North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee
North Dakota State University - NDSU Extension Service
NORTH DAKOTA
STATE SOIL
CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
2718
Gateway Ave., #104 - Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone: (701) 328-9718 - Fax: (701) 328-9721
MINUTES
of the
State Soil Conservation Committee meeting
A meeting of the North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee was held at the Fort Totten Room, North Dakota State Capitol, Bismarck. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m., on July 21, with Chair Keith Bartholomay presiding. The following persons attended all or a portion of the meeting:
committee members present
Robert Blegen, Supervisor, Area I
Keith Bartholomay, Supervisor, Area II
Lynette Wood, Supervisor, Area IV
Cheryl Hoerauf, Supervisor, Area V
committee members ABSENT
Lowell Disrud, Appointee
Thomas Christensen, Appointee
Duane Hawk, Supervisor, Area III
advisors present
J.R. Flores, State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
Dwight Comfort, Water Resources Engineer, ND State Water Commission
Gary Puppe, Executive Vice President, NDASCD
others present
Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservation Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
Roxanne Johnson, President, NDASCD
The State Soil Conservation Committee discussed that farm tree planting is exclusion under agricultural activities to a depth of 18 inches according to Chapter 49-23 of the North Dakota Century Code, One-Call Excavation Notice System.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO SEEK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OPINION REGARDING THE NORTH DAKOTA ONE-CALL, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTERPRETATION OF THE TERM EXCAVATION IN NORTH DAKOTA CENTURY CODE CHAPTER 49-23-01.7, ONE-CALL EXCAVATION NOTICE SYSTEM. Committee Members Blegen, Hoerauf, Wood and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
NDASCD AREA MEETING RECOMMENDATIONS
Roxanne Johnson reviewed the recommendations from each Area Meeting with the
State Soil Conservation Committee.
REVISED CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION
Scott Hochhalter reviewed the process to include additional territory within an
existing soil conservation district. Petitions from land occupiers residing in
the Woodberry and White Lake Townships in the Slope-Hettinger Soil Conservation
District have been transferred to the Bowman-Slope Soil Conservation District.
The territory of the Slope-Hettinger Soil Conservation District lying within
Slope County has been annexed to the Bowman-Slope Soil Conservation District.
The application for revised Certificate of Organization of the Bowman-Slope Soil
Conservation District and the Slope-Hettinger Soil Conservation District has
been filed with the Secretary of State.
Scott Hochhalter mentioned that the transfer was due to the Farm Service Agency office closure in Amidon and the landowners trade area is Bowman.
Scott Hochhalter mentioned that he would be meeting with the Western Grand Forks and Eastern Grand Forks Soil Conservation Districts to discuss the consolidation process. He reviewed the consolidation procedure with the State Soil Conservation Committee.
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
2005-2007 BIENNIUM
Scott Hochhalter mentioned that the State Soil Conservation Committee has
partnered with NRCS, Contribution Agreement, as we begin to administer the
2005-2007 Biennium Soil Conservation District Assistance Program. We will need
to develop several contribution agreements with NRCS to cover the Biennium. It
will be critical that the 52 Soil Conservation Districts participating stay
current documenting time, recording progress and submitting fund requests to the
State Soil Conservation Committee.
Scott Hochhalter reviewed the Plan of Work and record of Progress for each Soil Conservation District. The State Soil Conservation Committee requests all Soil Conservation Districts participating in the Soil Conservation District Assistance Program to report progress. Meeting or exceeding the goals is very important. It demonstrates that the funds put into the contribution agreement by the State Soil Conservation Committee and NRCS were properly spent to achieve common goals.
Scott Hochhalter reviewed the Soil Conservation District Assistance Program Fund Request used by Soil Conservation Districts on a monthly basis to request funds for salaries and fringe benefits of staff working on conservation technical assistance activities identified in Plan of Work.
Scott Hochhalter reviewed the Services Provided Under State Soil Conservation Committee Contribution Agreement used by Soil Conservation Districts on a monthly basis to document time when working under the Soil Conservation District Assistance Program.
CONSERVATION SUMMIT
Keith Bartholomay mentioned the importance of the State Soil Conservation
Committee and the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts to
meet jointly to discuss natural resource needs in North Dakota.
The State Soil Conservation Committee reviewed dates and would like to meet jointly with the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts on January 10-11, 2006.
ELECTION OF CHAIR
Committee Member Blegen nominated Thomas Christensen for Chair.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE WOOD, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HOERAUF, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT NOMINATIONS CEASE AND A UNANIMOUS BALLOT BE CAST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBER CHRISTENSEN. Committee Members Blegen, Hoerauf, Wood and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR
Committee Member Bartholomay nominated Robert Blegen for Vice Chair.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HOERAUF, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT NOMINATIONS CEASE AND A UNANIMOUS BALLOT BE CAST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN. Committee Members Blegen, Hoerauf, Wood and Bartholomay voted “Aye.” No negative votes were cast.
ND STATE WATER
COMMISSION
Dwight Comfort provided an update on the water levels in Lake Sakakawea and
Devils Lake. He also reviewed the status of the Southwest Pipeline, Northwest
Area Water Supply and Devils Lake Pipeline projects.
USDA-NRCS
J.R. Flores reviewed the status of the 2005 Farm Bill programs with the State
Soil Conservation Committee. The next State Technical meeting is scheduled for
September 27, 2005. A USDA Farm Bill Forum is being held by USDA Secretary Mike
Johanns on July 26, 2005, at the North Dakota State Fair.
NDASCD
Roxanne Johnson mentioned that the Board of Directors next meeting is scheduled
for September 26, 2005.
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
The State Soil Conservation Committee set the following dates:
November 8, 2005, following the NDASCD Business Meeting
January 10-11, 2006, Joint Meeting with the NDASCD
July 19-20, 2006, Work in a Plant Materials Tour
November meeting date in conjunction with the NDASCD Annual Meeting
There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.
Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservationist Specialist
Recording Secretary
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