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

 

PRESENT:   

Commissioners:  Darwin Bugg, Maurice King, Harold Mitchell, Sheryl Sanders, and Phil Wing

 

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

 

ADOPT AGENDA:  

The agenda for the November 4, 2008 meeting was approved. Brian Gross requested to address the Board sometime during the meeting.

 

APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 7, 2008 MINUTES:

                The minutes of the October 7, 2008 meeting of the Fremont Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners were approved as presented.

 

APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT:

55-08     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:

Ř       Watershed Maintenance Bids

56-08     Bids were received from three contractors for maintenance work on the Hamburg Watershed, the Hound Dog Watershed, the Ledgewood Watershed and the Simpson Watershed. After review of the bids, a motion was made by King, seconded by Wing to accept the bids presented by Prairie Pal of Percival, Iowa for maintenance work on Hamburg Watershed ($6,165.00), Hound Dog Watershed ($13,635.00), Ledgewood Watershed ($5,580.00) and Simpson Watershed ($3,690.00). Motion showed all in favor.

 

                Grebert will inform Prairie Pal that their bid was accepted. Included in the acceptance letter she will reiterate the maintenance specifications as follows: all trees and shrubs must be cut at ground level and the entire stump area treated with Tordon or comparable. All materials will be chipped and blown down stream from the structure or hauled away off the site. The area to be cut on the back slope will consist of everything perpendicular to the end of the main outlet tube o the top of the bank. The front slope and the emergency outlet are also part of this maintenance project. 

 

                Letters will also be sent to the two contractors whose bids were not accepted.

 

Ř       Lewis/Lane Cost-share

57-08     Terry Lewis was approved for state cost-share on August 7, 2007 in the amount of $7,250.00 to construct a grade stabilization structure on a tributary of Horse Creek in Section 20, T69N, R42W, Sidney Township.  Hungry Canyon Alliance also approved funds in the amount of $8,500 to be paid toward this project. After review, it was recently determined that it would be beneficial to build a structure with directional boring on the property to the north of the Lewis property which is owned by Lane Real Estate LC. A request was made to use the cost-share for the directional boring on the Lewis property and to use the cost-share slippage dollars to complete the structure on the property owned by Lane Real Estate LC. A motion was made by Wing to approve using the cost-share funds that were approved for Terry Lewis for a grade stabilization structure on August 7, 2007 for both Terry Lewis and Lane Real Estate LC to construct the structure with directional boring that would benefit both properties owned by Lewis and Lane Real Estate LC. The motion was seconded by King and carried unanimously.   

 

Ř       Nursery Stock Dealer Renewal

58-08     Sanders made a motion to renew the Nursery Stock Dealer Certificate for 2009. The motion was seconded by Mitchell and showed all in favor.  

 

Ř       NACD Dues

59-08     A motion to paid the NACD dues in the amount of $775.00 was made by Wing, seconded by Mitchell. The motion passed unanimously. 

 

Ř       Levy Watersheds

60-08     Wing made a motion, seconded by Sanders to certify to the Fremont County Auditor that maintenance as follows be collected in one payment during the year 2009 on Hamburg Watershed, Hound Dog Watershed, Ledgewood Watershed and Simpson Watershed:

 

                Hamburg Watershed -$1.08 per thousand dollars of current assessed value, or $3,705.50, whichever is less

                Hound Dog Watershed -$1.08 per thousand dollars of current assessed value, or $5,003.11, whichever is less

                Ledgewood Watershed - $1.08 per thousand dollars of current assessed value, or $4,064.93, whichever is less

                Simpson Watershed - $1.08 per thousand dollars of current assessed value, or $1,897.25, whichever is less

 

                Motion showed all in favor.

 

Ř       Donation/Disposal of Old Computers

61-08     The district has two computers that can no longer be on the server. A motion was made by Sanders, seconded by Mitchell to donate the computers to the Sidney Public Library and if they do not want the computers, donate to the Tabor Public Library. The motion passed unanimously.

  

Ř       Iowa Public Television

62-08     Mitchell made a motion to donate $25.00 to Iowa Public Television. The motion was seconded by Wing and passed with all in favor of the motion.

 

Ř        Pheasants Forever

63-08     A motion to renew the Associate Membership to Pheasants Forever for 2009 was made by Sanders and seconded by Wing. Motion carried with all in favor.

 

Ř       Sidney Booster Club 

                A letter was received from Sidney Booster Club requesting contributions to help provide sports equipment for teams, uniforms for teams and cheerleaders, camps for all sports, major purchases for the sports programs and other programs for extra curricular involvement at Sidney Community Schools. After discussion, the item died for lack of a motion.

 

Ř       Fremont SWCD Clothing

                An order will be sent in for Fremont SWCD logo clothing. If a commissioner would like to order something, please let Grebert know.

 

Ř       December Meeting Date

                The Division of Soil Conservation is having an all staff meeting on December 2, 2008, so the December Fremont SWCD Commissioner meeting date needs to be changed. After discussion, the December Fremont SWCD Commissioner meeting will be held Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Ř       Brian Gross – Shared Management

                Gross informed the board that shared management with Mills County NRCS Field Office had started October 27, 2008. Jeff Zimprich, ASTC(FO) had talked with Paul Hathoway, Chairperson in Mills County, and Mills County was in acceptance of the shared management plan. Gross had met with Zimprich on Thursday, October 23, 2008 to discuss the shared management plan. Zimprich contacted Darwin Bugg on October 23, 2008 or October 24, 2008 to inform him that he had made a decision to go with the shared management plan between Fremont County and Mills County. Gross will be over both counties. Fremont County will be the home county. Gross will spend Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Fremont County and Tuesdays and Thursdays in Mills County. Marvin Freed started in the Fremont County Field Office as a Soil Conservationist on October 27, 2008. With Marvin as Soil Conservationist, the staffing numbers are where they should be; therefore, at this time probably will not hire a Resource Conservationist in Mills County. Jeff Zimprich mentioned to Gross that he thought from meeting with the Fremont County Commissioners in October that they were not opposed to the shared management plan if a Soil Conservationist would be hired for the Fremont Field Office. The Commissioners expressed concern about the work load on Gross. Gross acknowledged that it would be a learning curve for everyone and that Freed will be a Soil Conservationist in Fremont County and David Carter is the Soil Conservationist in Mills County to help with the work load.

 

SIGNED APPROVALS

        Conservation Plans

Michael and Jim Athen

 

Contracts/Contract Modifications          

                Sherry Wiese & Marilyn Miller

                Sherry Wiese & Marilyn Miller

                Sherry Wiese & Marilyn Miller

 

        Cost-share Certification

                Mending Spirit Farm, Inc.

 

        Maintenance Agreements

                Mending Spirit Farm, Inc.

 

        LWPP Application/Amendment

                John Walter

 

        Buffer Initiative

                                               

        Stewardship Initiative

               

        Cooperator Agreement

 

        Statement as to Soil Conservation Refund

               

        Application for Impoundment Structure Property Tax Exemption

 

        Information Items

  • Waubonsie Creek Subdistrict Meeting – November 17, 2008 7:00 p.m. Malvern Field Office
  • Letter from State Office regarding waterway maintenance agreements
  • January meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2009 – Meal will be provided by staff.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED:  9:05 p.m.

 

 

 

                /s/                                                                                                                           /s/                                                          

Secretary                                                                                                               Chairperson

 

Date Approved                    12/09/2008