Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District

4505 George Blvd.             Sebring, FL 33875-5837

Board of Supervisors Meeting

Tuesday, October 17, 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

Presentation via phone:    David Royal, Nutrient Stewardship Project Manager

                                            The Nature Conservancy

       III.        Approval of Meeting Minutes

a.     Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes –Sept. 19, 2023

IV.             Financial Activity

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

  V.       Agency Partner Updates

a.   FDACS – S. Bishop & K. Nickerson

b.   MIL – S. Bishop /C. Harmon

c.   NRCS Report – C. Torres

d.   HCBCC - Scott Kirouac

VI.             Old Business

a.     Strategic Work Plan – S. Bishop

b.     Staff Salary Increase vs. Bonuses – S. Bishop

VII.           New Business  

a.      Community Garden/Extension – J. Causey, S. Kirouac, S. Bishop

b.      Proposed Legislation/Lobbyist – S. Bishop

c.       Holiday Schedule 2024 – S. Bishop

d.      November Board Meeting Date/Start Time – S. Bishop

e.      Executive Director Annual Evaluation – J. Causey

VIII.          Executive Director’s Report

IX.             Citizens Not on the Agenda

X.                Supervisor Comments

                      Next Board Meeting:

Tuesday, November 21, 2023  – 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:  10/17/2023

Meeting Location:   HSWCD Conf. Room – Bert Harris Center

FINAL – Approved 11/21/2023

Recorded by:  Susie Bishop

Meeting Scheduled Start: 3:00 P.M.   Call to Order: @ 3:01 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

Carlos Torres, District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS

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

Presentation –  David Royal, Nutrient Stewardship Project Manager, The Nature Conservancy -Due to an unavoidable conflict for Royal to present at the meeting, Bishop presented the request for funding of  24 months of connectivity fees for soil moisture probe system on a cover crop research project TNC is conducting with Buck Island Ranch.  Motion to provide the funding with the condition Royal attends the November Board meeting to answer questions regarding the project (Wohl/Smith).  Unanimous Approval. 

III. Approval of Meeting Minutes – September 19, 2023 - Motion made to approve the minutes as presented (Smith/Wohl).  Unanimous Approval.

IV. Financial Activity

a. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports- September 2023: Review of bank statements & financial reports. Motion to approve the financial reports as presented (Deen/Smith). Unanimous Approval.   Bishop presented a CD due and options

Motion to reinvest the CD in an 11 month CD with JP Morgan at 5.7% (Sebring/Deen). Unanimous Approval. 

Bishop shared information regarding the Annual Public Depositor Report required to file with the Florida CFO.  There is question of two finance institutions CDs are held with that are not Qualified Public Depositors.  Bishop will seek further information and report back at the November meeting.  No Action.

V. Agency Partner Updates 

a. FDACS – K. Nickerson & Bishop provided updates on field staff work. HSWCD staff is ahead on their IV Completion List.  Applications are being sought for Cost Share projects. No Action.

b. MIL – The MIL Team is ahead of schedule for completed evaluations. A SOP is being developed.  MIL Manager made some suggestions to improve the Data Reporting Format and they were well received. No Action.

c. NRCS – C. Torres reported 2024 applications are being accepted. NRCS in Florida has been notified of increased funding expected for 2024 & 2025 projects.  Torres asked Board to share the information with their fellow farmers in an effort to gather numerous applicants.  Discussion of programs took place.  No Action.

d. HCBCC – Commissioner Kirouac reported budget was adopted and mileage rate was reduced by 3%.  IMWID was discussed.  No Action

VI. Old Business

a. Strategic Work Plan – Bishop distributed the 2023-2028.  Motion to approve plan as presented with assurance plan will be reviewed annually, if not quarterly.   (Wohl/Deen).    Unanimous Approval.

b. Staff Salary Increase vs Bonuses – requested this item be discussed under Item VII. e.

VII. New Business

a. Community Garden/Extension – Bishop explained in detail issues with the Extension bee program/hives and gardeners being stung.  Various solutions and options were discussed and Bishop was directed to implement safety measures as warranted.   No Action.

b. Proposed Legislation/Lobbyist – Bishop reported nothing confirmed as of now about future legislation regarding the future of SWCDs in Florida.  No Action.

c. Holiday Schedule 2024 – Bishop presented the County approved 2024 Holiday Schedule for HCBCC, Clerk of Courts, and the Courts System.  Motion made to adopt the HCBCC Holiday schedule of 11 paid holidays and the addition of Christmas Eve, December 24 for all HSWCD staff. (Wohl/Sebring) Unanimous Approval.

d. November Board Meeting Date/State Time – Motion made to adjust start time to 1:00 on November 21 following a Board Lunch at Noon (Wohl/Sebring) Unanimous Approval. 

e. Executive Director Annual Evaluation – Bishop first requested the 5% increase voted on last month for staff be changed to a 5% Bonus for easier bookkeeping separate from the FDACS contracts for the staff.  Motion to grant 5% bonuses and not a salary increase to staff (Smith/Deen)  Unanimous Approval. Dr. Causey reported the Executive Director Annual Evaluation score as 418 out of420.  Motion to grant a 5% bonus to Bishop (Smith/Sebring) Unanimous Approval. Succession planning for the ED was discussed in detail.  No Action. 

VIII. Executive Director’s Report -  Items presented:        

· Oct. 20 & 21 Bishop will attend AFCD Training in Gainesville.

· Presented thank you letter from Ag Venture for 2 yr.committment.

· Presented letter ED provided to the Highlands County Fair Assoc. for a Grant application.

· Taught Team Building to Leadership Highlands last month, will be teaching Agriculture to class in January incorporating HSWCD too

· Inquiry from a Fisheating Creek Landowner was received.  Bishop reported she will assist with history and documents, but not lead the reorganization of group.

· Inquiry about Weather Station program from FDACS. Bishop will follow up with OAWP.

 IX.     Citizens Not on the Agenda – None

 X.   Supervisor Comments -   

Smith –    Announced Wad Purvis is nominated for SE Farmer of the year

Deen -     None          

Sebring – None                      

Wohl – None

Causey – Expressed interest in seeking Commissioner’s Kirouac’s potential projects for the District to be involved in. 

Meeting Adjourned at 5:38  p.m.