FY23 May Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, May 10, 2023 1:00PM 200 NW 5th Street Conference Room

Meeting called to order at 1:08pm

I. Motion to approve the April 12, 2023, Meeting Minutes (Sellers/Burnham). Unanimous. Motion passed.

II. Motion to file the Financial Report as presented (Sellers/Burnham). Motion passed.

III. Staff Program Reports
l. NRCS- Acting District Conservationist, John Scarpa gave an update on Farm Bill Program statuses regarding EQIP pre-approvals, CSP Ranking, and stated the July 15 obligations deadline. Post Inflation Supplemental Payments were also discussed for qualifying EQIP payments made from January 1-September 30, 2023.
2. FDACS- District Administrator, Audrey Kuipers discussed the upcoming FDACS Field Staff Spring Training May 15-May Audrey and the Executive Director for Highlands SWCD, Susie Bishop have a meeting with the Director of the FDACS-Office of Ag Water Policy on May 16 to review the roles our Districts play in our counties and at the state level. We will find out more on the Implementation Verification process at the meeting.
3. FSA- Audrey handed out fact sheets on the current programs
4. OSWCD- Program Specialist, Robbi Sumner and Audrey Kuipers gave updates on all OSWCD programs and operations.

IV. Unfinished Business
1. Motion to reverse the decision made during the March meeting and not have a pig trap rental program, but instead offer cost share like the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee Feral Swine Control (Sellers/Burnham) Unanimous. Motion Passed.
2. Motion to offer cost share on penergetic bWV wildlife deterrent (Burnham/Rutledge) 3-Yay, 1-Abstain. Motion passed.

V. New Business
1. Motion to approve FY22 Annual Report as presented (Burnham/Sellers) Unanimous. Motion passed.
2. Motion to increase the Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners Grant Agreement request to $52,000.00 (Sellers/Rutledge). Unanimous. Motion passed.

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