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 USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center, Bismarck, North Dakota. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m., on July 19, with Chair Thomas Christensen presiding. The following persons attended all or a portion of the meetings:
committee members present
Robert Blegen, Supervisor, Area I
Roger Zetocha, Supervisor, Area II
Duane Hawk, Supervisor, Area III
Lynette Wood, Supervisor, Area IV
Shorty Hoerauf, Supervisor, Area V
Lowell Disrud, Appointee
Thomas Christensen, Appointee
advisors present
Dwight Comfort, Water Resources Engineer, ND State Water Commission
Kevin Kading, Private Lands Program Section Leader, ND State Game and Fish
Gerald Sturn, District Director, NDSU Extension Service
Roxanne Johnson, President, NDASCD
others present
Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservation Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
Duane Hauck, Director, NDSU Extension Service
Andy Winenbach, Assistant State Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
Paul King, State Administrative Officer, USDA-NRCS
Dale Enerson, North Dakota Farmers Union
Dale Tinjum, Director, NDASCD
Stuart Nielsen, Chairman, Slope-Hettinger SCD
Curtis Tews, Supervisor, Slope-Hettinger SCD
Cameo Frieze, Manager, Slope-Hettinger SCD
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER DISRUD,
AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 7, 2006
COMMITTEE MEETING AS DISTRIBUTED.
Committee Members Disrud, Hawk, Blegen, Zetocha, Wood, and Christensen voted
“Aye.” Committee Member Hoerauf absent. No negative votes were cast.
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
SUPERVISOR APPOINTMENT NEEDING APPROVAL
Scott Hochhalter presented the following supervisor appointment to fill the
following vacant elective position:
The Stutsman County Soil Conservation District appointed Alvin Exner to the
vacated elected position held by Leonard Wanzek.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HAWK, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF ALVIN EXNER TO THE STUTSMAN COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT. Committee Members Disrud, Hawk, Blegen, Zetocha, Wood, and Christensen voted “Aye.” Committee Member Hoerauf absent. No negative votes were cast.
NDASCD STANDING COMMITTEES
The State Soil Conservation Committee reviewed its representation to serve
on the following Standing Committees for the North Dakota Association of Soil
Conservation Districts.
Legislative – Deals with State and Federal Legislative matters of interest to the Districts.
District Operations – Deals with operating issues facing Districts including planning, capacity development, agreements with others, funding, fiscal management, personnel, supervisor training, reporting or any other matter affecting efficient and effective district operations.
Education – Deals with advancing the awareness, importance and accomplishments of soil conserving efforts of Districts and the Association in order to create a more informed public.
Resolutions and Policy – Insures that proposed or current policy is legal, accurate, and specific enough to be meaningful and is appropriate in keeping within the purpose of the Association and Districts.
Natural Resources – Deals with issues or programs facing Districts pertaining to soil, water, plants, animals and air resources.
Chair Christensen asked for volunteers from the State Soil Conservation Committee to participate on a Standing Committee.
Education – Lynette Wood
Legislative – Roger Zetocha
Resolutions and Policy – Robert Blegen
Natural Resources – Duane Hawk
District Operations – Shorty Hoerauf
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING FOR SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Dale Tinjum reviewed administrative funding needs in more soil conservation
districts. He showed how State Funding along with the 2005 mill levy dollars
being used as a way to bring a base level of funding to soil conservation
districts. He mentioned that a $20,000 base level funding would require
$694,284 in State Funds for the biennium. He indicated that the local soil
conservation district workload varies due to USDA programs. A coordinated
effort is needed to address administrative funding needs for the 2007-2009
biennium. The new administrative contribution agreements soil conservation
districts have with NRCS shows good interest. Conservation is every bodies
concern. He would encourage the State Soil Conservation Committee to distribute
state funds to soil conservation districts who then could enter into
contribution agreements with NRCS and others. The need for conservation is
greater now then it ever was.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HAWK, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO PURSUE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING FOR SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS BASED ON DALE TINJUM’S MODEL. Committee Members Disrud, Hawk, Zetocha, Wood, and Christensen voted “Aye.” Committee Member Blegen voted “No”. Committee Member Hoerauf absent.
SSCC/NRCS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Curtiss Tews appreciated the opportunity to express concern regarding loss of
control with the Soil Conservation District Assistance Program (SCDAP). The
Slope-Hettinger SCD sees the merit in both programs. The SCDAP and Contribution
Agreements. He feels that the state appropriated funds should be used according
to the individual needs of the districts at the local level. Once an allocation
of State Funds is distributed to the districts, the supervisors should be able
to work together with NRCS at the local level to identify the conservation needs
and practical solutions.
Stuart Nielsen mentioned that the SCDAP independently worked well and contribution agreements will work well on its own. Districts have lost control and need to have more flexibility. He mentioned that it is good to see districts documenting time for reimbursement. State Funds need to go through soil conservation districts and then they can work with contribution agreements by themselves. He supports the State Soil Conservation Committee decision to fund all districts but we believe that State appropriated funds must remain with districts under local control. Flexibility with the State funds allows the districts to stretch their financial resources by partnering with NRCS and other entities while meeting the needs of our clients and their natural resources.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HAWK AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO HAVE CHAIR SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH NRCS. Committee Members Disrud, Hawk, Blegen, Zetocha, Wood, and Christensen voted “Aye.” Committee Member Hoerauf absent.
2007-2009 BUDGET PROCESS
UPDATE
Duane Hauck mentioned that the 2007-2009 Biennium Budget would allow the State
Soil Conservation Committee to include a 15% enhancement. He also reviewed the
State Board of Agriculture Research and Education Enhancing North Dakota’s
Economy through Agriculture.
Wayne Duckwitz, Plant Materials Center Manager, lead a tour for the State Soil Conservation Committee.
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m., on July 20, with Chair Thomas Christensen presiding.
NATURAL RESOURCES
PROGRAMS UPDATE
Andy Wingenbach distributed handouts on the fiscal year 2006 Status of
Conservation Program. He indicated that funding for EQIP has gone from
$3,000,000 in 1999 to over $18,000,000 in 2006. He reviewed North Dakota’s
conservation programs performance incentive. All of the states awarded
incentive bonuses; North Dakota received the highest at over $2,900,000. The
funding will bring more participation in the conservation programs and provide
more conservation benefits for producers and communities. The performance
incentive were made possible because of the conservation partnership effort
between Federal, State and Local groups and individuals with the common goal of
helping people help the land.
Andy mentioned outreach efforts at the State Fair and distributed the Living Landscapes in North Dakota publication.
SCD EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKS
Paul King reviewed the new security requirements associated with access to the
USDA network by NRCS partners including soil conservation districts. These new
security requirements will require certain SCD employees to have a background
investigation called the National Agency Check and Inquires. This is the
minimum investigation required for all new federal employees an includes written
inquires and search of records covering specific areas of an individual’s
background such as past employers, schools, references and law enforcement.
NRCS will need to have all investigations initiated by September 15, 2006. If security check is declined the USDA-NRCS computer access will be cut off.
ND FARMERS UNION CARBON CREDIT PROGRAM
Dale Enerson reviewed the Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program with the State
Soil Conservation Committee. The North Dakota Farmers Union is offering
contracts to pool and market carbon credits on behalf of farmers through the
Chicago Climate Exchange. Farmers who implement practices that store carbon
dioxide in the soil will receive payments if enrolled in Farmers Union’s Carbon
Credit Program. Farmers Union invites producers to enroll no-till cropland and
seeded grass stands into its Carbon Credit Program. Once enough acreage has
been contracted, Framers Union will sell blocks of credit through the Chicago
Climate Exchange. In turn, Farmers Union will pay producers who have contracted
acreage based on the market price of carbon and the number of acres each
individual producer has enrolled.
MEMBERSHIP DUES
The State Soil Conservation Committee discussed the due notices from the
National Association of Conservation Districts.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BLEGEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE TO PROVIDE NACD WITH $50.00. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Hoerauf, Wood, and Christensen voted “Aye.” Committee Member Zetocha and Hawk absent.
SCD CONSOLIDATION
Scott Hochhalter provided an update on the Eastern Grand Forks County Soil
Conservation District and the Western Grand Forks County Soil Conservation
District. He reviewed the Certificate of Organization for the new Grand Forks
County Soil Conservation District. There are now 55 soil conservation districts
in North Dakota.
ELECTION OF CHAIR
Committee Member Blegen nominated Thomas Christensen for Chair.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE DISRUD, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT NOMINATIONS CEASE AND A UNANIMOUS BALLOT BE CAST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBER CHRISTENSEN. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Hoerauf, Wood, and Christensen voted “Aye.” Committee Member Zetocha and Hawk absent.
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR
Committee Member Disrud 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 Disrud, Blegen, Hoerauf, Wood, and Christensen voted “Aye.” Committee Member Zetocha and Hawk absent.
ND STATE WATER COMMISSION
Dwight Comfort reviewed water level in Lake Sakakawea, Devils Lake and Stump
Lake. Since the Devils Lake Outlet operation season began on May 1, no water
has been discharged to the Sheyenne River due to elevated sulfate levels in the
river. The State Water Commission has requested modifications of discharge
permit that would allow more effective operation of the outlet. The Health
Department has extended the public comments period to July 12. After the end of
the comment period, it is expected to take 30 days for the Health Department to
determine if the modifications to the permit will be made.
NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE
Gerald Sturn mentioned that Duane Hauck's appointment as Director of the NDSU
Extension
Service will continue on a permanent basis effective July 1, 2006. He reviewed the State Fair dates. He discussed the drought-meeting schedule and how the feed list is being updated.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMITTEE DISRUD, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOD, AND CARRIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE THAT THE SOIL CONSERVATION LINE ITEM WILL ONLY LIST THE GRANT FUNDS TO SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. Committee Members Disrud, Blegen, Hoerauf, Wood, and Christensen voted “Aye.” Committee Member Zetocha and Hawk absent.
North DAKOTA
GAME & FISH
Kevin Kading provided an update on the Private lands Program.
There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
Scott Hochhalter, Soil Conservationist Specialist
Recording Secretary
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