Executive Committee Meeting
September Quarterly Board
September 10, 2007
Northfield Inn & Suites - Onyx Room
8:00 a.m.
Terry Davis, President, NACD Delegate
Jim Todd, Vice President, NACD Alternate
Aaron Ferguson, Secretary
Rollie Spaniol, Treasurer
Jerry Snodgrass, Area I VP
Darrell Roegge, Area II VP
John Beckhart, Area III VP
Nobert Rider, Area IV
Josh Joseph, ISWCDEA RC Co-Chair
Annyce Winters, ISWCDEA AC Co-Chair
Richard Nichols, AISWCD
Erin Pate, AISWCD
Stacy Stremsterfer, AISWCD
Jim Nelson, AISWCD
Sarah Dillman, AISWCD
President Terry Davis called the meeting to order at 7:58 a.m.
Terry welcomed Jerry Snodgrass back to the Executive Committee.
Secretary Aaron Ferguson took roll call.
Approval of Agenda
Terry Davis asked to add on the agenda; Building Update and RC & D letter under New Business. Rich Nichols requested to add Illlinois Channel, Karen Steele, and code of ethics under New Business.
Aaron Ferguson made a motion to approve the agenda with New Business additions of Building Update, RC & D letter, Illinois Channel, and Karen Steele, Rollie Spaniol seconded the motion, MCVV.
Committee and Taskforce Updates
Communications
Terry Davis asked for an update and referred to the minutes from June Quarterly Board. Sarah Dillman explained the survey that was discussed was posted on the NACD website and results were shared with the Communications committee.
Education
Chairman Jerry Snodgrass stated the committee will work on Resolution 2007-2. Colleen Bogner stated she would furnish a report from Terry Bogner since he would be absent to the committee. Terry stated NACD and NASCA are working on models for new director training and he hoped the models would be similar.
Jim Nelson arrived at 8:08 a.m.
Financial Management
Rollie stated he had no updates for the Budget Taskforce.
Legislative
Jim Todd stated the group would begin discussion on Legislative Day 2008 and Resolution 2007-3 and Resolution 2007-4 at the meeting later in the day. Jim stated the funds for districts are still unknown even though a budget was finally approved by the governor. Jim gave the update that discussion continued about legislators vetoes of the governor’s approved budget, but at the current time the governor was suing the speaker of the house so not much was known as to what would occur. Jim said funds were put back into the budget that had been excluded at first, plus requested funds by districts were included, but nothing was certain yet. Terry stated he had Erin Pate send a letter to the governor’s office thanking him for passing a budget with consideration of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Jim Todd asked Annyce Winters to give an update on the Insurance Task Force. Annyce turned the floor over to Terry. Terry reported a letter drafted by the Insurance Committee was sent after the Mid-Executive Committee conference call to all districts explaining how the insurance is designed to work for the districts and employees and how payments would be handled. Josh Joseph stated employees now have a better understanding and can explain the product to their directors. Jerry Snodgrass raised questions about how employees are determined to become eligible for the short term and long disability payments, Annyce explained a doctor would fill out a form stating the person qualifies for the payments.
Terry stated he had discussion with other groups regarding the protection of green space. He felt Resolution 2007-3 might need to be rephrased to state preservation of working land and not all green space. Discussion was held on challenges facing green space and possible partners.
Planning
Aaron Ferguson stated the C-2000 Task Force has not met recently. Aaron also stated the Annual Meeting went well and discussion would be held during the committee’s meeting later in the day for next year’s location. Terry congratulated the Annual Meeting Focus Area Committee on a great Summer Conference.
Urban
Norbert Rider referred to Jim Nelson. Jim Nelson stated the Urban Manual grant, the Water Quality Planning Committees, and updates on Resolution 2007-3 were items the committee was currently working on. Erin Pate stated the 319 Protecting Water Quality in Urbam centers Grant was signed and that a meeting had been planned for later in the day but due to absences would be rescheduled. Erin stated the grant would be extended to all districts, not just the twenty it available for. Jim stated later in the week he would learn if the grant for the urban manual update has been granted.
Area Vice President Reports
Area I VP, Jerry Snodgrass
Jerry gave an update on meetings he had attended and plans to attend.
Area II VP, Darrell Roegge
No report.
Area III VP, John Beckhart
Absent, no report was submitted.
Area IV VP, Norbert Rider
Norbert stated his Land Use Council had discussed a director roundtable and possibly including director training into the roundtable event.
Old Business
NASCA
Rich Nichols stated five months ago Doug Thompson from Minnesota contacted him regarding the eight state NASCA region, and informed Rich it was Illinois’ turn to host the NASCA event. Rich stated the meeting is set for October 9-11. Rich stated we will work with EMACON and INDR and IDOA and host a tour at Dixon Mounds, EMACON national refuge, a streambank project, hill projects, and conclude at Hill Prairie Winery on the 10th.
VermiComposting Symposium
Rich stated a group puts on the symposium at Northfield, this is the 4th year, and the symposium draws 30-90 attendees. The purpose of the meeting is looking at using worms to compost waste. Rich stated the meetings are usually very interesting. Rich stated Stewardship Alliance had been the bankers for the event, but due to changes the group asked the Association to help handle the bookkeeping and would produce $300-$500 in revenue for AISWCD. Sarah told the committee the auditor stated it would not affect the audit and the Vermi account has been setup as a separate company within Quickbooks.
NACD Summer Meeting
Jim Todd stated Erin had done an excellent job saving money on rooms and flights to the meeting that occurred in July. Jim discussed the speakers and the meetings that occurred at the meeting. Discussion was held on the national Farm Bill. The Smithosian Soil Exibit was discussed. Jim discussed the NACD building fund. Discussion was held on how Congress might look at restructure USDA next year.
Terry informed the committee a transfer within NACD had occurred and the structure of the organization had been changed. There are no regional reps but there are still regional contacts; Beth Mason is the contact for the North Central Region. Krysta Hardin sent an e-mail to Terry with the new membership service person. Funds for regions are back at NACD and no longer separated by regions. Terry stated the by-laws were written and the region by-laws were redone. Region functions will now be handled from Washington D.C. The region functions will not be as independent as they had been in the past. Michigan will be the next in line to host the North Central Region board meeting. The North Central Region was the driving force in district training models being developed by NACD. Discussion was held.
Terry thanked the nine attendees who went to the NACD Legislative meeting in Washington D.C. that was held in July. Ohio was the only state with larger attendance than Illinois. Terry stated the meetings with legislators went very well and the timing of the farm bill made the visits occur at the perfect time. Terry stated originally it was not planned to visit all the legislators, but time allowed and visits had been made to all but one office. Terry stated the Director of Membership services for NACD was Brad Roth who had been the Executive Director for the Association of Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Disability Insurance
Terry asked for discussion on disability insurance. Annyce said the signup period was extended to December 31, 2007. Annyce stated fifty districts had signed up for the program even though all the official forms have not arrived to Debbie. Annyce added all policies were district paid.
ISWCDEA
Annyce complemented Erin on a job well done on Summer Conference and she felt the conference was a success and that people enjoyed themselves. ISWCDEA would hold a board meeting Tuesday after Quarterly Board concludes and they will discuss winter training. Josh Joseph stated the group had a by-laws change at Summer Conference, the term limit to serve as a member had been two 2 year terms; the by-laws were changed to two 3 year terms, for a total of six years of service. Rich asked about a CREP session, Annyce stated it was being added.
Mid Executive Meeting Date
The Mid-Executive Conference Call was set for November 13, 2007 at 7:30 a.m.
Terry stated region reps were on a conference call with directors and he asked for feedback on the idea of continuing these. Terry asked if we should have a semi or annual conference call for all state directors. Discussion was held. Rollie stated district policies need work, and could use updating, and there is interest in updating the policies for the districts. Terry asked the Communications committee to come up with a plan.
Building
Terry discussed the refinancing of the AISWCD office mortgage with Farm Credit Services. Terry explained how interest paid and interest earned will balance each other. Terry explained setting up the funds held account has created a cash crunch for AISWCD. The districts’ work man’s compensation insurance policies are due and funds have not been received from IDOA, therefore the payment may occur late, but the insurance account might be able to cover the payment. Terry stated Rich spoke with the insurance companies and payments could be delayed.
Jim Nelson updated the committee on the grant proposal for the pervious payment for the driveway of the AISWCD office. The total lane and parking pad would cost approximately $94,000 to be done in pervious pavement. Rich stated he had spoke with Chris Davis at the Farm Progress Show and she was working with a Chicago company that made 10,000 pavers that would not fit in their layer machines, and they were giving the pavers away for the cost of transportation. Rich stated the Land Improvement Council showed interest in excavating the parking lot and driveway to help get ready for the new drive, and there is a possibility of the group assisting in building a pond. Rich stated the neighbor agreed to the idea of the pond with the dam on his land.
RC & D Letter
Terry referred to the letter sent by Stephen Gonzalez the President of the Illinois RC & D Councils. James Johnson the Acting State Conservationist would be here today or tomorrow to discuss ways to solve the problem. The letter is addressing problems with a person not a program. Terry asked the group to decide if they agree or disagree. Bill Gradle had been spoken to and would like to know where AISWCD stands on the matter. Aaron Ferguson suggested sending a letter in support of current administration and in disagreement with the letter. Discussion was held on what actions should be taken.
Norbert Rider made a motion for Terry Davis to draft a letter in disagreement with Stephen Gonzalez’s letter and in support of NRCS State Conservationist, Bill Gradle, seconded by Jerry Snodgrass, MCVV. Aaron Ferguson suggested the letter be sent to everyone who had received the letter from Stephen Gonzalez.
Budget
Terry stated IDOA made a request for the group to discuss how the money should be distributed, but the meeting has not occurred. Terry stated AISWCD had not received correspondence from the districts, so the group cannot formulate an opinion. Terry stated it is not known if 1.4 or 2.8 million is in the budget for cost share programs.
Terry Davis mentioned that there were three SWCD’s who had not yet spent their CPP money. Terry asked the committee if they felt a letter of encouragement should be sent to each SWCD. Discussion was held. Terry Davis would bring this issue up at the board meeting.
Karen Steele
Rich stated he spoke with Karen Steele and she would be willing to help districts with legal questions and or issues for the rate of $60 per hour. Discussion was held.
Employee Contracts and Code of Ethics
Terry stated Rich had copies of employee work agreements, discussion was held on how much time employees can carry. Terry asked for the code of ethics and employee contracts to be presented to the full board without employee salaries.
ICCI
Memordum of Agreement for districts were handed out for verification on the ICCI program. Discussion was held. Rollie inquired about AISWCD working with the Illinois Forestry Association on verification of forestry contracts.
Approval of Minutes
Darrell Roegge made a motion to approve the Executive Committee meeting minutes from June Quarterly Board and the Mid-Executive Conference Call minutes with amendment Jim Todd be shown as present, seconded by Jerry Snodgrass, MCVV.
Rich Nichols stated Kane-DuPage County SWCD had been nominated for an NACD award. Rich informed the committee there might be a chance to have landowners with small tracts enroll in the ICCI program but donate payments to the AISWCD Foundation, discussion was held.
Adjournment
Norbert Rider made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Jerry Snodgrass, MCVV. The meeting adjourned at 10:11 a.m.