Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District

Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

March 1, 2007

 

Present:  John W. Hardin Chairperson; Joe Robbins Vice-Chairperson; Matt Oberlies Treasurer; Bill Comer Supervisor; Jeff Coomes Supervisor; Judy White District Office Manager.

 

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

 

Chairperson John Hardin called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  John gave an informative overview of the SWCD history for the benefit of Judy as the new SWCD office manager and the newly elected/appointed supervisors.  John advised board that he moved March 15th meeting up to March 1st to introduce Judy and new members.  This was posted to the public and news media was advised.

 

MINUTES

 

The minutes from the February 8, 2007 Annual Board Meeting and the minutes from the Hiring of SWCD Office Manager were reviewed.  Bill Comer made a motion to accept both sets of minutes as written with a second by Joe Robbins.  All members voted on and motion carried.

 

FINANCIAL DISTRICT REPORTS

 

The financial report was read with Claims 4006 through 4033 being approved and signed.  Joe Robbins made a motion to accept and Matt seconded, they were voted on and motion carried.  John Hardin advised Judy to put the financial at the end of agenda in future meetings.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Annual Dinner – February 8, 2007 – Board reviewed and felt dinner had an excellent turnout with 83 in attendance.  Possible speakers for 2008 dinner could be Landowner Brian Lowry, State Representative Terry Goodin, or Terry Davis at Hardy Lake.

IASWCD Conference – January 16-18:  Attendance of State Legislative/Representatives breakfast.  Good experience for board members to see how it all works.

Update Denise Dailey Fist Six Rule 5 Projects – John Hardin explained Rule 5.  Rule 5 applies if landowner/contractor disturbs more than 1 acre of dirt work.  SWCD contracted with Denise Dailey to do soil conservation plan with it being overseen by SWCD @ $250 each.  Denise contacts IDEM if landowner doesn’t comply.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Final Report CWI Grant #06-CWI-406:  Judy White advised board quarterly report is due

March 31, 2007 and final grant report due 4/30/07.  Appears grant was not spent for $2,000 originally requested.  Judy will review and send letter asking if we can use difference to purchase a piece of equipment or for training.  Motion made by Bill Comer with a second by Joe Robbins allowing Judy to finish out and do letter and to contact two board members to sign if necessary.  All board members voted on and motion carried.

 

Board Contact Scott Co. Area Plan Commission Rule 5 Fees:  Bill Comer volunteered to meet with Jamie Knowles of APC to discuss best practices of the collection of fees for Rule 5.  Bill will report back to board at April meeting.

 

Quarterly SWCD Newsletter:  John reviewed prior discussions with Ginger using FSA.  Presently the newsletter is done jointly with FSA.  FSA provides the template, postage permit number, and assists with the folding of the newsletter.  Judy will meet with Bob Backus of FSA and determine if SWCD should continue being a partner on the newsletter with FSA; or if they should do a newsletter alone.  Judy advised she will check with other SWCD agencies to learn their processes.

 

Updated Bank Signature Card:  New signatures in place.  Two signatures are required on checks with John Hardin, Matt D. Oberlies, and Joe Robbins on the bank signature card.

 

Distribution of 2007 Documents:  Judy included in board member packets the 2007 Scott County SWCD Directory, 2007 Holiday Schedule, and SWCD 2006-2011 Business Plan.  Two additional items that Judy made up spreadsheets for were a 2007 Business Plan Calendar that outlines what is required from the board in 2007 to meet the goals of the SWCD Business Plan.  She also made a calendar outlining SWCD’s activities for the year.  She will amend as needed and distribute at each meeting.  Judy asked if board members would like to have her make individual board manuals to keep their information in.  They agreed and will return individual packets to her at the end of this meeting to put in the books.

 

Approve Denny Wilson & Robert Glenn as Associate Supervisors:  Chairperson John Hardin advised board that Denny & Robert were willing to serve as Associate Supervisors with SWCD.  Motion made by Bill Comer to accept with a second by Matt Oberlies.  Voted on and motion carried.

 

Rental Equipment Maintenance Plan:  Matt will pick up 15’drill this Sunday and John Collings will pick up 7’drill.  Board members explained to Judy how rental of equipment worked and to contact board members if she could not determine who had equipment as farmers sometimes stop by SWCD and take equipment without advising office.  All farmers should have an agriculture exemption from sales tax.  After discussing, board said to review with Laura Fribley if sales tax needs to be collected on cookbooks.  Judy told board Laura and her had reviewed and Judy would contact Indiana Department of Revenue to see how SWCD begins this process for future sales of the cookbooks.

 

Turn in Outstanding Expenses from Board Supervisors for State Conference:  2006 Clean Water Incentive allows $750 in expenditures.  Judy reminded board members to turn in their IASWCD conference expenses so she could determine if the $750 has been spent.  Have until June 2007 to disburse these funds.

 

Continuation District Training Incentive Grant:  Motion made by Bill Comer with a second by Joe Robbins that once 2006 expenses meet $750 and report is turned to ask or confirm that we will continue to receive this funding in 2007.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

Plant-A-Tree Forest Discover Center Kickoff August 23, 2007:  Judy provided brochure for board members to review.  Judy sits on this committee which meets at SWCD Clark County Office.  It is a project of the Clark, Floyd, Jefferson, and Scott County Soil and Water Conservation Districts being sponsored by Historic Hills Resource Conservation and Development.  The five-year project has two primary objectives:  1) To educate people about the benefits of trees and their management.  2)  To help the citizens of Southern Indiana plan 100,000 trees in our four-county area by 2012.  At the kickoff, a person from Scott County will be given a tree to plant in their community.  Judy mentioned asking Mayor William Graham if he would attend the kickoff.  Board was okay with this suggestion.  Judy will contact Bill and advise board of Bill’s decision at April meeting.

2007 Reimbursable Agreement (AD-672), Scott County SWCD Space @ USDA Service Center:  Chairperson John Hardin presented the rental agreement and read Section 9 of agreement:  Sublet of approximately 100 square feet of office space at local USDA Service Center.  The office space sublet consists of all maintenance and service incurred as a result of joint occupancy.  Annual billing will include rental share at the rate of $12.50 per square foot.  John advised board that this will be the first time SWCD will pay rent for office space. Bill Comer made a motion authorizing Chairperson John Hardin to sign agreement with a second by Jeff Coomes.  Voted on and motion carried. 

 

Board Signature Needed for Environmental Quality Incentives Program EQUIP 2002 Application:   This given to Judy by Pat Larr needing John Hardin’s signature.  No motion needed.  John signed – Judy will give back to Pat Larr.

 

Soil & Stewardship Week:  April 29–May 6:  In 2006, a proclamation was declared by Scott County Judge.  Judy will contact Judge and see if we need to do again this year.  Board wants this on Scott County Bank scrolling marquee.

 

Summary of Activities for District Office Manager:   Judy provided the board with an outline of her activities for February.

 

Business Plan 2007

 

  • Host A Drainage Workshop:     Board brainstormed how to do a workshop.  Decision made for Judy to contact the Scott County Drainage Board and see if SWCD board could sit in on their next meeting to get their input of a drainage workshop.
  • Website Training for SWCD Office Manager:  Judy will check into.  Judy will visit with other SWCD offices to see what software programs they use and make recommendation to board how they should proceed.
  • Create newspaper articles to educate landowners on the importance of well managed forests – Spring 2007.  Judy will begin this process.
  • Wildlife:  Explore partnering with Ducks Unlimited & Quail Unlimited to help fund the purchase of a Plotmaster (food plot machine) or similar equipment – Board will contact Scott Howser, Ducks Unlimited & Quail Unlimited to invite them to the April meeting to discuss in detail.
  • Wildlife Seed:  Matt Oberlies will make contacts and pick up the wildlife seed to make the food plots.  This is distributed around April to landowners.  Matt will keep Judy informed to allow her to make the public aware of when available at SWCD for distribution.

 

SWCD Office Manager

 

The SWCD board discussed who on the board they want Judy to correspond with on the needs of   SWCD.  Chairperson John Hardin will be Judy’s main contact if she finds she needs checks issued prior to board meetings and needs to discuss the day-to-day operations that would affect the board.  Judy will use comp time as her discretion keeping Pat Larr and Laura Fribley aware of and mark the calendar in the office when she will be out.  Judy will continue the ongoing relationships with Pat & Laura and work with them as well as the board to meet the goals of the SWCD Business Plan.

 

Adjournment

 

Joe Robbins moved to adjourn and Bill Comer seconded.  It was voted on and motion was carried.  Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Judy White, SWCD Office Manager