Minutes

Marion Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD)

Regular Board Meeting

2710 East Silver Springs Boulevard

Ocala, FL 34470

February 27, 2023

9:30 AM

PLEASE NOTE: Individuals wishing to address the Board will need to sign in. A three-minute time limit will be administered to each of these individuals. PLEASE MUTE ALL PHONES. This agenda acts as a guidance for the structure of the meeting. Thank you.

I. Call to Order
Vice-Chairman Vivi Serena called the meeting to order at 9:29 AM.

•  Roll Call (Welcome)

Vivi Serena, Vice-Chairman/Treasurer
Brent London, Supervisor

Others in Attendance
Oneisha Gary-Cyprian, NRCS
Chris Denmark, FDACS
Tammy Hinkle, FDACS
Aaron Grimes, FDACS
Ann Bishop, MSWCD Staff
Jeffery Platt, MSWCD Staff
Bridgette Smith, Citizen

•  Proof of Publication

Star-Banner – Sent an email regarding this meeting on December 17 and a reminder on February 20.
Florida Administrative Weekly – Posted in the FL Admin Weekly on December 30.
NRCS – Sent an email regarding this meeting on December 17 and a reminder on February 20.
Marion County Board of County Commissioners – Sent an email regarding this meeting on December 17 and a reminder on February 20.

II. CONSENT AGENDA
(A motion to approve the items on the consent agenda is to approve items if unanimous consent from last workshop meeting.)

i. MSWCD Board Minutes
ii. MSWCD Board Financial Report
iii. Motion to approve Cost Share Agreements:
Scott Konrath – Marion – $2,625.50 – Water Troughs, Pads & PVC
Troy Mosley – Columbia – $34,905 – Nitrogen Applicator
White Cattle LLC (Luther White Jr) – Levy – $43,125 – No Till Drill
iv. Motion to approve Oneisha Cyprian-Gary, Tammy Hinkle, Jennifer Baker, Brent London and Vivi Serena as the interview panel, and Ann Bishop will be in attendance to answer questions.
v. Motion to approve Ann Bishop to drive the trucks, so they do not sit idle.
vi. Motion to approve that District Employees should wait 90 days before they can utilize sick or vacation time that they earned.
vii. Motion to approve Ann Bishop’s attendance at the NWF Conservation Summit rather than the Brown and Brown Conference.
viii. Motion to obtain a cost estimate from Corbin’s Catering for the Envirothon.

PROPOSED MOTION: Brent London moved that the MSWCD consent agenda be approved as presented. Vivi Serena seconded; all were in favor.
III. Board Recruitment
Board recruitment was discussed.

IV. Festivals

•  SpringsFest

The SpringsFest was discussed.

PROPOSED MOTION: Brent London moved that the MSWCD forgo the SpringsFest in 2023 but attend in 2024. Vivi Serena seconded; all were in favor.

•  Farmland Preservation

The Farmland Preservation Festival was discussed.

PROPOSED MOTION: Vivi Serena moved that the Brent London, Jeff Platt, herself, and Ann Bishop prepare items for and participate in the Farmland Preservation Festival. Brent London seconded; all were in favor.

V. NRCS Report
Oneisha Gary-Cyprian gave an update on NRCS programs. A discussion was held regarding NRCS programs. She mentioned that March 24 is the next deadline for CSP and the Inflation Reduction funding (Forestry).

VI. FDACS Report

•  Cost Share

– District No Till Drill
The no till drill was discussed. The Board will need a hold harmless agreement. Chris Denmark will reach out to the Gadsden County to get their forms. Brent London will send the quote for the smaller, conservation seeder application to Chris Denmark and Ann Bishop. Brent London will look into the insurance for this equipment and will get Ann Bishop this information. Ann Bishop will inquiry from Brown and Brown on the liability.

– Agreements
Thomas D Jones – Gilchrist – $49,250.00 – Nitrogen Applicator
Austin Crane Farms LLC – Alachua – $37,663.00 – Nitrogen Applicator
Danny Holder – Alachua – $34,200.00 – No Till Drill
PROPOSED MOTION: Brent London moved that the MSWCD approve the cost share agreements as presented. Vivi Serena seconded; all were in favor.
Tammy Hinkle gave an update on the cost share program.

•  Tech Contract

– Hiring
The applicants for the technician position were discussed.
PROPOSED MOTION: Brent London moved that the MSWCD set up interviews on March 13 or 14 and have the same interviewers as last time. Vivi Serena seconded; all were in favor.
Ann Bishop will get the information to all the interviewers and reserve the room. Tammy Hinkle will contact Jennifer Baker.
– Paychex
Paychex was discussed.

VII. Staff Report & Recap

•  Meetings

– Land Management Review
Ann Bishop gave a recap on the Land Management Review of Indian Lake State Forest.

– National Wildlife Federation
Ann Bishop gave a recap on the Conservation Summit Conference.

– AFCD
Ann Bishop gave a recap on the AFCD Conference and the FDACS Mandatory Meeting. The Board gave permission for Jeffery Platt to assist Ann Bishop in the recreation of the FDACS cost share spreadsheet. Ann Bishop will send the OPPAGA report to the Board which was done on the Mosquito Special District, since the questions will be similar to the audit the SWCDs will have. Vivi Serena stated that the Board should hold a workshop on this and that she would help. It was suggested that everyone should answer as many of the questions as they can and come to the meeting to discuss these. Brent London stated that he will assist as much as he can.

PROPOSED MOTION: Vivi Serena moved that the Marion SWCD allow the acting Chairman be able to make decisions on behalf of the Board regarding District personnel, so any issues can remain confidential. Brent London seconded; all were in favor.

PROPOSED MOTION: Vivi Serena moved that the MSWCD allow the acting Chairman to make decisions regarding urgent matters that arise between meetings. Brent London seconded; all were in favor.

– NACD
Ann Bishop gave a recap on the NACD Conference. The new contest theme for next year is “May the Forest Be with You”. MSWCD needs to determine next year if the posters will have two entry types: digitally created and/or hand created for the five classes.

– Farm Bureau
The Board decided to forgo the Farm Bureau meeting this year.

•  Contests

– Speech/Essay
A recap was given on the MSWCD Speech and Essay Contests.

– Found Art/Posters
The judging of the Found Art and Posters was postponed until March 13.

– Conservation Landscape Trays
A recap was given on the Conservation Landscape Trays.

– Envirothon
The Envirothon was discussed. The Board gave permission for Jeffery Platt to assist with this contest.

PROPOSED MOTION: Brent London moved that the MSWCD use Carl Corbin Catering for the Envirothon at $10 per person for a total of $300. Vivi Serena seconded; all were in favor.

•  Financials

– 501c3
The 501c3 was discussed.

PROPOSED MOTION: Brent London moved that the MSWCD set up a separate account for the 501c3 in the amount of $1000. Vivi Serena seconded; all were in favor.

Vivi Serena stated that she will go to the bank to set up this account.

– Audit Agreement
PROPOSED MOTION: Brent London moved that the MSWCD sign the agreement for the audit to be performed by Jim Davis CPA. Vivi Serena seconded; all were in favor.

•  Miscellaneous

– Staff Appreciation
PROPOSED MOTION: Vivi Serena moved that the MSWCD allow for $300.00 to be spent annually from the Non-Reimbursable Account on District employee morale, such as a birthday gift or employee lunch. Brent London seconded; all were in favor.

VIII. Upcoming Events
The events were reviewed.
– SEYF Award Ceremony – February 27
– MSWCD Monthly Meeting – February 27
– Jeffery Platt Start Date – February 27
– SEYF Tray Pick up – March 4
– SpringsFest – March 4-5
– Farm Bureau Day on the Hill (Legislative Day) – March 8
– Envirothon – March 10
– MSWCD Monthly Meeting – March 13
– FCDEA Monthly Meeting – March 21
– Farmland Preservation – April 8
– SECDEA Midyear – April 16-21

IX. General Public Comments

X. Supervisor Comments

XI. Meeting Adjournment
– Our next meeting is March 13, 2023 at 9:30 AM in the Growth Services Building.

– With no other business needing addressed, Vice Chairman Vivi Serena adjourned the meeting at 11:14 AM, until our next meeting.

MSWCD’s regular meetings are held at 9:30 AM on the 2nd Monday of each month, and their workshops are held the 4th Monday of each month at 9:30 AM, tentatively. Both meetings are located in Growth Services, located at 2710 E. Silver Springs, Ocala, FL 34470. For more information, call (352) 438-2475.