MINUTES
58th
ANNUAL MEETING
Tan-Tar-A
Resort - Salon A
Osage Beach, Missouri
November
28, 2006
The 58th Annual Meeting of the Missouri Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts was called to order by President Steve Oetting at 8:30
a.m., at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage
Beach, Missouri.
Roll call and establishment of a quorum, 74 districts were present. Introduction of guests Don Fisher, Elizabeth
Brown, Roger Hansen, Doyle Childers, Mike Wells and Brad McCord..
The minutes from the 57th Annual Meeting held November 30, 2005 were
approved as mailed. Motion was made by Daviess County
to suspend with the reading of the minutes and they be approved as sent out,
seconded by Newton
County. Motion carried.
A treasurer report was given. The
report covered the period of November 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006, in
order for it to be included in the registration packets. Steve Oetting reported an internal audit was
completed Sunday night and everything looked great. A motion was made by Carroll
County and seconded by St. Francois County to approve the treasurer
report. Motion carried.
Elizabeth Brown gave a Commission
Report. She thanked Steve for including
the Commission on the agenda. Ms. Brown
reported the Area Meetings in May emphasized how to talk to the media and press
on the sales tax renewal, and that it must have worked. She stated that it is difficult to make a
policy that fits the whole state because of the amount of diversity we have. Ms. Brown also recognized recent awards to 5
districts by DNR.
Roger Hansen gave the NRCS report.
He stated he wanted to recognize the accomplishments of the field staff, they have exceeded many of the goals set for the past
year. In 1982 Missouri's erosion rate was 10.9
ton/acre/year. This was the second
highest in the nation. By 1997 this was
down to 5.6 ton/acre/year. The FOSA
system was implemented shortly after he came to Missouri.
This FOSA system was evaluated this year, some places this is working
well and some places it is not. They are
trying to identify why it is not working.
It may be that some of the FOSA's need to be sub-divided if the size and
magnitude is part of the problem.
Gary Mast gave a NACD report. He discussed NACD's situation with the
proposed budget deficits and the quota payment system. Eli followed with comments to thank those who
have paid NACD quota and ask that those who have not paid to please consider
paying. He emphasized that NACD is the
only voice for private lands conservation.
Resolutions to be brought from the floor were asked to be brought forward
so they could be put on the screen for discussion.
By-Law Amendments
#00-1 proposing
changes to create a procedure for Area Director elections. Livingston
County moved to adopt
this amendment. This was seconded by Daviess County.
Amendment passed with 5 votes in opposition.
#00-2 proposing
changes in the required quorum to conduct business from one-fourth to a
majority. Livingston County
moved to adopt this amendment. This was
seconded by Daviess
County. Jackson
County questioned for
clarification on majority of who, explanation of what is now required. The amendment proposes a majority of all
member districts at state-wide meetings and a majority of member districts in
the Area at Area Meetings. Now
requirements are for one-fourth of the member districts at state-wide
meetings. The parliamentarian pointed
out that the Are level rules or policy can be different than the state level
policy. Wright County
offered and amendment to the proposed by-law amendment which would exempt Area
Meetings from the majority quorum. This
was seconded by Perry
County. The vote on the amendment passed with 8 votes
opposing. The vote on the by-law
amendment as amended passed with 10 opposing votes.
Resolutions
#00-01 from Livingston County
concerning support for farmland protection legislation. Livingston County moved to adopt this resolution as
written. This was seconded by Jackson County.
Livingston county proposed an amendment to the
resolution, this was seconded by St.Charles
County. Livingston
County explained the
purpose of the proposed changes. It was
questioned if this would jeopardize the MASWCD 501c3 status, which it would
not. Representative Ridgeway explained
the need and purpose of this type legislation and the new proposed bill which
will be introduced in the legislature in January. Livingston
County and St. Charles County
withdraw the proposed amendment and second.
Livingston
County offered a new
proposed amendment. This was seconded by
Macon County.
Whereas, the Livingston county Board believes that important legislation which
would give each county protection for farmland from urban encroachment will be
introduced in the legislature in January 2001;
Therefore, be it resolved: That the
Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts work with the legislative
sponsors to develop legislation to protect private property rights of
landowners, provide additional protection from eminent domain, and strengthen Missouri's right-to-farm
provisions.
Cole County called for question on the amendment to the
resolution. The amendment passed with 1
opposing vote. The vote on the
resolution as amended passed with 1 opposing vote.
#00-02 from Boone County
concerning adding cleaning out old ponds as a component in DFR-5, DSP-3 and
DSP-33 practices. Boone
County moved for adoption
of this resolution. This was seconded by
Howell County.
Boone County explained the purpose of the
resolution.
Vote on resolution passed with 15 opposing votes.
#00-03 from Boone
County concerning
increasing DFR-5 fencing rates to the county average cost. Boone
County moved to adopt
this resolution as written. This was
seconded by Audrain
County. Boone
County explained the need
for this resolution. Scott County
questioned who determined the county average cost, answer is it would be the
county average cost on the FSA docket.
Vote on resolution passed.
#00-04 from Boone County concerning cost-sharing
on woodland protection through livestock exclustion on all woodlands of two
acres or more and to all riparian corridors. Boone County
moved for adoption of this resolution.
This was seconded by Lafayette
County. Boone
County explained the need
for this resolution. Questions were
asked concerning the size of the acreage and how it was determined to use 2
acres. Cole County
moved to close discussion. This was
seconded by Daviess
County. Vote on resolution failed.
#00-05 from Lewis County concerning making districts be
responsible for the county average cost instead of FSA Lewis County moved to adopt this resolution
as written. This was seconded by Howell County. Lewis
County explained the
purpose of the resolution. Vote on
resolution passed with 6 votes in opposition.
#00-06 from Lewis County
concerning putting unused loan-interest share funds in the cost-share funds. Lewis
County moved for adoption
of this resolution. This was seconded by
Cooper County.
There was no discussion on this resolution. Vote on resolution resulted in a tie. The Resolutions Chair declared division of
the house and a revote. Revote resulted
in a tie. The Resolutions Chair was the
voting delegate from Webster
County and did not vote,
therefore the resolution failed.
#00-07 from Lewis County
concerning elimination of the maximum cost-share limit on the DSP-3 practice. Lewis County
moved for adoption of this resolution.
This was seconded by Jasper
County. There was no discussion on this
resolution. Vote on resolution passed 27
in favor and 25 opposing.
#00-08 from Lawrence County
concerning MASWCD upholding resolutions passed by the membership. Lawrence County moved for the adoption of this resolution. This was seconded by Taney County. Taney
County discussed the
purpose of this resolution. Vote on resolution
passed with 15 opposing votes.
#00-09 from Cooper and Howard Counties. Howard County
moved for the adoption of this resolution.
This was seconded by Osage
County. Howard
County explained the
purpose and need for the resolution.
Vote on resolution passed with 6 opposing votes.
There were no resolutions from the floor.
The Area Directors from Areas 2-4-6-8 were inducted. These are:
Area 2—Richard Morgan, Area 4—Steve Oetting, Area 6—Kathryn Braden, and
Area 8—Steve Huber.
Meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m. The
MASWCD reorganizational meeting is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________
Peggy Lemons, Executive Director