WALCE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Schmeeckle Reserve
Stevens Point, Wisconsin - October 18, 2001

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

Advisors Present: Pat Murphy, Don Houtman, Andy Yencha, and Rebecca Baumann

Others: Shawn Esser, Marathon County

President Troy Kuphal called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

Minutes: Dale Olson made a motion to approve the minutes of August 16, 2001.  Dale Konkol seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Treasurer Report: Marcia Hartwig reviewed the Register Report and Cash Flow Report for WALCE.  Greg Baneck motioned to approve treasurer report.  Dan O’Connell seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Consideration of Funding Requests:

·         Rebecca Baumann, Director of WLWCA explained that WLWCA is requesting $2,000.00 from the WALCE Board for legal consulting expenses.  Marcia Hartwig went over the budget report for the current year.  Board discussed balances and expenses that are needed for the remainder of the 2001.  Gaylord Olson agreed that legal services are very important and motioned to have WALCE give $750.00 towards the lobbying fees for WLWCA. Dale Olson seconded.  Discussion ensued regarding WALCE budget balances, carry over and future needs for legal consultant services. Motion carried by voice vote. 

·         GLNAC: A handout was distributed from Pete Van Airsdale for the Great Lakes Non-point Abatement Coalition.  GLNAC is requesting financial support for a statewide Water Quality Issues Conference.  The conference is March 14-15, 2002 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay.  NRCS put in $1,000.00 towards this conference. Several board members felt that, as a professional improvement association, WALCE should ideally support training opportunities whenever possible, however, their were also concern expressed over the proposed date of the conference and potential conflicts with the WALCE Conference.  Many of the sessions appear the same sort of training that WALCE has and continues to provide.  Dale Olson motioned to donate $100.00 towards this conference and that Troy and Shawn should craft a letter stating we cannot commit more this time.  Gaylord seconded.  Concern was expressed over the amount and whether or not any should be given considering the boards concerns.  Pat Murphy offered to review the letter and explain concerns to the Great Lakes Non-point Abatement Coalition.  Andy Yencha was concerned with the dates being so close to the WALCE Conference.  Questioned if GLNAC couldn’t work with WALCE to have a joint conference or participate on the WALCE Conference Planning Committee to help develop our conference to meet their needs.  Dale motioned, Gaylord seconded to amend the original motion to not donate money, but still send a letter explaining the Board’s sentiments.  Motion carried by voice vote, Greg voting no.

 ·         WLWCA Budgeting for 2002.  Web maintenance would be approximately $2,000.00. Currently WALCE donates a total of $7,000.00 to WLWCA. By unanimous consent, the Board agreed it would seek to include the same amount for WLWCA in the proposed 2002 budget. 

Training and Professional Improvement:

·         Conference Planning Update: Shawn Stocks brought the Board up to date on the 2002 conference at the Chula Vista in Wisconsin Dells.  Troy had information on the 2004 Conference.  Different locations were discussed.  It would be February 18-20, 2004.  Paul Tollard will look into possible locations in Fond du Lac and Andy would check out possible locations in the Milwaukee/Waukesha area.  Board will revisit and decide in December on a final location.

·         Sitcom: Dale Konkol updated the Board on certification.  Pat Murphy updated the Board on NRCS Certification.  The l996 Farm Bill requires all conservation and nutrient management plans developed for USDA programs must be approved by a certified individual.  Pat reviewed and the board discussed proposed certification program (see attached “Conservation Planning and Application.  Conservation Planning Policy”).  Discussion on the proposed “Wisconsin Conservation Professional Development and Training Support” program being developed by Robin Shepherd. Troy expressed that both programs should complement each other as much as possible or even have one training/certification program that meets both objectives. Problem may be timing. It will be critical to keep communication open with all agencies to work together on this so everyone is equally involved.

 ·         NCDEA President-elect: The WALCE Board needs someone to fill this position.  Dale Olson agreed to serve in this capacity. Dale Konkel agreed to serve as back-up.

 ·         RUSLE 2: NRCS is coming out with a full release in April 2002.  Troy reviewed the issue.  Rebecca will be soliciting members to participate in a QST-sponsored workgroup to explore the issue regarding its deployment, including training and field testing.  Board representation will be sought. 

 Strategic Plan:

 ·         An update on the August 24, 2001 Joint WLWCA/WALCE Committee Meeting.  Dan O’Connell and Rebecca Bauman attended this meeting.  The meeting went well.  It was agreed that employees from each area should be attending their meetings to keep them informed on county and state level issues.  There was also general consensus that we need to continue to look into ways to improve effectiveness.

 ·         Future funding for conservation programs.  Dave Jelinski will be getting together a group to look at ways to get more funding for staff.  Don Houtman told the board that the final formula on staff funding will be coming out real soon.  Gaylord Olson talked with concern that the budget is very tight at this time.  It is going to be very hard to come up with more money.  It will be hard enough to keep funding at the same level as now.

 Legislative Update:

 ·         ATCP 50: Troy, Rebecca and several Leg Committee members met with Dave Jelinski, Nick Neher and Mike Dummer (Ag Board) on October 17, 2001.  They reviewed and discussed  WALCE/WLWCA concerns and suggested changes for their proposed rule. The ARM Committee will review suggested changes from DATCP staff on November 5^th.  ARM Committee will forward their suggestions to the full Ag Board on November 6th.

 ·         Update on Future Staffing Grant Proposal: A base amount of $85,000.00 per county is being proposed.  Whatever remaining dollars there are will be split up according to county contribution towards staff.

 ·         ACRA: DNR is putting together a committee to suggest alternatives for how the department should allocate GPR ACRA dollars in the future. These funds will be more limited than in the past which will effect counties with watershed programs.

 Advisors Reports:

 ·         WLWCA: Rebecca Baumann discussed that the WLWCA Conference planning is going well.  It is December 5, 6, & 7, 2001 at the Kalahari Motel and Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

 ·         DATCP: Don Houtman discussed the hearing summary and updated us on the rules. There will be a meeting on November 5, 2001.  A performance standard implementation work group will be convened after January 2002 to establish guidance for implementing the redesign rules.

 ·         NRCS: Pat Murphy reviewed RUSLE 2 and planning certification are winter tasks.  The tool kit and the USDA nation wide license for Arc View – FOCS Data.  15 counties are getting the kit.  Still working on NRCS and LCD’s to be compatible.

 ·         UWEX: Andy Yencha updated us on training issues.  Approval of projects with EQIP, Grazing, NRM and general farmer education projects.  Basin educators have been holding private workshops, such as private woodland owner workshops.  Erosion control work shops in the southeast, south central and one or two in the North.  

 Other Board Issues/Concerns: Pat Murphy said CREP is just waiting for Secretary of Ag signature for late October, county signatures in November, county training, and separate training for planners.  The standard as is right now is the same layout as the Buffer Standards for NRCS. 

 Paul Tollard mentioned that it would be good if someone from the DNR could attend our WALCE Board Meeting for informational purposes and keeping us up to date on DNR issues.

Marcia Hartwig told the board to make sure that any articles are due for the Thursday Note.

Next Meeting Date: December 5, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. in the Banyan Room at the Kalahari Resort, in Wisconsin Dells during the WLWCA Conference.

 Adjourn: Dan O’Connell made a motion to adjourn.  Pat Sutter seconded.  Motion carried to adjourn.

 Respectively Submitted: Shawn Stocks, Secretary