MINUTES CULPEPER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Transcription

1 MINUTES CULPEPER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD MEETING Madison County Fire Hall Madison, Virginia June 2, 2015 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Lynn Graves at 9:45 A.M. DIRECTORS PRESENT: DIRECTORS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Lynn Graves, Madison County Robert Brame, Greene County Robert Bradford, Orange County Alyson Sappington, Orange County Monira Rifaat, Rappahannock County Evelyn Kerr, Rappahannock County Robert Runkle, Greene County Brad Jarvis, Madison County, Virginia Cooperative Extension Andrew Campbell, Culpeper County Laura Campbell, Culpeper County Associate Director Warren Lee, Orange County Associate Director Dick McNear, Rappahannock County Associate Director Jim Byrne, Madison County Associate Director Tom O Halloran, Culpeper County Bob Kane, Madison County Steve Morris, Greene County Director, At Large Greg Wichelns, District Manager JoAnn Neal, Administrative Secretary W. Spencer Yager, Conservation Specialist David Massie, Conservation Specialist Richard Jacobs, Conservation Specialist Stephanie DeNicola, Educational Specialist Henny Calloway, Conservation Specialist Ashleigh Cason, Conservation Specialist Debbie Cross, DCR, CDC Rex Rexrode, NRCS District Conservationist Katlyn Atkins, Madison Extension Intern Robert Ellis, Culpeper resident 1) CALL TO ORDER, MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE L. Graves welcomed everyone to Madison County. Following a moment of silence, W. Spencer Yager led the Pledge of Allegiance. There were five handouts: Technical Committee Report Addendum, A. Cason s Monthly Report, Updated Agenda, Draft 2016 CSWCD Legislative Agenda, and Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board FOIA and Closing Meeting Guidance Document. 2) DRAFT MINUTES L. Graves called for approval of the substance of the May 5 th, 2015 Draft Board Meeting Minutes and called for any substantive corrections or additions. R. Brame moved to approve the 1

2 Minutes for the May 2015 Board meeting. B. Jarvis seconded the motion. (R. Brame, B. Jarvis, unanimous) 3) AGENDA APPROVAL L. Graves called for Agenda approval. M. Rifaat requested the Legislative Committee Report be added to the Agenda as 5.1. R. Bradford requested the District Technical Committee Report be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed as 5.2. B. Jarvis requested the Educational Committee Report be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed as 5.3. R. Rexrode requested Elmwood Farm NRCS Conservation Plan be placed under NRCS Plans on the Consent Agenda. G. Wichelns requested DCR Cost Share and Technical Assistance Grant, Administrative and Operational Support Grant, DCR/DEQ BMP Verification Project Support, DCR Grant Agreement for VNRCF UHR TMDL IP and VNRCF UYR TMDL IP extensions be added to the Consent Agenda. G. Wichelns requested Board permission to have the Treasurer, T. O Halloran sign the budget template submission for FY This information is in the Operations Committee Report. R. Bradford moved to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. M. Rifaat seconded the motion. (Bradford, Rifaat, unanimous) 4) CONSENT AGENDA Consent Agenda approved as modified. COMMITTEE REPORTS OPERATIONS TREASURER S REPORT DCR Cost-Share and Technical Assistance Grant FY 2016 DCR Administrative and Operational Support Grant FY 2016 DCR/DEQ BMP Verification Project Support Grant DCR Grant Agreement for VNRCF UHR TMDL IP extension DCR Grant Agreement for VNRCF UYR TMDL IP extension NRCS PLANS (2) Culpeper County Nifen Noshy Gaber Seasonal High Tunnels 1 acs. Elmwood Farm, updated CREP program 5 acs. (5) Madison County Lewis A. Lamb & Sons - Tract acs.; Tract acs.; Tract acs.; Tract acs and Tract acs.; All crop rotation, not till, cover crop, nutrient mgnt. - CTA 5) ADDITIONS TO AGENDA 5.1) LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT M. Rifaat reported on the Draft 2016 CSWCD Legislative Agenda dated Area II Districts have been asked to prepare a draft of legislative issues that can be discussed. Once the Area II Legislative Agenda has been approved, it will be sent to the Legislative Committee of the VASWCD Association. It was noted by M. Rifaat that we continue to request the same thing every year: increase Technical Assistance funding, increase Operations funding, increase Ag Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program, support additional engineering assistance, and dam rehabilitation. There will be a conference call at 8:30 a.m. on July 15 with the Area II directors. M. Rifaat moved to approve the Legislative Committee Report. R. Bradford seconded the motion. (Rifaat, Bradford, unanimous) 5.2) TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORT *Indicates that these practices were added at the June Board Meeting in Madison, Virginia 2

3 1. The Technical Committee recommends for Board approval that the status of the following practices become pending SL-6 lack of funding for the 100% reimbursement guaranteed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (cost share paid on estimated costs or actual costs, whichever is less, not to exceed amount approved). The Technical Committee has reviewed these practices and finds them eligible for the Virginia Agricultural Cost Share Program: Practice Fund Participant County Amount Tax Credit SL VACS Adrianna S. Cowan-Waddy Orange $ 54, $ 0.00 SL-6T UYR Ag. Jason Goforth Orange $ 96, $ 0.00 SL-6T UYR Ag. Jennifer Bryington Orange $ 14, $ 0.00 SL-6T UYR Ag. Jim White Orange $ 20, $ 0.00 SL VACS Shane G. Fletcher Orange $ 68, $ 0.00 SL VACS Graydon Lamb Greene $ 14, $ 0.00 SL VACS Eusebia Estes Greene $ 20, $ 0.00 SL VACS Bobby McDaniel Greene $ 38, $ 0.00 SL-6T UYR 319 Cedar Hill Paradise Farm Orange $ 8, $ 0.00 SL VACS Blue Ridge Farm, Inc. Culpeper $ 15, $ 0.00 SL VACS Hall Farms and Stables Culpeper $ 14, $ 0.00 SL VACS William Brown III Culpeper $ 28, $ The following BMP participants have been approved by the Technical Committee for payment: Practice Fund Participant County Amount Tax Credit SL-8B 2015 VACS Nathan Rosenberger Culpeper $ 1, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Nathan Rosenberger Culpeper $ $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Bradley Rosenberger Culpeper $ 1, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS James F. Massie Rappahannock $ $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Brooke Farms Orange $ 18, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Brooke Farms Orange $ 6, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Custom Harvesters Orange $16,227.60**** $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Glenmary Farm Orange $ 10, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Tom Nixon Orange $ 6, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Lewis A. Lamb & Sons, Inc. Madison $ 6, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Lewis A. Lamb & Sons, Inc. Madison $ 10, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS J.C. Smith Farm Partnership LP Madison $ $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS W. J. Davis Madison $ 1, $ 0.00 SL VACS W. J. Davis Madison $ 5, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Marshall Dairy Orange $ 5, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Keith Marshall Orange $ 4, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Wayne T. Harris Orange $ 6, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Wayne T. Harris Orange $ 6, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Jeffrey Herren Culpeper $ 18, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Mount Pony Farms Culpeper $ 5, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Mount Pony Farms Culpeper $ 20, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Levi Atkins Rappahannock $ ** $ 0.00 SL VACS Karen Hall Greene $31,994.00*** $ 0.00 SL VACS Joseph Kincheloe* Culpeper $ 41, $ 0.00 SL VACS Larry Terry, Sr.* Culpeper $ 26, $ 0.00 SL-6T UHR 319 Charles Jenkins* Rappahannock $ 27, $

4 SL-6T 2014 VACS Charles Jenkins* Rappahannock $ 9, $ 0.00 SL VACS Richard Harris* Orange $ 52, $ 0.00 SL VACS Scott Lovelave* Madison $ 15, $ 0.00 SL VACS Jim Call* Greene $ 9, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Glenmary Farm LLC* Orange $ 10, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Beauregard Farm LP* Culpeper $ 20, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Beauregard Farm LP* Culpeper $ 3, $ 0.00 SL-8B 2015 VACS Manfred Call IV* Rappahannock $ 1, $ 0.00 SL-8H 2015 VACS Manfred Call IV* Rappahannock $ $ 0.00 **Increase in acreage from 10 acres to 40 acres. ***Includes an increase of $1, for additional water pipeline. ****Increase due to early planting bonus 3. The following Upper York River TMDL Residential applicant has been approved by the Technical Committee for funding: Practice Participant County Amount RB-1 Paul Alderman* Orange $ The following Upper York River TMDL Residential participants have been approved by the Technical Committee for payment: Practice Participant County Amount RB-3 Annette Storie Orange $ RB-3 Lynn Coffey Orange $ RB-1 Lynn Coffey Orange $ RB-1 Gwendolyn Lacy Orange $ The following Upper York River TMDL Residential participants have been canceled by the Technical Committee: Practice Participant County Amount RB-1 Ann Ferguson* Orange $ RB-1 Joseph Tanner* Orange $ RB-1 Barbara Tharp* Orange $ RB-1 Brian Webster* Orange $ The following Upper Hazel River TMDL Residential participants have been approved by the Technical Committee for payment: Practice Participant County Amount RB-3 Mary Beth Durant Rappahannock $ RB-1 Richard Parsons* Rappahannock $ RB-1 Elizabeth Blubaugh* Rappahannock $ RB-1 Sharon Pierce* Rappahannock $ The District Manager will show the dam maintenance work to prospective bidders on Wednesday, May 20,

5 8. The Technical Committee requests the approval of the Board of Directors to act on their behalf with the understanding that the decisions made would be endorsed at the July Board meeting. This authority will exist from June 23, 2015 through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, The Committee discussed and reviewed the Annual Plan of Work. 10. The Technical Committee will have the carryover list, revised cost list and secondary considerations at the June 2, 2015 Board Meeting. Several recommendations were reviewed for cost list adjustments consummate with current costs. R. Bradford reported the Carry Over List will need Board Approval and for the Technical Committee to approve the final applicants for the June 30 th deadline of the Cost-Share program year. Dam Maintenance Bids 3 contractors bid on the dam maintenance. Low bidder was John Anderson for $10, Committee requests Board approval for the bid. Beautiful Run 2A has reached it 50 year life span the District will continue to request NRCS assistance with the technical aspects of long term operation of the dam. This is the third dam to reach the 50 year span. R. Bradford moved to approve the Technical Committee Report. A. Sappington seconded the motion. (Bradford, Sappington, unanimous) 5.3) EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE REPORT B. Jarvis reported that the Committee had discussed the Annual Plan of Work and specifically the educational sessions for the Board. He queried the Board; are the educational sessions worth your time; are they informative and useful to directors. Does the Board still want the Educational Committee to plan for the sessions in the future. E. Kerr reported that all the educational sessions are very informational and need all directors to stay for them. B. Jarvis requested the Board give the Educational Committee some feed-back. Today s session will be a visit to a rain garden at Wetsel Middle School in Madison County. G. Wichelns recognized R. Jacobs and S. DeNicola for their efforts in working with the contractor to complete the rain garden. B. Jarvis moved to approve the Educational Committee Report. A. Sappington seconded the motion. (Jarvis, Sappington, unanimous) 6) CLOSED SESSION: PERSONNNEL AND POSSIBLE LITIGATION R. Runkle moved that the Board go into Closed Session at 10:00 A.M. as provided for in the Code of Virginia Section (A) (1) (7) to discuss personnel issues and possible litigation. Associate Directors and the District Manager were invited to attend. A. Sappington seconded the motion. (Runkle, Sappington, unanimous) Following the return from Closed Session, R. Runkle moved to reconvene at 10:15 A.M. (unanimous). Pursuant to the Code of Virginia Section (D), I move that the Board certify that to the best of the Board s knowledge only matters lawfully exempted and as identified in the motion by which the Closed Session was convened were heard or discussed by this Board. M. Rifaat seconded the motion. (Runkle, Rifaat, 9 votes, unanimous) 7) DIRECTORS REPORTS A. Campbell reported on VDOT starting on a big project to install a by-pass over Route 666 at Route 29 and Route 666 at Bragg s Corner. He reported on the wetness in the area. B. Jarvis introduced the Madison Extension Intern for this summer, Katlyn Atkins from Bedford County. She is a junior at Virginia Tech majoring in Crop and Soil Science. She is living at the Chamber s Farm for the summer. B. Jarvis reported Madison still needs a candidate on the ballot for elected SWCD director s position; Deadline of June 9 th, 2015 at 7 P.M. W. Lee reported on increased building activity at Lake of the Woods. 5

6 R. Brame reported on the Area II meeting with Darryl Glover, Director, DCR, Soil and Water Conservation Division. There is about a $21 million backlog on SL-6 s and increasing. DCR is planning to submit this to the state legislature as a one-time funding request and finish all of the SL-6 s. DCR Conservation Planning has hired a new trainer. Voluntary BMP s will not be accepted for Bay model credit without being re-inspected. The State wants credit for these voluntary BMP s, but there is no quid pro quo. The RMP s can be developed on a tract by tract or field by field basis. The state survey of NMP s will be developed and they are expected to have a 95% compliance rate. DCR stated they do not want to put the Districts in the position of policing. R. Bradford reported that a lot of this was on the verification of Nutrient Management Plans. D. Cross reported they will revise how spot checks are done. All SL-6 s will be spot checked in the 9 th year of the contract. They are still working through the process. R. Runkle reported he has had no luck recruiting anyone for the Directors position in Greene County. L. Graves reported that on June 27 th is the 20 th anniversary on the flood in Madison. 8) STAFF REPORTS G. Wichelns reported on the pending signing of a grant (319 TMDL) for the Robinson River. Both ag and residential BMP s will be funded. G. Wichelns reported John Marshall SWCD agreed to pay ½ the cost to Design 360. M. Rifaat requested information on the Voluntary BMP s that were mentioned earlier in the Board meeting. G. Wichelns explained the contract was approved on the consent agenda. There are 275 bmp s that the state wants to verify still exist, currently function and will continue to for the next 5 years. These will continue to be counted in the Chesapeake Bay Model. There is no incentive for the farmer to participate in this project. The landowner must sign the form to participate and for permission for staff to go on the property. The district will be paid to do this. R. Jacobs reported he and Henny are conducting stormwater assessments in the localities in our district. They are confirming that they exist, are performing a function, and document this in each county. Greene County has documentation already in place. Culpeper and Orange still need to be documented. He also reported that this summer a rain garden will be installed at Graves Mountain Lodge. G. Wichelns reported the work Henny and Richard are doing is funded by grants from DEQ. The local governments appreciate the help the District is bringing with the grants to help them. Local government staff also gets paid by the grants. S. DeNicola reported taking the Eastern View Envirothon Team to the State Competition at Longwood College where the team came in second place in the presentations category and 3 rd overall in the State. Summer Training for the Envirothon will be at Graves Mountain Lodge July 23 rd. The new district website is up and running. H. Calloway helped with MEWE and gave a soils and septic presentation. She attended the Piedmont Horse and Dog Expo with approximately 175 people attending. She attended the Cultural Resource Training and also sat for the Stormwater Management Combined Administrator Test and passed. S. Yager reported he has received the framed resolution from the Virginia General Assembly for Mrs. Taylor in Orange County and would like some ideas from everyone on how to present it to her. D. Massie reported RMP s are starting to come in. Trainings are coming up for the next program year. 6

7 A. Cason reported last month she attended the Cultural Resource Training and Introduction to Conservation Engineering at Galax, Virginia. Both count toward her Conservation Planning Certification. 9) AGENCY REPORTS NRCS R. Rexrode reported there are 2 watershed dams Mountain Lake #11 & Mountain Lake #50. NRCS is working with the Town of Culpeper and will provide funding to help the Town upgrade the two structures. Some of the solutions they are looking at are enlarged emergency spill ways, or concrete spillways or actually raising the elevation of the dam. The Town of Culpeper will decide what to do. NRSC and the Town of Culpeper will have a public meeting on June 10 th in the evening in the Town of Culpeper. They will be seeking public input on the solution. Louis Heidel, the NRCS Area Supervisor will be retiring on May 29 th, after 40 years of service. Barry Harris in Richmond will be acting Supervisor. B. Harris will be in Harrisonburg 2 or 3 days week. They are advertising for Mr. Heidel s position, Area Conservationist. NRCS does not feel they will be receiving more funding for EQIP this year. The 21 contracts that were pre-approved is very good. CREP landowners - when their contract expires they are given a chance to re-enroll there are 40 contracts existing this year to see if they would like to re-sign. NRCS will be working with the VDOF on a Conservation Partnership where the Division of Forestry will be taking application for assistance and NRCS will be providing federal funds in the Forestry practices. More details are to follow. Mainly targeted at forestry land, riparian could be included. DCR D. Cross grant agreements were approved. D. Cross put together a comparison of Grant agreements and policies from last year and this year. She has indicated what changes were made. D. Cross reported the Attachment D Budget Template FY 17 is due to Stephanie Martin at DCR by June 15 th. Annual Assessments will be presented at July/August SWCD Meetings. New guidance is in the 2016 VACS manual if you have a material personal interest you must disclose the facts and leave the room prior to the discussion of the application. You may no longer simply recluse yourself from the conversation and the vote. You must leave the room. Discussion followed. This will be effective July 1, Applications for 100% Cost-Share for SL-6 practices must be signed by the close of business on June 30, Applications must be entered into tracking no later than close of business (or 11:59 p.m.) July 14 th, 2015 to qualify for the 100% cost share. Starting with the new program year, any pending SL-6 practices that are not under construction 90 days after being offered cost-share funds (the date of the letter sent out) shall be cancelled by the District. This is now a policy. Carryovers must be approved along with Secondary Considerations and recorded in the minutes. Spot Check lists should be out by the end of June and completed no later than October 31 st. Please schedule early. Ken Carter retired from NRCS will lead the Conservation Planning Certification effort. Ken is joining DCR on a temporary basis, through December 2015, as a part-time employee. The TMDL VNRCF grants for the Upper York and the Upper Hazel have been extended thru December 31, 2015 When submitting the Tillage Survey, please send one copy to D. Cross. September 9 th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the date to bring the staff of the Department of Budget and Planning and from Senate Finance and House Appropriations to showcase Culpeper District s practices. Important Dates: 7

8 June 9 June 15 June 18 June 23 & 24 July 15 July 15 August 20 August Sept 9 Sept 24 PY16 VACS training DOF, Charlottesville FY17 Budget Template due Dam Owners Work Group in Charlottesville. Director, & Adm Retreat & VASWCD Board Meeting, Craddock Terry Hotel, Lynchburg. End of Year Cost Share Reports Due Carryover, Cash Balance, and SL-6 Pending Lack of Funding forms Area II Legislative Agenda Development Conference Call, 8:30 a.m. Call in number passcode: VA AG BMP TAC VACDE Training, Graves Mountain Lodge DBP Field Visit to Culpeper SWCD VA Soil and Water conservation Board meeting, Glen Allen 10) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD None. 11) PLAN FOR JUNE COMMITTEE MEETINGS (in ORANGE at the ORANGER SERVICE CENTER). Committees will meet on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Personnel 9:00, Operations 9:30, Technical 10:00 and Education Committee to meet at 8:30 a. m. in Madison County at the War Memorial Building. BOARD MEETING IN JULY WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 IN ORANGE COUNTY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. 12) ADJOURNMENT Motion was made to adjourn the June 2015 Board meeting at 11:45. Respectfully Submitted, Lynn Graves, Chairman JoAnn Neal Administrative Secretary Director Date Approved