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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 30, 2005

Present:                                                                                                                     SWCD Personnel:
Dave Ellison, Chairman                                                                                                Norma Duckworth
Les Nunn, Vice Chair
Holly McCutchan, Member                                                                                         NRCS Personnel:
Lauren Preske, Member (Absent)                                                                               Darrell Rice
Fred Padget, Associate
Tom Niksch, Associate                                                                                                ISDA Personnel:
                                                                                                                                  
Ken Eck

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

A motion was made by Wayne Fehd to approve the minutes of the October,
2005 meeting, seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried.

The minutes were passed for board members signature.

Dave Ellison asked Bonnie to give the October financial report, which showed the previous balance 10-1-05 $28,053.67, Receipts, $312,17, Debits $419.17 and balance as of 10-31-05 $27,955.67.

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

The following claims for October were submitted for supervisor approval:
W4189 Postmaster (October Newsletter Postage)                                                                         $169.90
W4190 Southeast Area-UW-Extension (50 Rain Garden Booklets)                                                 $55.00
W4191 Indiana Department of Revenue (July/August/September Sales Tax)                                     $49.13
W4201 Dell Marketing L.P. (128 MB Module for Dell Laptop)                                                       $58.82
W4193 I.D.E.A. (Boot Camp Registration for 2 Staff)                                                                     $10.00
Claims Submitted to County:
Norma Duckworth (Gas)                                                                                                                 $10.00
Vanderburgh County SWCD (Reimbursement for Oct. Newsletter Postage)                                    $169.90
Bonnie Bittner (Reimbursement for Basic Tree Care Registration)                                                      $15.00
Norma Duckworth (Reimbursement for Postage & Gas)                                                                   $25.19
Cingular Wireless (Cell Phone)                                                                                                          $19.17
Office Depot (Office Supplies)                                                                                                          $78.15
Budget Signs (2 Logo Signs for Table Top Display)                                                                           $40.00
Vanderburgh 4-H (Table Cover/Basic Tree Care Seminar)                                                                $15.00
ICON Exhibits (Transportation Freight from Manufacturer)                                                                $48.30
 

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

                    Wayne Fehd made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Holly McCutchan,
                    and carried.

Holly passed the claim register for board member signature.

OLD BUSINESS:
Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison/Todd Thomas, Co-Chairperson
No Business This Month

BUSINESS PLAN
DECEMBER
Preservation/Creation of Natural Areas:
Encourage the utilization of "green spaces" in subdivisions & urban areas

Darrell asked if the board would be interested in planting some trees in Union Twp. or Angel Mounds as part of the business plan to replace some that were lost due to the tornado. After some discussion it was decided that Darrell should locate a site that the owners and/or director is interested in the project and bring a proposal before the board.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
Holly McCutchan reported she had no updates on the addition to Scott Twp Park

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Bonnie reported she sent e-mails plus letters to the group we are targeting for the Smart Growth Workshop. The surrounding districts have not moved on the plan at this time; we are going to look into what is holding things up. There seems to be some confusion at this time.

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

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie reported John Hahn and David Ellison are the two running for the elected position for the next three years. The forms have been sent to the state.

Bonnie asked the supervisors to sign the Legal Notice for Annual Meeting.

Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the 2006 Resolutions for Consideration. Board needs to decide how they want our delegate to vote at the business meeting at Annual Conference. The first resolution was submitted by Marion County "Resource Based Conservation Program" After reading the explanation, the proposed solution and the benefits expected and some discussion among members, Darrell and Ken Eck

                    Dave Ellison moved to adopt the Resource Based Conservation Program, seconded
                    by Holly McCutchan, and carried

The second resolution was submitted by Gibson SWCD "Adaptation of the 10 Acre Rule for densely populated Indiana SWCDs" After reading the explanation, proposed solution and benefits expected and a discussion among members

                    Dave Ellison moved to adopt the 10 acre rule for densely populated Indiana SWCDs,
                    seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
No Business This Month

District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Norma reported on the commissioners meeting. They have changed the format; department heads are only required to attend on the first and fourth Tuesday, if the department head has anything to bring up they are to submit it in writing.

Holly said she thought we should extend an invitation to the new commissioner Tom Shelter, Jr. to meet with us so we can explain to him what we do as a district. Bonnie will set up a meeting after the holidays.

NEW BUSINESS:
Soil and Water Resource Committee – Dave Ellison & Todd Thomas, Chairperson
Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the letter to Mr. Belmonte, V3 Associates from Cecil Rich, LARE Program Biologist. Holly said she went through the study sent by V3 and wondered why the present study was done differently from the initial study. Darrell explained the history of what he thought transpired. Fred Padget suggested we put a copy of the study in the Central Library and/or in the library at USI for access of the public.

Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson
Bonnie reported she sent a letter to the principal at Stanley Hall School telling her the district wants to give an Environmental Stewardship Award to the students and their teacher for the Black Willow Wetland Project at Angel Mounds. She called and said they are all so excited about it and looking forward to our Annual Meeting.

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
Bonnie reminded members that they talked about an Urban Conservation Award earlier in the year. She asked for a decision on who they would like to give it to. The two being considered were the Super K Mart site on the eastside that was vacated and then bought & turned into a strip mall and the K-Mart on St. Joe Avenue that was vacant for years, bought and turned into a Distribution Center and a Westside Rural King. After some discussion it was consensus to give the award to Rural King.

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
Bonnie reported there is an IASWCD board meeting and legislative Committee meeting in Indianapolis on December 8, 2005. She asked for a motion to travel up the afternoon before and stay in a hotel close to the meeting site.

                    Dave Ellison made a motion to pay for a hotel and mileage for Bonnie to attend
               the IASWCD board meeting and legislative committee meeting on December
               9, 2005, seconded by Holly McCutchan and carried.

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

Bonnie reported Norma wants to order Soil Stewardship materials and she wants their placemats for Annual Meeting. Norma filled out an order form and Bonnie went online filled out the order to get the shipping cost. The total cost came to $383.52.

                    Dave Ellison made a motion to order Stewardship materials for a cost of
                    $383.52, seconded by Wayne Fehd and carried.

Bonnie passed a sheet picturing a magnetic calendar she would like to order for give away with our logo and info on at Annual Meeting. We can order 250 at $.35 apiece plus shipping and 5-10% overrun cost.

                    Holly made a motion to purchase the calendars, seconded by Wayne Fehd
                    and carried

Holly reported the National Association of Conservation Districts membership quota was due. They support districts on the national level in Washington DC. Bonnie explained they like for districts to figure the level of quota due by multiplying the total amount contributed by the county (salaries, benefits and budget x 1%) After some discussion

                    Wayne Fehd made a motion to send $1,000 to NACD for our membership
                    quota, seconded by Holly McCutchan and carried.

Holly asked members to refer to copies in their packets for the information sent by the state association on bonding of supervisors. They are bonding two supervisor positions in each county, not by name just the positions. The county employee who is treasurer should be bonded by the county and if not the district should bond that person. Bonnie said she is bonded by the county, she remembers being finger printed for bonding purposes when she was hired.

Bonnie reported she was directed by the District Support Specialist to have the board make a motion to make her Official Fiscal Officer for the district. According to state board of accounts we only need one signature on the checks. Ken Eck, District Support Specialist gave the history of the changes. After some discussion

                    Holly McCutchan made a motion to appoint Bonnie Bittner, Official Fiscal
                    Officer for the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District,
                    seconded by Wayne Fehd and carried.

Bonnie reported the district has a printer and a monitor that no long works. We can take it to CNI and recycle them for $5.00 each or keep them until October 2006 when Solid Waste will take them on their recycle day. After some discussion

                    Holly made a motion to take the printer and monitor to CNI for recycling,
                    seconded by Wayne Fehd and carried.

District Operation Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Supervisors were asked to refer to copies in their packets of the Supervisor Training Ideas. They are to let Bonnie or Ken know of any ideas they have for training they would like to receive.

Dave asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Water Quality Specialist’s report on weekly activities, Inspection Site Log and Mileage log. Norma reported she talked with IDEM about the Erosion Control Plans that come in on small lots. They have her permission to use her discretion, but do not want to put anything in writing. She gave a few examples. She is working on setting up some dates with Blair Borries to do water quality monitoring. Linda Powell who helped in the past accepted the grant position in Gibson County.

Darrell reported he has three Sod Buster plans that the chairman signed
Dirk Klueg T-9098
Kent Lamey T-8742
Steve Elpers T-9046 & T-9061

He reported the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) did $36 million in conservation programs in 2005 in Indiana. They are anticipating about $28 million in 2006. The EQIP cut off date is January 13, 2006. He asked members to tell anyone they know that is in need of this program to call the office.

Tom Niksch asked if the district should take a proactive approach to consolidation and have someone come out to explain how it would affect the district. Fred Padget explained that the plan only calls for a mayor and a metro council. Nothing else has been outlined so no one could give us an explanation at this time. The details of running the consolidated government would be up to the mayor and metro council.

Ken Eck. District Support Specialist, (ISDA) passed out sheets with a preliminary explanation for the Clean Water Indiana District Grants Program for 2006. He gave a brief explanation for each of the possibilities for the funds available to all Soil and Water Conservation Districts on a competitive basis. He encouraged supervisors and staff to start thinking of ideas for the grants.

County Employee time sheets were passed for review and signature.

The December meeting was set for December 21, 2005 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 9:15 p.m. with a motion from Dave Ellison,
                    seconded by Wayne Fehd and carried.

                                                                                                                                                            Respectfully Submitted

                                                                                                                                                            Bonnie Bittner
                                                                                                                                                            Executive Assistant

Minutes approved on December 21, 2005
Dave Ellison_________________________________

Les Nunn ___________________________________

Wayne Fehd __________________________________

Holly McCutchan________________________________

Lauren Preske __________________________________        Top of Page                Home