MINNEHAHA CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISORS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
DATE – TIME – LOCATION
January 14, 2013, USDA Service Center, 3:00 pm
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, Jim Pfeifer
SUPERVISORS ABSENT
OTHERS PRESENT
Amy Van Dam, John Parker, Deron Ruesch, Rick Lehman, Gordon Heber, Ray Schaefer
AGENDA
The agenda was mailed out prior to the board meeting.
MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Johnson to approve the agenda as printed along with the additional items. Five ayes.
MINUTES
The minutes of the regular December meeting were emailed or mailed out prior to the board meeting.
MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Johnson to approve the minutes of the regular December board meeting. Five ayes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
MOTION by Wolles; seconded by Johnson to accept the Treasurer’s Report as printed. Five ayes.
JANUARY BILLS APPROVED
MOTION by Christopherson; seconded by Wolles to accept the bills as presented. Five ayes.
ACTIVITIES REPORT
WETLANDS: Our backlog is down to 59 outstanding requests for determinations on file (this is the lowest it’s been in a long time).
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP): Still at a standstill.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (EQIP): Currently working on “Screening”, “Ranking”, and “Planning” on fourteen General EQIP applications. The “Screening Tool” was developed with input from the counties in the Vermillion/Big Sioux watersheds local work group responses.
OTHER NOTES:
- Developed a 2013 Business Plan for the Sioux Falls FO with Conservation District and NRCS staff on 1/09/13 (will be reviewed in New Business).
- Please read the Conservation Note handout from Jeff Zimprich, SD State Conservationist.
- January 18, 2013: District conservationist meeting, Brookings.
- January 31, 2013: EQIP-NWQI educational meeting at Taopi Hall in Colton, SD from 10:00am – 12:00 pm.
- March 7, 2013: Tiling contractors workshop, Sioux ValleyEnergy Building, Brandon, SD from 10:00 – 11:45 am.
- March 12-13, 2013: Water Festival, University of Sioux Falls.
- Our office will be a training county for this summer’s Pathway student intern program. Stay tuned for additional information in the next couple of months.
- Curt Elke, ASTC-FO, Brookings Field Support Office, accepted a 120-day detail as Acting State Conservationist in Arizona beginning February 10. Jeff Zimprich is developing a plan to have an “Acting ASTC-FO” for Curt during his detail.
OLD BUSINESS
5525 TRACTOR: To advertise on Keloland Auto Sales costs $30 for 90 days. The board said to advertise on Tractorhouse.com.
SERVICE PRICING: MOTION by Pfeifer; seconded by Wolles to make service changes per suggestions by John and Amy. Five ayes. One change to the top of our prices list is to say “all prices subject to change — call the office for current prices”.
CHEMICAL RE-CERTIFICATION: John attended training for re-certification. There is concern about how we mix the chemicals. He was directed to look into a cost for the equipment needed to do it according to the rules. We need to see if it is worth staying in the spraying business. John will have more information at the February board meeting.
TREE FLYER: We received a quote from Sisson Printing and are waiting for a couple other quotes before we mail out the tree flyer.
GRANTS / NEW AND OLD: John and Melanie are working on writing a few grants. Two are for the Gevik Learning Area and one is for a service technician. There is also a Tony Dean grant.
PROFIT AND LOSS REPORT: The profit and loss report was reviewed.
NWQI MEETING: The Minnehaha Conservation District will have 15 minutes to speak at the meeting on January 31 in Colton. Brian Top will talk about wetland determinations and our other services.
NEW BUSINESS
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Jim Pfeifer was nominated for Chairman. MOTION by Oyen; seconded by Johnson that nominations cease and to cast a unanimous ballot. Five ayes.
The election of Secretary/Treasurer is deferred until the February meeting.
BANKING OPTIONS: The board decided not to change banks at this time.
WATER FESTIVAL: The 20th annual Sioux Empire Water Festival is March 12 and 13. It was suggested to ask other organizations to be on the committee.
SECOG: We will be preparing an estimate to SECOG for monitoring along the Big Sioux River.
WEBSITE REPORT: Melanie prepared a handout reporting the progress of the website. It was discussed whether we want to partner with Melanie to offer other SD districts help designing their websites. The board declined.
MOTION by Oyen; seconded by Wolles to move to executive session at 6:30 pm to discuss employee reviews. Five ayes.
Pfeifer declared out of executive session at 7:05 pm.
MOTION by Oyen; seconded by Christopherson to provide a wage increase of $.50 for Amy and a $1.50 wage increase for John. Five ayes.
CONSERVATION PLAN APPROVALS
OTHER BUSINESS
ADJOURN MEETING
MOTION by Wolles; seconded by Johnson to adjourn the meeting. Five ayes.
Amy Van Dam, Recording Secretary
