Legislative Focus Area Committee Meeting Minutes
March Quarterly Board
March 5, 2007
Present: Absent:
Terry Bogner Lee Bunting
Aaron Ferguson Mark Besse
Ken Kesler Steve Chard
Larry Sterett Sue Davis
Steve Stierwalt
Jim Todd
Mike Hoffman
John Beckhart
John Maudlin
Curt Dambman
Chairman Jim Todd called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
Approve Agenda
Legislative Awards was added to the agenda. Larry Sterrett made a motion to approve the agenda with new item, seconded by Curt Dambman, MCVV.
Roll Call
Roll call was passed around.
Approval of Minutes
Terry Bogner made a motion to approve minutes of Legislative FAC from December Quarterly Board, Larry Sterett seconded. MCVV.
Review of Resolution
Peoria County SWCD resubmitted resolution 2007-1 and gained approval from the Executive Committee. Discussion held, this resolution will take a while, and must be approved at Annual Meeting and then drafted for NACD, where the earliest it could nationally be discussed would be in 2008. Further discussion held. Terry Bogner made a motion to approve Resolution 2007-1, Jake Klein seconded the motion, MCVV.
Partner Reports
NRCS
Steve Mozley explained the background of Resolution 2007-1, part of funding for RC & D’s comes from conservation operations and this funding has been reduced. Councils have been asked to help with costs and RC & D’s are still operating with advisory budgets. Steve informed the committee Bill Gradle will see the budget in two weeks from the time of the meeting.
EQUIP- Steve spoke about $400 incentives to landowners of forest land for this program. Bill Gradle offered fourth opportunity and stated landowners can apply at anytime due to available funds which is keeping fourth opened. Sixty percent in program hope to go to livestock, and forty percent hope to go to grazing and the program will help set up fencing, and water systems to help with conservation concerns. EQUIP Ground Serve is a new side program of the EQUIP program. The report included mention of water conservation which is targeted at irrigation purposes to conserve water. Pekin and Havana are prime targets for this program. Drainage management holds water in the field, Jim Todd asked Steve Mozley the specifications on grade, Mozley explained the specific criteria. Contribution Agreements were discussed.
Taskforce Update
Discussion was held on Legislative Task Force meeting that occurred on January 23, 2007, it was noted the minutes from this meeting are located on page 38 of the March Quarterly Board packet. Discussion was held on collar counties and their involvement in more than just CPP. Possible items to give legislators included pictures of practices each month on calendars or coffee cups. Question raised on the gift ban for legislators; stated the ban is $25 per district. The committee decided district directors need to be at Legislative Day, March 21, 2007 by 7 a.m. The committee decided after the Governor’s January Budget Address to redo the current White Paper. Steve wanted to educate districts about how to address legislators, there is a difference when writing a letter than having a conversation. A few districts have other legislative breakfasts that morning, and they need to have discussion about the white paper at their events as well as the AISWCD Legislative Day. Steve explained districts need to emphasize certain points to legislators and to do “some poking.” Rich Nichols stated he is working with Mike on budget staff invites. Terry Bogner asked if districts are expected to go to the Capitol after the Legislative Day breakfast. The committee decided they would like districts to go to the Capitol.
Terry Davis recommended employee policies in districts manuals to include Legislative functions if the board feels their employees should attend events like Legislative Day breakfast. Terry stated district policies or district duties need to reflect work with legislators at an informational and educational level.
Gallatin County SWCD sent a letter requesting information on disability insurance. Jim Todd explained questions in the past have included the payscale committee. Gallatin County SWCD’s letter requested one carrier. The committee decided to turn this letter and request over to ISWCDEA to look into the matter of disability insurance.
Legislative Update
Mike recapped his legislative report from the February Conservation Catchall.
Legislative Awards for 2007 were discussed. Mike would like to wait until after Legislative Day, and the committee will wait.
Larry Sterett made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Curt Dambman, MCVV.