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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOC Soil & Water minutes 021214ORANGE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD MEETING Environment & Agricultural Center, Hillsborough, NC February 12, 2014 Board Members Present: Chris Hogan, Karen McAdams, Roger Tate, Morris Shambley and Clay Parker. Employees in Attendance: Brent Bogue, Gail Hughes, Todd Roberts, Kenny Ray, Lisa Pope and Division Employee, Joey Hester. Chairman, Chris Hogan, called the meeting to order at 9:25 a.m., immediately following the Local Advisory Committee. December 18, 2013 Minutes were approved as submitted. Morris Shambley moved for approval, Clay Parker seconded. Motion carried. Election of 2014 Officers Morris made a motion to leave the Board of Supervisor's officers as they currently are; Roger seconded. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Update NRCS District Conservationist, Brent Bogue, reported that the Farm Bill passed which hopefully means many positives for NRCS programs for the next 5+ years. Brent discussed the federal cost share programs including the Farm and Ranch programs. Brent said to expect some changes to EQIP cost share rates, etc. N.C. A2 Cost Share Program (N.C. ACSP) Todd Roberts, Kenny Ray & Gail Hughes submitted the following ACSP Contracts /Request for Payments for approval: ➢ Kathy Shambley /Cedar Grove Farm — 68 -2014: $8,988 request for stock trail and watering facility, including replacement of broken pipes, etc. Karen moved to approve; Clay seconded. Requests for Payments ➢ Roger Tate — 68- 2014 -009: 1.4 acres field borders; .083 acres grassed waterways totaling $3,547. Karen moved to approve, Morris seconded. (PLEASE NOTE: Supervisor, Roger Tate, abstained from vote) ➢ Cross Creek Dairy /Rock Hill Farm: 68- 2014 -013: Diversion, field border, grassed waterway and cropland conversion totaling $3,461. Roger moved to approve, Clay seconded. Contract Extension Requests • 68- 2012 -805: Compton Farms: Sediment clean out (Ag Wrap) totaling $3,104. (Approved 11/26/12) Morris moved to approve extension; Clay seconded. • 68- 2013 -003 — William Rogers: Well closure (2) totaling $1,500. (Approved 2/13/13) Morris moved to approve 6 month extension; Roger seconded. • 68- 2013 -400 - D &L Farms: Stream Protection totaling $5,324. (Approved 12/21/12) Roger moved to approve 6 month extension; Karen seconded. • 68- 2013 -401 - Milton Farm: Stream Protection totaling $21,930. (Approved 12/19/12) Morris moved to approve 6 month extension; Karen seconded. Supplement/Revision ✓ 68- 2013 -004 - Taylor Fish Farm: Irrigation System $4,943. Original Contract amount $20,057. (.0200 maximum contract amount is $25,000). New Contract amount requested is $25,000. Karen moved to approve with additional funding up to $25,000; Morris seconded. ✓ 68- 2013 -401 — Milton Durham: Stream Protection System $7,596. Original contract was $21,930. New contract total is $29,526. Karen moved to approve supplement /revision; Morris seconded. Application Sammy Lankford — Stream Protection totaling $9,603. Roger moved to not approve this application at this time; Morris seconded. AgWRAP Contracts Kathleen Smith/Root Down Farm: New pond/New Farmer $18,000. Morris moved to approve to proceed with this application request prior to March 4th; Roger seconded. David Walker: New Pond $15,000. Morris moved to make application by March 4th deadline; Karen seconded. Community Conservation Assistance Program (CLAP) Gail reported that there are currently no new contracts and no requests for payments under the CCAP program. Gail discussed several preliminary cost estimates and draft contracts for OHS and Efland Community Center /Orange County Government. More info is forthcoming on these contracts. Education Update — Annual Tree Seedling Sale is slated for February 17, 2014 (see Lisa for details) Lisa reported that the district has received 50+ orders so far. — Poster, Essay & Speech Contest "The Living Soil" has being advertised to all Orange County Schools, home school groups and the District's /DEAPR website. Lisa has begun receiving both essays and posters from a variety of grades and schools. The Winners Reception will be announced in March, following the Regional Competition in Randolph County. — Morris moved to approve to reimburse the registration costs for five (5) local schools for participation at the Area III Envirothon. Matching Grant funds, Karen seconded. — Gail requested that the Orange High School Outdoor Classroom Committee draw up a proposal for cistern storm water planter. The Committee will create a grant request of $1,500 to $2,000. Currently there is $9,779 in the Patterson account which is slated for educational purposes such as the above mentioned. Karen made a motion to proceed with grant request to designate up to $2,500 for this proposal with the Board being open to other funding possibilities; Roger seconded. Budget Lisa distributed information on current account balances. Gail requested approval from the board to increase travel /training budget line items, gas for the new DEAPR truck, etc. Gail stated that she will work directly with Treasurer, Morris Shambley, on this information. A motion was made by Karen for Gail to proceed with request in order to help to better facilitate the offices budget needs; Clay seconded. Miscellaneous Discussion Gail updated the Board on new Voluntary Ag District (VAD) Farms as approved by the Ag Preservation Board. These farms were Poole and Redding. Lisa reminded the Board of the Area III Spring Meeting Registration is due (Caswell County Civic Center). The Board approved to pay the NACD Dues, remaining at the Gold Level of $775. Karen approved to pay this from the Dues account, Clay seconded. Gail reported that the 2014 Ag Summit Meeting date has been slated for February 25. Location and topics of discussion are pending. Morris moved to reimburse Gail for her notary stamp fees /cost; Clay seconded. $111.87 reimbursement request will be taken out of the Matching Grant Funds, per the Board. The Board entered into an Executive Session, immediately following the conclusion of board meeting. U01M Morris Shambley, Secretary /Treasurer