MINUTES OF THE

FREMONT SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING

OCTOBER 5, 2010, 8:00 P.M.

 

 

CALL TO ORDER:  

A meeting of the Fremont Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners was called to order by Chairperson Phil Wing at 8:10 p.m. on October 5, 2010 at the USDA Building, Sidney, Iowa.

 

PRESENT:   

Commissioners: Harold Mitchell, Sheryl Sanders, and Phil Wing

 

Staff:                   Kevin Brannen, Tammy Grebert, Brian Gross, Shane McNaughton, and Seth Moore

 

ADOPT AGENDA:  

The agenda for the October 5, 2010 meeting was adopted with the following addition:

·         A200 Watershed

·         Visitor Center

 

APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2010 MINUTES:

70-10     The minutes of the September 7, 2010 meeting of the Fremont Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners were approved as presented. The motion was made by Sanders, seconded by Mitchell and passed with all in favor.

 

APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT:

71-10     It was moved by Sanders and seconded by Mitchell to approve the Treasurer’s report of the Fremont Soil and Water Conservation District. Motion carried with all in favor.

 

Cost share application requests, application approvals and application amendments/cancellations were accepted as follows:

               

Cost-share requests: Bud Jorgenson

 

Cost share approvals:

                                               

Cost-share amendment: Gary Walter             Delbert McEnaney

 

2011 Bonding approvals:

               

2011 Bonding amendments: Marie Tiemann

               

REAP P approvals:   

 

REAP P cancellation:

               

REAP FNG approval:

 

REAP FNG cancellation:  

 

 

 

 

 

BUSINESS:

 

Ø  CDI Farm Bill Reports

72-10     Mitchell made a motion to approve the Farm Bill IX Final Report and the Farm Bill X September Report as presented. The motion was seconded by Sanders and passed unanimously.

 

Ø  Cost-share

73-10     A motion was made by Sanders, seconded by Mitchell to increase the maximum cost-share limit to $10,000 per landowner per year beginning with next fiscal year money (7/1/2012). The motion showed all in favor.

 

                Grebert gave a review of the Dennis Shannon Cost-share Project – Mr. Shannon was approved for state cost-share assistance on October 6, 2009. The maximum cost-share amount of $5,000.00 was obligated for the terrace practice; however, the cost-share payment was to be based on estimated or eligible costs, whichever was less. When Mr. Shannon signed the Certification Page, he was disappointed that he would not be receiving 50% of the bill. The eligible costs for this project were less than the estimated cost; therefore, Mr. Shannon did not receive 50% cost-share. The District maximum amount allowed for cost-share for this project was $1.31 per foot. The contractor charged $1.49 per foot.        

 

Ø  Waubonsie Watershed

                David Carter, NRCS Soil Conservationist in Mills County, had sent a couple e-mails regarding the status of Site 37-1. The e-mails were reviewed.

 

                The November meeting of the Waubonsie Subdistrict will be held in Sidney on November 2, 2010. Site 37-1 will be added to the agenda.

 

Ø  Commissioner Vacancy

                There will be two seats open on the Soil and Water Conservation District board for the upcoming year. Only one petition has been filed with the County Auditor’s office to be placed on the ballot for the November election.   

 

Ø  CDI Conference Feedback

                CDI had requested a report and review from those that had attended the CDI Annual Conference this year. Suggestions for the 2011 conference were also requested. For the districts that did not have a representative at the 2010 conference, CDI asked what could have been done to gain their attendance. This matter was discussed and Grebert will send a brief summary to CDI.

 

Ø  Pheasants Forever Membership

74-10     Sanders made a motion, seconded by Mitchell to renew the Pheasants Forever membership at the Associates level for $35.00. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Ø   Nishnabotna River News Article

                Susan Heathcote, Water Program Director at the Iowa Environmental Council and a member of the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission, wrote a guest column for the Des Moines Register entitled “Stop planting corn river bank to river bank”. This article was reviewed, followed by discussion.

 

Ø  Walnut Creek

        Gross presented work items for the Walnut Creek grant project received from Bob Waters. He will follow-up with the procedures for requesting funding.

 

Ø  NACD Dues

75-10     Mitchell made a motion to pay NACD dues in the amount of $500.00. The motion was seconded by Sanders and carried with all in favor.

Ø  Private Lands Update

                A work history update was given by the Private Lands Conservation Technician, Seth Moore on the activities that had occurred from August 20, 2010 through October 5, 2010.

 

Ø  A-200 Hound Dog Watershed

No further work has been done on the A-200 Hound Dog watershed site.

 

Ø  Visitor Center

The portal behind the Visitor Center was dedicated in memory of Kathy Kahue on October 2, 2010. Approximately 100 people were in attendance.

 

SIGNED APPROVALS

        Conservation Plans

                Robert Mead

                Robert Mead

                Neva Meek

                D & M Farms

                Kayton Farms LLC

                D Double N Farms Inc

                Hodde & Sons Ltd Ptn

                Glen Stenzel

                Glen Stenzel

                Christine Karg

                Christine Karg

                Harold Shull

                Sherry Wiese

                Geiger LLC

                W J Kilpatrick Trust

                T & S Farms Inc

                Shane McNaughton

                Herman & Lambert

                Stanley Orton

                Sheldon Farms LLC

                Sheldon Farms LLC

                Sheldon Farms LLC

                Sheldon Farms LLC

                Harold Mitchell Trust

                Francis Jardon

                Jane Dwornicki

 

        Contracts/Contracts Modifications

                Derryl McLaren

                Nicholas Babe

                Dixie Herrman et al

 

        Cost-share Certification

                Shirley Jones

                Shirley Jones

                Jerry McDonald

                Jerry McDonald

                Lynn Benson

                Lynn Benson

 

        Maintenance Agreements

                Shirley Jones

                Jerry Mc Donald

                Lynn Benson

               

        Group Planning Request

 

        Buffer Initiative

 

        Buffer Initiative Maintenance Agreements

                                               

        LWPP Application/Amendment

       

        WRP Long Term Agreement

       

        Stewardship Initiative

               

        Cooperator Agreement

 

        Statement as to Soil Conservation Refund

               

        Application for Impoundment Structure Property Tax Exemption

                                               

        Information Items

 

 

MEETING ADJOURNED:  9:55 p.m.

 

 

 

                /S/                                                                                                                           /S/                                                          

Secretary                                                                                                               Chairperson

 

Date Approved    November 2, 2010