Meeting Details: The Geauga Soil & Water Conservation District met on Jan 10th 2023 , 7:30 a.m., Geauga Admin Bldg 12611 Ravenwood Dr #240, Chardon, OH
Board Attendance: Jeff Huntsberger, Board Chair, Beth McCaffrey, Board Vice Chair, Dee Belew, Fiscal Agent, Tracy Engle, Secretary, Mary Slingluff, Treasurer
Staff Attendance: Carmella Shale, District Director/Engineer, Gail Prunty, Education/Communications Specialist, Rebecca O’Neill, Program Specialist, (Official Development Assistance - Division of Soil and Water Conservation) ODA-DSWC Program Specialist, Jonathan Mauk from USDA-NRCS, (US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Colleen Lair, Administrative Asst.
Minutes - December 13 minutes approved.
Motions Approved - Current Agenda, Appointment of Committee Chairs & Members, Accepting Treasurer's Report from December (deposits & transfers , Accepting and acknowledging 2023 Special Fund Appropriation as assigned by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners, Acknowledgement of Purchase Orders including contract services, repairs, supplies, travel, and advertising. Also approved were the District Fund Budget and the payment for expenditures.
Rebecca O'Neil, (Division of Soil and Water Conservation) DSWC Program Specialist and a guest speaker, mentioned working with ODA to attract interns for a 10 week summer program. They're looking for Districts to accept interns and Geauga has said yes.
Jonathan Mauk, USDA, NRCS, asked for a motion affirming the review of Civil Rights Responsibilities for Partners such as Geauga SWCD. Motion approved. Also a review of section 1619 of the Farm Bill was made which is the Protection of Producers Information. If someone makes a complaint to SWCD and NRCS is working with the accused, NRCS can't give out information to SWCD regarding the person or their actions.
Gail Prunty, Education/Communications Specialist, needed a motion that was made & approved for the purchase of 16 rain barrels from 1 of 3 companies she listed. The rain barrels will be for anyone wanting to purchase them as well as for painting on them by an artist & auctioned off. The choice was made to buy them for $76.28 per barrel ($1220.55). Motion made & approved.
Carmella Shale, District Director/Engineer, needed a motion that was made and approved to amend a contract with the Chagrin River Water Program. Not all the grant money was used and needed to be returned. Motion made and approved.
Ethics Law Review needs to be completed by staff and board but is online now.
The following motions were made and approved:
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Adopt changes in Policy Manual
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Staff/supervisors as signers of credit cards
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Appointment of Credit Card Compliance Office
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Three-way (ODA/NRCS/SWCD) cooperative working agreement
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Designation of official signers of vouchers/payroll
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Appointment of Sunshine Law Designee which is Colleen Lair
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2022 Annual Plan of Work summary & disposition
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2023 Strategic Plan/ Annual Plan of Work
Meeting was adjourned at this point.
Next Board Meeting - Tues, Feb 14th 2023 at 12611 Ravenwood Drive Suite # 240 Geauga County Admin Bldg 12611 Ravenwood Dr, Claridon Twp.
More information available here.
Ellen Comeau: LWV Observer
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.