Planning Focus Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, March 5, 2007
Northfield Inn, Springfield
     

Committee Members Present:

Aaron Ferguson, Chairman                                          Cindy Moon, Advisor
Tom Anderson                                                                        Erin Pate, AISWCD, Advisor
Ruth Book, NRCS, Advisor                                        Pam Peter, Advisor
Curt Dambman                                                            Jannifer Powelson
Chris Davis, IEPA, Advisor                                        Darrell Roegge
Jake Klein                                                                    Kenny Vosholler
John Beckhart                                                              Terry Davis

Chairman Aaron Ferguson called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

Partner Reports
Ruth Book (NRCS) reported that al work on contribution agreements must be done by March 31.  Equip deadline is wee of March 5.  The Ground Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) deadline is at the end of this month.  NRCS will be holding a Conservation Planning Session this spring.

Chris Davis (IEPA) reported that another 319 grant for the AISWCD has crossed another hurle towards funding.  If things go well, there should be an agreement in place by the end of July.  The IEPA has been working with AISWCD on the Farm Progress Show.  The AISWCD participates in six different grants with IEPA.  The Watershed Based Planning Grant (Watershed Liaison) will be up in July 2007, but will be amended to July 31, 2008.  Chris indicated that AISWCD should be looking at where the money is going to come from for Jim’s salary after that date.

Task Force Update
Aaron Ferguson gave an update of the Annual Meeting and Awards Task Force meeting which was held at 10:00 a.m.

Formation of Additional Task Forces
T by 2000 - The committee discussed how each of the districts should go thru their workload analysis, and ask themselves what it is going to take to meet the districts needs, in order to have a long range plan when T by 2000 sunsets.  A task force was formed including the following committee members:  Rich Nichols, Pam Peter, Kenny Vosholler, John Beckhart, and Jannifer Powelson.  Erin will also send out an all districts email asking for volunteers for this task force.  A chair will be appointed for the task force at the first meeting; Rich Nichols will facilitate until then.

Technical Position Task Force -  A task force will be formed to find out if the AISWCD needs to continue the Watershed Liaison position, or if we need to have a different technical position with a different position description.  A survey will be sent to district employees and directors asking if they have used the Watershed Liaison, and what needs they have as a district.  Erin will also send out an email asking for volunteers for this task force.

Meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cindy Moon
Advisor