Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District
4505 George Blvd.
Sebring, FL 33875-5837
Board of Supervisors

Board Meeting Agenda
Monday, November 14, 2022 – 1:00 p.m.
HSWCD Conference Room- Bert Harris Agriculture Center

I. Call To Order, Welcome & Introductions

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Meeting Minutes
a. Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes – October 18, 2022

IV. Financial Activity
a. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports – October 2022– S. Bishop
b. FY 2021-2022 Budget Amendments # 2 – S. Bishop

V. Agency Partner Updates
a. FDACS – S. Bishop
b. MIL – S. Bishop & D. Pitts
c. NRCS Report – C. Torres
d. HCBCC – Scott Kirouac

VI. Old Business
a. CD Investments – S. Bishop

VII. New Business
a. Hurricane Ian Relief – C. Torres
b. IV Temporary Suspension – S. Bishop
c. Vacant Positions – S. Bishop

VIII. Executive Director’s Report

IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda

X. Supervisor Comments

Next Board Meeting – Tuesday December 20 , 2022 – 3:00 p.m

**Citizens Not on the Agenda requesting to speak will be limited to 3 minutes unless additional time is allotted by the Chairman. The Chairman reserves the right to remove anyone from the meeting who is unruly or displays disruptive behavior.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING MINUTES
MEETING DATE: 11/14/2022

Meeting Location: HSWCD Conf. Room – Bert Harris Center
FINAL – Approved 12/20/2022
Recorded by: Susie Bishop

MEETING SCHEDULED START: 1:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: @ 1:08 P.M.
PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT READ BY CHAIRMAN

I. Welcome & Introductions
Dr. John Causey Chairman Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District
Steve Smith Vice-Chair Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District
Doug Deen Sec./Treas. Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District
Pam Fentress Supervisor Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District
T.J. Wohl Supervisor Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District
Sara Sebring Incoming Supervisor
Susie Bishop Ex. Director Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District
Kayla Nickerson BMP Tech. Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

II. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda as presented (Smith/Deen) Unanimous Approval.

III. Approval of Meeting Minutes October 18, 2022 
Bishop edited Executive Director’s report, bullet 5 removing “Lykes was single local organization awarded”. Date of meeting in Minutes edited to read 2022 rather than 2222. Motion made to approve the minutes with two noted edits (Wohl/Deen). Unanimous Approval.

IV. Financial Activity
a. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports- October 2022 – Review by Bishop of October Financial Reports. Motion to approve (Wohl/Smith). Unanimous approval.
b. FY 2021-2022 Budget Amendments # 2 – Final Budget Amendments for FY 21-22 were presented by Bishop. Motion to approve all Budget Amendments (Deen/Smith. Unanimous Approval.

V. Agency Partner Updates
a. FDACS – Bishop shared the Executive Order from FDACS Commissioner Fried to temporarily suspend, for 60 days, the IV process due to damages from Hurricane Ian. No Action
b. MIL –Bishop reported MIL Evaluations are above required amount. FDACS Supervisor of the MILs came to see the new equipment, John Deere Gator & Trailer, and was very pleased with the purchase. No Action.
c. NRCS –. Torres shared the results of the Local Working Group Meeting held on Nov. 2, participation was excellent and results will be presented by Bishop at the USDA-NRCS State Technical Committee meeting. Various Hurricane Ian Recovery Programs were reviewed. No Action
d. HCBCC – No Report

VI. Old Business
a. CD Investments – Bishop reported the status of purchasing new CDs with an investment firm. She will continue to provide the requested reports/forms to the firm. No Action.
VII New Business
a. Hurricane Ian Relief – Discussed in Agency Partner Updates Agenda item.
b. IV Temporary Suspension – Discussed in Agency Partner Updates Agenda item.
c. Vacant Positions – Bishop shared the BMP Technician position has been offered to Phil Lewis from Polk County. FDACS required the background screening be completed prior to us proceeding with hiring. Bishop also shared some ideas she is considering for the vacant MIL Technician position, perhaps a hybrid of MIL Data Entry Technician/HSWCD Outreach Coordinator. Supervisors supported the concept, so Bishop will proceed with the details. No Action.

VIII. Executive Director’s Report
Items presented:
-Polk SWCD voted last month to be officially dissolved.
-Based on ED Evaluations, HSWCD outreach & education efforts were discussed.
-Outreach projects shared at the SE – SWCD Employee Annual Meeting in TN last week were shared.
-Monitoring of the Federal Inflation Reduction Act will take place because USDA- NRCS referred to it at the SE SWCD Employee Annual Meeting with statements that SWCD will have a role in this new program.
-The City of Avon Park inspection will be scheduled before the end of the year.

IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda – None

X. Supervisor Comments
Smith – None
Deen – None
Fentress – Status of PL 566 on Fisheating Creek Newly appointed County Planning & Zoning Members are producers in the Ag Industry.
Wohl – None
Causey – Comments of appreciation were presented to Fentress as her term ends this year. She was presented with an engraved desk clock as a token of the Entire Board’s appreciation for her dedication and commitment to HSWCD.

Meeting Adjourned at 2:25 p.m.