Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society Meeting Minutes: August 2nd in the Jennings County Library Meeting called to order @ 5:40 pm. Attendance: Tom Moore Joann Moore Kevin Jayne Troy Jackson Simeon Stearns Leanne Whitesell Everett Sparkman Jennifer Boyle (IDEM) Kathleen Hagan (IDEM) Eric Raes (IUS) Steve Moberly (IUS) Minutes: Approved as submitted, with the exception of nixing the note about selling items @ the Jennings County Fair booth Treasurer's report: Simeon reported a balance of $3,906.29. Transactions included a $62.55 check to HHH to correct a balance discrepancy and a $2017.98 deposit on 06/28/05 OLD BUSINESS: Discussion of moving office space:From Visitor's Center to Health Dept. 2nd floor: We were moved out officially as of August 1. We will need to handle any reimbursement for miscellaneous expenses owed to the Visitor's Center. We also need to clean out any remaining items in the center. Greg will hold any mail received there during the transition. Our large display is in storage; Leanne requested access to use for upcoming presentation FMRS sign progress at the Vernon Commons: Simeon has the completed sign, Larry to have the State fix the misspelling of 'Vernon' on the sign. Simeon will contact Vernon utilities, Dan Wright and/or the Vernon Council to resolve a specific location to mount the sign. Simeon will handle installing sign Dave McCorvie (North Vernon Treatment Plant supervisor) visit: Not present. Tabled. Grant Issues: Steve Moberly and Eric Raes from IU Southeast, who are working in conjunction with Simeon for Phase 2 and 3 of the current 319 grant, attended to report on their water testing work. They are testing 3 sites in Jennings: Coffee Creek, Cana Creek (near 250 & Cana Methodist Church), and the White Branch of Quick Creek. Dr. Claude Baker (IUS) has been leading the testing. Steve stated that their September ecology class will continue the testing, while also testing for West Nile Virus. Testing criteria included IDI/fish, macroinvertebrates, habitat, fecal/colloform, and erosion, as well as monitoring the levels of phosphates, nitrates, dissolved 02, chromium and bromide. Steve noted that some areas could use an additional 10-15 feet more filter strip, and Coffee Creek showed marginal O2 levels. Steve and Eric will send their final results to FMRS to use for info on our new grant application. Testing methods being utilized include CHEQU, IDI, and Hoosier River Watch. Simeon will send Dr.'s Claude Baker and Ken Dietrich a thank-you letter for their assistance. A suggestion was made to install signs w/ pamphlets showing contents of river, species of fish in that area, and possibly even IDEM Fish Advisory signs. Jennifer will send Simeon and Leanne some signs for review. Status of the railroad rails at the commons: Tom will follow up on this. APC Environmental Section: Simeon has no current status updates from the APC, but stated that it will contain the environmental issues that we have asked for. This includes eliminating the minor/major subdivision classification, which creates a loophole in approving possible bad septic systems. The APC has hired a person to manage this; Simeon stated that this person should have a 4 year environmental, or be qualified as a sanitarian, soil scientist or environmentalist. Prosecution- Everett Sparkman will present findings from a meeting with Sodrel's office: Mr. Sodrel's representative was scheduled to attend, but was a no show. Everett presented the group letters from Mike Sodrel and Terry Goodin's letter to DNR. The DNR letter has had no response as yet. Everett discussed the issue with Scott County's Commissioner and Sheriff on Sunday. He has also discussed this with the prosecutor, but has had no response. Officer Drew from the ISP post in Seymour enforced cleanup of the Tobias Ford area by that guilty party after the April cleanup. Sherida has sent thank-you letter to Officer Drew. Fair Booth: Les to coordinate recycling (not affiliated with FMRS): This did not happen due to lack of cooperation from the fair officials. Les also plans to have his recycling containers at next years' Bean Blossom Festival during fair time. Application for 319 grant: Kathleen Hagan and Jennifer Boyle from IDEM attended to discuss the new 319 grant application: Jennifer reported that funds available this year are about $4 million for implementation, the same as last year. Approximately $1.2 million have not currently been distributed, and ways need to be looked at to try to designate some of this for planning. Amy Carpenter (Jefferson County SWCD), Terry Stevenson (HHH) and Leanne met to discuss combining the efforts of FMRS, Ripley County, Scott County, and Jefferson County to formulate a single plan for the 11 digit watershed area (378). Jennifer's suggestion was to coordinate planning and steering, where there are limited funds available, with a large group and then spread the funding and implementation to the groups from each area. This would cut costs and help form a larger, stronger group to create a larger impact. It would also allow the FMRS and the other groups to focus in smaller areas more intensely, which also would also aid in creating a larger impact. Scott County representatives need to be approached about this. If we wish to move forward on this, then the next step suggested by Jennifer would be for FMRS to set as stakeholders to address our issues. Amy Carpenter has contacts in Scott County, while Terry Stevenson will contact Ripley County later this month, since the headwaters begin there. Leanne and Amy have begun filling out a new 319 application form, which needs to include support letters from all current and active supporting groups in application. A motion was made by Kevin and seconded by Troy to move forward with forming a partnership. The motion was carried. Action items needed by Leanne to move forward: - Compile a list of sponsors, and send request letters asking for response letters of support; possible sponsors mentioned were HHH and IUS - Re-assemble the FMRS 'grant committee' to complete the application, grant writing and submission Simeon suggested searching the website 'www.TGCIAlumni.com' for sources of grant funding possibilities. Troy will research the site to find some possible sources by next meeting; Simeon to email login info to Troy. To be assigned to the Grant Committee Contact Dave Turner/Sheriff's Department for gloves and Hazmat demo on 10-1-05: Simeon will handle this. NEW BUSINESS: Education, grant money, and task report from Simon and Leanne: They will compile a report and forward to the officers. Thank Les and Valeo for the contribution of the pH monitor: Tom/Sherida handled this. Task and contract balance-Discussion of Final report: Kathleen and Leanne addressed the following 'holes' that need filled in the existing 319 grant to finish up the final phase and documentation (resolutions in parentheses): - Press release info September to November 2003 and 2004 (Tom, Sim?) - Water quality issues and reports (Sim and Tom's presentations to Kiwanis) - City/county council (Tom's Commisioner Meeting minutes; APC Meeting minutes regarding septic, major/minor subdivision, environmental section and essential services notes; recycle and Fair board meeting minutes; ESF meeting minutes from Sim to Leanne) - Brochure flyers: none were issued until after April 2003 cleanup (Jennifer to send a recycle brochure to meet the criteria) - Press releases (monthly meeting minutes) - Water quality planning meetings: none occurred until June 2004 (use QUAP and class education reports) - Calli State Preserve cleanup (use info in FMRS Powerpoint presentation from the annual meeting) Promotion item discussion for the October 1st cleanup: Tabled until next meeting. Rural Community Assistance Program: Tabled until next meeting. Set agenda for the next meeting: Tom will use these minutes to issue an agenda for next meeting. Meeting adjourned @ 7:45 pm Next Meeting: September 6th @ 5:30pm. Mother Nature Thanks You Use the TIP LINE. Call 1-800-847-4367 (1-800-TIP-IDNR)