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Minutes of Regular Meeting
VANDERBURGH COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
(SWCD) Office, Evansville, Indiana
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 25, 2006

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

GUEST: Maurice Berendes

Due to chairman’s late arrival, Lauren Preske chaired the meeting. She asked members to introduce themselves to guest Maurice Berendes. Maurice had been asked to run for the elected supervisor position and wanted to observe the meeting.

The minutes of the September meeting were mailed with the draft agenda.

A motion was made by Les Nunn to approve the minutes of the September,
2006 meeting, seconded by Wayne Fehd, and carried.

Lauren asked Bonnie to give the September financial report, which showed the previous balance 9-1-06 $32,385.58 Receipts, $10,738.46, Debits $1,366.26 and balance as of 9-30-06 $41,757.78.

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

The following claims were submitted for supervisor approval:

SEPTEMBER CLAIMS:
The following claims were submitted for supervisor approval:
W4261 Norma Duckworth (Mileage/Paducah) $80.10
W4258 Budget Sign Company, Inc. (Parking Signs) $50.00
W4262 Needham Ag Technologies, LLC $500.00
W4241 University of Wisconsin Extension (Price Increase for Rain Garden Brochures $60.53
W4263 Oaks Printing (Letterhead and Envelopes) $165.70
W4247 Bauer’s Tents & Party Rentals, Inc. (Tillage Mtg. Tents & Tables) $650.42
W4264 Cingular Wireless (Cell Phone) $18.06
W4265 Office Depot (Office Supplies) $67.16
W4254 I.D.E.A. (Registration for Conference) $85.00
W4266 Bonnie Bittner (Mileage/Sugar Ridge) $22.20
W4261 Norma Duckworth (Water Testing Supplies) $16.41
Note: The Auditor Paid The Following Claims:
Bonnie Bittner (Mileage/Alpha Laser) $7.50

Wayne Fehd reviewed the claims recommending the September claims be approved.

                    Les Nunn made a motion to approve the September claims, seconded
                    by Wayne Fehd, and carried.

OLD BUSINESS

Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison - Chairperson
Darrell Rice reported Mike Thomas is willing and has enough work to cover the $30,000 LARE Locust Creek Grant. Doug Nussbaum, CREP director with DNR would prefer not to put it on one farm. Darrell and Normal have an appointment with Todd Thomas on Friday and think they can tie down some of the projects with him. They want to have some left for the public meetings in December. Mike Thomas would be willing to have a farm tour to show his practices if the district decides to. The district will have the two public meetings in a centrally located spot of the Locust Creek Watershed. Bonnie will contact North Park Library and Ivy Tech.

BUSINESS PLAN
ACTIONS FOR 2006
Continue developer’s workshop to highlight urban control practices and legislation (partnering with other agencies)
Determine SWCD level of involvement with local MS4
Educate public on maintenance of septic related issues by SWCD & Partners with newsletter, flyers, fair booth (Ongoing)
Locate and promote programs that provide incentives to adopt conservation practices (Newsletter/ongoing
Develop a video for youth on impact of farmland conversion by July 2006 (Susan Fowler & Lauren Preske)
Partner with City/County parks department to preserve/create parks & related areas (Ongoing)
Develop information resource on farmland conversion for public officials & general public (Ongoing)
Develop "Farm Day" to promote conservation & related practices by December 2006 (Norma & Committee)
Develop related workshops to promote available programs for natural area preservation by February 2006
Explore role of SWCD by SWCD & Committee (Ongoing)

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

Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Fred Padget reported on the Smart Growth meeting held at Central Library on October 19, 2006. The group took a step back to develop a mission statement. The next meeting the group will work on goals. The basis is to give the group a focused direction so everyone is on the same page when talking about the Smart Growth for Evansville and Vanderburgh County. Fred invited developer Marlin Goebel to the meeting. Marlin visited Memphis who is setting the pace for Smart Growth and Green Space. Les Nunn talked about what are Waters of the US and what is going on with the Supreme Court. The next meeting date for Smart Growth and Protection of Natural Resources is yet to be set.

Lauren Preske reported she watched the farmland Preservation Video and thinks it is appropriate for high school students and in some cases middle school students. Les Nunn said he would view it next and will connect with Lauren at USI to get the video.

Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson
Norma reported the Pigeon Highland Quad County employees and Four Rivers RC&D Director met on October 12, 2006 at the 4-H Center. The group put together an agenda for the meeting planned for January 25, 2007. They also came up with a list of groups for each county to invite to the meeting. The purpose of the January meeting is to put a steering committee together to update the watershed plan, which is a must to have 319 grants awarded for work in Pigeon Highland Watershed. IDEM will be doing TMDL testing in some of the sub-watersheds. Norma explained TMDL to the group.

Bonnie reported she contacted Shawn Dickerson and Tom Niksch concerning the meeting at Sugar Ridge on November 11, 2006. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss if districts want to form a forestry committee under Four Rivers RC&D. Tom Niksch and Bonnie will attend the meeting and send a report to Commissioner Musgrave.

Darrell reported he has not had a call in the last month from the Par 3 group, but will do a follow up with them.

Norma reported she attended the Garbage Barge meeting at the Boonville Library. Tammy Becker from Living Land & Water attended; Sally Rideout Lambert (Alcoa) was unable to attend. Warrick County SWCD is on board now and Spencer Co. SWCD will take part. The barge will be here the end of May or first of June. Linda Powell and Amy Brown met with Tammy Becker on the river front in the afternoon. They are asking local businesses to sponsor. Members were asked to call Norma if they know of a business on the river front who would be willing to be a sponsor. Cargill and Alcoa are on board at this time.

Wayne Fehd reported the election committee is confident Maurice Berendes will be willing to run for the elected position. Ken Eck gave a detailed explanation of the changes in district law for elected supervisors and the ten acre rule.

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Bonnie gave a report on the two old cameras the district wants to dispose of; supervisors asked her to take them to Schmitt Photo to have their worth assessed. Ken Eck told her to advertise them.

Bonnie gave an update on her previous report concerning ordering imprinted pens from National Pen Company. She passed samples of pens to each member. After some discussion

                    Les Nunn made a motion to order 200 pens at the 25% off price which
                    would give the district 400 pens, second by Dave Ellison and carried.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Ken Eck explained the District Visits Program and said the committee would like for Vanderburgh County SWCD to participate in December. After some discussion everyone agreed Ken should talk to the committee about some possible dates they are available in the first weeks of December. Ken can let Bonnie know before the November board meeting.

                    David Ellison made a motion for the district to participate in the
                    district visits program, second by Lauren Preske and carried.

Bonnie asked for signatures on the Legal Notice for Annual Meeting, the Reappointment Form and the Supervisor Election Form. The copies were passed for supervisor signatures.

NEW BUSINESS
Soil and Water Resource Committee – David Ellison - Chairpersons
Lauren asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Rule 5 Status and Districts sent from Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) Executive Director Jennifer Boyle. The IASWCD has communicated with IDEM to gain a clearer understanding and direction as to the authority Districts have or are responsible for in regards to Rule 5. Norma commented the information isn’t as relevant for Vanderburgh County SWCD as counties without technical staff.

Les Nunn looked over the Clean Water Indiana (CWI) contracts for the Howell Wetland and CREP Grants, reporting he has no problem with the chairman signing them. David Ellison signed the contracts and asked Bonnie to mail them.

Darrell passed pictures of an erosion control project at Mater Dei High School that they would like to have help correcting. Maurice Berendes called this project to Darrell’s attention and said they would appreciate some financial help in addition to technical if possible. After some discussion the supervisors ask Maurice to get in touch with Mater Dei and ask someone to attend our board meeting with a proposal.

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 – Les Nunn, Chairperson
Darrell reported there were no technical determinations to be signed this month

Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson
No Business This Month

Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson
Wayne Fehd reviewed the Petty Cash report and asked for members to initial it.

Wayne reported Petty Cash needs to be replenished with $36.91 to bring the total to $50.00.

                    Wayne Fehd made a motion to replenish Petty Cash for
                    $36.91 seconded by Dave Ellison and carried.

Norma asked for permission to attend the Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute which is meeting at The Garrison, Ft. Harrison State Park on November 17th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

                    David Ellison made a motion to pay Norma’s expense to attend the
                    Natural Resources Leadership Development Institute, second by
                    Wayne Fehd and carried.

District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson
Norma reported Keep Evansville Beautiful will have an Education Kick-off on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Evansville Coliseum. They would like for the district to have a display. Norma is already committed elsewhere so Bonnie will see that the display arrives at the Coliseum and put it up; supervisor Holly McCutchan will be on hand to talk to the groups attending.

Bonnie reported Carla Hayden called last month to tell us Commissioner Musgrave is giving the district the opportunity to have board meetings telecast on WNIN. After some discussion on the pros and cons the supervisors decide logistically it was not feasible due to the fact they like to have access to district, federal & state document, charts, maps, etc. as they are needed during a board meeting. Bonnie will e-mail Carla their decision.

The Water Quality Specialist’s report was passed for review.

Norma gave a few highlighs:
            Presentation on Wetland Ecosystem & Water Quality Monitoring at Howell Wetland to 30 Home Schooled Students
            Presentation on Pond Life and Water Quality Monitoring at Scott School
            Healthy Water Healthy People facilitator training with IDNR and IDEM in Cincinnati was cancelled

Darrell Rice, Soil Conservationist for NRCS reported his supervisor gave him permission to work with the district on the LARE Locust Creek Grant Project as long as he kept up with EQIP, WHIP, etc. He asked the board for help in contacting land owners in the Locust Creek Watershed. He also reported harvesting in the tillage plot has been completed except for double crop beans. The consensus of the farmers involved in the Tillage Plot was to take wheat out of the rotation and use a rye grass cover crop.

Darrell also reported the NRCS Area Engineer was down and looked at the water control structure in the Howell Wetland and the district is waiting for the Engineering report to start the Clean Water Indiana Grant Project. Final Status Reviews for CRP were completed on 15 contracts. The field borders the district cost shared with on the Charlie Rexing farm look excellent.

County Employee time sheets were passed for review and signatures.

The November board meeting was set for November 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room of the district office.

                    Dave Ellison made a motion to adjourn at 9:30 p.m., seconded
                    by Wayne Fehd and carried.

                                                                                                                            Respectfully Submitted
                                                                                                                            Bonnie Bittner
                                                                                                                            Executive Assistant

Minutes approved on November 28, 2006 by

David Ellison ____________________________________________

Les Nunn _________________________________________________

Wayne Fehd _________________________________________________

Holly McCutchan _____________________________________________

Lauren Preske _________________________________________________

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