CALL TO ORDER:
A meeting of the Fremont Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners was called to order by Chairperson Darwin Bugg at 7:00 p.m. on February 1, 2005 at the USDA Building, Sidney, Iowa.
PRESENT:
Commissioners: Darwin Bugg, Chairperson
James Doyle
Harold Mitchell
Sheryl Sanders
Phil Wing
Staff: Kristie McKinley, Kevin Brannen, Shane McNaughton, Jake Holt and Tammy Grebert
ADOPT AGENDA:
14-05 The agenda for the February 1, 2005 meeting was adopted as written with the following additions and corrections:
Additions:
Visitor Center Grant
Visitor Center Working Agreement
Building Options
Corrections:
Change date of meeting in header to Tuesday, February 1, 2005
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 11, 2005 MINUTES:
The minutes of the January 11, 2005 meeting of the Fremont Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners were approved as written.
APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT:
15-05 It was moved by Mitchell and seconded by Wing to approve the Treasurer’s report of the Fremont Soil and Water Conservation District. Motion carried unanimously.
BUSINESS:
Ø Watershed
16-05 Ledgewood Inspections – Jake Holt reviewed Ledgewood watershed inspections. Mitchell made a motion seconded by Doyle to let bids on the repair of 8-1, 2-1, and M-2; to contact the county engineer regarding 2-2, 2-5, and M-6; and to send a letter to Michael Gardner regarding vehicle traffic on the emergency spillway of 2-1. Motion carried with all in favor.
17-05 M-1 Fencing – A motion was made by Doyle and seconded by Wing to contact the company in Henderson doing the fencing at the fairgrounds if they could build the fence on M-1 at the same time as the fairgrounds, if not contact Robert Patterson at Rock Port, MO to build 700 feet of 5-barb fence and to send a letter to the owner that fencing will be built. Motion passed 5-0.
18-05 Bills – Wing made a motion to pay the bills for Hamburg watershed, Hound Dog watershed, Ledgewood watershed, and Simpson watershed as submitted by Jake Holt and Luke Forney. The motion was seconded by Doyle and carried with all in favor.
Ø Newsletter/Annual Report
19-05 Wing made a motion to purchase a bulk mail permit to send the newsletters. Sanders seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
Ø State Reimbursement of Expenses (1-M)
Information from Deb Ryun was shared with the board.
Ø Visitor Center
20-05 Wing made a motion to pay $12,500 from the district account to be reimbursed by EPA 1 grant for the video when the bill is received. The motion was seconded by Doyle and carried with all in favor.
David Carter will get the seed and the district will donate the use of the drill to seed the wetland area at the visitor center.
Matching grant information was received from DNR for publicly entities. McKinley will oversee Eric Nelson writing the grant for planting trees at the Visitor Center. The trees are to be planted by volunteers.
McKinley informed the board that dollars are still being sought for the wetland area.
21-05 Wing presented information on a proposal from Shirley Frederickson, RC&D for a position to work half days, five days a week at the visitor center and the remainder of the time in the Pottawattamie County, Mills County and Fremont County offices. A letter of support for the proposal was requested. Mitchell made a motion, seconded by Doyle to send a letter of support for the proposal. Motion carried with all in favor.
Sanders informed the board that the working agreement with the Visitor Center was signed.
Ø Golf Tournament Date
The staff will work with the Fremont County golf course to set a date for the Conservation Golf Tournament. The target date will be from August 10 – August 30.
McKinley also informed the board of upcoming dates for field days and educational activities.
April 22, 2005 – Earth Day event
April 28, 2005 – County wide environthon
May 13, 2005 – 5th grade conservation field day
Prairie Field Day at Bob Geiger’s will be held but no date has been set.
Ø Office Equipment
There was discussion what to do with old office computers belonging to the district that are no longer being used. It was decided that the Acme computer will be given to Kevin Brannen; and at this time the Gateway and HP scanner will be kept.
Ø Building
The board discussed different options for the building when the lease expires May 31, 2005. No decision was made at this time.
SIGNED APPROVALS
Conservation Plans
Richard Payne – t3185 – 99.4 acres
Payne Valley Farms, LLC – t1802 – 90 acres
Payne Valley Farms, LLC – t3183 166.6 acres
Contracts/Contract Modifications
Carl Priebe – t931 – 10.1 acres
Richard Payne – t3189 – 74.9 acres
Richard Payne – t3185 – 1.9 acres
Richard Payne – t3185 – 1.8 acres
Payne Valley Farms, LLC – t1802 – 11.6 acres
Payne Valley Farms, LLC – t3183 – 3.9 acres
Dan Lorimor – t999 – 29.4 acres
Steve Douglas – t707 – 3.1 acres
Vouchers
Loewe Farms
Maintenance Agreements
Cooperator Agreement
Statement as to Soil Conservation Refund
Application for Impoundment Structure Property Tax Exemption
Sylvia Shull
Robert Shull
MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:00 p.m.
Secretary Chairman
Date Approved