DRAFT MINUTES
59th ANNUAL MEETING
Tan-Tar-A Resort - Salon A
November 27, 2007
The 59th Annual Meeting of the Missouri Association of Soil
and Water Conservation Districts was called to order by President Fred Feldmann
at 8:30 a.m., at Tan-Tar-A Resort in
Roll call and establishment of a quorum, 78 districts were
present. Introduction
of guests.
The minutes from the 58th Annual Meeting held November 28,
2006 were approved as mailed. Motion was
made by
A treasurer report was given. The report covered the period of November 1,
2006 through October 31, 2007, in order for it to be included in the
registration packets. A motion was made
by
Elizabeth
Brown gave a Commission Report. She
stated this was her last official duty as Commissioner. She stated she feels the districts are the
backbone of the state of
Roger Hansen gave the NRCS report. He stated that thinking about the previous
night’s speaker talking about the paradymn shift in funding,
he feels it started last year with NRCS.
The FT-07 budget eliminated earmarks.
He had 60 staff years funded by earmarked funds. There were 130 employees detailed
out-of-state this past year. Two years
ago he had 475 employees, today he has 425 and by next
March should be at 400. He stated he
wished he could say it would stay at 400 but that will depend on Congress and
whether they come up with a budget or a continuing resolution, and how the
continuing resolution is worded if that is how they are funded for the
remainder of their fiscal year. If they
don’t pass a budget by Christmas they will probably have a continuing
resolution for the rest of the year. If
this happens it will lock in the funding amounts from the 2006 budget with no
earmarked funds. The 2007 Farm Bill is
still not passed. Unless Congress
extends the current Farm Bill or passes a new one, the authority for some of
the federal programs will expire. The
only 2 continuing programs will be EQIP and CSP. When the new Farm Bill is approved it will
open up new funds. He stated the main thing
he could do was to try to not spend money.
Fred Feldmann stated it had been a
very interesting year, a very busy year.
We are working to try to improve things for the districts. All the changes affect everyone, he stated he
knows everyone is not happy with all the changes, he emphasized we need to
maintain a positive attitude and work through them to accomplish what is best
for conservation in
Brad Ross, Director of Member
Services for NACD, stated that NACD represents over 3,000 districts and serves
as their voice on Capital Hill in
Don Fisher stated he was proud of the state association and the districts and the job they do. This is what makes the conservation program so successful along with the county offices. He stated he Farm Storage Loan program spent $3.57 million last year. We need to keep working on the Farm Bill. Landowners need to understand the particulars of CRP contracts if they plan to buy or sell land. They need to understand how to protect theirself with new owners taking over the contract and making sure it is reported properly to the FSA office.
Fred turned the meeting over to Steve Radcliff for the resolutions. Steve stated the debate rules as follows: 3 minutes per person at the mike, 1 person at the mike at a time, the sponsor of the resolution may come back for rebuttal, timers will be used, the sponsor must move to approve the resolution to get it on the floor for discussion, any close vote will be re-voted by a roll cal vote.
Resolutions to be brought from the floor were asked to be
brought forward so they could be put on the screen for discussion.
See Attachment 1
Resolutions
#01 from
#02 from
#03 from
#04 from
#05 from
#06 from
#07 from
#08 from
#09 from
#10 from
#11 from
Resolutions
from the floor.
#12
from
Whereas, Soil and Water Conservation District Board
Supervisors are volunteers by statute, and
Whereas, District Board Supervisors are not eligible to
receive health insurance through the current system. This is due to the fact that board members are
a volunteer position, and
Whereas, DNR has group health insurance established for soil
and water district employees;
Therefore, be it resolved: The Warren County Soil and Water Conservation
District would like to urge MASWCD in cooperation with DNR to change MO Statute
Chapter 278, Soil Conservation, Section 278.110.4, to read: A soil and
water supervisor shall receive no compensation for his services, but he shall
be entitled to expenses, including travel expense and health insurance for self
and family through the MCHCP if it is paid 100% by the supervisor.
Reason: it is getting increasingly difficult to find
people willing to take on the role of supervisor. Due to the high cost of
health insurance for self employed farmers, especially as they get older.
This would be an incentive for self-employed farmers to run for the
position. At the same time, there would be no premium cost to the state.
#13 from Buchanan County concerning
cost-sharing on CRP land. Buchanan moved
to bring this resolution from the floor.
This was seconded by
#14 from
Livingston-Grundy-Daviess-Harrison Counties concerning requirements for Soil
and Water Commissioner. Gundy moved to bring this resolution from the
floor. This was seconded by Livingston
and
Therefore be it resolved: that in order to serve as a Missouri Soil and Warer
Districts Commissioner, one must have had local experience by previously or
presently serving on the local soil and water conservation board.
Warren Couty asked to re-consider the vote on resolution
#12 due to the vote being close. It was
pointed out that only the party on the prevailing side could ask for
reconsideration of the vote.
By-Law Amendment #1 –
Steve Radcliff reported that the resolutions passed at last
year’s meeting were incorporated into the MASWCD Policy. A motion was made by
The resolutions passed at today’s meeting will be
incorporated into the MASWCD policy and ready for approval at next year’s
annual meeting.
George Engelbach from
The Area Directors from Areas 1—3—5—7 were all re-elected
for another term.
The members were asked to return the voting signs back to
the Area Directors.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. The MASWCD reorganization meeting is
scheduled for 11:00 a.m. this morning in the Terrace Drawing Room.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________
Peggy Lemons, Executive Director
Attachment 1
MASWCD RESOLUTIONS
November 2007 Training Conference
Resolution # 1
Whereas, the current Commission policy states that applicants
have a four-consecutive year period to make multiple applications for Planned
Grazing Systems (DSP-3/33/333) that begins the day the Board approved the
initial claim, a $90 per acre limit, and a $13,500 maximum cost-share limit,
and
Whereas, the Commission has recognized that the Planned
Grazing System practice is very effective in maintaining forage production and
therefore better water quality in drought conditions, and
Whereas, smaller acreage graziers are not able to spread
basic watering costs over as many acres thereby operating at an economical
disadvantage, and
Whereas, some landowners were given an additional
period of time to expand their systems, and
Whereas, Planned Grazing Systems are most effective and
efficient when fine-tuned and/or expanded with time and experience;
Therefore, be it resolved: That the Missouri Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts urge the Soil and Water Districts Commission to extend
the four-year limitation on DSP-3/33/333 applications to 9 years and remove the
$90 per acre cost-share limitation while keeping the maximum state cost-share
allowed at $13,500 per landowner.
Resolution Failed
Resolution # 2
Greene
Whereas, according to the Parks and Soils Sales Tax Law, the
Soil and Water Commission has been delegated the responsibility for developing
soil and water program policy, and
Whereas, the Soil and Water Commission has a past history of
gathering information from local soil and water district boards to develop a
sound and reasonable conservation program policy, and
Whereas, the Commission and district boards have been excluded
from recent decisions affecting local district operations (e.g. maps of
practices mandated by DNR program office) and have been offered no opportunity
for input, and
Whereas, cost share practice claims are required to be
certified by the responsible technical agency (NRCS),
Therefore be it resolved: that practice certification should be accepted
for cost share payment without additional (map) evidence and that program
policy should not be altered without justification before working through the
proper Commission channels.
Resolution Passed
Resolution #3
Greene
Whereas, the local Soil and Water Conservation District board
is the elected governing body of a soil and water conservation district, and
Whereas, a function of a soil and water conservation district
board is to hire qualified employees and make budget decisions each fiscal year
based upon employee job performance, pay increases and advancements, and
Whereas, district boards have received direction from a state
agency on the compensation and promotion for work for non-state district
employees
Therefore be it resolved: that soil and water conservation district boards
should not relinquish local control to state or federal conservation agencies
and should continue to provide supervision to SWCD employees. Let it be further
resolved that district funding should not be tied to unattainable goals
determined by state agency staff.
Supported
by: Audrain, Barton,
Resolution Passed
Resolution #4
Greene
Whereas, the local soil and water conservation district board
is the elected governing body of a soil and water conservation district, and
Whereas, a function of the soil and water conservation
district board is to identify local conservation issues and to offer
appropriate environmental corrective measures and
Whereas, the board feels that we are losing our close working
relationship(s) with sister agencies and conservation partners such as the
Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Missouri Department of
Conservation, the Farm Service Agency, the
Therefore, be it resolved: that soil and water conservation district boards work
together with the DNR program staff and the Soil and Water Commission and
sister agencies or conservation partners to review proposals before acting on
any major changes that would hinder our combined conservation efforts.
Supported
by: Barton,
Resolution Passed
Resolution #5
Gasconade
Whereas, the Soil and Water Districts Commission Plan for the
Future states that they will conserve Missouri’s soil and water resources and
support clean water by working with others to determine and implement long-term
strategies to conserve Missouri’s productive power of the agricultural land in
a way that is protective of Missouri’s water resources and
Whereas, the number one non-point source pollutant, by a wide
margin, entering
Whereas, it is the local Conservation Districts and
Commission’s responsibility to assure taxpayers that, by continuing soil and
water conservation programs, the purity of the water in their streams and
rivers will be protected
Therefore, be it resolved: that the Missouri Association of Conservation
Districts and the Soil and Water Districts Commission stress their strong
opposition to the deliberate dumping of thousands of tons of soil by the Corps
of Engineers into the
Supported by:
Moniteau SWCD
Resolution Passed
Resolution #6
Christian
Whereas,
the requirements for documentation of structural
practices constructed with funds from the Missouri State Parks and Soils Tax is
more stringent on certain practices (e.g. those involved with grazing
management), than other structural practices applied throughout the state (e.g.
terrace systems, water ways), and
Whereas,
the structural practices installed with Missouri
State Parks and Soils Tax funds have multiple levels of review and technical
certification by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as mandated by
program policy, and
Whereas,
any Technical staff of the Soil and Water
Conservation District or Natural Resources Conservation Services has received
adequate training and job approval for designing and inspecting structural
practices, and
Whereas,
the information interpreted from a map may not
adequately represent the design of a structural practice due to topography, geography
or the geology of that particular site, and
Therefore
be it resolved: to maintain equality in the review of structural
practices, that the articles identified in memorandum 2007-035 be repealed by
the commission and that technical certification of a practice remains a
responsibility of adequately trained and certified field office staff.
Supported by: Audrain, Barton,
Resolution Passed
Resolution #7
Livingston
Whereas, the Livingston County SWCD believes all terrace
practices should require topsoiling, regardless of soil type;
Whereas, the Livingston County SWCD believes the decision to
approve cost-share assistance for topsoiling on all terrace practices,
regardless of soil type, should be up to each individual Soil and Water
Conservation District;
Therefore, be it resolved: that the MASWCD urge NRCS and the Commission to
approve cost-share assistance for topsoiling the practice for all terraces.
Department of Natural Resources, Soil and
Water Conservation Program Comments: State Cost-Share practices are
designed in accordance with NRCS specifications set forth in the Field Office
Technical Guide. When it is determined that topsoiling will be effective,
based on the soil type and amount of topsoil remaining, the landowner is
required to topsoil for the practice to be certified s meeting standard.
The commission has approved the use of state cost-share funds for topsoiling in
those instances where it is required nd so noted on the drawings.
Resolution Failed
Resolution #8
Livingston
Whereas, the Livingston County SWCD believes that the fencing
and water component expenses should not be included in the $15,000.00 and above
NRCS requirement that require the designs to be approved by the NRCS Area
Office for structure practices.
Whereas, the fencing and water components do not affect the structural design
of the structure;
Therefore, be it resolved: that the MASWCD urge NRCS to exclude the cost of
fencing and water component expenses from the $15,000.00 and above NRCS
requirement.
Resolution Failed
Resolution #9
Whereas, the state office has consistently encouraged soil
and water districts take the initiative to supplement Soils & Parks Tax
district assistance grants with matching grants, 319 grants, AgNPS SALTs, local
funds, or other types of funding for salaries info/ed programs, and equipment
purchases.
Whereas, the DNR Memo #2008-007, "Health
Insurance", states "only those employees that are paid from the Parks
and Soils Sales Tax will be eligible to have their health insurance and
retirement paid with the Parks and Soils Sales Tax funds."
Whereas, district boards voted on health insurance before
learning of the requirements stated above for their employees to be eligible
for benefits.
Whereas, the state office is deciding who is/is not a
district employee by which type of funding is being utilized to pay their
salary.
Therefore, be it resolved: that the Commission should decide who is/is not a
district employee and they should receive their benefits as was believe to be
the case when the search for better health insurance began.
Resolution Passed
Resolution #10
Whereas, the state office has consistently encouraged soil
and water districts take the initiative to use matching grants, 319 grants,
AgNPS SALTs, local funds, or other types of funding for salaries when their
allotments were inadequate to fund salaries, info/ed programs, and equipment
purchases.
Whereas, the new FY08 allotments, as outlined in the 6/29/07
DNR letter to each district, the districts are only receiving what the state
funded in salaries for FY07 or the minimum for that employee’s pay-range plus
8%. This includes NO compensation for years of experience. The new
allotment has also limited the salary paid for an employee because they are
only funding the state’s portion of the matching grants used for their
salary.
Whereas, to many districts, this is a pay reduction, which
the state office consistently denied would take place.
Therefore, be it resolved: that district employees, as deemed by the
districts/commission, should be funded for salaries and benefits in full, not
only the state’s portion for matching grants last year, as districts were
led to believe. The districts should not be given partial funding because of
the long-time problem of under-funding districts in the first place. In the
past, is was the commission’s policy that anyone working for soil and water
districts and worked 1000 hours qualified for benefits.
Resolution Passed
Resolution #11
Whereas, the state office has consistently encouraged soil
and water districts take the initiative to use matching grants, 319 grants,
AgNPS SALTs, local funds, or other types of funding for information/education
when their allotments were inadequate to fully fund these programs.
Whereas, matching grants for info/ed has been taken away and
the state has placed the burden on each district to fund their established
info/ed programs from local funds.
Therefore, be it resolved: that districts receive grant monies for established and proven
info/ed programs. The districts should also be encouraged, not discouraged,
to conduct various "hands-on" info/ed programs to schools within
their counties which has been highly supported by tax-payers.
Resolution Passed
Resolution #12
Re: Health Insurance for Board
Members
Whereas, Soil and Water Conservation District Board
Supervisors are volunteers by statute, and
Whereas, District Board Supervisors are not eligible to
receive health insurance through the current system. This is due to the fact that board members are
a volunteer position, and
Whereas, DNR has group health insurance established for soil
and water district employees;
Therefore, be it resolved: The Warren County Soil and Water Conservation
District would like to urge MASWCD in cooperation with DNR to change MO Statute
Chapter 278, Soil Conservation, Section 278.110.4, to read: A soil and
water supervisor shall receive no compensation for his services, but he shall
be entitled to expenses, including travel expense and health insurance for self
and family through the MCHCP if it is paid 100% by the supervisor.
Reason: it is getting increasingly difficult to find people willing to
take on the role of supervisor. Due to the high cost of health insurance
for self employed farmers, especially as they get older. This would be an
incentive for self-employed farmers to run for the position. At the same
time, there would be no premium cost to the state.
Resolution Failed
Resolution #13
Buchanan
Whereas, Currently land under an expiring Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) contract and land that has recently been removed from a mature
CRP contract are not eligible for state cost share according to rule 10 CSR
70-5, 020(2) (erosion rate limitations). And that this same land is not
eligible for state cost share until the fields are cropped for three to four
years and an erosion problem does develop.
Therefore be it resolved: That MASWCD urge the Commission to allow land
under an expiring Conservation Reserve Program contract, which will be brought
into cropland production, be eligible for state cost share funding during the
first year out of the CRP program. Justification will be based upon the
calculated erosion rate of the land while it was cropped prior to being
enrolled into CRP. Eligible land will have a pre-CRP erosion rate greater
than T.
The rule, 10 CSR 70-5.020(2) have an additional instance when excessive
erosion is not necessarily occurring.
(H) for the establishment of conservation practices on land
recently removed from an expired CRP contract.
Failed
the 2/3 required vote to bring from the floor for discussion.
Resolution #14
Livingston, Grundy, Daviess and Harrison
Therefore be it
resolved: that in order to
serve as a Missouri Soil and Warer Districts Commissioner, one must have had
local experience by previously or presently serving on the local soil and water
conservation board.
Resolution
Passed
By
Law Amendment #1
Proposed
Amendment to By-Laws
Submitted
by
MASWCD
Amended MASWCD Constitution and By-Laws -
Article VI, Section 2 and 2A; and Article VII, Section 2A
Article
VI -- Board of Directors -
Officers
- Organization Units
Section 2: Officers of the Association.
The Officers of the Board of Directors shall
serve as the Officers of the State Association. The President shall call the
elected Directors together at the Annual Meeting for the election of the
Vice-Presidents in odd number years, and the election of President elect in
even number years. The President then completes the organization by
appointing a Treasurer, committee chairmen and the advisory members. At the odd
number year Board meeting, during the Annual Meeting, the President
elect Director who becomes President shall
be succeeded immediately by his/her First Alternate for the Area. The decision
of the Board of Directors as to the policies and activities of the Association
shall be final and a report thereof given to the Annual Meeting.
A. President-elect: At the end of the first year
of the President’s second term, the Board of
Directors shall, by majority ballot vote, decide whether to retain the First
Vice President as President-elect or to reject the First Vice President as
President-elect.
Article
VII -- Eligibility - Term of Office -
Compensation
- Duties
Section 2: Term of Office.
A. President: The term of the President shall be for two (2)
years, and the person so elected shall not be elected to a successive term
in that office with a maximum of 2 terms.
The Vice Presidents shall be elected bi-annually. Should the President-elect be
appointed to complete an unexpired year as President, he or she is eligible for
election for one two (12) two-year terms. Newly-elected officers and
Directors of the Association shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual
Meeting and Conference activities.
Amendment
Passed
Attachment 2
