Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District

4505 George Blvd.            

Sebring, FL 33875-5837

Board of Supervisors

Special Meeting

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 – 3:00 p.m. 

HSWCD Conference Room - Bert Harris Agriculture Center

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

II. New Business:   HB 1075 Filed  – Rep. K. Truenow – Re-Organization of Soil & Water Conservation Districts – J. Causey & S. Bishop

a. Bill Review & Comments - All

b. Amendments – Lobbying Efforts – S. Bishop

c. HSWCD, AFCD & Other SWCDs – S. Bishop

III. Supervisor Comments

Next Board Meeting:

Tuesday, January 16, 2024  – 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

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:   Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Meeting Location:   HSWCD Conf. Room – Bert Harris Center

FINAL – Approved 1/16/2024

Recorded by:  Susie Bishop

Meeting Scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.  Called to Order at 3:00 p.m.

Public Meeting Announcement Read by Chairman

In Attendance:

Dr. John Causey, Board Chairman, Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

Steve Smith, Vice Chairman, Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

Doug Deen, Secretary/Treasurer, Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

Sara Sebring, Supervisor, Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

T.J. Wohl, Supervisor, Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

Kayla Nickerson, BMP Tech., Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

Lauren Ahrens, BMP Tech., Highlands Soil & Water Conservation District

Carlos Torres, Soil Cons., USDA-NRCS

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

II. New Business:  HB 1075 Filed – Rep. K. Truenow – Re-Organization of Soil                                 

& Water Conservation Districts - Bishop distributed multiple documents for review and discussion.  Per discussion motion was made to engage Ramba Consulting Group, LLC to provide lobbying services for the 2024 Legislative Session with payment to be made with General Fund dollars in the amount of $40,000.00 (Sebring/Wohl). Unanimous Approval.

Proposed Amendments were distributed and discussed by Bishop and Supervisors.  Motion was made to approve the proposed Amendments as presented and ranked by priority to provide to Ramba (Smith/Deen).  Unanimous Approval.

HSWCD, AFCD & Other SWCDs – Having approved funding for HSWCD to pay for the entire cost of Ramba Consulting, Supervisors concurred AFCD and other SWCDs in the state will be asked for input and suggestions for desired Amendments to the Bill.  Bishop was instructed to attend as many of the meetings regarding the Bills as they are scheduled  in Tallahassee. Bishop will be attending the AFCD Board meeting on January 12, 2024 in Gainesville and present the position of HSWCD.  No Action.

III. Supervisor Comments

Smith – None

Deen – None

Sebring – None

Wohl – Explanation on the new law for Financial Disclosure Filings and who it applies to. It does not include the filings of SWCD Supervisors. 

Causey - None

Adjourned at 4:12 p.m.