GREEN RIVER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Meeting Date: July 08, 2024

Start Time: 4:00 P.M.

End Time: 5:45 P.M.

Attendees:

Supervisors: Chris Dunham, Tyler Hunt, Tonya Bigelow, Coby Hunt (via phone)

Associate Members: Olivia Dunham (Clerk), Bruce Nelson, Chris Sheeter

Agency Personnel: Ryan Jones (Zone 7 Coordinator/Planner), Julie Weber (Zone 7 Office Specialist), Lowell Gardner (NRCS – District Conservationist)

Guests:

Swear In New Supervisors – Chris Dunham was sworn in by Tyler Hunt after which he signed the Oath of Office paper.

Approval of Agenda – Tyler made a motion to approve the agenda; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Approval of Minutes of Meeting – Tyler made a motion to approve the minutes; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Public Comments/Concersns – None.

Request for Assistance – Chris Sheeter mentioned her request for assistance for the Pollinator Habitat. She got the seeds and running gun already and will be working on renting the new NTD either in August or September. The one helping her, Josiah, is leaving the NRCS. She asked for some pointers and will get whatever help she can get to help her going with her farm. She got many pointers from the people present during the meeting.

Conservation Business:

District Leadership – Chris made a motion for Tyler Hunt to be the new Chairman of the GRCD; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Tonya made a motion for Chris to be the Vice Chairman of the GRCD; Tyler seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Julie brought up the position of Treasurer as to the need of having a different one. Karen Smith has been doing it and she is not being compensated for it. Karen has not been attending the meeting, only when she was on duty at Tamarisk. And now that the meeting is being held at the City of Green River municipal hall, the chances of her coming is still slim and there are paper works/reports that need to be signed. Tyler will talk to Karen if she wants to relinquish the position to somebody else. He also started presiding the meeting being the newly elected chairman.

FY25 Scope of Work – This was updated by Ryan and was discussed already last meeting. Chris moved for the approval of the FY25 Scope of Work; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

FY24 Annual Report – The only new item added was the Conservation Impact; the rest were carry overs from previous reports as being done still by GRCD. Tonya moved for the approval of the FY24 Annual Report; Chris seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Canal Undershot Pipe – Tonya volunteered to send a message to GRCC about the pipes. Chris opposed the idea as the pipes have been sitting where they are for 5 years. As per phone conversation with Coby during the meeting, he mentioned that he reached out to Randy Erwin for so many times but the latter kept pushing it. Julie recommended for the pipes to be repurpose so the group will find a project for the pipes instead of selling them. Chris made motion to repurpose the canal undershot pipes; Coby seconded the motion. Tonya abstained from voting. The rest voted unanimously about the motion.

FFA Farm – This has been a standing agenda. The condition of the GR FFA Farm was discussed and questions were asked (like what is their 5-year plan; who is in control of the land; irrigation system; soil testing, et al). Tonya will have Brennan Bigelow attend the GRCD meeting next month so he can tell GRCD their plans or whatever they might need that GRCD can help with. GRCD has limited amount of money so it needs to know at least a plan.

Soil Health Workshop – Planning for an in-classroom setting instead of a field day. This will be done annually and will pick certain topics that can have in depth discussion. Target date is put off as it was suggested that the FFA farm be used for covered crops for test plot to be part of the soil health workshop. They will contact Terron Picket and Tony and the other people who can help with this proposition. As for test plots, it will be offered to the GR community (not just within the GRCD group) so Julie will make a flyer about it. Tonya has a spot as well for test plot. Lowell will help also with the planning.

CoCoRaHS Rain Gauges – GRCD will purchase more as it is cheaper by the dozen. It can also be used as door prize during the Soild Health Field Day. Tonya volunteered to purchase the rain gauges and she will be reimbursed by Olive afterward. Tonya made a motion for the approval of purchasing rain gauges; Chris seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure – The supervisors signed the Conflict of Interest Disclosure papers and gave them back to Julie. This is in line with the next agenda item…

Code of Ethics – Related to agenda h.

Supervisor Training – Needs to be done by every supervisor even if they have been re-appointed.

Finance – a. Financial Report - Olivia reported on the financial as follows:

d. Pay bills as brought before the board –

Emery Telcom – Public Hearing Ads	$88.00

For deposit: Mike Randolph – Brillion rent	$92.00 (Olive got it from the mail but didn’t open the envelope right away so she missed putting it in the bank the same day, Monday, July 8, that she got it. Deposited the following day, July 9.)

Tonya moved for the approval of the financial report together with the request for payment of bills; Chris seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Meetings/Trainings/Upcoming Events –

WRI Tour @ Emma Park/Schofield – July 17

UDAF/UACD Zone 7 Business – Not much business, only the Grazing Improvement Grant program was mentioned. Ryan will get info regarding help with field predators.

NRCS Business – Lowell already said something about the Soil Health Field Day, that they can help with it. And that is all that he has to say for this meeting.

FSA Business – Nothing going on except for crop sign up. Mistie Christiansen is the person to contact regarding cropt reporting and updating of

Extension Business – Rowe Zwahlen – None.

Other Supervisor Business – Tonya reported about the phantom ditcher being retrieved already. It was usedssed that GRCD will just reimbursed Greg Vetere for the ram he put in the ditcher if he can provide a receipt for reimbursement. Tonya will also buy pins for the new NTD with chains so that whoever rents it cannot rock it away. She will be reimbursed again for the purchase. Chris moved for the approval of the pins purchase; Tyler seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Complete SERA Forms – The SERA forms were signed by each supervisor who attended the meeting.

Chris moved the meeting to be adjourned.

Next Meeting: August 12, 2024 @ GR City Hall @ 4P.M.