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.
Advisors
Present: Don
Houtman, Pat Murphy, Penny Pohle
President
Troy Kuphal called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m
Minutes:
Motion to remove Mark Jenks as being present at the
October 18, 2001 meeting and approve the minutes made by Dale Olson.
Paul Tollard seconded. Motion
carried by voice vote.
Treasurer
Report: Marcia
Hartwig reviewed the Register Report and Cash Flow Report for Walce. A Dell laptop computer has been ordered for the treasurer.
Greg Baneck made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report.
Dan O’Connell seconded. Motion
carried by voice vote.
2002
Budget Preview: The
Board will finalize its recommendations for the 2002 budget in January. A new
line item will be included for depreciation on the lap top computer. Discussion ensued over NACD and WLWCA expenses and conference
revenues.
2002
Conference Planning Update: Discussion
on the future of the County Conservationist meetings. WALCE committee would like to put together the county con
meetings in the future. Penny Pohle
brought figures for the 2002 WALCE Conference in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
It was tough calculating figures when you do not have a precise amount of
individuals that are going to attend. So
Penny will get together the figures and start registration as soon as possible. The WALCE Conference is coming along good and Penny will keep
everyone informed on the progress of the planning.
2004
Conference Location: The
conference has been targeted for Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Two conference centers are being looked for the WALCE Conference.
Greg Beneck made a motion to accept Milwaukee to hold the 2004 WALCE
Conference. Dale Konkel seconded
the motion. Motion carried by voice
vote.
Conference
Planning Procedures: Troy
handed out a draft with guidelines for the future planning procedures.
In addition to creating a more formalized conference planning committee
the WALCE Board in general and the vice-president in particular would take more
of a lead role for future conference planning.
To increase accountability and reduce the burden placed upon staff from
the hosting county. Suggestion was
made to add one or two ad-hoe members to the proposed list of committee members. Troy will finalize guidelines for formal board approval in
January.
Status
Nonpoint Rules: DNR
has proposed to remove buffer and grassed waterway standards.
Greg Benack said that 10’ is not a buffer. Pat Sutter mentioned that cost share is available if you use
the riparian standard.
Datcp
Staffing Grant Proposal: Troy
reviewed the proposal with the Board and indicated specific items of concern,
they being 1) lack of a connection between the allocation and actual staff
expenses such as salary, fringe and reasonable support costs and 2) low priority
placed on preventing up-and-down swings in grant awards.
The Arm Committee will be meeting on December 17, 2001; the Ag Committee
will meet on December 18, 2001. Don
Houtman mentioned that by January 2002 a set of rules would be sent out and
available on the DATCP Web Site.
Cropping
Practice Allocation Workgroup: Troy
gave an update on the continuing efforts by DNR to address.
The shortage of GPR money for watershed cost share projects.
Several county representatives have been asked to serve on the DNR’s
workgroup to help resolve this issue in a manner that has the least negative
impact on counties.
Certification:
Dale Konkol
SITCOM Chair, handed out information that was discussed at the November 27, 2001
SITCOM meeting at the Schmeekle Reserve. NRCS Conservation Planner Certification
and Robin Shepard’s proposed Professional Conservation Training Program.
One of the main concerns is to have everyone working together to prevent
unnecessary confusion, overlap, and expenses that may result from having two
separate certification training programs. Pat Murphy summarized the NRCS
Conservation Planning Certification Policy and indicated support for
coordinating and integrating as much as possible both NRCS and UWEX plans.
RUSLE
II: Don
Houtman will e-mail to Shawn the committee that was put together to address
issues concerning the deployment of RUSLE, including such things as user
training and field-testing.
Advisor
Reports:
·
WLWCA:
Walce Web
Site Update. Summary of report
attached.
·
DATCP-ATCP-50:
Eighteen
counties at this time have signed contracts to implement CREP.
They are waiting on more contracts that have to be brought in front of
their LCC’s and County Boards.
·
NRCS:
The second
CREP Training at the local level has just been offered and some completed.
Pat Murphy told the committee that they have received a statewide license
for Arc View. 590-work group will
meet January 3, 2002. Progress happening. Final
issues will be clarified. The Farm
Bill should be signed before mid winter.
·
UWEX:
Not Present
Other
Board Issues/Concerns: Mark
Jenks mentioned storm water management workshop with DNR would be in Milwaukee
on 1-24-2002. All LCD’s are
included. Troy reminded the
committee of the awards and nominations for the February WALCE Conference. Talk to people so we have some individuals lined up.
Also, Troy informed the Board he recently spoke to Gordon Stevenson who,
as it sounds, will likely soon return as the DNR’s advisor on the Board.
Adjourn:
Pat Sutter
made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Marcia
Hartwig seconded. Motion carried by
voice vote.