Chippewa East Mackinac Conservation District
Board Meeting Minutes
February 1, 2011
Attendees: Orv Kabat, Jane Bishop, Tina Love, Tom Allan, Forbes McDonald, Kent Dankenbring, Erin Satchell, Dusty King , Corey Jerome, Todd Insley and Wendy Wagoner.
The minutes of the January meeting were approved on a motion by Bishop and second by Allan. The treasurer’s report and payment of bills were approved on a motion by Allan and second by Bishop. Carried.
Annual meeting wrap up: there were 72 people in attendance. Bob Heyd of the MDNRE gave a very interesting presentation on Forest Health issues. The dinner was potluck and the meat provided by Love Farms was great. The Sault High Envirothon team served and cleaned up.
Employee reviews are being conducted this week. The board is asked to provide King with comments on the process and the staff.
The Engineer’s report was submitted by Satchell.
Natural Resources Conservation Service report was presented by Dankenbring. Conservation plans were signed for M Werner, A Smart, G Reid, J Davis, MThorne, D Carlson, D Rice, D Bell, M Jones, J Mitchell, B Newcombe, B Taylor, C Johnson, G Zimmerman, B Huyck, J Lowe, G Boyd, J Umbrasas
“Breakfast on the Farm” steering committee meeting will be February 8.
The Munuscong River Watershed report was presented by Jerome.
Cooperative Weed Management Area report was presented by Wagoner. There was a strategic planning meeting held with the 19 partners in Newberry last month.
Emerald Ash Borer SLAM report was given by Insley. There is an opportunity to assist the city with an urban tree inventory. King will submit a proposal presented by Insley to the city tree commission on February 2.
There is an open office in the front of our building. There has been discussion with the land lord to rent this for the District. Rent is $1100 for 850 square feet. Other opportunities were reviewed. It was suggested that King continue negotiations by offering $800 for 6 months.
Rick Shapero has approached the District to partner on a Food Hub project. This was submitted to McDonald, Allan and Kabat for review prior to agreeing to apply for $2000 from the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation to further this project.
Four different grant opportunities were identified at the MACD convention in December. They include: Water Stewardship Program- groundwater technician; NRCS, MDA, MDNRE Grant- forester; NRCS wetland program monitoring grant; Forest Service shared space/ technician. The resource assessment which needs to be updated this year will provide direction to the staff in pursuing these grant opportunities.
Meeting adjourned.