Spokane County Conservation District 210 North Havana, Spokane, WA 99202 Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2008 PRESENT Supervisors: Randy James, Dixie Riddle and Mary Sullivan Absent: Gerald Scheele and Jaki Shrauger Associate Supervisors: Ed Kuhn SCCD Staff: Jim Armstrong, Rich Baden, Jilla Harmon, Alan Hawson, Ty Meyer,and Rick Noll. Guests: Kyle Stephens, NRCS Vice-Chair Randy James called the meeting to order at 5:39pm. Minutes from the regular March 11, 2008 Board meeting had been previously distributed for review. Motion SULLIVAN/RIDDLE to approve the March 11, 2008 Board meeting minutes as distributed. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT Treasurer Riddle presented the Treasurer’s Report for March 2008. Account Beg. Balance Deposits Withdrawals End Balance Motion SULLIVAN/RIDDLE to approve the March Treasurer’s report, payroll checks #1162-1192 checks #26971-27033, and automatic withdrawal #999992, voided check #27018 and April Account Payables in the amount of $102,162.15 Motion carried. Public Comments None BUDGET REPORT Rich Baden gave a review of the District’s budget position as of March 2008 (25% of the way through the year) and reported that the District’s cash position at the end of March was $4,165.067. Projected Revenues Projected Expenses General Fund 8.0% 24.1% 301 Building Fund 25.0% 24.0% 401 SRF Fund 23.1% 19.8% 501 SRF Fund 14.1% 2.8% 550 WSDA Bio Energy 25.7% 0.0% All Funds 7.5% 19.6% Rich suggested that he wait for the May Board meeting to present the SRF projections he has prepared, as the entire Board will be present. He read a letter he received from Bill Newberry at the Palouse-bio LLC, that stated that at their Board of Director’s meeting on March 17 they passed a unanimous motion to terminate the loan agreement between the Spokane County Conservation District and Palouse-bio LLC for use of the energy freedom funds, due to the changing commodities market. Rich said that he is waiting to hear from attorney Brian Werst on what we should do, but said we would likely pay off the note since we have the money currently available. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Vice-Chair Randy James noted that staff reports had been previously received and reviewed by the Board. He asked for any additional comments from staff members. Kyle Stephens~ NRCS Kyle said that there was nothing new to add to the report. He had previously submitted maps of soil lines to the Board to show them the progress that has been made. Ty Meyer~ Production Ag Ty reported that the SRF program is gaining momentum, and that he has processed six loans in the last week, and that he has been contacted regarding five more loans in the past few days. He is working with the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association regarding their tour on June 24; he is hoping to combine efforts and to bring a busload of people from the Spokane-area. Rick Noll~ Water Resources Rich said that they have started to plant the Rockford project, and he said that if they don’t use up all of the money for the current project, they are able to use the money for other projects in the area. His highlight of the month was inspecting two gages with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Alan Hawson~ Forestry Al reported that the tree sale is over and went well. Due to weather issues, some of the stock coming from the Cliftyview nursery did not arrive in time for the distribution days. Those customers who decided to wait will be coming in during the next few weeks to complete their orders. Randy James asked about the seed bank; Al replied that he is concentrating on Western Larch seed and would like to have enough seed in our bank to cover our needs for the next 10 years. He has been planting street trees with Garth and will be assisting Water Resources with their planting in Rock Creek. He will also be doing various assessments for the city’s natural areas and parks. There are a couple of developments that are interested in FireWise assessments for 200-300 individual residences. Jim Armstrong~ Communication & Special Projects Jim said that he is working on the April 23 annual meeting and conservation tour; he has sent out over 150 invitations and numerous save the date cards. He has received just two RSVPs and will be doing follow-up phone calls. He has been working with Farming & the Environment on their quarterly reports and storyboards. He is working with Farm Forum and Ag Expo, and will be meeting on Friday to start discussions for the 2009 show. His highlight of the month was working on the tree retention ordinance with the city’s public work’s department, and the county’s planning department. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Rich said that he would be attending an Ag Expo planning session next Wednesday. He attended the NRCS State Technical Advisory Committee, which looked at the local working groups’ qualifications for EQIP money. There were some changes made: on the cost-share for forestland and rangeland, as it went from 50% to 75%. The cost-share for irrigation stayed at 50%, except for irrigation water conveyance, which was changed to 75%. There was discussion about changing the price per acre from $20 to $30 for direct seeding; it will stay at $20/acre for now. Rich reported that this Friday we would take possession of the house used as collateral for the straw bale press. We bought out Washington Mutual for $80,000 and have been told that the house could be worth approximately $200,000. We will do a walk-through with a realtor to decide if we want to do any repairs or sell it as is. Rich said that he was contacted by landowner who wants to do something with her 60-acres of property on Deep Creek. Walt and Rich have looked at her property, and have worked up a plan of what they want to do with it. They will meet with her in the middle of the month to discuss the possibility of turning her property into a demonstration site for riparian restoration and an outdoor learning center. Rich suggested that in order to stay competitive that we make a change to our tiered interest rate program for SRF loans. He suggested a 5.5% interest rate for seven-year loans of over $75,000. All other terms of the loan remain the same. Motion RIDDLE/SULLIVAN to give authority to the SRF program manager to offer a 5.5% interest rate for a seven-year loan over $75,000. Motion Carried. READING OF THE MOTIONS Motion SULLIVAN/RIDDLE to approve the March 11, 2008 Board meeting minutes as distributed. Motion carried. Motion SULLIVAN/RIDDLE to approve the March Treasurer’s report, payroll checks #1162-1192 checks #26971-27033, and automatic withdrawal #999992, voided check #27018 and April Account Payables in the amount of $102,162.15 Motion carried. Motion RIDDLE/SULLIVAN to give authority to the SRF program manager to offer a 5.5% interest rate for a seven-year loan over $75,000. Motion Carried. The regular Board meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm. Respectfully submitted by: Rachel Rooks _____________________ _________________ Randy James, Vice-Chair Dixie Riddle, TreasurerPREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES