Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Resource Center Board of Directors Meeting 09-06-95Ag and Resource Center Altoona, WI Meeting was called to order by President Hartung at 9:15 a.m. September 6, 1995 Members present were: James Hartung, Dunn County; Neil Humphrey, Jackson County; Janine Ehrat and David Bautch, Buffalo County; Bud Lee, Polk County, Lester Nelson, Barron County Others present: John Delamater, WI DNR, Eau Claire, Ed Weber, Coordinator, River Country RC&D; and Susan Swanson, Secretary, River Country RC&D. President Hartung called for the minutes of the last meeting: David Bautch, Buffalo County, moved to accept the minutes and Neil Humphrey, Jackson County, seconded. Carried. Janine Ehrat presented the treasurers report. The balance as of August 8, 1995, was $4,221.25. Neil Humphrey, Jackson County, motioned to accept the treasurers report, Lester Nelson, Barron County seconded. Carried. Committee Reports Public Relations - Ed reported the meeting held July 14, 1995. The purpose for the Committee is still valid and recommended no change. Bud Lee was selected as Chairperson and Cindy Dickinsen as the recording secretary. Donna Weber from Stout offered to make her assistance available in communications. A task force committee will be formed to develop a Public Relations Plan. The Corporate Survey Summary Reports were discussed. Only 5 responses came in, but all seem to say they would like to know about RC&D and what we are doing. News releases will be delivered to newspapers via local council members for local contact. The RC&D brochure was reviewed for inputs and examples. A motion was made by Neil Humphrey, Jackson County, for the Public Relations Committee to form a task force to develop a Putaiic Relations Ptah, sPcnnded by Bud Lee, Polk Chanty. Carried. Program Committee - (Ed Weber reported) -The Committee met on August 8, 1995. The purpose for the Program Committee as written in the River Country Handbook was reviewed and it was the consensus that it was still valid. John Speros was selected to serve as the Chair. Conference calls would be the most convenient. The Committee would meet face-to-face 2 times a year. Reviewed the summary of the recycling survey and it was evident that the Local Responsible Units and WI DNR are doing a good job of meeting the needs in the area. They would send the summary to the DNR representative. A River Country brochure would be sent to the LRU's. Also discussed were three projects: D.D. Kennedy Project - This project was to develop a long-range plan for t06 acres in Polk County Park and develop it into an environmental learning center. Needs would include a plan, and grant application for a learning center. The Committee rated it as a high priority and recommended it for support by the Council. Pepin County Economic Development -This project hopes to secure funding for housing, equipping, operating and staffing a permanent part-time office with the county and for hiring a permanent, part-time executive director. The Committee rated it as a high priority and recommended it for support by the Council. River Country would charge $500.00 for a grant application to D.O.D., and help develop a proposal to assist with their strategic plan with the necessary fees. Dunn County Emergency Government -This project deals with developing a mitigation plan (flood hazard) for the Cranberry Creek Meridian Area. A complete plan and grant would need to be submitted to the National Division of Emergency Government for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The area experiences re- occurring flooding from the Cranberry Creek and Chippewa River. The Committee rated the project as a high priority and would recommend it for support by the Council. The Forestry Landowner Awareness Project Summary was reviewed. The summary had the fnllr��?,i�g r��:i�l#�; i(1�2;7ri lr.tte�S L.'ere mulled t� iando'v�i�ii5 iii 'vi: i,Ciuiltii:� (Viii�pClNd, DllI1T1, Eau Claire, Pepin and Pierce). Sixty-six percent of returned cards indicated that they would pay a fee for forestry services. The results of this survey was made available to the DNR offices and consulting foresters in the area. River Country should evaluate ways of providing forestry services and a forester could be added to the SWAT Division if it becomes a reality. A motion by Bud Lee, Polk County to : (a) assist Pepin County in the strategic planning process and grant application for $500.00 and necessary fees; (b) assist the D.D. Kennedy Project in the grant application process and planning ; (c) and assist Dunn County in putting together a grant application and mitigation plan, seconded by David Bautch, Buffalo County. Carried. Council Development Committee - (Ed Weber reported) - A meeting was held July 7, 1995. The purpose of the Council Development Committee is still current and recommended no changes. Richard Range will remain as Chair and La Vern Crapser will be the Secretary. Review of the Action Plan was reviewed with the following recommendations: evaluate the leadership training available in the communities and make recommendations to the Board/Council on any additional training needed; review and develop a protocol for the recruitment of County Board Council representatives in 1996; and evaluate the Council members performance and needs and continue training for the new Council members. Resource Committee Re ort - Ed Weber reportedL A meeting was held June 27, 1995. Chuck Forster was selected as the Chair, and David Grant as the recording Secretary. Actions that were recommended were: (a) complete a report on the accomplishments for the oak regeneration project; and check with Wild Turkey Federation on the status of Turkey Stamp moneys for habitat management; (b) present a report to the Directors on solid waste management and recycling; (c) check with the USFS to determine if there are more moneys to survey Barron County; (d) develop a progress report and send to the counties on the water quality aspect of the Conservation Credit Initiative; (e) send the River Country brochure to the corporation list; (e) continue the formation of the SWAT Business and the completion of the office complex; (f) recommend that a local network of primary and secondary users be developed, check with local forestry representatives on the potential for value added products and recommend that RECDS be contacted on the potential for a Rural Enterprise grant for an area firm that is expanding, and check on the potential for "Green Certification" for local forestry producers; (g) network with the CRD Agents in the area on what they are doing, check with the Dept. of Dev. on the possibilities of a grant to do the Community Economic Awareness process with communities in the area. DNR Reorganization -John Delamater reported. In 1993, Governor Thompson formed a Save Committee. Two themes were developed: downsizing and be more responsive to customers. Under the leadership of George Myers, they implemented the reorganization. Grant Thornton developed a report of 250 pages. In the report, the object and scope of the project was to optimize efficiency effectiveness, increase focus of environmental management on natural geographic basis, I ncrease the integration of department programs to better serve customers, bring public and private partnership into organized structure, meet demands, empower and talent staff. Within this, three poi: tS wCr� v; fl'4tteil �LlperviS€'iry. StrLlCture, reduce super r iSCry poS tions b j% 20i � , and have greater staff decentralization (up to 350 positions for the whole State). This would reduced by 200 positions and reduce districts from six to five. The management team would be revised and increase the use of technology. The plan should be complete by December 31, 1995. January 1, 1996, a pilot reorganization training should start and be completed by June 30, 1996. Full reorganization would start July 1, 1996 and be complete December 31, 1996. Progress Report on FPL Project - (Ed Weber reported) -The Forest Products Lab project which is about getting the technology out that is sitting on the shelves in Madison, WI, is in progress. So far, River Country is setting up a database system which includes the primary and secondary wood producers, RC&D Areas in US, economic groups, and marketing personnel. The states thus far involved are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Missouri. A fax service in Eau Claire, WI, will be utilized in faxing out and distributing information to all the fax machines upon request to different agencies. Coding of the different categories will take place so that info will be screened rather than distributed to all. A two-day conference will be held September 19-20, 1995, and will demonstrate a prototype. Downloading should begin October 1, 1995. Wisconsin Association Annual Conference -The conference will be held December 12-13, at the Holiday Inn, Tomah, WI. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., on December 12. The theme will be Funding RC&D In the Future. Each council will contribute $100.v0 in auction items. A motion by Lester Nelson, Barron County to contribute $100.00 worth of auctions items, seconded by David Bautch, Buffalo County. Carried. There will also be bingo at the conference. Budget Update (RC&D) - (Ed Weber reported) - A 36 million block grant has been approved by the House for the RC&D Program, Colorado River Program, and Forestry Incentive Program. The recommendation will now go to the Senate for further approval and review. Other Business First Aid and CPR for loggers - A training class for loggers on first aid and CPR will take place in Rice Lake, WI. This course will provide the training necessary to comply with OSHA regulations and furnish loggers with a Medi First Aid completion certificate. It was the consensus of the Board that River Country also provide this training. This suggestion will be turned over to the Program Committee for review. Village W Colfax referred by Bruce Ayres to River Country in regards to a dam on the 18 Mile Creek. The DNR mandated repair and dredging or abandonment of the dam. Those who live on Mirror Lake would like to see the lake used for a recreational and wildlife area when the dam is removed. They would like River Country to help out in grants or fund raising possibilities. This issue will be turned over to the Program Committee for review and follow-up. North Central Meeting - - To have a display at the North Central Conference March 3-5, at Clarksville, IN, River Country would have to pay a $50.00 fee. A motion by Janine Ehrat, Buffalo, moved that we pay the $50.00 and seconded by Bud Lee, Polk County. Carried, Wisconsin Ag Tourism Association, Inc. - has a directory which will be distributed through 13 WI information centers, Chambers of Commerce and visitor bureaus. To have River Country listed in this directory would cost $50.00. A consensus was made by the Board to sign up and pay the $50.00 fee. River Country paid Susan Lowery to attend a grantwriting course in Wausau, WI, about two years ago with the understanding that she provide River Country with her services. As of date, she has not responded to our letter requesting services and has since moved to Illinois. The Board feels it is right that we now bill her for the fee of $525.00. Collecting Pollen - �d reported that River Country could possibly be involved with collecting pollen for a company called Pharmacia, that will use the pollen in making medicines for allergies. Pollen would be collected from various trees such as birch, elm, red maple, blue beach, ironwood, red and white oak, ect. The pay-off is quite high and sells by the ounce. Next Board of Directors Meeting -October 27. , 1995, 9:30 - 12:00. at the A motion to close the meeting by Neil Humphrey, Jackson County, seconded by Janine Ehrat, Buffalo County. Carried. Respectfully submitted.