GREEN RIVER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Meeting Date: March 10, 2025

Start Time: 5:00 P.M.

End Time: 7:00 P.M.

Attendees:

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

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), Sabrina Greenwoods (NRCS – Resource Conservationist)

Guests: Edward Bennett (City of GR Planner), Brenna Bigelow (GRHS FFA Advisor)

Approval of Agenda – Coby made a motion to approve the agenda; Tonya 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 – None.

Request for Assistance – None.

Conservation Business:

FFA Farm/Soil Health Research Plot – Ryan discussed soil health plot/research. Brennan talked about establishing forage crop for soil type. Approval from board for grazing plots. Irrigation system in use is K-line. School district will be installing pump. There is an issue of moving K-line on new ground. Upgrade to wheelline.

Spring Crop School –

Location – GR Bible Church Event Center from 5:30 to 8:30 P.M.

Meal – Will talk to Western AgCredit for meal sponsorhip. Olive informed them that Western AgCredit donates $1K at the most. If the meal will be more than $1K, the GRCD has funds to shoulder the rest. The supervisors will decide later on food catering.

Agenda – Tony Richards will talk about soil health practices; Milena Oliveira will talk about specialty crops and grafting; Katie Ottman will talk about AgVIP; Wes of Mountainland; Philip Frank wants to come but he is not sure if he can make it. If Philip comes, Ryan will make sure that each won’t talk about the same thing.

Sponsorship – Western AgCredit

Advertising – CD FB account; The GR Observer; Post Office; Flyers. The GRCD Chairman will be the host of the convention. Rain gauge will be given away.

Equipment Insurance – Ryan received an email from ULGT. He is waiting for the quote from Farm Bureau. Will check on State Farm also from a member of another CD. Tonya clarified about pushing the equipment lease agreement to be signed for the GRCD’s protection. And that the equipment should be checked before and after use. The liability of any damage will fall to the one who didn’t check the equipment. She also requested for the wordings of the lease agreement to be edited as it says “No Till Drill Lease Agreement”. It should be changed to simply “Equipment Lease Agreement” as the district has other equipment for rent. Coby made a motion to secure a liability insurance for the equipment; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

Finance –

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

b. Pay bills as brought before the board –

Clerical Fee for 3rd Qtr. of FY2425	$750.00

Julie explained the budget vs. profit and loss report. Olivia requested that the district pay for one black toner ink for the printer that she’s been using to print GRCD reports as she also printed some equipment lease agreements for Tonya. It has been years since she requested for ink supply for the printer. Coby moved for the approval of the financial report together with the payment of clerical fee and purchase of office supply; Tonya seconded the motion. Motion carried.

SERA for FY2425 2nd Qtr. – Julie explained the changes in monitoring the time, mileage and travel expenses of the supervisors, that it will fall now on each district clerk. She presented a form on how the SERA will be recorded. The GRCD supervisors agreed to be paid semi-annually. Tyler checked his email and signed the SERA amendments. Tonya moved for the SERA to be paid semi-annually with stipulation to cover travel cost on a need to case basis; Coby seconded the motion. Motion carried. The supervisors also agreed to be paid in June for the remaining quarters of their FY2425 SERA. Tonya will be paid also for keeping track of the equipment rentals.

Karen still got the UCC reimbursement check. Her name should be changed to Tonya Bigelow in the ULGT file. The address for the checks should also be changed to GRCD post office box instead of the personal po box of the treasurer. Olivia told Tonya that she should sign the signature card at the bank as she told the manager that she is the new treasurer for GRCD.

Meetings/Trainings/Upcoming Events

Utah Water Users Workshop – March 17 to 19th @ St. George

Zone 7 Annual Meeting- March 27th @ GR Bible Church Event Ctr. @ Green River – From 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.. Lunch will be provided.

GRCD Crop School – April 17th @ GR Bible Church Event Ctr. @ Green River – From 5:30 – 8:30 P.M. Supper will be provided. GR FFA was invited and was asked to help set the tables and chairs and in cleaning afterwards.

Drought Meeting - @ Moab Spanish Arena – From 6 – 8 P.M.

UDAF/UACD Zone 7 Business – Comm. Greg Butters retired. Kelly Pearson is the Interim Commissioner. She has served for a couple of times as Interim Commissioner as she has been the Deputy Commissioner for 5 years.

They have programs like the Pollinator Habitat program where they give kits. Application will be opened in mid-April. There is also the Invasive Species program and application will be opened sometime soon. The Zone Director position will be opened. In depth application will take weeks.

NRCS Business – Lowe has been acting as District Conservationist in Monticello as well that is why he is not present during the meeting. They closed batch two applications and doesn’t know if the funding will roll to batch 3. They still got funding for salinity. CSP is still on hold. They are in the process of writing contracts.

FSA Business – If you are hauling water for your livestock, keep track of it as FSA will pay for it.

Extension Business – Rowe Zwahlen – None.

Other Supervisor Business – Ryan said that Kathy Ryan has been calling him pleading for the pipes that was intended for the GR Canal Co. not to be repurposed. He told her to come to the meeting if she wants to talk about it with the supervisors. Many suggestions were made again regarding the pipes which were voted already before to be repurposed. Ryan will find out what other options GRCD has if it can be opened for bidding. Lee Thayn is interested but he needs to find out before he buys pipes.

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

Coby moved the meeting to be adjourned.

Next Meeting: Apirl 14, 2025 @ Green River City Hall @ 5P.M.