GREEN RIVER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Meeting Date: February 10, 2025

Start Time: 4:00 P.M.

End Time: 5:15 P.M.

Attendees:

Supervisors: Tyler Hunt, Chris Dunham, Tonya Bigelow, Coby Hunt

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

Agency Personnel: Ryan Jones (Zone 7 Coordinator/Planner), Julie Weber (Zone 7 Office Specialist), Beth Williams (UDAF Planner), Lowell Gardner (NRCS – District Conservationist), Matt McEttrick (SE Area Manager – DNR FFSL), Sarah Lindsay (SE Area Forester – DNR FFSL)

Guests: Gayna Salinas (GR Resident), Jamie Richardson, Craig and Wendy Lechleiter (GR Farm Owners)

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

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

Public Comments/Concerns – Chris asked if the CD could buy a wood chipper to which the guests agreed on the idea.

Request for Assistance – Craig asked what it means for this agenda item as they just attended the meeting. They wanted to find out as they have 10 acres that they want to develop. Lowell said they could talk after the meeting of whatever assistance might be available for them to avail.

Conservation Business:

FFA Farm/Soil Health Research Plot – Still going slowly on getting the information. Beth, Lowe and Ryan are going to work on it. Lowe has been working in three different office locations now so his responsibility has increased.

Spring Field Day – Target date: April 16 or 17 – if this is not feasible for everybody, fall dates April 21 to 24 will be picked. Focus/Topic: Lowe suggested the priority concerns that GRCD has. Ryan mentioned soil health, crop health, pests issue. Chris mentioned the kind of meeting he attended in CO where they discussed NTD benefits on soil. IN Class day – Possible speakers mentioned: Philip, Tony, Terron and Hannah (with water optimization program). Beth will help coordinate including the narrowing of the topics. No vendor to invite.

Equipment Insurance – Liability insurance is requested with Farm Bureau Ins. Co. mentioned to provide the insurance. Tonya made a motion to secure a liability insurance for the equipment; Coby seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Conservation Contract Amendments for SERA – It used to be ESS system but they are going to use the new system Concur. Instead of UACD paying for the time and mileage of the supervisors, the local CDs will now do the payment. The funds for this will be given to each CD; some CDs might request more and some might request less depending on their supervisors’ activities. So they are working on the contract amendment as to how to divide the funds equally. Sheri could help on monitoring the time and mileage of each supervisor but there’s around 900 so she doesn’t want to do that. The time/mileage monitorting will fall then on the clerk of each CD, hence, the QB program might need updating to include the payroll. It will fall then to each CD to either do 1099 or W2 form for the supervisors. Julie will help with the transition. Coby made a motion to approve the conservation contract amendment; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Meeting Time Change – Coby made a motion for the meeting time to be moved from 4pm to 5pm; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion carried. Julie will have to advertise the change in the meeting time.

Finance –

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

b. Pay bills as brought before the board –

Emery Telcom Meeting Ads	$94.00

Every meeting, Olivia should generate a budget vs. profit & loss report. Julie will email her how to generate the report as it has been set in the QB already.

Tonya moved for the approval of the financial report together with the payment of bills; Coby seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Meetings/Trainings/Upcoming Events

NACD Convention – February 7-13, 2025 in Salt Lake City – Missed attending this convention already as we are conducting presently the monthly meeting.

Castle Valley Crop School – Feb. 19th, 2025 in Price - @ 6P.M. @ USU Campus Alumni Room. Ag Tech and use fo drones will be discussed. Dinner will be provided.

Grand Conservation District Soil Health Workshop – Feb. 27th, 2025 in Moab – From 10A.M. – 2P.M. @ the Grand Center. Lunch will be served. USU professors will be present and will talk about urban ag, wools and soil health topics too.

Utah Water Users Workshop – Mar. 17th – 19th, 2025 in St. George – They will talk about the water that we don’t have.

Zone 7 Annual Meeting – Mat. 27th, 2025 in Green River – From 10A.M. – 2P.M.	@ GR Bible Church Event Center. Lunch will be served. They are still working on the agenda. There will be supervisors training.

Tonya made a motion for the payment of travel expenses of the supervisors who are going to attend any of these meetings; Coby seconded the motion. Motiona was passed unanimously.

UDAF/UACD Zone 7 Business – Covered already. The only thing new is the position for UACD State Board is opened for nomination.

NRCS Business – They made selections for the first round of applications and are getting letters sent out. They will beging writing contracts. They are accepting application for the second sign up and the money will roll over for this. There are projects that are on pause like the sequestering carbon program, pasture planting and range planting due to the 50% inflation reduction act.

FSA Business – They upgraded the drought status to D1. They are pushing to upgrade it to D2. If anyone wants to get information about this, they can talk to Mistie Christiansen.

Extension Business – Rowe Zwahlen – Rowe can arranged for the Applicator License test to be done in GR High School if anyone wants to take the test.

Other Supervisor Business – Karen Smith, the treasurer, resigned from her position. Tonya was asked if she would take the position. She agreed. Coby made a motion for Tonya to be the new treasurer of GRCD; Chris seconded the motion. Motion carried.

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

Coby moved the meeting to be adjourned.

Next Meeting: March 10, 2025 @ Green River City Hall @ 5P.M.