Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes
Meeting Date: 8/21/2018
Meeting Location: Bert Harris Agricultural Center – Room 3
Sebring, FL
Recorded by: Susie Bishop
| Name | Title | Organization | Present |
| ATTENDANCE | |||
| Scott Kirouac | Chairman | Highlands Soil & Water | Y |
| Dr. John Causey | Vice-Chairman | Conservation District | Y |
| Doug Deen | Secretary/Treasurer | Conservation District | Y |
| Pamela Fentress | Supervisor | Conservation District | Y |
| Steve Smith | Supervisor | Conservation District | Y |
| Commissioner Jim Brooks | Liaison | Highlands Co. Board of County Commissioners | N |
| Susie Bishop | Executive Director | Highlands Soil & Water | Y |
| Jacob Miller | MIL Manager | Highlands Soil & Water | N |
| Kayla Nickerson | FDACS-OAWP | FDACS-OAWP | N |
| Dakota McCullers | BMP Tech | Highlands Soil & Water | N |
| Earl Thomas | BMP Tech | Highlands Soil & Water | N |
| Carlos Torres | District Cons. | USDA-NRCS | Y |
| Cyeria | Soil Cons. | USDA-NRCS | Y |
| Laurie Hurner | Extension CED | Highlands Co. Extension | N |
Meeting Scheduled Start: 3:00 P.m. Call to Order: @ 3:03 P.M.
Public Meeting Announcement Read by Chairman
I. Welcome & Introductions
II. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda as presented (Causey/Deen). Unanimous Approval.
III. Approval of Meeting Minutes
a. Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes – June 19, 2018 – Motion made to approve minutes as presented (Fentress/Causey). Unanimous Approval.
IV. Financial Activity
a. June & July 2018 – Bishop presented the bank reconciliations and financial reports for June & July 2018. Motion made to approve the bank reconciliations and financial reports as presented, (Causey/Fentress). Unanimous approval.
b. FY 2018-19 General Fund Budget – Bishop requested Supervisors begin preparing for discussion and adoption of the 2018-19 General Fund Budget next month.
V. Partner Agencies
a. NRCS – C. Torres stated the interest is high for applications in the FY 2019. A deadline has not been officially announced but he anticipates it will be on or around Oct. 31 and maybe as far out as Nov. 15. Highlands County has a total of $1.2 million for 22 applications to date. Torres is spending most of his time assisting FSA with hurricane recovery efforts and covering for the Lee Co. NRCS office. Torres requested to organize the local working group meeting with HSWCD, to be held prior to Oct. 15. He will ask when the Technical Committee meeting is scheduled so Bishop can attend and present the areas of concern identified by the local working group. In two previous years Bishop was only presenter and all concerns were accepted and implemented.
b. FDACS – K. Nickerson – Due to absence of Nickerson, Bishop gave an update on contracts and current work of staff. She also announced the placement of Clegg Hooks as the Deputy Director of FDACS-OAWP.
c. MIL – S. Bishop & J. Miller – Due to absence of Miller, Bishop explained a new MIL tracking system Miller has developed and shared a copy for the Board’s review. Miller will meet his contract deliverables for this quarter.
d. Extension – L. Hurner – No Report. Kirouac did announce a strategic work plan meeting for Extension being held on Friday, Aug. 24 and encouraged Supervisors to attend.
e. HCBCC – J. Brooks – No Report
V. Old Business
a. Strategic Work Plan – Bishop reported she is expecting the report from Dr. Carter soon so the new work plan can be developed alongside the new budget.
b. AFCD – Annual Meeting – Kirouac & Bishop reviewed the agenda, giving details on a few of the items. Bishop will attend all three days and Kirouac hopes to attend one to two days.
VI. New Business
a. Citrus Growers’ Workshop – Bishop reviewed the flyer for an upcoming Citrus Growers’ Workshop scheduled for Sept. 25 & 26. A request from UF/IFAS Extension to HSWCD for a sponsorship of the lunch. Motion made to sponsor lunch up to $1000.00. (Fentress/Deen) Unanimous Approval.
b. General Fund – Non-Operating Expenses – Kirouac and Bishop discussed with the Board the variety of contributions/sponsorships HSWCD supports with its General Fund. Bishop will inquire with HCBCC regarding the CFI applications they have submitted with SWFWMD and the local matches they will need to determine if there is a project HSWCD could contribute to. Other contributions and parameters will be discussed in depth with general counsel of FDACS by Bishop. She will report back all of her findings.
VII. Executive Director’s Report
– Bishop shared the success of the Worker’s Comp. Appeal. It was successful and reduced the premium by a large amount. Bishop explained some re-organization within the office in regards to placement of staff work areas. The changes were extremely beneficial for the daily operations of the District.
– There will be a garden work day on Sept. 7 with prison trustees coming to assist with the tilling. Bishop explained a decision will need to be made regarding the continuance of the youth speech contest and other General Fund Budget items. Supervisors were asked to review these items prior to the September meeting.
IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda
None
X. Supervisor Comments
Fentress – Concerns regarding the functions of the FSA offices and the WHIP program were shared.
D. Deen – No Comment
S. Smith – No Comment
J. Causey – No Comment
S. Kirouac – No Comment
Meeting Adjourned at 4:31 p.m.
Post Meeting Action Items
| Action | Assigned To | Deadline |
| Discuss contribution/sponsorship parameters with FDACS Counsel | S. Bishop | August 25, 2018 |
| Manage Community Garden Work Day | S. Bishop | September 7, 2018 |
| Prepare draft of FY 2018-19 General Fund Budget | S. Bishop | September 15, 2018 |
| Organize and develop Long Range & Short Range Work Plans | S. Bishop & H. Carter | September 15, 2018 |
| Complete FY 2017-18 General Fund Budget Amendments | S. Bishop | October 16, 2018 |
| Meet with County regarding SWFWMD-CFI Project | S. Bishop | September 15, 2018 |
| Provide Sponsorship for Citrus Workshop | S. Bishop & L. Hurner | September 25, 2018 |
| Organize and Facilitate the Local Working Group Meeting | S. Bishop & C. Torres | October 15, 2018 |
| Complete FY 2017-18 General Fund Budget Amendments | S. Bishop | October 16, 2018 |
| Continuance of managing of FDACS Contracts/Staff | S. Bishop | Ongoing |