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Minutes of Regular
Meeting Present: GUEST: Harry Lawson, General Manager, Water and Sewer Utility Department Dave introduced Mr. Lawson and asked staff and members to introduce themselves. Mr. Lawson gave some background on Combine Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and Evansville’s Long Term Plan to reduce sewage into Pigeon Creek. They have identified over $300 million worth of projects and have to date spent over $200 million to reduce CSOs with probably another $600 million to go. He talked about the plans for the sewage plants, separating storm water and sanitary sewers, the Weinbach storm tunnel and lift station, Oakhill CSOs, Kentucky Avenue CSOs and then showed how waste water is treated in the plants. Harry sees storm water treatment plants in the future. Holly McCutchan asked about individual house drains. Harry said they go neighborhood by neighborhood having people disconnect their drains from storm sewers, but unfortunately some reconnect. He said Evansville will be a regional waste water plant; outlying areas are charged for the service. He feels Evansville is very proactive. After some discussion it was decided Mr. Lawson would let Bonnie know when their website is finished and she will link to it. Chairman, Dave Ellison thanked Mr. Lawson for his most informative presentation and told him we will be in contact. Chairman Dave Ellison said the minutes of the August meeting were mailed to each member prior to the meeting. A motion was made by Holly McCutchan to approve the minutes of the August
Dave asked Bonnie to give the August financial report. The previous balance on 8-1-05 was $22,898.11 Receipts, $10,817.00 Debits $287.12 and balance as of 8-31-05 $33,427.00. A motion
was made by Wayne Fehd, seconded by Holly McCutchan, and carried,
The AUGUST claims were submitted for supervisor approval:
W4188 Micrology Laboratories (Water Testing Supplies) $67.32 W4184 Kwik Kopy (Laminate Display) $12.46 W4183 Old National Bank (Cash Change/Tillage Plot Dinner) $50.00 W4182 Old National Bank (Additional Cash Change) $90.00 W4186 Old National Bank Petty Cash (Replenish Petty Cash) $29.06 NOTE: The Auditor paid the following claims Budget Sign Company, Inc. (NRCS 2 Color Decal/Tillage Plot Sign) $15.00 LaMotte Company (Green Water Monitoring Kit) $185.00 Cingular (Cell Phone) $19.46 Bonnie Bittner (Reimbursement Mileage) $12.60 Muensterman’s Car Service Center (Blazer Repairs) $212.35 Bonnie Bittner (Hotel/Legislative Meeting) $82.14 Bonnie Bittner (Mileage/Indy) $101.76 Farm Service Agency (Postage) $238.94 Holly McCutchan, Finance Chairman, passed the August claims register and the County Claims register for review and signatures. Lauren
Preske made a motion to approve the August claims, seconded by OLD BUSINESS: Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison & Todd Thomas, Co-Chairperson Darrell reported the district Conservation Farmer for 2005 is Ray J Rexing and the Master Farmer for 2005 is Frederick Bumb.
BUSINESS PLAN
August – Schedule Farmland Preservation Day (Regional) handout packet by August 2005 September – Water Quality October – Natural Areas Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Bonnie reported the Basic Tree Care Workshop is set for October 27, 2005 at the 4-H Center from 9:00 to 4:00. Posey, Warrick and Gibson Counties are partnering with us. Gibson Co. SWCD will provide the snacks through the Toyota Grant and the rest will be paid out of the registration fee which was lower from $25 to $15 because of the Grant. Bonnie is advertising the workshop in the newsletter, mailed the brochure to Shawn Dickerson’s database of Tree Trimmers, the United Neighborhoods of Evansville put it in their newsletter, Wesselman Woods, Extension and the surrounding counties are putting the brochure in their newsletters. Norma reported Vanderburgh County hosted the Soil Judging contest this year on the Martin Dairy Farm in St. Wendel. Gibson Southern won lst place, Reitz High School won 2nd place. We also want to recognize Meisler Trucking for letting us park on their ground across the road from the site. 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 Holly reported our exhibit display board is no longer useable; the felt is coming away from the board. Bonnie would like to order one she saw at the NACD North Central Region Meeting in Fort Wayne from ICON Exhibits. The secretary in Fort Wayne sent information to order one. Holly asked for a motion. Lauren
made a motion to order a new table top display for $335, District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson NEW BUSINESS: Natural Resource Committee – David Ellison & Todd Thomas, Co-Chairperson Preservation/Creation Natural Areas Committee – Lauren Preske, Chairperson Farmland Preservation – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Brown Field and Urban Land Use Committee – Les Nunn, Chairperson Norma asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the FACT SHEET on the Implementation of Rule 5 which is a collaboration of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). It basically tells districts what the Division of Soil Conservation staff members may and may not do in reference to Rule 5, how to handle complaints, questions, what training will be provided and how to handle project termination. The guidelines only apply to the interim transition period and eventually ISDA-DSC will cease to provide assistance on Rule 5 and regulatory related activities. The final objective is for IDEM to have all responsibility for Rule 5 and they will work to provide resources for the support of SWCDs participating in the implementation of Rule 5. Legislative Committee – John Hahn, Chairperson 1.
They recommend adding 2 seats to the State Soil Board, namely the Director of
IDEM Bonnie asked for two volunteers; one to be the Vanderburgh County SWCD delegate for the business meeting at Annual Conference in January and one to be the alternate. Dave Ellison agreed to be the delegate and Wayne Fehd the alternate. Bonnie will send the form to the state office. Bonnie asked for an election committee; the chairman must be a supervisor and we need two committee members. David Ellison is up for election and he has agreed to run again. The committee must find some one willing to run against him with the option of whoever loses they will remain on the board as an associate. After some discussion Holly McCutchan said she would serve as chairman with Les Nunn and John Hahn as members. Finance Committee – Holly McCutchan, Chairperson Holly asked for a motion to let Bonnie call Piranha Mobile Shredding to dispose of all the documents that need to be gotten rid of in the office. She estimated the cost to be under $100.
Wayne Fehd made a motion to appropriate $100 to shred the documents that need District Operations Committee – Wayne Fehd, Chairperson Wayne asked members to refer to copies in their packets of the Water Quality Specialist report, Inspection Site Log and Mileage Log. Darrell reported Farm Service Agency (FSA) is scheduled to close 36 out of 80 offices in Indiana. Vanderburgh and Pike counties are targeted to close first; looks like the Vanderburgh County FSA office will close or merge in the next 12 to 15 months. Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) said she has no plans to close the Vanderburgh County office. The Vanderburgh County and Pike County Tech Team reported more work in these two counties than any county. Darrell reported his first Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) in Vanderburgh County, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) moving right along, they are starting on the Enviromental Quality Incentive Programs (EQIP) and staff will be attending the dedication of the Black Willow Wetland at Angel Mounds. The district (SWCD) and Darrell (NRCS) helped with the project and are given credit on the sign that will go up tomorrow. Darrell asked for signatures from the board on the SOD Buster HEL determination Conservation Plans on County Employee time sheets were passed for review and signature. The October meeting was set for October 26, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Vanderburgh County SWCD conference room.
Respectfully Submitted
Minutes approved on October 26, 2005 David Ellison _____________________________________ Les Nunn ________________________________________ Wayne Fehd______________________________________ Holly McCutchan__________________________________ Lauren Preske_____________________________________ |
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