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

Board Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 – 3:00 p.m.
HSWCD Conference Room- Bert Harris Agriculture Center

I. Call To Order, Welcome & Introductions – Chairman Causey

II. Approval of Agenda – Chairman Causey

III. Approval of Meeting Minutes
a. Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes – March 21, 2023

IV. Financial Activity
a. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports- March 2023 – S. Bishop

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

VI. Old Business
a. Audit – S. Bishop
b. Stolen Saddle Ranch Project – S. Bishop & TJ Wohl
c. Ag Venture – S. Bishop

VII. New Business
a. May Meeting Date – S. Bishop
b. FDACS Statewide Meeting – S. Bishop

VIII. Executive Director’s Report

IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda

X. Supervisor Comments

Next Board Meeting – Tuesday, May 23, 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.

HIGHLANDS SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MEETING MINUTES
MEETING DATE: 04/18/2023
Meeting Location: HSWCD Conf. Room – Bert Harris Center 

FINAL – Approved 05/23/2023    

Recorded by:  Susie Bishop
MEETING SCHEDULED START: 3:00 P.M.   CALL TO ORDER: @ 3:02 P.M. 
PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT READ BY CHAIRMAN

I. Welcome & Introductions

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

III. Approval of Meeting Minutes – March 21, 2023 - Motion made to approve the minutes as presented (Smith/Sebring).  Unanimous Approval. 

IV. Financial Activity
a.    Overview & Approval of Financial Reports-  March 2023: Review of bank statements, financial reports. Motion to approve the financial reports as presented (Wohl/Sebring).  Unanimous Approval. 

VI. Agency Partner Updates  
a. FDACS –  Nickerson reported with the moratorium on IV Visits staff has been focusing on enrollment of Ag zoned properties and Cost Share.  The May statewide staff meeting will include the roll out of new procedures and policies as developed by the new leadership at FDACS and OAWP.   No Action.
b. MIL –Bishop reported the invoice waivers for January, February & March were approved and the MIL team will surpass their required number of evaluations for the month of April.  In May the MIL team will attend the Quarterly MIL ICC meeting in Citra.  They will go with questions and ideas they have since filling their positions.    No Action.
b. NRCS – Torres reported NRCS is still working on Hurricane Recovery projects with a total of 9 applications.  Applications for EQIP and CSP are being taken.  The state leadership team will be holding a statewide meeting in Sebring at our building next week with a project site visit included.    No Action.
c. HCBCC – Kirouac reported on County projects and decisions, announcing a new Assistant County Administrator has been hired, Nick Sawyer.    Also shared was an upcoming public meeting being held in Okeechobee on April 27 at 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. at 2229 NW 9th Ave. to present a 14,000 acre above ground water impoundment project, some of which falls into SE Highlands County.  No Action.

VII. Old Business    
a. Audit – Bishop reported the Audit field trails will take place on April 20 and hope is to have Audit ready for presentation at the May 23 Board meeting.  No Action.
b. Stolen Saddle Ranch Project – Bishop &  Wohl reported the agreement between HSWCD and Landowner was written, approved and executed.  The agreement with DEP and HSWCD should be signed today.  The project will begin immediately.  No Action.
c. Ag Venture – Bishop updated the Board on the future of Ag Venture leadership.   The current Board will conduct Ag Venture in 2023, but the plan is to be training a replacement administrator of the program.  Board in unanimous consent directed Bishop to inform the Board HSWCD will provide some funds to support a part-time paid person to become the administrator, but this person will not be employed by HSWCD.  Unanimous Consent.

VIII. New Business
a. May Meeting Date – The May Board meeting date has been moved to May 23, 2023 due to a conflict with the statewide FDACS-OAWP meeting Bishop will need to attend on originally scheduled meeting date of May 16, 2023.  No Action.
b. FDACS Statewide Meeting – Bishop & Ahrens will attend this meeting on May 15-17 in Tallahassee.  Avon Park Mitigation Inspection Staff Training – Bishop explained how new staff are receiving training.  No Action. 

 IX. Executive Director’s Report
Items presented:    
• Bishop explained email issues with receiving emails from FDACS email addresses.  IT is working on this complicated problem. 
• While updating the Website, Bishop asked the Supervisors to review and edit their personal biographies.  
• Bishop will be preparing for the OPAGA in coming weeks. 
• Beginning on April 24, Bishop is summonsed for 2 weeks for District Court Jury Duty in Ft. Pierce.  

IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda – None

X.   Supervisor Comments    
            Deen - None    
            Sebring – None
            Wohl –  None
            Smith – None
            Causey - None

Meeting Adjourned at 4:12 p.m.