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 March 4, 2008 at the USDA Building, Sidney, Iowa.

 

PRESENT:   

Commissioners:            Darwin Bugg, Chairperson

                       Harold Mitchell

Sheryl Sanders

Phil Wing

 

Staff:               Brian Gross, Kevin Brannen, Lucas Forney, and Tammy Grebert

 

Guest:             Jeff Zimprich

 

ADOPT AGENDA:  

            The agenda for the March 4, 2008 meeting was adopted with the addition of the Emergency Plan and the Private Lands Position.

 

APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 12, 2008 MINUTES:

13-08   After review, the minutes of the February 12, 2008 meeting of the Fremont Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners were approved with the following correction:

 

            12-08   Wing made a motion to pay for the meal for the contractor’s meeting. The motion was seconded by Wing Sanders and passed with all in favor

 

APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT:

14-08   It was moved by Mitchell and seconded by Sanders to approve the Treasurer’s report of the Fremont Soil and Water Conservation District. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Comments by Jeff Zimprich

            Jeff Zimprich gave an update on the NRCS budget. At this time it looks to be over $3 million short. Richard Sims has been named the new Iowa State Conservationist. He will begin his duties June 22, 2008.

            Field offices in the southwest corner of Iowa are facing the challenge of a lack of contractors available to get the conservation projects built. Zimprich shared a map showing the percentage of terraces to be built/completed.  

 

BUSINESS:

Ø      Watershed Inspections

            Brian Laughlin will inspect watersheds for 2008.

 

Ø      CDI Resolution Process

            The 2008 Resolution process guidelines were reviewed. The CDI Board has made changes in the resolution process timeline to better assist districts in creating well written resolutions.

 

Ø      Two Rivers Extension        

            Fremont SWCD requested to extend the Two Rivers project agreement between IDALS/DSC, Fremont SWCD, and USDA/NRCS. The project is currently working in year one of a two year extension approved during last year’s grant application cycle. DSC confirms that funding will be available to support similar project activities for FY2009 provided DSC funding is not de-appropriated or cut. DSC is not willing to grant another extension to the project. If additional funding support is needed, a full project application during next year’s grant cycle will need to be submitted to be considered for funding in FY2010.

 

Ø      Emergency Plan

            Brannen gave an update on A200 emergency plan

 

Ø      Fremont/Mills Private Lands Conservationist Position

            Gross contacted Mills County DC, Marvin Freed, and discussed the figures to fund a two year position as Private Lands Conservationist beginning July 1, 2008.  Freed will discuss with Mills County SWCD, to see if their district would be satisfied with only 17% of the time in Mills County or if they can come up with additional dollars to get additional time for Mills County.

 

Ø      Scholarships

            Scholarship/internship applications were voted upon and recipients selected. A letter and certificate for each recipient will be sent to the schools.

 

SIGNED APPROVALS

      Conservation Plans

JAR Farms LTD – t2224

 

Contracts/Contract Modifications         

 

      Cost-share Certification

            H. Charles Brooks - #2453

     

      Maintenance Agreements

            Amendment to Paulyne Miller - #2493

            H. Charles Brooks - #2453

 

      LWPP Application/Amendment

           

      Stewardship Initiative

           

      Cooperator Agreement

 

      Statement as to Soil Conservation Refund

           

      Application for Impoundment Structure Property Tax Exemption

                       

 MEETING ADJOURNED:  8:45 p.m.

 

 

 

  /s/                                                                                               /s/                                                      

Secretary                                                                                  Chairman

 

 

Date Approved    April 1, 2008