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Minutes of Regular
Meeting Present:
SWCD Personnel: GUESTS: Heidi Doss, Naturalist The minutes of the July meeting were mailed to each member prior to the meeting.
A motion was made by Wayne Fehd to approve the minutes of the July 27, 2005 Les Nunn asked Bonnie to read the July financial report, which showed a balance of $22,423.88 on 7-1-05, Receipts, $100.51, Debits $1,626.28 and a balance as of 7-31-05 of $22,898.11.
A motion was made by Holly McCutchan, seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried,
The following claims were submitted for Supervisors’ approval:
W4180 Indiana Department of Revenue (April/May/June Sales Tax) $6.30 Wired Butterfly Photo (Projector/Money wired to Bank of America) $1,619.98 NOTE: The Auditor paid the following claims Bonnie Bittner (Mileage/Ft. Wayne) $179.40 Cingular Wireless (Cell Phone) $19.16 Bonnie Bittner (Reimbursement/Water for Program & NACD NC Conference Hotel) $338.56 Budget Sign Company, Inc. (Signs for Tillage Plot) $875.00 Finance Chairman Holly McCutchan reviewed the claims stating they were in order.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Holly McCutchan, Darrell Rice, District Conservationist introduced Nick Fellows, Soil Conservationist (New Employee) to board and staff. Nick attended Purdue University, interned in NRCS offices for three summers and started in the Vanderburgh County office as a Soil Conservationist on August 15th. Holly McCutchan introduced Heidi Doss a Naturalist she met at the Leopold Workshop and asked her if she would like to attend a board meeting. Heidi stated she grew up in Rushville, IN and after college worked for the National Park Service in several states. She is now the stay at home mom to a three year old little boy. She is very interested in what the district does and wants to attend the board meetings. Les welcomed her and asked staff and board members to introduced themselves to Nick and Heidi. OLD BUSINESS: Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison/Todd Thomas, Co-Chairpersons Darrell reported they have two names to submit for Master Farmer: Alvin Gries, Sr and Fred Bumb. Two names for Conservation Farmer: Ray J. Rexing and George Seib. They are each deserving; Darrell wanted to know if board wanted to make the decision or let committee decide which one. The board members were in consensus to let the committee decided and proceed.
BUSINESS PLAN
July – No Action items August – Schedule Farmland Preservation Day (regional) handout packet by August 2005 Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Norma reported the Blazer quit on her at County Garage after filling up with gas. She was able to get back to the office after the staff at County Garage jumped the battery. She made an appointment with Muensterman's Garage; they put a new alternator on the Blazer and glued the mirror back on. Bill for $212.35 was passed for supervisors to review. District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Les reported he manned the booth at the fair during the day and no one was there. Holly demonstrated the Ground Water Display the night she attended. Wayne Fehd said he was there several nights; he listed the handout items that were most popular and made suggestions for next year. Norma reported she told the County Commissioners about water testing with the district intern Linda Powell and the Grant she is writing for Locust Creek. Commissioner Musgrave asked who was doing Rule 5 since Rob can’t. Norma told her she has always done Rule five and still is doing Rule 5. It was suggested the Tillage Plot be presented next time. NEW BUSINESS Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison/Todd Thomas, Co-Chairpersons Norma reported on the Clarification, Construction Component (Rule 5 MS4) letter sent to districts by Martha Clark Mettler, Acting Assistant Commissioner. She asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the letter. She feels IDEM is giving SWCD as much backing as they can. IDEM said no in this letter to a self regulating program, the law does include a provision to allow an MS4 to review their own plans internally after one year of compliance, Projects that occur within the MS4 boundaries and regulated through the MS4 ordinance are required to comply with the local ordinance and in addition to submittals required by the MS4, a project site owner must continue to file a NOI with IDEM. After some discussion of surrounding counties wanting plan review training from Norma, it was decided she already has more than enough to do so consensus was to get someone down here for training. Les Nunn asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the letter from the Indiana State Soil Conservation Board stating that Gail Peas, director of the Division of Soil Conservation handed in her resignation letter citing personal reasons. Norma reported Darrell Rice has the site for the Soil Judging contest but it is kept a secret until day of when the teachers are given directions. George McElrath, Resource Soil Scientist from Clark County will assist us in the Posey, Vanderburgh, and Gibson County Soil Judging Contest on September 13, 2005 Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Holly made a motion to send Bonnie to Indy for a Legislative Committee Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Holly asked for a motion to replenish petty cash for $20.94.
Dave Ellison made a motion to replenish petty cash for $20.94, Norma asked for a motion to send her to the Watershed Quality Workshop.
Dave Ellison made a motion to send Norma to the Watershed Holly reported our table top display is in disrepair and we need a new one. Bonnie saw a nice one at the NACD North Central Region Meeting in Fort Wayne and asked the secretary to send her some information on it. The information was passed for board and staff to review. After some discussion
Dave Ellison made a motion to appropriate $335 for a new table top display Holly asked members to refer to copies in their packet of information sent by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture concerning the $10,000. Bonnie sent in the claim forms and we should be receiving the money anytime. Holly asked members to refer further down in the same e-mail copy for a Rule 5 distribution update. The State Soil Conservation Board approved the disbursement of funds to Districts that covers what is owed from July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2004. As soon as the funds are freed up and transferred they will be sent to districts. District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Darrell reported he did a Highly Erodible Land (HEL) determination on Kenneth Martin and needed the chairman’s signature. Staff reported Rob Brown, Resource Specialist was informed at an Indiana State Department of Ag meeting in Indianapolis that the Resource Specialists do not have to attend board meetings unless it is important that they be in attendance and they do not have to submit written reports to supervisors anymore. Supervisors asked what their duties would be now. Darrell reported they are technicians that will assist NRCS with the survey, etc. for the farm bill programs. They will form tech teams like the NRCS tech teams. They have been told not to assist with Rule 5 any longer. Norma reported she is trying to go out on Thursday’s to do water monitoring. She wants to set up additional sites and Bonny Elifritz said we could possible get a grant for this. She asked for the supervisors’ opinion about putting the results on our website. After some discussion it was decided to mention it on the website and ask interested parties to call the office for more information. Inspection Site Log and Mileage Log were included in member’s packets for review. Shirley James asked for data at the Greenway Meeting and wants to use the HACH Kit. She suggested sewer department give us release of CSOs. Mr. Lawson will be attending our September board meeting. She also wanted district to set up a meeting with Dan Buck she can’t get him to return a call. She wants to talk to him about Amherst at the corner of Oakhill and Lynch which Mr. Buck turned over to Jagoe. Norma told her she can only monitor erosion control she cannot make a meeting between the two parties happen. Darrell reported all the farm programs are running full steam ahead. He got the NRCS logo on the Tillage Plot sign. He would also like to get signs up at Howell Park and the Zoo denoting the districts projects with CWI money. Staff will look into it and get back to the board. County employee’s time sheets were passed for review and signature. The next meeting will be on September 28, 2005 in the conference room of the Vanderburgh County SWCD office. Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Bittner Minutes approved on September 28, 2005 by David Ellison _______________________________ Les Nunn___________________________________ Wayne Fehd_________________________________ Holly McCutchan _____________________________ Lauren Preske_________________________________ |
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