Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District
4505 George Blvd. Sebring, FL 33875-5837
Conference Room 3 - Bert Harris Agriculture Center
Board of Supervisors Meeting Tuesday, May 21, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.

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 – April 16, 2024

IV. Financial Activity
a. Annual Audit FY 2022-2023 – John Davis, Wicks, Brown, Williams, CPA
b. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports - April 2024 – S. Bishop

V. Agency Partner Updates
a. FDACS
b. MIL
c. NRCS
d. HCBCC

VI. Old Business
a. OPPAGA Update – S. Bishop
b. AFCD Area 4 Annual Meeting & Ethics Training – S. Bishop
c. Landowner Expo, June 11, 2024 – Agenda – S. Bishop
d. NACD SE Regional Meeting – June 16-19, 2024 – Gainesville – S. Bishop

VII. New Business
a. UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research & Education Center
Youth Field Day Sponsorship Request – S. Bishop
b. Financial Reporting & Elections 2024 – S. Bishop
c. HSWCD Summer Schedules – S. Bishop
d. Staffing for HSWCD – S. Bishop

VIII. Executive Director’s Report

IX. Citizens Not on the Agenda

X. Supervisor Comments

Next Board Meeting:
Board Meeting – Tuesday, July 16, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.
** Please note there will NOT be a June Board meeting

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:  05/21/2024

Meeting Location:   Conf. Room 3 – Bert Harris Center

FINAL – Approved 7-16-2024

Recorded by:  Susie Bishop

Name, Title, Organization, Present, ATTENDANCE

 Dr. John Causey, HSWCD, Chairman

Steve Smith, HSWCD, Vice Chair

Doug Deen, HSWCD, Secretary/Treasurer

Sara Sebring, HSWCD, Supervisor

T.J. Wohl, HSWCD, Supervisor

Scott Kirouac, HCBOCC, Liason

Susie Bishop, HSWCD, Executive Director

Kayla Nickerson, HSWCD, BMP Technician

Lauren Ahrens, HSWCD, BMP Technician

John Davis, Auditor, Wicks, Brown, Williams, CPA

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

Public Meeting Announcement Read by Chairman

I. Welcome & Introductions

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

III. Approval of Meeting Minutes-April 16, 2024 - Motion made to approve the minutes as presented (Wohl/Sebring). Unanimous Approval.      

IV. Financial Activity

a. Annual Audit FY 2022-2023 Presentation – John Davis

Davis presented the Audit Management Letter and the Independent Accountants’ Report explaining the finding of CDs being invested with Non-Qualified Public Depositories and the breach of Florida State Statute.   Per discussion one edit was requested to the Independent Accountants’ Report.   On page 59 of the Financial Statements Booklet in paragraph 4, line one, the words “FDIC insured” to be added after words “three different”.   Davis agreed to this request. It was advised to the Board by Davis to check on penalties for calling in the CDs and get them to a QPD as soon as possible so when the letter of the finding is received from the Auditor General’s office we can reply with the correction already being completed.  Staff will shop CD rates at QPDs and reinvest the funds once withdrawn via Tim Baker with LPL Financial consulting with Board Chairman before doing so.   Motion made to accept the Audit with one edit as noted (Smith/Wohl).  Unanimous Approval.

b. Overview & Approval of Financial Reports- April 2024: Review of bank statements & financial reports. Motion to approve the financial reports as presented (Wohl/Deen). Unanimous Approval.

V. Agency Partner Updates   

a. FDACS –Bishop reported May and June will be wrapping up the cost share projects. It is likely new cost share applications will not be accepted on July 1 due to Leadership at OAWP changing the entire program to electronic and this task not being completed by July 1.  BMP Manuals are all being updated and will be greatly simplified per Commissioner Simpson’s instructions. There will also be an effort to align statewide what projects are eligible for cost share.  Lastly there will be a new software database program implemented for field staff.   No Action.

b. MIL – Bishop reported progress has been made with the re-write of the SOW and SOP for the MILs statewide. Harmon reported numbers of completed evaluations.   No Action.         

c. NRCS –   No Report

d. HCBCC – Kirouac announced a 30 day burn ban is in place countywide.  He also gave an update on the IMWID project, still no action and no changes. No Action

VI. Old Business

a. OPPAGA – Bishop shared after many requests for additional information the Highlands Report is completed yet we won’t be able to review it until July when all Districts will receive their individual reports.   No Action.

b. AFCD Area 4 Annual Meeting/Ethics Training – Bishop shared the May 23 Agenda is primarily the Ethics Training.  Dr. Causey will be attending and completing his training at the meeting.  All other Supervisors are eligible to attend  too, but have been registered with FASD to complete online.  Deen stated he can’t get on the course online, Bishop will troubleshoot this issue.  No Action.

c. Landowner Expo, June 11, 2024 – Bishop reported it is shaping up to be another great expo and the catered lunch provided by the District is fully arranged.   No Action.   

d. NACD SE Regional Meeting – June 16-19, 2024 – Bishop explained the  responsibility of this meeting has fallen upon the District Employees Association. In an effort to support the responsibilities of the conference Bishop has agreed to  Chair the Taste of Florida event on Sunday, June 16.  Giving the details of the   event she requested Highlands SWCD be a Gold Level Sponsor and earmark the funds to this event.   Per discussion motion made to approve this request (Sebring/Smith).  Unanimous Approval.

VII. New Business    

a. UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research & Education Center Youth Field Day Sponsorship Request – Bishop presented request. Consensus was to not provide a sponsorship. 

b. Financial Reporting & Elections 2024 – Bishop reminded Supervisors to complete their individual Form 1 Financial Statements online by deadline of June 30, 2024.   Causey & Smith will be seeking another term in Election of 2024.  Bishop will provide them with the required qualifying forms.   No Action.

c. HSWCD Summer Schedules – Staff will alter their workday schedules during the summer months.   MIL staff will work 4–10-hour days with every Friday off. BMP Tech. L. Ahrens will work 9-hour days with every other Friday off.  BMP Tech K. Nickerson will alternate Fridays with Ahrens.  No Action.

d. Staffing for HSWCD – Bishop presented a description for a new position for HSWCD – Administrative Specialist.   Also presented and discussed was an option to enter into a 5-year partnership with USDA-NRCS to share the duties and costs of this position.  A succession plan for the Executive Director position was shared in detail and discussed.   Motion made to approve the creation of the new position (Sebring/Smith).  Unanimous Approval. 

Motion made to move forward with a partnership with USDA-NRCS for a 50/50 share of the position duties and funding with HSWCD having 100% of the management responsibilities of this  position. (Sebring/Deen).  Unanimous Approval. 

VIII. Executive Director’s Report - Items presented:         

Ø  Due to a conflict with a statewide FDACS-OAWP staff meeting/training in Crystal River Bishop requested a change of date for the September 17 Board meeting.  This will be discussed at July meeting when FDACS meeting details are known.  

Ø  Bishop & Nickerson will be attending the State Technical Committee meeting with NRCS in Gainesville on June 12 to present the outcome of our Local Working Group Rankings. These will include the top resource concerns.

IX.     Citizens Not on the Agenda – None

X.   Supervisor Comments -   

Smith –    None

Deen – Asked staff to keep engaged with the IMWID project as it could become a potential new contract for HSWCD.

Sebring –None           

Wohl – None

Causey – None

Meeting Adjourned at 5:21 p.m.

Post Meeting Action Items

Action, Assigned To, Deadline

Complete Cashing Out CDs invested with LPL, S. Bishop, May 31, 2024

Complete Report for Avon Park Mitigation Inspection, S. Bishop, May 31, 2024

Provide Election Filing Forms to Supervisor Causey & Smith, S. Bishop, May 31, 2024

 Manage Land Owner Expo, S. Bishop & CFRPC, June 11, 2024

 Attend and Present at the NRCS State Technical Comm. Meeting, S. Bishop & K. Nickerson, June 12, 2024

Issue Gold Sponsorship to AFCD for the NACD SE Regional Conference

Organize and Present the Taste of Florida Event at the Conference, S. Bishop & Staff, May 22, 2024 – June 16, 2024

Complete all Filings of FY 22-23 Audit, S. Bishop, June 30, 2024

Monitor OPPAGA, S. Bishop, July 2024

Complete Partnership Agreement with USDA-NRCS, S. Bishop, September 2024

Prepare Succession Plan and Filling of new position, S. Bishop, May 21, 2024

Manage DEP Stolen Saddle Ranch Contract, S. Bishop, Ongoing

Complete Amendments and SOW for MIL & Work on SOP, S. Bishop & MIL Staff, Unknown