North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee
North Dakota State University - NDSU Extension Service
NORTH DAKOTA
STATE SOIL
CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
4023 North State Street, Suite 30, Bismarck, ND
58503-0620
Phone: (701) 328-5125 - Fax: (701) 328-5123
MINUTES
of the
State Soil Conservation Committee meeting
July 21 & 22, 2004
A meeting of the North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee was held at the Seven Seas Inn & conference Center, Mandan, North Dakota. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m., on July 21, with Chair Keith Bartholomay presiding. The following persons attended all or a portion of the meetings:
committee members present
Lowell Disrud, Appointee
Thomas Christensen, Appointee
Robert Blegen, Supervisor, Area I
Keith Bartholomay, Supervisor, Area II
Duane Hawk, Supervisor, Area III
Dennis Reich, Supervisor, Area V
committee members ABSENT
Lynette Wood, Supervisor, Area IV
advisors present
J.R. Flores, State
Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
Gerald Sturn,
District Director, NDSU Extension Service
others present
Scott Hochhalter, Soil
Conservation Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
Paul King, State Administrative Officer, USDA-NRCS
Duane Hauck, Director, NDSU Extension Service
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOWELL DISRUD, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
HAWK, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 9,
2004 COMMITTEE MEETING AS DISTRIBUTED. Committee
members Disrud, Blegen, Reich, Christensen, Hawk and Bartholomay voted "Aye." No
negative votes were cast.
ELECTION OF CHAIR
Committee Member Hawk
nominated Keith Bartholomay for Chair.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE DUANE HAWK, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER DISRUD, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT NOMINATIONS CEASE AND A UNANIMOUS BALLOT BE CAST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBER BARTHOLOMAY. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Reich, Christensen and Hawk voted “Aye.” Committee Member Bartholomay “Abstained”. No negative votes were cast.
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR
Committee Member
Disrud nominated Thomas Christensen for Vice Chair.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HAWK, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER DISRUD, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT NOMINATIONS CEASE AND A UNANIMOUS BALLOT BE CAST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBER CHRISTENSEN. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Reich, Christensen, Hawk and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
NDASCD
Scott Hochhalter distributed the following
information provided by Gary Puppe.
-2004 NDASCD Annual Are Meeting Attendance
- NDASCD Election Results
- 2004 Recommendations
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER CHRISTENSEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER DISRUD, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS NEED TO HAVE AN EXTERNAL AUDIT EVERY 2 YEARS. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Reich, Christensen, Hawk and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
ND STATE WATER
COMMISSION
Scott Hochhalter distributed a written report for Tim Freije that
mentioned the following:
- Lake Sakakawea and Devils Lake water level
- Devils Lake Outlet Update
- Southwest Pipeline and Northwest Area Water Supply Status
SOIL CONSERVATION
DISTRICT TRAINING
Scott Hochhalter reviewed the topics identified by the participants. The State
Soil Conservation Committee wants to address legal responsibilities, leadership
topics and conservation program updates at the training sessions.
MEMBERSHIP DUES
The State Soil Conservation Committee discussed the due notices from the
National Association of Conservation Districts.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THOMAS CHRISTENSEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER DISRUD, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO MAKE A $100.00 FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Reich, Christensen, Hawk and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
NDSU
EXTENSION SERVICE
Committee Member Christensen
mentioned that Duane Hauck has been appointed to a two-year term as interim
director of the NDSU Extension Service. He also mentioned that Patricia Jensen,
NDSU Vice President and Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and
Natural Resources, announced she would retire December 31, 2004.
Duane Hauck mentioned that the State Board of Ag Research and Extension is
working on a needs based budget for the 2005-07 biennium. The needs based
budget will describe budget priorities for a 15-20 percent increase were
possible. A hold even budget will be developed as the starting point.
USDA-NRCS
J.R. Flores reviewed the Conservation
Security Program status with the Committee. He provided a handout listing
conservation contract numbers by county. He also reviewed the NRCS Regions with
the Committee.
Paul King discussed the contribution agreement process with technical service provider funds. He mentioned that the 2002 Farm Bill included provisions for Technical Service Providers to deliver technical services directly to producers. The technical services provided include conservation planning, and/or the design, layout and installation of approved conservation practices. Soil conservation districts are termed Affiliate Technical Service Providers and will be required to report progress in TechPRS. The reporting only includes planning, design, installation and checkout. NRCS would like soil conservation districts to play a significant role in this initiative and receive the funding associated with that role.
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Scott Hochhalter reviewed the Soil
Conservation District Assistance Program (SCDAP) and Contribution Agreement with
NRCS. He reviewed the balance of funds with individual soil conservation
districts.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THOMAS CHRISTENSEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO ALLOCATE $2,500 OF STATE FUNDS TO THE 43 SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS PARTICIPATING IN THE SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS OUTSIDE NRCS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Reich, Christensen, Hawk and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
The Committee discussed the Soil Conservation District Assistance Program application process. They did not change the change the amount a soil conservation district can request from the Committee. They discussed the importance of pooling resources through contribution agreements to fund increased staff resources through the SCDAP.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THOMAS CHRISTENSEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO PERSUE A CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH NRCS FOR THE 2005-2007 BIENNIUM UTILIZING THE SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS MATCHING FUNDS. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Reich, Christensen, Hawk and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservationist Specialist
Recording Secretary
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