FMRS Meeting Minutes 04-03-07 @ Jennings County Public Library Called to Order @ 5:30pm Attendance: Kevin Jayne, Sherida Moore, Les Ticknor, Cherie Ticknor, Toby Days, Tom Moore, Simeon Stearns, Troy Jackson. Approval of Minutes Approved as submitted. Treasurer's Report New debit cards were received; Sherida will activate them @ ATM. CENTRA: Checking - $2270.90 Savings - $0.86 Home Federal: Last Balance $1534.76 Gift Certificate (Cheri Massey) -$50.00 Post Cards $54.36 Sam's Club $37.68 Tax (mistake) $2.26 Total: $94.30 Check to Moores for above costs -$94.30 Ending Balance $1390.46 Old Business: GPS/HRW/WMT Training (Kevin): GPS training - Bill Suhre and Larry Jacob show interest in receiving training. Kevin will organize a training session soon. Hoosier River Watch - Bobby Steiner is teaching a class in Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring "Basic" Training on April 21 @ the Muscatatuck County Park from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required! Please bring a sack lunch. For more information or to register, contact Bob Steiner at Jennings County SWCD at bob.steiner@in.usda.gov or 812/346-3411 x3. Watershed Management Training - contact Kevin or go to http://www.ces.purdue.edu/waterquality/iwlp.html for more information. Kevin would like to see more people go to the training, and suggested using the Wal-Mart grant money to fund the class. Dump signs @ Toby Hole: Simeon addressed this with Cheryl Trisler; her advice is for us to compose an ordinance and submit to her for implementation. Simeon suggested a "tiered" system for fines (i.e. $500 for trash, $1000 for tires/appliances, etc.). Web Site: Troy will ask Cherie to setup: a) email accounts for Kevin and Sherida, b) forwarding email and website submissions to all on the website contact list and 3) training and login/password info for accessing the new accounts. Where are we on the 319 Grant? Our last involvement was to participate in the interview for Coordinator, which has already occurred. Simeon and Tom will talk to Terry Stephenson to see what our next step should be. Debrief annual meeting: This year's meeting was a great success! Thanks to all who contributed. Only two suggestions were made to improve for next year: a) Make sure that equipment (i.e. laptop, projector) are present and in working order b) Schedule to avoid other conflicts (i.e. SWCD Annual Meeting) Office Arrangements: Tom and Simeon will talk to commissioners Richard Schneider and Jim Reeves to finalize the location at the Carnegie Library building, Cathy Vawter (who is an administrative worker for the commissioners) mentioned that she would have no problem looking after our office arrangement if we move in there. Rendezvous/Race: This year's events are Saturday April 28 for the Dan Shade / Wayne Durbin Memorial Rendezvous and Sunday April 29 for the Orlo Blomquist Memorial Canoe Race and Family Tour. Below are the issues Bill Suhre addressed to Troy and the responses from the FMRS: - Look at re-naming the race to reflect FMRS's involvement: This is a great gesture, but FMRS feel that we would like to continue honoring the founders of the events. - Wants to see if race can be held under the umbrella of the HHH for liability issues: Tom will discuss with Chuck Waggoner to see if it could fall under the 501C3 umbrella. Simeon said that a $1,000,000 policy would cost approximately $500 annually. - As in the past, contributions to go to FMRS: FMRS, as always, is honored for this generous gift! - Would like to organize concurrent events with the race for non-participants/early finishers/spectators and family, such as fundraisers, auctions, etc.: Kevin, Troy, Tom, Sherida and Les have offered their services for the events. Our biggest goal is to relieve Bill so he may actually be able to race this year! Please let us know if you are interested in helping host these events. New Business: Wal-Mart Grant: Wal-Mart has been very gracious in awarding the FMRS a $1000 grant. Tom, Troy and Simeon went before the meeting to accept the grant and pose for a publicity photo. Toby Days, Source Water Specialist for Alliance of Indiana Rural Water Alliance of Indiana specializes in providing aid to rural water and waste in low-income areas to meet state and federal requirements. Toby is currently working with Rick Speer and Dean Jones (North Vernon Water). Since IDEM is not currently funding septic replacements due to lack of funds, Alliance is helping by providing educational outreach programs, promoting alternative solutions such as wetland systems and developing watershed management plans. Toby's target for this area is the Vernon Fork of the Muscatatuck in areas listed on the 303D list for e Coli and also areas affected by agricultural erosion and livestock area runoff near source water intakes. Alliance's action plan for implementation in Jennings County: - Public educational outreach through newsletters, brochures, etc. - Identify trouble areas and develop a plan - Map watershed area - Educate local Emergency Response Teams - Involve stakeholders and affected organizations; Clean Water Indiana will show interest in providing funding if 4-5 entities are involved - Compose contract/subcontracts with Alliance FMRS would like to involve Toby in our 319 grant and would like to add Alliance as a link to the FMRS website. Dean Jones, NV Water Did not attend; tabled. Action Register for May 12 Sweep Food * Kevin: Subway, McDonald's, Domino's Papa John's (Kevin has a new contact) * Tom: KFC, Firsich (burgers and dogs)/Taylor Barger (gas grill), Chips * Joann: condiments. * Sim/Sherida: Schedule Vernon Firehouse for post-cleanup meeting place Drinks * Sherida/Tom: water * Troy: RC, Pepsi, Bartholomew County Beverage. Gloves * Simeon: Sheriff's Department * Pay Les for "All-Grip" brand gloves from his workplace Registration * Christinia w/Sherida; * Tom: Add a "Check in/Check out" box to sign-in forms Publicity: TV * Simeon: Talk to Jeff Green, JCTV Civic Groups * Simeon/Tom will talk to Kiwanis, Rotary and JCHS. * Troy: will contact Howard Jones' wrestlers. Radio * Simeon. Newspaper * Meeting Minutes and ad submitted to PDS Website/data * Cherie to add to website and add cleanup stats afterward. HHH/Community Calendars: * Joann/Tom (school calendars and newsletters). Fliers * Troy will update and distribute to local business. Banner * Les and Sim to place @ Highway 7 & 50 intersection and Muscatatuck County Park 3 weeks prior to cleanup. First Aid * Les will check inventory, Sherida will purchase more kits if needed Storage * Les/Tom: New items include 5 dry bags, 7 shovels, more 5 gallon buckets, marker flags from Wayne Stearns, and couple of "come-alongs" * Sherida will purchase 10 boxes of 3mil bags, disinfectant wipes, first aid kits and sanitizer @ Ace Supply Trash Bags * Les: Received donation of large industrial bags from his workplace Leaders: All leaders need to survey their sites to evaluate equipment/personnel needs. Below is a list of sites; leaders will be assigned by next meeting: - Tobias Ford - Toby Hole - Vernon Commons - Vernon Cemetery - Private Road 300E - Sullivan Ford - Artz Ford - Race Track - River Leaders - Wagon Wheel Bridge - Dryden Bridge - Coffee Creek/Vernon Bridge - Selmier/Beal's Heavy Equipment * Sim: Terry/Eric Bright, Jason Law, Dustin @ Hoosier Landscape * Les: Gator * Troy: ATV w/ wench * We need to contact Mike Magner @ FPBH for their equipment; possibly a Bobcat? Contacts: Boy Scouts Kevin/Troy Girl Scouts Kevin Kiwanis Tom Rotary Tom Probation (Travis) Tom Churches Everyone post/notify at their own church Businesses Simeon - Chamber of Commerce County Officials Tom School Newsletters Tom Sponsors: Coffee Creek Tom: the group agreed to only ask when the need arises. Corporate Sponsors: Duke Energy/Cinergy/REMC; possible website links? Thank You notes Sherida Cell Phone list: Forward your number to Tom if you need to be added. Need to laminate next time to protect from the environment. Reconnoitering of debris Post on website Correspondence: United Way Day of Caring: The following email was sent to Troy from Cherie Massie (United Way) on February 15: "It's time to start planning! Saturday, April 21st from 8:00 A.M. until Noon. "One day makes a difference in the rest of someone's life." ~Scott Franks This year marks our 6th annual Day of Caring. Our volunteers are vital to our ongoing success and work on projects ranging from painting & clean-up to landscape and general repair for our Jennings County agencies and some of their clients. Our volunteers are vital to our ongoing success and work on projects ranging from painting, clean-up, landscape and general repair for our Jennings County agencies and some of their clients. Day of Caring has grown to include 55 projects, including 28 at Senior Housing, and approximately 200 volunteers. This year we hope to do even more! I have included a project sheet, if you have a project you would like to submit for consideration! Please begin organizing your work team and communicate your plans with us to participate. If you'd like to volunteer, you can sign up online at: http://www.jcunitedway.com if you have a team of volunteers that would like to work together, just list them. Individual volunteers will be placed on teams. (Rain date is tentatively the following Saturday, but teams are encouraged to select an alternate date to best suit themselves.) We look forward to working with you in this event, which brings so many people together for a day of hard work, good feelings & makes an immediate impact in our community. Thank You, Scott Franks, Day of Caring For more information & photos from past years: http://www.jcunitedway.com Call the United Way office 346-5257 or email cheri@jcunitedway.com Cheri Massey home- 346-2734 cell 592-0630" Our project is to organize a cleanup at Vernon Commons due to a report of dumping of some large appliances there (across the bank from where canoes are launched). Contact Troy and Tom if you are interested in volunteering. Other: River of Blues Festival: Les wishes to organize a recycling team to work at the festival. Eager volunteers need to contact Les or Troy. Les and Troy will talk to Hugh Partridge to confirm our presence and to discuss admission fees. FMRS Art Logo Contest: Jan Furgason conducted the contest at the JCMS, and has eliminated the choices to three contestants. FMRS needs to vote to decide the winner. Simeon would like to contract Mike Hardwick with MC Metalworks to have the image cut into wrought iron shapes & powder-coated; he would like to use them as a hand-out gift for the cleanup. Simeon will get more information on cost and timing. Madison Main Attraction Riversweep: The event is sponsored by the Ohio River Foundation and will be held on April 21. More information is available; contact Tom for more details. Misc.: FMRS needs to do more promotion of watershed quality to the general public, especially with the proposed new junkyard at the old "Cubeco/Maxim Trucking" site on Highway 7, this idea was recently presented to the Area Planning Commission. Toby Days with Alliance of Indiana will help us educate the public on this issue. Agenda for next meeting: Old Business: Action register Toby Days correspondence 319 Grant Office arrangements Website Orlo Bloomquist Race New Business ??? Adjournment @ 7:45 pm The next meeting is on Tuesday, May 1 at 5:30PM in the Jennings County Public Library. Up-coming dates for next river cleanup: 5/12/07 Use the TIP LINE 1-800-847-4367 (1-800-TIP-IDNR) Mother Nature Thanks You