YUMA COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD MINUTES – February 2023.pdf

Attendees: Margaret Lenz (President), Ron Richards, Jeff Wingfield, Chester Zwirn (Supervisors Present), Dustin Wise (Supervisor Absent), Tanya Fell (District Manager).

Agenda Items:

1. Quorum and Meeting Convening: President Lenz declared a quorum present and convened the meeting at 5:49pm at NRCS offices in Wray, CO.

2. Updates & Applications:
- Board members updated mileage calendars.
- Interviewed three candidates for Office Assistant position: Shirley Deason, Katie McGinnis, Caryn Osmus. Offer extended to Shirley Deason.
- DM Fell to complete grant application for NextGen Ag Leadership Program to fund a summer intern (potential hire: Katie McGinnis).

3. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: Supervisor Richards moved to approve March 14, 2023 meeting minutes. Seconded by Supervisor Zwirn and carried unanimously.

4. Financial Report & Bills:
- District Manager Fell presented monthly financials.
- Discussion on Wix website payout for reserve holdings in QuickBooks.
- Supervisor Wingfield moved to accept financial report and pay April bills. Seconded by Supervisor Zwirn, carried unanimously. Paid bills include: district manager paycheck, Wray Berry Graphics, CACD membership, Wray Gazette & Yuma Pioneer subscriptions, Yuma County sponsorship, Wray Market, Premier Accounting, Republican River Watershed.

5. Old Business:
- Pesticide Applicator Training had 63 participants. Thanks to Supervisors Richards, Wise, and Zwirn, plus NRCS staff for assistance.
- YCCD tree sales near 9000 trees. Contacted Wray, Idalia, and Liberty FFA chapters for tree distribution assistance.
- Discussion on sharing YCCD cell phone plan with Washington County CD; MOU provided by Washington County CD to cover equipment costs and prepay phone plan annually. Supervisor Richards moved to proceed. Seconded by Supervisor Zwirn, carried unanimously.
- Entering XXX County Conservation District highway signs to be double-sided; DM Fell to contact adjoining districts for cost sharing.

6. New Business:
- YCCD funded for a District Conservation Technician position; hiring process to begin upon contract receipt. Job description to be created by DM Fell.
- Supervisors to reach out to producers for 2024 grant project ideas. Ideas to be shared at May meeting.
- Report on meeting with Pheasants Forever, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife, and NRCS regarding programming in Eastern Plains conservation districts.
- Educational seminars and field days planned for Kirk, Idalia, and Wray areas to discuss Rejuvra cheatgrass control product; DM Fell to contact ENVU for organization.

7. Retiree & Scholarship Recognition:
- Motion by Supervisor Wingfield to gift a fruit tree to retiring NRCS employee Julie Elliott. Seconded by Supervisor Zwirn, carried unanimously.
- Motion by Supervisor Richards to donate $100 to Thom Elliott Memorial Scholarship Fund (established in honor of Julie's late husband). Seconded by Supervisor Zwirn, carried unanimously.

8. Executive Session Dispense: Supervisor Zwirn moved to dispense with executive session. Seconded by Supervisor Richards, carried unanimously.

9. Meeting Adjournment: President Lenz adjourned the meeting at 9:47pm.

Next Meeting: May 9th, 5:30pm, NRCS conference room in Wray.