SCOTT COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

MONTHLY BOARD MEEETING MINUTES

Thursday, March 20, 2008, 7:00 p.m.

Location:  656 South Boatman Road, Scottsburg, IN  47170

 

Present:  Bill Comer, Jeff Coomes, John Hardin, Matt Oberlies, Lynda Phillips, Joe Robbins

Guests:  Laura Fribley, Brian Kendall, Pat Larr, Robert Miller

 

Meeting Called to Order by John Hardin.

 

Minutes from February 28 meeting and Annual Dinner were approved and signed.  Joe made a motion to approve and Jeff seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

Monthly Business

CWI – Brian Kendall from Crop Production Services attended our meeting to discuss details of the Sediment and Nutrient Reduction grant project.  He was placed at the top of our agenda so that he could leave.  The details of the grant were reviewed.  The question had been raised as to whether the producer was mandated to use CPS or could they go to another business for soil testing.  The board decided that there was no problem with them going somewhere else as long as the other business was willing to offer and accept the same prices and follow-up consultation.  We also discussed how the grants would be awarded.  It was decided that the producer should fill out an application which would be ranked.  We will start taking applications on May 1st when the grant begins.  Lynda will prepare a news article and brochure detailing the grant.  A date of June 21, 7 am to 9 am was decided for our Pasture Workshop.  Lynda will contact Leroy’s for prices on providing breakfast and possibly also the location for our workshop.  Matt and Jeff will contact the Lexington Fire Department about possibly using their new fire station as the location.  We are planning on 25-50 people.

 

Muscatatuck Watershed Project – Robert Miller also attended the meeting and was allowed to go at the beginning.  He thanked the district for their willingness to purchase a Water Quality Testing Kit.  He stated that we only needed to pay $200 as that was what other districts were doing.  Lynda will cut him a check to be signed at the April board meeting.  He stated the kit would be the property of Scott County SWCD but would remain in the volunteer’s possession throughout the grant project for monthly testing from April thru October.  The grant is currently scheduled to run through August 2009.  The kit will be returned to the district at the conclusion of the grant.  Robert also updated the board on the current status of the Muscatatuck Watershed project.

 

Business Plan Priority Actions

Wildlife - Lynda reported that she had contacted the Quail Unlimited person to request our annual Wildlife Food Plot Seed and that it would be coming to us in April.

 

Spring Tree SaleSale is completed and we sold 85 trees.  They are to be delivered sometime between March 27 and April 4.

 

Newsletter – Lynda reported that she had spoken with Bob Backus, FSA about the next newsletter and it will hopefully be published in May.  This will publicize our Workshop Pasture event and other articles in our business plan. 

 

Soil & Water Stewardship Week – Materials were received and will be distributed the first of April.

 

Hardy Lake Sweep – A budget was set with Joe making a motion that Lynda could use the credit card if needed to purchase HLS supplies for up to $1200.  Matt seconded the motion and the motion carried.  It was decided that backpacks for the volunteers were an unnecessary expense.  Routes for delivering water and apples will be established to make sure that everyone is covered.  Lynda is investigating the cost of providing bag lunches instead of chicken.

 

Monthly Business (continued)

‘Entering Scott County …’ sign – Matt requested that Lynda get a copy of the Commissioner’s minutes stating that we were approved to install the sign.  He will then follow up with the State Highway dept.

Reports

Pat Larr – NRCS   Pat reported on the current status of EQIP and WHIP contracts in Scott County.  She had one new contract for Supervisor signature.  She said they are currently getting engineering plans ready for summer Conservation practices.  The Jan-March NRCS Rent Reduction Accountability form was signed.

 

Laura Fribley – ISDA   Laura updated the board on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council $300 grant proposal.  There was concern last month that they wanted us to provide them with addresses of those who attended our events.  Upon further research, Laura found out that the attendee can choose or refuse to be included in their mailings.  Since there is no requirement by ICMC for mandatory addresses, the board agreed to accept their $300 grant proposal.  Laura also talked about the CWI Training Incentive.  The dates for receipt reimbursement will run July 1, 2007 thru April 30, 2008.  We are allowed $750 per staff person and up to $1500 per Supervisor. 

 

Lynda Phillips – SWCD  Indian Hills subdivision had been mentioned in our February meeting as they are building houses with no ‘Notice of Intent’ filed.  Denise researched this and followed up in a letter to the board.  To date the houses have been sold as single homes as opposed to a development.  This means they were not required to file a NOI.  A decision has now been made to go ahead and develop so they will be soon filing the NOI through Pettit Surveying. 

Lynda contacted Kitty Perkinson about the RC&D appointee.  She is considering. 

As discussed at our February meeting, we are going to support the 4th grade foresters’ project for Arbor Day.  The principals were contacted and were interested. 

Lynda requested money to spend on summer flowers for the front of our building.  Bill made a motion that she could spend $100 on the credit card if needed to purchase flowers for the Service Agency.  Jeff seconded the motion and the motion carried.  She agreed to water and maintain them. 

She presented her monthly Summary of Activities.

 

Financial District Reports

Approval Checks – Accounts Payable Voucher Register  - All checks 1013 to 1019 were signed and approved.  The Accounts Payable register was also approved.  Matt made a motion to approve these expenditures and Joe seconded, motion carried.

 

Announcements/Public comments

There were no public comments.

 

Adjourn

            Joe made a motion at 9:00 pm to adjourn the meeting.  Bill seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lynda Phillips, SWCD District Coordinator

 

 

           

John W. Hardin, Chairperson                                                  Joe Robbins, Vice-Chairperson

 

 

 

 

Matt D. Oberlies, Treasurer                                           Bill Comer, Supervisor

 

 

 

 

Jeff Coomes, Supervisor