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Minutes of Regular Meeting
VANDERBURGH COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
(SWCD) Office, Evansville, Indiana
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Present:                                                                                                                     SWCD Personnel:
Dave Ellison, Chairman                                                                                                Norma Duckworth
Phil Hoy, Vice Chairman                                                                                              Bonnie Bittner
Wayne Fehd, Member
Holly McCutchan, Member                                                                                          NRCS Personnel:
Lauren Preske, Member                                                                                              Darrell Rice
Susan Fowler, Associate
Tom Niksch, Associate                                                                                                IDNR Personnel:
                                                                                                                                   Amy Steeples

GUEST: Amy Brown, Canoe Evansville
                Steve Marling, IDNR, District Forester

Chairman Dave Ellison conducted the meeting starting with introductions of the guest and everyone giving their name and how they are connected to the district.

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

A motion was made by Holly McCutchan to approve the minutes of the October,
2004 meeting, seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried.

The minutes were passed for board members signature.

Dave Ellison asked Bonnie to give the November financial report, which showed the previous balance 10-1-04 $35,934.47, Receipts, $631.36, Debits $2,515.81 and balance as of 10-31-04 $34,052.35.

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

The following claims for October were submitted for supervisor approval:
W4106Vanderburgh 4-H (Table Covering Annual Meeting2005)                                     $15.00
W4107Norma Duckworth (Gas)                                                                                     $20.00
W4108Cingular Wireless (Cell Phone)                                                                             $19.11
W4109Oaks Printing, Inc. (October Newsletter)                                                            $888.17
W4110 Woody Warehouse (Trees & Delivery Charges)                                             $1,190.00
W4103 Smith & Butterfield (3 boxes Copy Paper)                                                           $80.70
W4100 Indiana Department of Revenue (Third Quarter Sales Tax)                                   $65.22
W4099 Post Office (October Newsletter Postage)                                                         $168.90
W4113 Bonnie Bittner (Breakfast & Dinner/IDEA Conference)                                         $14.79
W4114 Gibson County SWCD (1/2 Hotel & 1/3 Mileage/IDEA Conference)                 $105.01

Holly McCutchan, Finance Chairperson, reviewed the claims stating everything was in order.

                Wayne Fehd made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Lauren Preske,
                and carried.

Holly passed the claim register for board member signature.

Amy Brown, Canoe Evansville and Wesselman Nature Society made a presentation about what she is doing for Pigeon Creek. She wants to restore it for wildlife and does programs with minority children. She asked the board to sponsor a canoe for $500, on which they will put our name and logo. The canoes are light weight and retail for $1200. They also do canoe trips for adults on Pigeon Creek for $10, Wabash $20 and Hovey Lake $15. She said they are very focused on safety. We will contact her closer to Annual Meeting about putting up a display. Dave told her we would let her know about sponsoring a canoe.

Amy Steeples asked Steve Marling to attend our board meeting and make a presentation as part of the business plan to acquaint ourselves with state programs available.

Steve Marling, District Forester gave a presentation on the programs offered by the state in forestry. He passed a packet of brochures explaining the programs to each member. The main program they work with is the Indiana Classified Forest. The other programs he explained are the Classified Wildlife Habitat Act, Indiana’s Forest Restoration & Conservation Programs and the Private Landowner Assistance Program. Supervisors asked about education. Steve said he does mostly adult education. Supervisors would like for him to set up a display at our Annual Meeting and we will put his brochures in our fair booth.

OLD BUSINESS:

Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison/Todd Thomas, Co-Chairperson
The Cooperative Research final contract with Daylight Farm Supply, Inc. required the Vanderburgh County SWCD chairman’s signature. Dave signed the contract and gave it to Darrell.

BUSINESS PLAN
NOVEMBER
Develop information resources on Farmland conversion for public officials and general public.
Educate general farming community & landowners of program opportunities by September 2004, Farm Bureau Annual Meeting (Met) and February 2005 SWCD Annual Meeting.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
Lauren asked if we wanted to send someone to the Smart Planning Conference in Florida. It was decided to see if the commissioners and/or Area Plan are aware of the conference and if they are interested in attending.

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – (Vacant), Chairperson
No Business This Month

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie asked Phil Hoy to sign the Legal Notice for the Annual Meeting.

Bonnie asked supervisors to sign the Appointed Supervisor form that would go to the State Soil Conservation board meeting the first of December to appoint Les Nunn Acting Appointed Supervisor until the election at Annual Meeting. He will replace Phil Hoy who was elected state representative for Indiana.

Bonnie announced Bill Luigs will run against Wayne Fehd for the elected position at Annual Meeting. She asked members to sign the form.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Holly asked Bonnie to give a report on the tree sale.

TREE SALE REPORT
November 23, 2004

INCOME:
Trees                                     $1,200.00
T-Mate Base Guard                   $20.00
Fertilizer/2 or more                     $28.00
Total                                     $1,492.87

EXPENSE:
Trees                                         $890.00
Delivery                                     $300.00
Tree License                                $50.00
Total                                       $1,255.00
Profit from Tree Sale                  $237.87

District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Norma asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the report she gave the commissioners at the meeting last night. She gave a very brief portion of the report verbally. In the future she is going to send the report to them ahead of the meeting so they can look it over and ask her questions if they have any. Board and staff gave Norma their list of accomplishments to include in the next report.

NEW BUSINESS:

Soil and Water Resource Committee – Dave Ellison & Todd Thomas, Chairperson
Dave reported the committee will select Conservation and Master Farmer by the December meeting.

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

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – (Vacant), Chairperson
No Business This Month

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Dave read Representative Phil Hoy’s letter of resignation to board and staff. He congratulated Phil for being elected State Representative for District 77 and asked if he would stay on as an associated. Phil said he would be happy to be an associated member.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Holly gave the petty cash report and asked members to initial the report.

Holly asked for a motion to pay the National Association Conservation Districts (NACD) quota dues

                Holly made the motion to pay $775 NACD 2005 dues, seconded by Lauren Preske
                and carried.

Holly asked Bonnie to give the rates the three banks had today for the certificate of deposit that will be due on December 2nd. Bonnie reported for a 2 year CD Old National was 2.75%, 5/3 Bank was 2/25% and First Federal was 2.78%. Board decided to put it in Old National because of distance; they put $200 in an ad for our newsletter and buy flowers for the tables at Annual Meeting.

                Holly made a motion to keep the certificate at Old National Bank, seconded by
                Lauren Preske and carried.

District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Amy asked member to refer to copies in their packets of her monthly report. She asked chairman, Dave Ellison for his signature on the form to send in for IDNR to reimburse the district. The district paid V3 and Associates for the water sampling in Barr Creek. She asked if they wanted her to reapply for the Lake and River Enhancement Grant; after a short discussion they all agreed she should reapply.

Amy said she wanted to present us with a packet she pulled off the website on the programs the Department of Natural Resources offers. The board stated on the business plan they want to become acquainted with programs the state offers.

Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Water Quality Specialist report, the Inspection Log and the Mileage Log.

Darrell Rice gave a short report on the 2004 tillage report and passed a data map for supervisors to view.

Darrell also talked about the Conservation Security Program (CSP), explaining how it will pay the best farmers and hopefully motivate the rest. Darrell explained there is full explanation of the CSP on the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) website.

Dave asked who would be willing to serve as Vice-Chairman until the election at Annual Meeting. Wayne Fehd volunteered.

                Holly McCutchan moved the nomination be closed, seconded by Lauren Preske and carried.

County Employee time sheets were passed for review and signature.

The December meeting was set for December 21, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Vanderburgh County SWCD conference room. Bonnie will send a notice to the media.

                `The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. with a motion from Lauren Preske,
                  seconded by Holly McCutchan and carried.

                                                                                                                                        Respectfully Submitted

                                                                                                                                        Bonnie Bittner
                                                                                                                                        Executive Assistant

Minutes approved on December 21, 2004

Dave Ellison____________________________

Wayne Fehd ____________________________

Holly McCutchan _________________________

Les Nunn ________________________________

Lauren Preske __________________________________

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