Minnehaha Conservation District

MINNEHAHA CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISORS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

DATE – TIME – LOCATION

December 17, 2012, USDA Service Center, 9:30 am

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Minnehaha Conservation District Supervisors was called to order by Chairman Oyen.

SUPERVISORS PRESENT

Jeff Oyen, Tom Wolles, Ronald Johnson, Reid Christopherson

SUPERVISORS ABSENT

Jim Pfeifer

OTHERS PRESENT

Amy Van Dam, John Parker, Deron Ruesch, Gordon Heber, Ray Schaefer, Brad Wilson

AGENDA

The agenda was mailed out prior to the board meeting.

MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Wolles to approve the agenda as printed along with the additional items. Four ayes.

MINUTES

The minutes of the regular Novemberber meeting were emailed or mailed out prior to the board meeting.

MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Wolles to approve the minutes of the regular November board meeting. Four ayes.

TREASURER’S REPORT

MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Johnson to accept the Treasurer’s Report as printed. Four ayes.

DECEMBER BILLS APPROVED

MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Wolles to accept the bills as presented. Four ayes.

ACTIVITIES REPORT

WETLANDS: 

• Our backlog is down to 95 outstanding requests for determinations on file.

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP):

• Currently at a standstill.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (EQIP): 

• SD has received $12 million for FY-2013.
• We have 14 General EQIP Applications:  Ag. Waste Systems, Terraces, Cover Crops, Pipelines, Ranks, Rotational Grazing, Cross Fencing, Dugout Cleanout, and Nutrient Management – variable rate technology.
• We have 14 National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) EQIP Applications:  Ag. Waste Systems, Terraces, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management – variable rate technology, Integrated Pest Management.
• Need to complete 12 Annual Status Reviews by December 31st.

OTHER NOTES:

• Conservation Note from Jeff Zimprich, State Conservationist: After six months in South Dakota, driving around and looking at the land, listening and talking with you; our employees and partners, and thinking about the pressures on agriculture and the environment:  Our climatic extremes, land prices, commodity prices, land rental rates, input costs…

I offer these to you as our priorities for 2013:

• Soil Health and Rainfall Management
• Strengthen our Technical Skills
• Expand and Strengthen our Working Relationships with our Customers and Partners
• Streamline our Internal Processes to Improve Efficiencies
• Improve the Management of Farm Bill Contracts and Agreements We Have with Partners

• NRCS Chief Dave White retired and Jason Weller is the new Acting NRCS Chief.  He has Seven Key Priorities: 
1. Strengthening Business Operations.
2. Expanding Soil Health Campaign.
3. Enhancing Landscape Conservation Initiatives.
4. Increasing Conservation Access for Underserved Communities.
5. Broadening Regulatory Predictability.
6. Harnessing Private Markets.
7. Deepening Strategic Partnerships to Leverage Outcomes.

OLD BUSINESS

INFORMATIONAL MEETING: 

• NRCS will be having an informational meeting on NWQI January 31^st in Colman, SD.  Deron asked the board if they would be able to help with paying for the lunch.

MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Wolles to contribute 50% of the fee, not to exceed $500.  4 ayes.

5525 TRACTOR: 

• We received a quote from Phil Kappen to sell the tractor.  The board said to advertise on Keloland Auto Mall.  They suggested getting a winter picture and also update the picture on Craigslist.

WORKERS COMP:

• Brad Wilson from Workers Comp gave a talk on our policy.  Rates have gone down considerably since 1997.  There is a video library available for our use.  The board said to offer training to our part time employees before next spring.

TREE FLYER: 

• We are designing our tree flyer to get ready to mail in January.  We want to add a newsletter page.  We will have a draft copy for the next board meeting.  There was discussion on including a quote or a mission statement.

GEVIK SIGNS/WORK: 

• No report

NEW BUSINESS

BARRY BERG: 

• Barry informed the board about the Seasonal Riparian Area Management (SRAM) program.  He would like to visit with the board in the future about possible cost-share rental rates.  He would like feedback from the board on this project.

AL KUEHL PAY: 

• Al would like to trade his work he did for trees.  After some discussion, the board declined.  We will pay Al for the work he did.

GRANTS: 

• John informed the board about our current grants and possible new ones we should apply for.

VACATION/COMP TIME: 

• John has about 40 hours of comp time and 60 hours of vacation to use.  He asked the board if he could use it during his surgery recovery instead of by the end of the year.

MOTION by Johnson; seconded by Christopherson to allow John to use his leave during recovery.  It has to be used by February 28^th, 2013.

 TREASURER BOND: 

• We have a bond that will expire at the end of the year.  It cost $50/year for CNA Surety bond insurance.  Amy will check with Hagen Insurance to see if we are covered under theIR insurance.  If so, we will not re-new with CNA Surety.

BOARD MEETING TIME/DAY: 

• The board decided to change the monthly board meeting to the 2^nd Mondays at 3:00 pm.  Our meetings will be January 14^th, February 11^th, March 11^th and April 8^th for the next four  months.

CWD AND ADJOINING COUNTIES: 

• The board decided to offer counties $75 per tract if they will help with Certified Wetland Determination work in their county if our TopSoil is doing the determination.  We will have a special meeting to show them what they would need to do.

CONSERVATION PLAN APPROVALS

MOTION by Johnson; seconded by Christopherson to approve the plans as presented. Four ayes.

OTHER BUSINESS

We have been members of the Chamber of Commerce for 20 years.

 The board would like to look at other banking options.  John will get bids from other banks.

 MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Johnson to move to executive session at 2:30 p.m. to discuss employee reviews. Five  ayes.  Oyen declared out of executive session at 4:00 p.m.

ADJOURN MEETING

MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Wolles to adjourn the meeting. Four ayes.

Amy Van Dam, Recording Secretary