Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District

4505 George Blvd.

Sebring, FL 33875-5837

Board of Supervisors

Board Meeting Agenda  

Tuesday, June 20, 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 – May 23, 2023      

IV. Financial Activity

a. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports-  May 2023 – S. Bishop   

b. Distribution of FY 2021-22 Audit – 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. Stolen Saddle Ranch Project Update  – S. Bishop

VII. New Business  

a. Signage for District

VIII. Executive Director’s Report

IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda

X. Supervisor Comments

Next Board Meeting – Tuesday, July 18, 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:  06/20/2023

Meeting Location:   HSWCD Conf. Room – Bert Harris Center

FINAL – Approved 7/18/2023

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

Dr. John Causey, Chairman, HSWCD

Steve Smith, Vice-Chairman, HSCWD

Doug Deen, Secretary/Treasurer, HSWCD

Sara Sebring, Supervisor, HSWCD

T.J. Wohl, Supervisor, HSWCD

Scott Kirouac, Liaison, Highlands Co. Board of County Commissioners

Susie Bishop, Executive Director, HSWCD

Kayla Nickerson, BMP Technician, HSWCD

Lauren Ahrens, BMP Technician, HSWCD

William Adams, Environmental Specialist 1, FDACS-OAWP

Chad Harmon, MIL Manager, HSWCD

Wade Smith, MIL Technician, HSWCD

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

III. Approval of Meeting Minutes –May 23, 2023 - Motion made to approve the minutes as presented (Wohl/Deen).  Unanimous Approval.

IV. Financial Activity

a. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports- May 2023: Review of bank statements & financial reports. Motion to approve the financial reports as presented (Wohl/Deen).  Unanimous Approval

b. Distribution of FY 2021-22 Audit – Bound Financial Statement Audit Reports. No Action.

V. Agency Partner Updates 

a. FDACS – Adams reported staff is working on IVs under the new procedures. Bishop reported on the termination of the Director of Contracts with no information received as to who will be our point of contact for our contracts in the future. No Action.

b. MIL – Harmon reported status of completed evaluations with numbers far above required amount.   Bishop explained the recent challenges with the Director of the MIL program at OAWP stating she is working with higher leadership at OAWP to resolve.  The MIL Contract was renewed with current Scope of Work and a decreased budget, an amendment will follow soon.  No Action.

c. NRCS – No Report.

d. HCBCC – No Report

VI. Old Business         

a. Stolen Saddle Ranch Project – Bishop reported the company conducting the study has installed 5 monitoring stations and they submitted their Quality Assurance Plan to DEP yesterday so invoices should be received soon. No Action.

VII. New Business

a. Signage for District – Bishop reported the sign at our building is badly damaged from the sun, asking the board to consider replacing it.  Quotes were requested from sign company, but not received by meeting time.  Bishop will present quotes at next month’s meeting.   Bishop will also inquire with the County regarding making of signs for the County lines. 

VIII. Executive Director’s Report

Items presented:      

· Supervisors were given Form 1 to complete and submit to the Supervisor of Elections office by deadline of July 3, 2023.

· The Landowners Assistance Expo was a success with approx..85 in attendance representing 10 counties. A few suggestions of changes have been shared with CFRPC.

· Bishop distributed a letter of support from HSWCD on behalf of the County for a grant application to conduct a study regarding stormwater concerns.

· Community garden is at full capacity with the annual tilling to be done on Sept. 6.

· Information distributed for the USDA-FSA County Committee nominations.

· OPPAGA – the focus will be on a strategic work plan for the District, which Highlands has had in place for 5 years.  Supervisors agreed to conduct a workshop on September 19 to develop an updated work plan.

· Bishop will be on annual leave June 22 – July 7.

IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda – None

X. Supervisor Comments      

Deen - None  

Sebring – None

Wohl – None

Causey - None

Meeting Adjourned at 3:45 p.m.