Wisconsin Association of Land Conservation Employees

  Shawn Stocks                                       Pepin County LCD, 740 th Ave. W.,                                (715)672-8665

WALCE Secretary                           P.O. Box 39 Durand, WI  54736-0039              FAX:      (715)672-824                                                                      sstocks@co.pepin.wi.us                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Approved Draft 08-21-03                 

WALCE MEETING MINUTES

Thursday, June 19, 2003

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Board Members Present:  Dale Olson, Tom Sweeney, Shawn Stocks, Mark Jenks, Rick Mechelke, Dan O’Connell, Greg Baneck, Greg Cleereman, Bryce Richardson, and Penny Pohle.

Others Present:  Don Houtman, Rebecca Baumann, and Andy Yencha

Call to Order:  Dale Olson welcomed everyone to the WALCE Meeting.

Approval of April 10, 2003 minutes:  Motion made by Greg Baneck to approve the revised April 10, 2003 minutes.  Motion seconded by Mark Jenks.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Treasurer’s Report:  Tom Sweeney handed out the Register Report and a Budget Update as of June 19, 2003.  Reviewed both the cash flow and register reports for April – June 2003.  Tom explained that the financial institution that we use has changed the policy for non profit accounts. The checking account will have no service fee or interest either. WALCE Conference budget and the dollar value stayed the same.  A policy needs to be written up for where the legal fees are going and what service it provided us with. Discussion on line item for sympathy/illness and it was agreed to leave it up to Shawn Stocks, at her own discretion, to decide who should receive items. Scholarship money is still available if anyone is interested in it.  Motion made by Rick Mechelke to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion seconded by Shawn Stocks.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Professional Improvement Update:  Shawn Stocks handed out and the board reviewed the evaluations from the February 19-21, 2003 conference.   Overall there were great comments and additional comments for next year.  Shawn Stocks has been working on the 2004 Conference now that Troy Kuphal is no longer with us. Ideas for 2004 conference was discussed. Don Houtman also would like to be on the planning committee so he will be included in all meetings and e-mails.

Action on Realignment of Boundaries:  Don Houtman handed out the area breakup and the committee reviewed the comments that Don Houtman had received from various counties.  Overall map No. 9 was what the counties came up with.  The idea was to get more people in one area for more representation.  Dane County had a comment and we questioned why the comment did not come from the Kevin Connors, County Conservationist?   Discussion on different areas and Dan O’Connell mentioned that we want good representation and that is our goal.   Motion made by Rick Mechelke to propose the No. 9 realignment and change the Driftless Area to Western Area.  The committee discussed on changing the Driftless Area to Western Area to keep it in sequence with the other boundaries, it was agreed that it should be in sequence with other regions.  Tom Sweeney made a motion to approve No. 9 realignment and change the Driftless Area to Western Area.  Motion seconded by Rick Mechelke.  Motion passed by voice vote.

At the 2004 WALCE Annual Meeting the officers will be up for re-election. Rick Mechelke suggested that the reps be reduced from 8 to 4 at that time.  Then the committees could be appointed and get everything rolling.  Still one vote per area.  Dale Olson will create, Rick Mechelke to review, an outline for the appointment and election process for this transition period and present it at the August 21, 2003 WALCE Meeting.  Don Houtman will send a PDF file out to all and it will have to be approved by the general membership at the WALCE Annual Meeting in February, 2004. 

Appointment of Acting President/Vice President:  Dale Olson read the by-laws for the representation of the president when the president resigns.  The acting president is Dale Olson – formerly Vice President and we are asking for someone to come forward to become Vice President.  A nomination from Shawn Stocks to have Dan O’Connell to take the acting duty of Vice President and Dan O’Connell nominated Rick Mechelke to the acting VP position. Dale Olson asked for any other nominations – no other nominations were brought forward. Dale Olson would entertain a motion for Rick Mechelke as acting Vice President and stay as West Central Area Rep. discussion on serving as both area rep and VP.  Motion made by Tom Sweeney to appoint Rick Mechelke to the acting VP position and allow him to still serve as West Central Area Rep until nominations are out.  A new VP will be appointed at the next meeting.  The duties will be split three ways.  Motion seconded by Dan O’Connell. Duties appointed to acting VP Rick Mechelke – Scholarship, Dan O’Connell – WLWCA Board., Shawn Stocks, Planning Committee Chair. Dale Olson will be sending the nominations out to WALCE Area Reps for the VP position. 

Current Issues:

• Land and Water Plan Guidelines: Rebecca Baumann talked about the Land and Water plan guidelines – a copy was mailed to the counties and the deadline for responding is June 30, 2003. Then it will go to be approved. Dale Shaver went to represent WALCE at the Land and Water Board.  See attached sheet from Dale Shaver.  Discussion.
• Staffing Grants: The only information given from Don Houtman is $500,000.00 cut for the next two years. It appears that the $500,000.00 is apparently going to the tourism bureau at this time. The elimination of the Farmland Preservation Program is an issue.  A handout given from Don Houtman - keeping all the wording from the laws in the Farmland Preservation will remain and honor all existing agreements with no new signups if the program is eliminated.  But it is not a dead issue at this time and is still up in the air.  The counties that are receiving the $85,000.00 at this time will not receive a cut but the counties over and above the $85,000.00 would be where the cuts could take place. Rebecca Baumann said she thinks the governor is in favor of keeping the funding – it just depends on the wording that comes back to the office of the governor.  Tom Sweeney mentioned that the governor can make any reduction he wants to; it just depends on what other political actions are needed. Don Houtman said it is possible that it might all get vetoed and keep the Farmland Preservation Program.

Advisor Reports:  UWEC-Robbin Shepard has moved up in charge of educators at the state level. He is still technically our supervisor says Andy Yencha.  Ken Genskow is now acting for the Basin Educator Program – Intern Director.  For the Basin Educator positions they will be hiring for the Central Wisconsin and LaCrosse Area. Local training initiative individual they hired is Kevin Erb who will be the training coordinator. Budget cuts $80,000.00 cut for the basin educator program.  One position and 2/3 of another position have been cut, a publications position and Milwaukee area a clerical position was eliminated to 1/3 position. The multi agency grant program deadline for applications is August 1, 2003 – Grazing – technical provider; max is up to $20,000.00 you need to be on the NRCS tech regs certifications list. Three to four page forms are available through the web site that is needed for application for this funding.  Nutrient Management Program with $150,000.00 of grant money application deadline is August 15, 2003.  (Helping farmers with nutrient management funding).  This is a reimbursement program with documentation provided to us for dollars to be received back.  

WLWCA:  Rebecca Baumann explained that the comparison of the governor’s proposal is on line with WLWCA.  The NACD North Central Region Meeting is in Madison which is July 14 – 16, 2003. Dealing with the issue of the north central region and the closing of the office.  A great deal of discussion will be at the NACD meeting on these offices.  They are talking about closing all the regional offices and talking about closing the Texas Office that produces all the paper work that is sent out to everyone.  North Central region is very strong and if NACD looses their support it could be a terrible thing. Greg Baneck asked the board for helpers at the NACD Conference. Dale Olson and Tom Sweeney will help at the NACD Conference.  Rebecca shared the Western Association meeting minutes.  Rebecca explained that WLWCA had attempted to setup a meeting with staff and supervisors from the Western Area to discuss issues that had arisen but that the meeting had been cancelled.  Further discussion ensued regarding the image of WLWCA and about lobbying issues. 

DATCP:  Don Houtman talked a little about the budget; Farmland Preservation is still up in the air and is not a dead issue yet. Do not know the status of staff dollar funding as of yet.  Don Houtman handed out a CREP Report to the board.  Keith Foye’s report said they are finishing up on the 15 year program payments – it had been delayed because of software for this program.  Also additional acres and 31 agreements are still waiting on for payment and 11 are waiting for perpetual easements.

NRCS:  Pat Murphy was unable to attend our meeting and sent a report to be shared with the WALCE Board. 

Any Other Business:  A draft of the Framework for Coordination among WI Conservation Partnership was handed out.  See attached sheet. Discussion on this draft - Rick Mechelke suggested that he wouldn’t put the WALCE stamp on this for approval. It was set aside and no more comment on this. With Len Olson leaving (Ag Chem Bureau) is the Transect Survey still active? Rick Mechelke said that with the Transect Survey all we are to send to DATCP is the data base.  If you do the Transect Survey they will not be sending the reports back to the county.  You need to go into the data base and create your own report.

Next Meeting Dates:  August 21, 2003 – Schmeeckle Reserve – October 16, 2003 – Schmeeckle Reserve – December 4, 2003 – Sheridan Hotel, Madison.

Adjourn: Motion made by Greg Baneck to adjourn.  Motion seconded by Tom Sweeney.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Respectively Submitted By:  Shawn Stocks, WALCE Secretary – Dated: 08-21-03