Minutes

Marion Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD)

Regular Board Meeting

2710 East Silver Springs Boulevard

Ocala, FL 34470

November 13, 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 

Chairman Vivi Serena called the meeting to order at 9:36 AM. 

•  Roll Call

Vivi Serena, Chairman/Treasurer 

Richard McGinley, Vice-Chairman

Lee Black, Secretary 

Justin Albright, Public Relations

David Shults, Supervisor

Others in Attendance

George Johnson, Alachua Conservation Trust; left at 9:53 AM Jesse Frazier, Alachua Conservation Trust; left at 9:53 AM Sierra Ayers, NRCS; left at 9:53 AM Tammy Hinkle, FDACS

Ann Bishop, MSWCD Staff

Stefani Duarte, MSWCD Staff

•  Proof of Publication

Star-Banner – On December 17, an email was sent regarding this meeting; a reminder was sent on November 6. 

Florida Administrative Weekly – It was posted in the FL Admin Weekly on December 30.

NRCS – On December 17, an email was sent regarding this meeting; a reminder was sent on November 6.  Marion County Board of County Commissioners – On December 17, an email was sent regarding this meeting; a reminder was sent on November 6.

II.                   Welcome

III.                 Alachua Conservation Trust  – George Johnson

George Johnson gave an overview regarding Alachua Conservation Trust programs, particularly Forest to Gulf. 

IV.                NRCS Report

Sierra Ayers gave a NRCS report and mentioned that the NRCS application deadline is this Friday, November 17.

V.                  FDACS Report

Ann Bishop and Tammy Hinkle gave an overview on the cost share contract. 

•   Cost Share 

-           Agri Land & Cattle Co., LLC (Chad Carter) – Marion - $35,025 – No Till Drill

-           Timothy Boyett – Sumter – $6562.50 – Solar well (will be amended) 

-           Wild Goose Farms, LLC (Charles Allison) – $44,625 – Lake – Airtech Nitrogen Applicator

-           TTT Farms, LLC (Jolene Bass) -$43,326.38 – Levy – Precision Nitrogen Applicator

-           Buck & Strut Ranches, LLC (William A. Parker) – $39,733.50 – Alachua – No Till Drill

Ø  PROPOSED MOTION: Justin Albright moved that MSWCD approve the presented cost share agreements. Richard McGinley seconded; all were in favor. 

•   Technician 

Ann Bishop gave an overview on the technician contract. Tammy Hinkle and the Board agreed that Okeechobee SWCD can have the old technician chair(s). 

Ø  PROPOSED MOTION: Richard McGinley moved that MSWCD pay the remaining fees to Paychex, so the technician contact can be closed. David Shults seconded; all were in favor.   

VI.                Staff Report & Recap 

Ann Bishop and Stefani Duarte gave a report and recap. Ann mentioned that she is working on getting a reimbursement from Safelite. She updated the Board on the contest deadlines. Vivi Serena gave permission prior to this meeting for Stefani and Ann to participate in the Belleview High’s Career Fair.  Stefani has been working on the website; most of which did not transfer properly when the sites transferred. The .gov domain cannot be obtained until 2024, but the information can be gathered prior. Ann has been onboarding Stefani. Vivi and Ann discussed the new hire evaluations, and it was determined that only the annual evaluation will be done, but Vivi and Ann will check in periodically with Stefani to make sure that everything is going well. It suggested that the Board think about what dates and times they would like to hold their meetings next year. If they plan to hold them on the second Monday, November 2024 is a Veteran’s Day. 

VII.               Meetings 

•     SECDEA Annual Meeting (Recap)  Ann Bishop gave an overview.    

Ø PROPOSED MOTION: Richard McGinley moved that MSWCD allow Stefani Duarte and Ann Bishop to become Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Coordinators and pay the $125 fees through the MC Training Reimbursable Account. David Shults seconded; all were in favor.  

•   SWCS Emerging Leaders (Recap) Ann Bishop gave an overview. 

•   SEYF Mandatory Meeting (Recap) Ann Bishop gave an overview. 

•   Mid-FL Research & Education Center (Recap) Ann Bishop gave an overview. 

•   Florida Forest & Water Forum 2023 (Recap)

Ann Bishop sent an email with a recap of this meeting. 

•   MC State Park Plan Meeting (Recap) Ann Bishop gave an overview. 

•   Central FL BMP Farm Tour (Recap) Stefani Duarte gave an overview. 

•   IAAP 

Ann Bishop stated that she applied for scholarship and is waiting to see if she qualified. The Board stated that they will revisit the IAAP Summit after the scholarship determination is announced.  

•  Conservation Summit

Ø PROPOSED MOTION: Justin Albright moved that MSWCD send staff to the Conservation Summit Meeting. Richard McGinley seconded; all were in favor.  

VIII.             CONSENT AGENDA 

i.              MSWCD Board Minutes 

ii.            MSWCD Board Financial Report 

Ø PROPOSED MOTION: Richard move that the MSWCD consent agenda be approved as presented. David

IX.                 Finances

•                             Ameris CD

The Board agreed that an additional signer is needed on the CD account. Once Vivi Serena secures the CD the Board will chose another signer.  

Ø PROPOSED MOTION: David Shults moved that MSWCD secure the best rate for the Ameris CD. Richard McGinley seconded; all were in favor.  

•                            Audit

Ø PROPOSED MOTION: Justin Albright moved that MSWCD sign the audit engagement letter with James Davis, CPA. David Shults seconded; all were in favor.  

X.                   Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan

The Board discussed the large-scale comprehensive plan. MSWCD stated that they have no comment and for Ann Bishop to send their response to the County.

XI.                 Upcoming Events  Reviewed.

-           EDR Land & Water Survey Due – November 14

-           Belleview Career Fair – November 15

-           CD Annual Renewal – November 15

-           Conservation Summit – November 16

-           SEYF Entry Deadline – November 17

-           FCDEA Monthly Meeting – November 21

-           Thanksgiving – Office Closed – November 23-24

-           Depositor Annual Report Due – November 30 -           MSWCD Monthly Meeting – December 11

XII.               General Public Comments

XIII.             Supervisor Comments

XIV.            Meeting Adjournment  

-           Our next meeting is December 11, 2023 at 9:30 AM in the Growth Services Building.

-           With no other business needing addressed, Chairman Vivi Serena adjourned the meeting at 10:36 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.