CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

220 Fluvanna Ave, Suite 600, Jamestown, NY 14701

District Board of Directors' Regular Meeting

September 24, 2014

I. Meeting Called to Order: 8:33 A.M.

A. Present:

Fred Croscut - Chairman David Spann – Field Manager

Allen Peterson – Vice-Chair Debra Kelley - Secretary

Lisa Vanstrom – Director Rob Halbohm - NRCS

Frank Gould – Director Cassie Pinkoski – WQ Technician

Bruce Kidder – Treasurer Dave McCoy– Watershed Coordinator

II. Minutes of the Previous Meeting:

MOTION by Peterson seconded by Vanstrom to approve the minutes of the

August meeting.

III. Treasurer's Report:

MOTION by Peterson seconded by Vanstrom to accept the Treasurer's

report and pay current bills.

A. The following bills were approved for payment:

SEE ATTACHED

IV. Correspondence:

A. A Thank You letter from the Flynn Family to Dave Wilson for his

visit to Shore lands and his suggestions on how to fix their

problem.

B. Murray Mahany passed away C. Bruce Kidder thanked the Directors and Staff for the card and

their support during their ordeal.

V. Reports:

A. Other Agencies

1. NYS Soil & Water Committee – Victor DiGiacomo- See Attached

B. Committees:

Farm of The Year – The committee met last week and voted on

Mobilia Vineyards to be the Conservation Farmer of the Year for

2013. MOTION by Vanstrom seconded by Gould to accept the

Committee’s recommendation.

C. District Conservationist – Rob Halbohm

1. Program Updates

EQIP – All 29 of the EQIP contracts for Chautauqua County

have been obligated.

2. Personnel – I received word this morning that NRCS has sent

an offer letter to our new Soil Conservationist. His name

is Bryan Nothdurft and he is scheduled to start in

Jamestown on Monday, November 17. He is presently a Soil

Conservation Technician in Bedford, PA.

District Minutes Page 2.

D. District Field Manager – Dave Spann

1. 2% Projects

a. 2014 – We are working on Goose Creek at the Ashville Fire House. We have run out of time to do the other project,

so we are asking for contract extensions.

b. 2015 – Applications are well underway, maybe even ahead of schedule. We have received approval for 5

applications that we assisted with.

2. Ag Grants a. Round 18

1. Chautauqua Lake – Country Ayre the engineer has

started the design to push manure from the new barn to

the separator.

2. French Creek – Four Jacks Dairy The contractor is on site to start the repairs on the VTA. Scott Wallace,

only one bid was received, so we will re-bid this in

the winter for spring construction. Norvel Willink,

construction is in full swing the floor and walls have

been poured and they are getting ready to back fill.

b. Round 19 – Chad Fred has had a little setback with the concrete pour in the barn and has decided to do a pre-

cast concrete instead. Dave Mobilia has now completed

his Ag Chemical Handling facility. He is also working on

cover crop through EQIP.

c. Round 20 – We have completed the Plan of Work and are

now waiting for a contract so we can get started.

E. District Water Quality Technician – Cassie Pinkoski

1. AEM – I have been working on a mailing in the Chautauqua

Lake Watershed to all of the agricultural land owners.

2. 2% -.I have been working with Dave McCoy from Planning on

the SEQR Permits for the 2015 2% projects. Also we setup a

tour for the group that reviews the 2% applications in an

effort to improve the process in the future.

3. Fish & Wildlife – Dave Spann and I met with Fish and

Wildlife to submit 2 applications for projects on Crooked

Brook and Canadaway Creek.

4. Envirothon – Dave Wilson and I are working on a grant

through the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute. 2015 will

be the 25th Anniversary for the Chautauqua County

Envirothon.

5. Conservation Skills Workshop – Next week I will be

attending the workshop in Cortland, I will be taking

classes in Whole Farm Planning and GPS Surveying.

F. District Secretary - Debra Kelley

1. Fall Fish Stocking – We are offering several different

species of fish this fall and delivery is scheduled for

October 3rd...

2. Round 15 Close Out – I have been working on getting the

information together to close out the Round 15 Grant.

District Minutes (New Business Cont.) Page 3.

VI. Old Business

A. NYACD Annual Meeting/Administrative Managers Conference – Will be held October 21 – 23, 2014, Radisson Hotel in Utica. Fred will be

attending the meeting along with the staff. MOTION by Peterson

seconded by Gould for Cassie to attend the NYACD Meeting.

B. Ag Day – Was held September 4, 2014, at Arlaine Farms/The Winton Families. Croscut reported that he felt it was a success, about

500 chicken halves were cooked and there will be a follow up

committee meeting in the middle of October.

C. Joint Annual Banquet – Will be on October 16, 2014 at the War Vets on Fluvanna Ave. Hors d’oeures at 6:00 PM.

D. AEM – Contract with WNY Crop – WNY Crop has hired a new person to work on AEM her name is Lauren Sharp. Loren already has 3 Tier

II’s completed. We have reviewed them and met with Loren regarding

our issues with them.

E. Greg Rater/Slab City Organics – addressed the board regarding his concerns with the NYS DEC and his composting operation. Mr. Rater

would like the SWCD Board to consider a resolution asking for an

Environmental Oversight Board for the DEC.

VII. New Business

A. 2015 Contract with the County – Dave is working with Mark Geise

and Dave McCoy to revise the contract, so it will meet the

current needs. MOTION by Vanstrom seconded by Kidder to request

an amendment to the current contract for 2015.

B. Health Insurance – Dave Cassie and Deb met with the Insurance

Broker on September 17 to review our plan and see what else is

being offered. Deb will put an analysis together for the next

meeting.

C. Stormwater Management Conf. 2nd Annual Southern Tier West –

MOTION by Vanstrom seconded by Gould for Dave Wilson and Cassie

to attend the Stormwater Conf. and reimburse him for expenses.

D. Water Quality Technician Job Description Update – Deb is working

with the Human Resources Dept. to update the Water Quality

Technician Position Job Description. The big change will be the

Minimum Qualifications; we would like to add additional options.

SEE Attached, MOTION by Gould seconded by Vanstrom to approve

the changes to the Minimum Qualifications.

VIII. RC&D

The next meeting of the RC&D will be in November,

IX. Water Quality – We are looking at the integrated sewer plan and a

macrophite study.

X. Cooperators - Dave Mobilia has applied to be an SWCD Cooperator.

MOTION by Vanstrom seconded by Peterson to approve Dave Mobilia as a

Cooperator.

District Minutes (New Business Cont.) Page 4.

XI. Next Meeting - Tuesday, October 21, 2014, 8:30 A.M. at the Northcrest

Business Center, 220 Fluvanna Ave, Jamestown, NY.

XII. Meeting Adjourned

MOTION by Kidder seconded by Vanstrom to adjourn at 10:00 A.M.

Debra A. Kelley Fred Croscut

Secretary Chairman