March 2011 Meeting

MINUTES OF THE LINN COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Marion, IA
March 1, 2011

CALL MEETING TO ORDER 

Laura Krouse called the March 1, 2011 meeting of the Linn Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners to order at 6:34 PM at the USDA Service Center, 3025 7^th Avenue, Marion, IA.

 Present: 

Commissioners                    Staff and others

Laura Krouse                       John Bruene, District Conservationist

Sue Ellen Hosch                   Mark Bienemann, Soil Conservation Tech

Dan Abel                              Mary Hepker, District Secretary      

Robert Broulik                    

ADOPT AGENDA

 11-18     Broulik moved to adopt the agenda.  Hosch seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the February meeting were presented for approval.

 11-19     Broulik moved to approve the February meeting minutes.  Hosch seconded the motion. 

                Motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The Treasurer’s Reports were presented for approval.   Hepker explained the Amended Balance Sheet for March.  Funds used for Dry Creek salary needed to be deducted from the IJOBS balance and not the Dry Creek Development Grant balance in October. 

11-20     Hosch moved to approve both the amended report and the February reports.  Abel seconded the   motion.  Motion carried.

BILLS

The following bills were presented for approval:

Bills – To be Paid

Iawisil

Down Payment for Trees

$ 877.80

Bills – Paid, already approved

Hy-Vee	Lunch Meeting Items	$   40.27
Linn-Mar FFA	Envirothon Sponsorship	$ 140.00
Sign Productions	District Banners	$ 170.00*
ISWEP	2011 Dues	$ 418.00

Bills – Paid, but not approved

Impressions

Rubber Stamp for Bank Deposit

$   24.95*

Dry Creek Development Grant Expenses

Donna Walton	Salary   01/21/11 – 02/03/11	$ 188.68
Donna Walton	Salary   02/04/11 – 02/17/11	$ 178.59

11-21     Hosch moved to approve the bills.  Broulik seconded the motion.  Motion carried. 

 COST SHARE

 IFIP

Applications

William J. Novak

Grassed Waterway

$ 4,382.40

11-22     Hosch moved to approve the Cost Share application.  Abel seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 Plans and Agreements

CRP

There was one CRP plan submitted for approval.

 11-23     Broulik moved to approve the plan.  Hosch seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 STAFF/COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Commissioner and Assistants

Frana talked about the recent Winter Gardening Fair on February 19^th at Kirkwood.  It was a huge event with over 500 people registered to attend and more at the door.  There were people from all over the State.  If they had questions and didn’t live in Linn County, the commissioners would help with their questions but also referred them to their local office.  Most didn’t know that they had a local office in their county.   Krouse suggested that maybe it would be a good idea to get together with a few surrounding SWCD offices that have local people registered to attend the event.  Maybe they would also like to be at the SWCD table. 

Krouse also suggested that for next year’s event we need to have more items available for demonstrations such as the pervious paving sample that is in the office.  Folks were really interested in seeing things.  Krouse also suggested that we begin working on the event in November or December to better prepare since it is such a huge success.  Hepker made note of the above suggestions and will make note on her calendar.

Frana also discussed the Cedar River Basin Watershed meeting which was held in Cedar Falls on February 4^th.  He attended the meeting with Senator Rob Hogg and a Cornell College student.  He said that it was a very interesting meeting.  The Iowa Soybean Association was in attendance along with folks involved in the Raccoon River Watershed project.  Information was shared on what they are doing in that project area.  The next meeting is scheduled for May 6^th.  Location and time will be announced at a later date.

NRCS – DC & Others

Bruene informed the commissioners he has been working with Brian in FSA on the upcoming building lease renewal.  They are working on the lease review process at this time. 

Bruene discussed the recent DC and staff meeting which was held in the Amanas.  Discussion was held on Rapid Watershed Assessments and what is currently going on in specific watersheds. 

Bruene is working on CSP and EQIP application process for the contract ranking period.  There have been a couple of Ag waste applications in addition to a couple of structure applications.

District Secretary

Hepker presented the updated brochure to the commissioners.  There were a couple of changes the commissioners wished to be made before printing.  Frana checked with Grant Wood AEA print shop on the cost to print the brochures for the District.  The estimate was $606.84.  There was discussion on the possibility of using funds from the Cargill grant to pay for the new brochures for public education and information. 

11-24     Hosch moved that Cargill Grant funds be used for the printing of the District brochures.  Broulik

              seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Hepker also discussed the commissioner vacancy protocol.  Krouse will get together with Jons about putting together a resume to forward along with the District recommendation letter to the State Soil Conservation Committee.

This is the final week for scholarship applications to be turned in.  The cut-off date is March 3^rd.  So far, there has been one received.  Hepker will contact the commissioners at the end of the week to let them know how many applications were received.  The applications will then be reviewed by individual commissioners and a decision will be shared on the scholarship winner at the next meeting. 

Hepker was pleased to announce that the District was chosen by Iowa Learning Farms to use the new Conservation Station at the Cedar Rapids Farmers Market Green Day on July 16^th.  More information will be made available to the commissioners closer to the event date.

OLD BUSINESS

Dry Creek Watershed

Walton asked Hepker to share this information in her absence.  There is going to be a Dry Creek meeting on Wednesday, March 2^nd in Atkins.  Jeff Tisl and Jaime Benning were in charge of setting this meeting up with rural landowners within the watershed.  They will be discussing a hydro study, soil loss data and the RASCAL survey.

Audit

Hepker showed the commissioners the audit checklist from the DSC Policy and Procedure manual.  There was much discussion on the audit and financial report process.  Krouse and Hosch will begin working on the audit after Hepker finishes the District financial report in March.

 

Spring Regional

Hepker presented the March 16^th Spring Regional information to the commissioners.  Krouse, Broulik and Abel will be attending.  Hosch will possibly be attending.  Hepker is also planning on attending.

District Website

Hepker talked about the progress being made on the new District website.  She has met with the web developer.  There has been a problem with getting the site host set up to function on her computer.  Hepker has been talked with the NRCS State Office on what can and cannot be done on her computer.  The web developer and her assistant will be meeting with Hepker this week to see what can be done.  More information will be shared at next month’s meeting.

There was discussion on the web site set up costs.  Hepker and Krouse discussed the possibility of utilizing the Cargill Grant funds for the web site development.  This site would be used for public information and education so it was felt that the grant funds would be a good fit for this project.

11-25     Hosch moved to use Cargill Grant funds for the web site development.  Abel seconded the motion.   Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

Rob Roman-Linn Secondary Roads

Mr. Roman discussed the Water Infiltration Day that is being planned for July 13^th.  He shared maps of the location of the field day.  This location includes a county sub-division and also his farm.  He would like the field day to include comparisons on water infiltration areas which include prairie plantings.  He wanted to know if the District would be interested in being a co-sponsor for the event. 

11-26     Abel moved that the District be a co-sponsor for this event.  Broulik seconded the motion.    Motion carried.

OTHER

Bruene talked about a phone call he had from Vince Sitzmann, DSC.  There is the possibility that a Wildlife Biologist can be hired utilizing funds from the Farm Bill, Pheasants Forever and the District.  NRCS would provide the office space and a computer.  This position would be shared with Jones and Johnson counties.  Discussion was held on the benefits this position could bring to the District.  Broulik stated that he would like more information shared before the District makes a definite decision.  Bruene will pass that information on. 

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence was reviewed. 

 NEXT MEETING DATE – ADJOURN

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.  The next meeting of the Linn Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners will be held at 6:30 PM, Tuesday, April 5, 2011. 

11-27     Broulik moved to adjourn.  Abel seconded the motion.  Meeting adjourned.

Presented                                                                               Approved

 Secretary                                               Date                       Chairperson                                                          Date