Wisconsin Association of Land Conservation Employees

Shawn Stocks             Pepin County LCD, 704^th Ave. W., P.O. Box 39              (715)672-8665

WALCE Secretary                             Durand, WI  54736-0039                Fax:   (715)672-8248

sstocks@co.pepin.wi.us

                                                WALCE MEETING MINUTES                  Approved Draft

                                                            April 10, 2003                                   June 16, 2003

Portage County Annex Building

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Board Members Present:  Troy Kuphal, Shawn Stocks, Dale Olson, Tom Sweeney, Penny Pohle, Don Franke, Brad Robole, Mark Jenks, Rick Mechelke, Greg Baneck, Greg Cleereman, and Dan O’Connell.

Others Present:  Don Houtman, Pat Murphy, and Rebecca Baumann

Call to Order: Troy welcomed everyone to the WALCE Meeting.

Minutes: Motion made by Tom Sweeney to approve the February 19, 2003 minutes as written.  Motion seconded by Dale Olson. Motion carried by voice vote.  Minutes need to be sent out within 30 days of approval – These minutes are not official until approved by WALCE Board at the bottom of the page.

Professional Improvement: Report for the 2003 Conference was discussed.  The over all evaluations were terrific with excellent responses from most.  Shawn will put them together for all to review.  The afternoon computer training class was not as good as the morning.  It lacked hands on training and that is so important for anyone that is able to take these computer training classes. The raffle was a great success by 10:00 a.m. Thursday morning all raffle tickets were sold out.  The raffle items were excellent this year and if this continues we will have to purchase more raffle tickets in the future.   

2004 Conference will be at the Hilton at the Milwaukee City Center.  Don Franke has the box and binder that he will transfer it to who ever needs it for the planning committee.  The binder has examples and materials that need to be put out for events for the 2004 conference.  Dale Olson mentioned that maybe only a trip or two as needed to the Hilton to review where the rooms are and to review the setup for the conference.  Troy Kuphal will make sure the hotel arrangements are in order.  Dale will get the ball rolling for a 1^st meeting.  The committee consists of Tom Sweeney, Shawn Stocks, Dale Olson, Mark Jenks, Troy Kuphal, Andy Yencha – UWEX, Dan Treloar – Kenosha County, Gary Mick – Milwaukee County, and Chuck Seeger – Racine County. A meeting at the end of July or first of August will be set by Dale Olson who will get back to everyone on the committee. 

Treasurer’s Report: Tom Sweeney reviewed the Cash Flow Report – See attached Report dated thru 4/10/03.  Motion made by Dale Olson to approve the budget dated thru 4/10/03.  Motion seconded by Dan O’Connell.  Motion passed by voice vote.

Cut-off for registration refunds was talked about Tom refunded several counties.  Registers report is a final report after the Annual Conference.  Status of the laptop was discussed Tom had it repaired.  It had a macro virus in word and in the accounting software. The virus was taken care of for $25.00 and now is up and running.  New WALCE website is WALCE.org.  The cost is $549.89 for the full year and everything is included with this contract. 

Review of Final By-Laws: The committee reviewed the Final By-Laws page to page and made appropriate grammar corrections and changes in wording.  Motion made by Don Franke to remove “by the president” on page 4.  Motion seconded by Dale Olson.  Discussion: It needs to be consistent with what was approved at the Annual Meeting.  Administrative Committee – We want anyone from the board to be qualified.  Both members from the areas will be voting members. The Each Member wording did not change. B.  Professional two member from the board and two members is correct. C. Correct voting one member from the board, two from the WALCE areas.    Article V 1. D. was removed.  VP-A. Serving on the committee removed.  3.  C. Serving as a voting position changed for Secretary and Treasurer.  Article IX-Decision making and voting.  One county one vote – now one member one vote.  No. 3 One WALCE standing committee one vote.

Motion to accept final versions with two corrections on page 4.  One member from the board and under D to remove – “by the president”.   Motion made by Greg Cleereman to accept these final revisions.  Motion seconded by Don Franke.  Motion carried by voice vote.  Don Franke will review for final draft.

Discussion of Alternatives and Consideration of Actions Regarding Realignment of Area Boundaries:  Maps were handed out and reviewed.  It should be sent out to all counties for input and which area they would choose to be in.  That way they can pick the area that they feel they would fit into and be with the counties they would want to be in their group.  Change to four groups instead of five – move additional ones together to fit.  Motion made by Don  Franke to send out map #1 and  give counties the option to slide from one way or another, provide opportunity for  comment on their area and/or areas. Motion seconded by Rick Mechelke seconded.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Identification of Priority Issues 2003:

·        Revised Bylaw Implementation Needs: Issues from Troy Kuphal:

1.  We have a situation with the President and Vice President that will be elected for the next term which will be 2005 not 2004 as what it would have been before the bylaw changes. While transitioning to the new bylaws, area reps many need to serve an additional year in their terms.

 2.  Set up committees with members from newly defined WALCE areas. We would need the area set up first before we can do anything.

 3.  Guiding principles in the future.

A.     2004 for transition area reps in April – June would be for the committees – Officer election in February.  Officers will set up four area elections after the first board of directors meeting. They will ask for members to serve on the standing committees.  First election of area reps would be a one year term – eligible for re-election for two- two year terms after that to become compatible with the bylaw changes. Work on establishing a good set of guiding principles to set the frame work and outline how the by-laws work and put into motion the concept on the controversial items – example of guiding principles- VI in the Policy Manual examples from this category given to the committee. Please bring comments and suggestions to the next meeting.

B.     Professional Improvement and Technical Issues:  Dale Olson talked on conservation planning certification.  A lot of the state has different area of programs as a whole and various areas to be certified differently.  We should have more certifications for everyone.  Rebecca Baumann mentioned that more recognition for individuals would allow them to use this on their resume currently or in the future. Rick Mechelke says he is certified and updates every year but getting all these certifications is too much.

8. Status Review of Current Issues:

• NR 151 Implementation Needs: Survey from DNR went out to all counties to identify implantation activities.  TRM grant applications - how are you going to implement the NR151 strategies?  Board hasn’t taken any stand on this as of yet.  Greg Cleeremen mentioned that DNR and want DATCP to get more materials out to the farmers to educate them.  NR151 has an educational area to provide materials for the farmers.  Tom Sweeney stated that Robbin Shepard was sending out $$ for I & E through the non point program.  Why are they asking us to get the educational materials to them?  They should be getting these materials for us. Troy Kuphal suggested that we need to promote the practices and the deals before we talk about the laws; to focus more on what we can offer to help fix “problems.”  Basin educator’s need to be put into this group to assist in this effort.

• RUSLE 2:  Pat Murphy told the board that the RUSLE 2 has been delivered to the counties.  NRCS will do field visits to individual offices through out the state.  For specific support please call John Pingy at the NRCS State Office. 

      Pat Murphy and Troy Kuphal discussed the progress of the group meeting to     clarify the use of RUSLE 2 and the impact of conservation compliance plans on             implementation of the "soil loss to T" ag performance standard.  A follow up        meeting is planned on April 18, 2003 on resolving the wind erosion prediction       issue with the Ag performance standard.  Troy will send everyone the problems             of RUSLE 2 – if the problems can be looked at and commented on that would   help out a lot.  Pat Murphy provided a summary of where NRCS is going with compliance (see attachment).  Pat Murphy has been warned that NRCS       cannot use USDA conservation compliance to enforce state regulations.           Conservation    planning will be done according to the policy in the National        Conservation    Planning Procedures Handbook (NPPH). Conservation          compliance planning      must be done according to the National Food and         Security Act Manual       (NFSAM) and does not have to meet the state ag         performance standards in order for USDA program participants to receive       their      federal commodity payments. The only way for Wisconsin NRCS to hold            to         “T” is if the plan was developed before l996 and if producer has continued to    implement the plan. Where a system is planned for compliance purposes that    is above "T".  NRCS will inform landowners of not meeting the state       agricultural performance standard and offer to develop conservation planning       alternatives to reach "T". The question was asked if NRCS can report to the      LCC when a landowner is in compliance with the ag performance            standards.         This would emphasize the positive progress made between county      and federal       conservation planning technical assistance.  A memo by Troy will be sent out to   everyone.

• LWRM Plan Guidelines:  A draft was sent out to everyone in order to provide comments back to Troy.  The document we are putting together has clarified what counties will be accountable for.  Land and Water plans should be a real general plan for five years.  But we want to make sure the statute is for a multi year plan of activities and is not a multi year work plan.  Counties should not need to provide anymore information than funding is being provided for.  NR 151 requires a multi year work plan.  As conditions can be somewhat fluid from year to year, it is not practical to put a multi work plan together.

• Other: The annual staffing grant allocation should be based on the current year of goals and objectives as specified in land and water plan.

Agency Reports:

• NRCS:  By the second week in March we should know more about the TSP and where it is going. Techreg (www.techreg.usda.gov), an on-line self certification process for technical service providers has been put into place with the secretary and it establishes different areas of certification by practices and specific technical tasks.  Conservation planning and Comprehensive Nutrient Management will accept the state certifications that NRCS and LCD staff has been earning. The national conservation planning certification does require module 9, the review of a conservation plan written by the applicant. NRCS is proposing to organize a Request for Proposal for technical assistance with layout and construction inspection for Grassed Waterways. At this time anyone who will be paid as a Technical Service Provider must be certified through Techreg. In order for a LCD to become registered in Techreg an individual employee first must enter themselves into the system and then enter information for the LCD as a public entity.  At this point the "not to exceed rates" for direct contracting by landowners have not been established.  TSP rule allows farmer to negotiate with the provider to reduce the fee for service below the not to exceed rate. The participant can keep 50% of the savings that they negotiate from the TSP.  Ken Rismeyer is the contact for Techreg. 

• WLWCA: Update on funding to encourage to legislature how important it is to save the budget for the state.  Rebecca has been trying to get into two more legislators offices to talk with them and try to make it clear that funding is so important to us and the whole state.  Staffing grants are GPR which match SEG dollars but basically nothing is secure at this time for funding and bonding.   Continuing to meet with legislators and telling them they need to know how important the funding and bonding is.  It is a great way to reach out and speak so that the word is out that we need this funding.    WLWCA has provided information for the Internship Program to each county. It is targeted for the next three years with a match from the counties that would like to have a summer intern.  Tree planter is also available to counties that need them.  NACD Regional Conference is in Wisconsin in July and the main day is July 15, 2003. A workshop through CTIC will be the day before. The secretary for DATCP Neilsten seems to be working well so far with no staff cuts and getting to know everyone. QST is going to have one more meeting as an interagency cooperation council. 

• DATCP:  Don Houtman handed out an update on the acreage summary for CREP.  Some engineers have been detailed to work on the CREP Program at DATCP.  Steve Struss is one of them from DATCP.  So a meeting will be held this week at DATCP to divide up the state with engineers. 

Other business:

Next meeting date:  June 19, 2003, Conference Room C in the Department of Aging Building, across and down the street from the Annex Building, Stevens Point, WI , August 21, 2003, Schmeeckle Reserve, Stevens Point, WI., October 16, 2003, Schmeeckle Reserve, Stevens Point, WI., December 4, 2003, (WLWCA Conference, Sheridan Hotel, Madison).

Adjourn: Motion to adjourn made by Dan O’Connell.  Motion seconded by Mark Jenks.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Respectively Submitted by:  Shawn Stocks, WALCE Secretary

This is an unapproved draft dated June 4, 2003.