MASWCD MINUTES

USDA Service Center

Jefferson City, Missouri

August 10, 2006

Present Steve Oetting, President Bruce Biermann, Area I	Not Present George Engelbach, Area V Ernie Calvert, Area VI
Tom Lambert, Area II Kenny Lovelace, Area III	Eli Mast, Past President David Dix, Treasurer
Beverly Dometrorch, Area IV Richard Hoelscher, Area V Alternate
Fred Feldmann, Area VI Harry Robbins, Area VIII
Peggy Lemons, Executive Director
Don Hicks, Area IV Alternate Ben Reed, District Employees Association
Bill Wilson, DNR Program Staff

President Steve Oetting welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m. with a quorum established. An update was given on David Dix’s surgery and recovery.

The minutes from the March 14, 2006 meeting were approved as mailed. The motion was made by Tom, seconded by Bruce. Motion carried unanimously.

A treasurer report sent by David Dix was distributed. There was also a copy of the breakdown of the districts paying MASWCD dues. 105 have paid in full and 1 has paid partial state dues. There were also financial reports for the MOCREP funds and the CRP-BOB funds. A motion was made by Beverly, seconded by Fred, to approve the Treasurer Report as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

MDC REPORT: Brad McCord was not in attendance due to the first day of the State Fair. He had relayed earlier that MDC would like to be involved in the workshops at the Training Conference. Peggy also updated the Board on a new agreement being developed between MASWCD and MDC to continue to offer wildlife enhancement incentives to landowners.

NRCS REPORT: Roger Hansen was not able to attend, but had given a report at the Joint Meeting earlier which included information on the FY 2006 EQIP Program showing the number of contracts and dollars approved by County.

COMMISSION REPORT: Bill Wilson stated they have started working on the planning for the Training Conference. No additional report was given due to the Commission Meeting being held earlier today.

DISTRICT EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION REPORT: Ben Reed reported that the District Employees Association had contributed $5000 to the Citizens Committee. They are all pleased the sales tax passed. He also stated that they are offering $500 scholarships in each of the 8 MASWCD Areas to employees or their family attending college. They are involved in the planning for the Training Conference. They will be giving state awards again this year. They have added to the nomination form a section asking for what contribution the person does in their community. He stated that the most questions he gets are to do with salaries and health insurance.

Old Business:

Those who attended the NACD North Central Regional Meeting gave a brief overview of the meeting for the board. Peggy, Fred and Steve Oetting all attended. Steve stated there was an emphasis on quota payment collection. Fred discussed the tour he went on, did not realize there was such a large horse population in Ohio. Peggy mentioned the talk on bio-diesel was very interesting.

There was a conference call for Missouri Districts with NACD this past Tuesday, August 8. Steve stated it sounded like there were approximately 25 people who called in, only a few actually talked. We will get more information from NACD about the call later.

Steve urged the Board to look at the North Central Regional Comparative Report that was distributed at the Joint Meeting this morning. He also stated that he, Fred and Peggy would be attending the NACD Board Meeting this weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

A report showing the NACD quota paid through June 30 and also July 31 was distributed. The board discussed the importance of districts paying NACD quota and also the importance of people buying individual memberships.

Beverly attended the most recent Citizens Committee Meeting as Steve, Peggy and Fred were attending the North Central Regional Meeting at the same time.

New Business:

Steve Oetting followed up on the earlier discussion with the Commission on the budget for District Assistance and District employee salaries. Ben Reed stated he felt the jobs needed to be identified and funded, and that we need to have a discussion on various ways of setting salaries and where to shift funds from. Steve stated that a proposal was needed to present to the Commission on salary funding. Steve asked Ben and the Salary Committee to come up with a dollar amount needed and then MASWCD will come up with a proposal to the Commission on how to fund it. Ben stated the next meeting for the Salary Committee would be August 31.

The computer security background checks for District employees were discussed. The Board was made aware of some questions that may come back to them concerning employees not complying with the background checks or employees that do not pass the background check.

Bill Wilson reviewed some of the proposed changes planned for the Training Conference. The Joint Meeting will start later in the day on Monday and include a joint lunch then separate Commission and MASWCD meetings in the afternoon followed by an Opening Banquet with dessert in the Trade Show area. The MASWCD business meeting will be on Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. and the District Employee business meeting will be on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. The Awards Lunch on Tuesday will be followed by an afternoon of workshops with a Theme Banquet. Then Wednesday morning workshops and end with a light luncheon (sandwich bar maybe) with door prizes and no awards. There will be some changes on how supervisors, employees, etc., are identified on name tags. There will be fewer workshops, but some will be repeated.

The Board discussed door prizes. Since the dessert following the Opening is in the Trade Show area it was suggested to give a door prize there as well as the Closing Lunch. It was suggested to give a $100 gasoline credit card at the dessert and a tool set and clock valued at approximately $275 at the closing lunch. There will also be a $50 prize to be given to a first-time attending supervisor.

Area Reports:

Harry Robbins reported he had attended a meeting on forestry SALT projects and that more information is being gathered on this. He also stated that gravel problems in streams are a possible effect of forestry practices. He has received several comments concerning the requirement to use past receipts to set the cost-share docket and not cost-sharing on the core trench any longer. The Area 8 meeting did not have a quorum and there was no election, therefore MASWCD will appoint the Director. A motion was made by Beverly, seconded by Kenny, to appoint Harry Robbins as the Area Director. Motion carried unanimously.

Richard Hoelscher mentioned he has been working with FEMA for the District involvement in a storm disaster. He stated it is working very well.

Beverly attended the Morgan County annual meeting, the Citizens Committee Meeting, and felt the Area 4 meeting had a large turn-out. She stated she saw some new faces that may have been due to having an evening meeting.

Bruce said his area had a poor turn-out for the Area meeting. The Commission tour and Ethanol Plant tour in June went very well. He stated he had visited with the supervisors in his area and told them if they had any issues to be sure to let him know.

Tom indicated contractors are concerned about the fuel cost and that part of the county may have to shut down work due to being too dry.

Kenny said his Area Meeting went well, he liked the evening meeting. He attended the SALT review meeting and is doing a newsletter to the districts in his area.

Steve stated the Area Meetings were early this year due to the August election. Next year’s Area Meetings can be set whenever the Board wants, back to August if so desired.

He also said he had received a request for support of the State Grassland Contest. A motion was made by Beverly, seconded by Bruce, to donate $250. Motion carried unanimously.

Steve also said a new NACD Board Member and Alternate will be needed this year and that the Board needs to consider who would like to run for President. Due to the by-law change put into effect this year, he is unable to run again since he has already served 3 years. He reminded the Board that the new procedure calls for electing the President and Vice-Presidents this year for 2-year terms with next year voting on moving the 1^st Vice-President into President-Elect. He talked a little about the time requirements for NACD board member and President.

Correspondence: None

Other Business: The Resolutions Chair this year will be Fred. The letter asking for resolutions needs to be sent out to the Districts soon.

The next regular meeting will be held September 6 at 1:00 p.m. in Jefferson City at the USDA Service Center. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m. Motion for adjournment made by Tom, seconded by Bruce. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Lemons, Executive Director

Steve Oetting, President