WALCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 17, 2002
STEVENS POINT, WI – BEST WESTERN HOTEL

Board Members Present:  Troy Kuphal, Dale Olson, Marcia Hartwig, Shawn Stocks, Greg Baneck, Gaylord Olson, Pat Sutter, Dale Konkol, Paul Tollard, Dan O’Connell, Mark Jenks, Bob Kaner.

Advisors Present: Rebecca Baumann, Pat Murphy, Andy Yencha

Others Present:  Penny Pohle, Sauk County

Minutes: Motion was made by Dale Olson to approve the December minutes with one minor spelling correction.  Dale Konkol seconded.  Motion carried on voice vote.

Treasurer’s Report:  Marcia Hartwig reviewed the Register and Cash Flow Reports dated December 4, 2001 thru January 10, 2002.  Shawn Stocks made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  Paul Tollard seconded.   Motion carried by voice vote.

2002 Budget Recommendations: Board reviewed the proposed 2002 budget, line by line, agreeing that the budget must be balanced.  As the two main areas of discretionary expenditures, the NACD Conference and WLWCA support line items were significantly reduced. A comparison report explaining changes in the budget will be prepared for the Annual Meeting in February.  Pat Sutter made a motion to approve the Board’s proposed budget for full membership consideration at the Annual Meeting.  Gaylord Olson seconded. Discussion ensued. Motion made by Gaylord Olson to amend original motion to incorporate several revisions to the budget.  Pat Sutter seconded.  Motion amendment carried by voice vote. There being no further discussion, amended motion was called for question.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Conference Planning: 

• 2002 Conference Planning update was by Penny Pohle from Sauk County.  Everything is pretty set for the conference.  A lot of donated prints for the raffle have been received.  Exhibitors have been required to pay a $100.00 fee.  Comments on the Training Brochure from Carol Nelson were very positive. 

• Conference Planning Procedure Guidelines for future conferences has been updated by Troy Kuphal.  2003 WALCE Conference will be held in LaCrosse at the Radisson Hotel. Hosting counties are LaCrosse, Trempealeau, Jackson, Monroe, and Vernon.  The 2004 WALCE Conference will be held in Milwaukee County.  2004 Regional NACD Convention will be held in Wisconsin.  Dale Olson and Greg Baneck will be attending the 2002 NACD Convention in Reno, Nevada.  Greg Baneck made a motion to approve the Conference Planning Procedure Guidelines for future conferences.  Shawn Stocks seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote.

 Legislative Update:

• The status of nonpoint rules and WALCE/WLWCA reactions was presented.  Discussion ensued regarding WALCE position on DNR’s removal of the Buffer and Waterway Standards. There was general agreement that there should be some alternative such as a standards that requires percent cover instead of grass.

• ATCP 50: Cost sharing required for maintenance, land out of production, new ownership, self-created non-compliance and compliance with manure storage ordinances are still questions and issues.  Also, there are still no set criteria.  DATCP will be held to their review/approvals of county Land and Water Plans and local regulations. Rebecca and the WLWCA Board will be deciding what the next steps are with regards to the rules.

 Miscellaneous:

• Planner Certification: The Interagency Quality Steering Team (QST) is forming a review team to evaluate the needs and format of a Conservation Planner Certification Training Program in Wisconsin.  The current Farm Bill requires NRCS to have a certification program in place.  Pat Murphy is already in the process of developing an interim program to meet federal deadlines.  Pat has also been very cautious before going straight ahead.  He wants to make sure it is a multi agency group. At the same time, Robin Shepard is proposing his own planning certification program which would meet NRCS requirements but also be more comprehensive in scope.  Both would be available to all conservation planners, private and public – regardless of agency employment.  Troy’s interest is ensuring that there is one high quality certification process that is both affordable and meets counties’ needs.

• Officer Nominations: Troy Kuphal was nominated for President.  Dale Olson was nominated for Vice-President.  Shawn Stocks was nominated for Secretary. Two nominations came in after the 60-day deadline, including Dale Konkol for Vice-President and Tom Sweeney for Treasurer. Paul Tollard made a motion to accept all nominations.  Pat Sutter seconded. Discussion ensued. Concerns were raised that By-laws require nominations to be in 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting, therefore technically the late nominations should be disqualified and nominees would have to be write-in candidates.  Motion failed by voice vote. 
• Employee Awards were considered and the Board voted on the recipient of County Conservationist, Technician/Project Manager, and Administrative Assistant/Clerical.  These awards will be presented at the Professional Improvement Training Conference in February 2002 in Wisconsin Dells.

 Advisor Reports:  

• WLWCA:  Rebecca Baumann was still working on the interagency communication for the certification.  She will keep the WALCE Committee updated on this.

• DATCP: NA
  
• NRCS:  Pat Murphy reported the budget is still over $1 million short from last year.  The budget was approved for this year. A new Assistant Conservationist for the SW portion of the state has been appointed. NRCS is reorganizing into four regions with main offices in each.
  
• FSA will be going to GIS.  The CEDs will be talking with the DCs and County Conservationists in each county about when this is going to happen in their county.

The Farm Bill should be approved by mid February - we are hoping.  Conservation Credit Program should be in the Farm Bill.

CREP – The wetland/CP23 is frozen.  January 24, 2002 is a RUSLE 2 Meeting.  There will also be a session at the WALCE Conference about RUSLE 2. The 590 standard is not final yet.  The surface manure on frozen ground is an issue at this time.  

• UWEX:  Andy Yencha updated that the UWEX is $1.1 billion in the hole.  So they have frozen many things.  They did recently hire two new Basin Educators for the Wolf Basin and Green Bay Basin.  Discovery Farms attempted to get a group to look at the different farms and research different practices.  Results will be nice.  More information will be brought to the WALCE Committee later.  Information was sent to each county on Erosion Control Workshops scheduled for February and March.

Other Business/Concerns:

Next Meeting date will be on February 28, 2002 at the WALCE Conference, Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Two scholarship applications came in. Jean Schomisch applied for reimbursement to attend the Wisconsin Leadership Program, April 3-18, 2003. Penny Pohle is requesting reimbursement for a college course. Board approved both by voice vote, with the condition that there are sufficient funds in the scholarship account after the conference raffle.

Adjourn:

A motion made by Greg Baneck to adjourn.  Dan O’Connell seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Respectfully Submitted

Shawn Stocks
WALCE Secretary