try to attend.

Vanderburgh County SWCD is hosting the Envirothon on April 12^th at the 4-H Center. We have two teams from Central.

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

Farmland Preservation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brownfield and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
Les asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the supplement IDEM 319 Grant. Board members asked Bonny Elifritz why we have been turned down twice for Locust Creek Grants. She said she will sit down with people in Indianapolis to see what is going on and where the gaps are in our proposals. She will meet with Norma and go over what we need to do.

Bill Jeffers asked if she thought it was worth applying for a grant for Harper Ditch; he has $100,000 he can put towards the project. Bonny gave him her card so he could talk further with her.

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie asked members to refer to copies in their packet of an e-mail on a national bottle tax for Clean Water to be read at their convenience.

There is also a legislative update from Dean Farr, Executive Director/IASWCD on HB1431 Clean Water Indiana update and the possibility of the Division of Soil Conservation moving from IDNR to a new Department of Agriculture.

Members were asked to read at their convenience a position letter written by Gene Weaver, President of IASWCD to Andy Miller, Assistant Commissioner in the Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Anne Hazlett, Chief of Staff, Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Holly reported petty cash is in order and asked for members to initial the report.

Darrell and Bonnie asked the board if they would consider purchasing the district a projector to use in power point presentations. At this time we borrow one either from the Extension Service or Area Office. After some discussion staff will do some research and present it at the April board meeting.

Norma asked members to refer to copies of a letter in their packets on the Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute. Bonnie had brochures if anyone was interested. Norma reported it was the best conference she has ever attended and well worth anyone’s time.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets of Rob Brown and Amy Steeples’ report. Feel free to contact either one with questions or concerns. Rob commented there are a lot of subdivisions in bad shape; he called Lynn Miller and recommended that he should send letters of non-compliance.

Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets of Norma’s report, the inspection log and the mileage log. Norma commented Rob is excellent help and has a good grasp of what needs to be done. We have received nine erosion control plans in the last couple of weeks. Things are going reasonable well under the circumstances. She expressed losing Randy Braun at the state level is a great loss to the partnership. Lauren complimented Norma on the way she presents her written report.

Darrell Rice, District Conservationist, NRCS reported we now have the soil survey on CD. We have about 50 CDs to pass out; after they are gone the district will either have to burn CD’s or have it done. He has a couple of pip structure projects. There are seventeen applications for Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) amounting to $274,000 and twelve were funded at a cost of $225,000; largest in southern Indiana. We have one Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) approved and are currently working on a Wetland Project with Stanley Hall School students at Angel Mounds. Darrell asked supervisor to sign farm plans for:

County employee time sheets were passed for review and signature.

The April meeting was set for April 27, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the Vanderburgh County SWCD conference room.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

                                                                                                               Respectfully Submitted
                                                                                                               Bonnie Bittner
                                                                                                               Executive Assistant

Minutes approved on 4-27-05

David Ellison _________________________

Les Nunn _____________________________

Wayne Fehd _________________________

Holly McCutchan _________________________

Lauren Preske _________________________

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