Wisconsin
Association
of
Land
Conservation Employees
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WALCE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Portage County Courthouse Annex
Stevens Point, WI
Board Members
Present: Jean Schomisch, Perry
Lindquist, Tom Sweeney, Rick Mechelke, Bryce Richardson, Penny Pohle, Dan
O’Connell, Mark Jenks, Diane Hanson, Keith Marquardt, Greg Cleereman.
Others Present:
Hugh Mulliken, WLWCA - Door County,
Rebecca Baumann, WLWCA, Andy Johnson, Jeremy Hanson, Greg Baneck, Butch
Lobermeier, Mary Jo Webster, Dan Masterpole, Bob Micheel, Richard Castelnuovo,
DATCP, and Carol Holden, DNR.
Call to order and
Introductions: Jean Schomisch
called the WALCE Board meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. Jean welcomed everyone and
asked that everyone introduce themselves.
Approval of Minutes:
Motion by Perry Lindquist/Bryce Richardson to approve the December 2,
2004 minutes with the correction that the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.
Motion carried by voice vote.
Treasurer’s
Report: Tom Sweeney reviewed
the treasurer's report and the status of the 2004-05 budget.
Motion by Dan O’Connell/Mark Jenks to approve treasurer’s report as
presented. Motion carried by voice
vote. Tom also mentioned that he
had recently received a billing from WLWCA for professional services and white
paper costs. This billing will
exceed the amount budgeted in the Professional Services line item of the WALCE
budget. Discussion followed on what
costs were included in the billing related to the White Paper and how we will
cover costs for professional services during a critical budget time. Motion
by Perry Lindquist/Greg Cleereman to adjust the 2004-05 budget to allow for
expenses for the printing of the White Paper on the condition that an agreement
be written between WALCE and WLWCA regarding all future professional services
(lobbying) expenses. This would
mean that the cost of developing and printing of the White Paper would be funded
out of other line items within the budget to stay within our overall budget and
that the Professional Services budgeted amount ($6000) would not be exceeded.
Motion carried by voice vote.
At this time, Jean asked if there were any additional
agenda items that needed to be addressed today.
Jean mentioned that there are two additional appointments that the board
needed to make. The appointments
were for a Northern Area Representative to the Board and a Northern Area
Representative to the Administrative Committee. Brad Robole, Washburn County is interested in serving on the
Board and Butch Lobermeier, Price County is interested in serving on the
Administrative Committee. Motion by
Tom Sweeney/Bryce Richardson to approve the appointments of Brad Robole to the
WALCE Board and Butch Lobermeier to the Administrative Committee, with both
representing the Northern Area. Motion
carried by voice vote.
2005-06 WALCE
Budget: Tom reviewed the 05-06
proposed budget. Motion by Rick
Mechelke/Penny Pohle to recommend approval of the proposed budget and forward to
the Association for approval. Motion
carried by voice vote.
2005 Priorities:
Jean questioned whether the Board had any suggestions for priorities that
the Association should be working on in 2005.
Staff funding has been a significant issue in the past and the
Association will need to continue to work on this issue in 2005.
No other suggestions were brought forth.
2005 Awards:
A suggestion was made to move this to the end of the agenda since there
were quite a few nominations.
County
Conservationist Appointments to WLWCA Steering Committee:
Jean reviewed the background of this request with the Board. The
WLWCA Board has given the steering committee being established to review the
bylaws of WLWCA a recommendation to add County Conservationists to the
committee. The WLWCA Board
requested that Jean have the WALCE Board select 4 County Conservationists that
would be interested in service on this steering committee if the steering
committee so chooses. Jean
distributed the list of 6 interested Conservationists with her recommendations
for appointment to the steering committee.
Motion by Dan O’Connell/Mark Jenks to approve the appointments of Chris
Murphy, Bill Schuster, Dave Ferris, and Joe Van Berkel to the WLWCA Steering
Committee. Motion carried by voice vote.
WALCE/WLWCA
Relations: Jean distributed to
the WALCE Board a copy of a letter that she submitted to the WLWCA Board
regarding issues of concern with WLWCA. The
WLWCA Board intends to work with WALCE to improve relations.
The Chair of the WALCE Administrative Committee will be the key contact
for WLWCA staff. Discussion followed regarding the timing of the letter, the
issues of concerns identified, communication issues and the limited discussion
by the WALCE Board regarding this issue prior to distribution of the letter.
Hugh Mulliken, WLWCA President, suggested that the Board put the letter
behind them and encouraged the Board to work together with WLWCA to resolve
issues and build a working relationship.
Administrative
Committee Report: Andy Johnson,
Committee Chair updated the Board on the most recent meeting held prior to the
WALCE Board Meeting today. The
Committee is currently working on how to communicate more effectively with WLWCA,
better defining the roles of the Administrative Committee, WALCE, WLWCA and the
Executive Director and how to format and present ideas to the WLWCA Board and
Executive Director. The Buffer
Initiative was discussed which is currently in the policy making phase.
ATCP 51 is being discussed and concerns are being documented.
The Committee is also trying to develop ways to connect with the
membership and get the issues out to the members for feedback.
The meeting with the Wisconsin County’s Association was discussed and
how WALCE can work with WCA to develop a platform for conservation legislative
issues. The 2005-07 State Budget
was discussed and the need to get accurate, historical budget data, agency
budget proposals and data on what is being accomplished with the money received.
The Administrative Committee has there next two meetings scheduled for
April 27th and July 27th.
Technical Committee
Report: Dan O’Connell and Bob
Micheel updated the board on the technical committee work.
Dan distributed a copy of the final changes to the Technical Committee
Guiding Principles. Motion by Perry
Lindquist/Bryce Richardson to approve the revised Technical Committee Guiding
Principles. Motion carried by voice
vote. It was suggested that the
latest revision of these guiding principles be distributed to the membership
with the approval date on it. Dan
and Bob updated the Board on the Technical Roundtable scheduled for the WALCE
Conference and the contact list of LCD staff with technical expertise in
particular conservation practices. The
Committee also had some questions regarding SITCOM’s and AITCOMS and also
discussed coordinating tours of new conservation practices.
Bob updated the Board on the State Technical Committee issues.
The Board took at 10 minute break at 2:50 p.m.
Professional
Improvement Committee: Tom
Sweeney updated the Board on the work of the Professional Improvement Committee.
Tom discussed the status of the speakers and presentations for the
upcoming WALCE Conference. The Board acknowledged all of Tom’s efforts in coordinating
this year’s conference. Discussion
followed on conference planning and coordinating issues and the possibility of
contracting for assistance with this annual effort. Tom also updated the Board on the status of training
scholarships. The Committee
approved 3 new scholarship requests which brings the total of 6 scholarships
provided to date.
Advisors Reports:
WLWCA – Rebecca updated the Board on the WLWCA Steering Committee and changes to the WLWCA Board. The Board is reviewing the Strategic Plan and will be setting new priorities and agendas for the Association. Rebecca discussed the state budget and meetings with legislators. The Year of Land and Water Conservation was also discussed.
DATCP – Richard Castelnuovo distributed and reviewed a written report. Items covered included the Livestock Siting Rule and the scheduled dates for public hearings, the approval of the refilling of Don Houtman’s position, 2006 Grant Applications, the upcoming DATCP training, LWRM plans and the status of FPP Conservation Standards updates.
DNR – Carol Holden distributed and reviewed a written report. Items covered included NR 216, NR 243, NR 151 Implementation and TRM Grants.
2005 Awards:
Perry Lindquist distributed the awards info to the Board.
Discussion followed on the voting policies for the Awards and the issue
of Advisors being able to vote. A
recommendation was made that with the new set up of the Board that all board
members will have a vote for the awards with the President breaking any tie
votes. The Board reviewed the nominations and selected the award
winners.
Review of WALCE
Policy Manual: Penny had
distributed the policy manual to the board.
Due to limited time available, the Board recommended that Penny email the
policy manual out and give the Board members two weeks to review and submit
comments.
Next meeting will be the Annual Meeting during the WALCE
Conference in Appleton.
Motion by Mark Jenks/Dan O’Connell to adjourn at 4:55 PM.
Motion carried by voice vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Diane Hanson
Secretary