Quarterly Meeting Minutes

June 2nd, 2010

Hilltop Cafe

Jordan, Mt.

Vice Chairman Nick Schultz opened up the meeting at 7:06 p.m with introductions. Council members present were; John Chase representing Cascade County CD; Dean Rogge representing Garfield County CD; Dennis Mitchell representing Blaine County CD; Dick Iversen representing Richland County CD; Karl Christians representing DNRC, Tim Ouellette representing NRCS, the MRCDC Coordinator Vicki Marquis, and the MRCDC Secretary Carie Hess. Also present were, J.T Korkow and Mike Waite with Congressman Rehberg’s Office, Amanda Lammers and Monte Billing with Garfield CD, Janet Guptill and Karla Christians with the Jordan Tribune, and Bob Nansel with the Eastern Plains RC&D.

General:

1. The agenda was looked over and Dick moved to approve and Dean seconded, the motion passed unanimously.

2. The January 13, 2010 minutes were read by the council members. John Chase moved to approve the minutes as submitted and Dennis Mitchell seconded, the motion passed unanimously. The April 8th meeting notes were read and John Chase moved to approve as submitted and Dennis Mitchell seconded, the motion passed unanimously.

3. Vicki reported on the Executive Committee and that they had approved the tour and meeting agenda for the April meeting, have been working on job description, hiring process, and transition plans. It was noted that the Executive Committee did not have a member form the Lower Reach and needed a representative from there. Dick Iversen was appointed to the Executive Committee by acclimation.

4. Carie read the financial package and Dean moved to approve and John Chase seconded, the motion passed unanimously. The FY 2010 – 2011 draft budget was presented and Vicki recommended adding $2000.00 into contract labor to bring the total funding back up to $114,000, the originally authorized amount. Vicki also noted that the payroll would have to be refigured once the new coordinator was hired. John Chase moved to approve the FY 2010- 2011 Draft Budget with the addition of $2000.00 into contract labor, Dean seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Vicki noted that the council has to spend about $6000.00 and that the Executive Committee thought that the council should put $3000.00 in the termination account and possibly hire a facilitator for the CMR stakeholder group.

5. Correspondence received and sent since the last meeting was presented and reviewed.

6. Coordinator’s Report-Vicki noted that her April report was in the packets and that in May she has attend a meeting on Tiber Dam releases to help cottonwood regeneration on the Missouri through the Monument. She also reported that the council had received 22 applications for the coordinator position.

Reports:

1. Upper Reach:

 Whitmore Ravine Update: John Chase noted that there had been 2 grant requests submitted to DNRC one for $111,000.00 and another for $300,000.00. He also reported that he had attended an EQC meeting but that it had turned sour with the mention of lawsuits. He stated that the Whitmore Ravine Working Group has a MOU and that they would be going back to the EQC in July and will bring other alternatives. He also stated that there were appropriations and funding requests $5 million with Baucus and $10 million with Rehberg.

 CREP Update: Vicki noted that she is working on a wording change to the addendum that would include livestock grazing. This had come about after Dr. Clayton Marlow’s presentation in April about grazing as fire prevention. Glen Patrick with FSA asked that grazing be included in the addendum. Vicki also noted that the letter of support will need to be approved.

2. Middle Reach:

 Monument Riparian Action Plan update –Vicki noted that there are several meetings and that the actual assessment starts July 6th. Nick suggested that anyone with a permit to attend these meetings and the assessment. It was thought to have Warren Kellogg represent the council through this process. Dick Iversen thought this was a great idea and asked if the council had the funding. He also asked if the permittee had someone or group to represent them as well. Vicki noted that there would be a seat for the permittee, and 2 others on the boat. This was tabled for the Executive Committee and to have the committee prioritize allotments.

 BLM RAC Update: Nick and Vicki updated the council on the RMP implementation and that there was a fee committee formed to come up with recreation fees for river use and then it would go out to the public. It was thought the fees would not be in place until 2011.

3. Reservoir Reach:

 CMR Comprehensive Management Plan Update: Vicki stated that she had sent copies of the CCP to each conservation district along the CMR and had gotten some comments. The council had hired John Lacey to do an overview. The meetings started today with comments from the County Commissioners and the FWP. The council discussed discrepancies with the AUM numbers and Vicki noted that the comments from the CD’s would be reviewed Friday June 4th from 9:00 AM to noon and that any Council Member interested in coming was welcome. It was also noted that everyone needed to take the comments and write a comment letter right away to give some time for negotiation. Vicki noted that once the CCP goes to the public that there cannot be any additional objectives added. She also noted that in the meeting the County Commissioners asked that research by nonprofit groups not be used.

 Stakeholder Group Proposal: Vicki noted that there would have been a small group of interested people but due to the cancellation of the tour they were not at the meeting. Bob Nansel with the Eastern Plains RC&D talked about Garfield County CD requesting assistance for the stakeholder group. It had been approved and Tim Ouellette with NRCS stated that NRCS has $5,000 grants available to fund collaborative stakeholder groups. Tim informed the council on how to request the Micro-mini grant money and the process. One thing he mentioned is that it has to show partnership and not support. He stated that there was no match and that the funds are on a first come first serve basis.

4. Lower Reach

 MRRIC Meeting Update: The next meeting will be in Sheridan Wyoming July 19-22. Both Vicki and Dick plan to attend.

 Travel Funding Update: Vicki updated that the PCCD’s 223 grant request for travel funding was ranked 2nd at the RCAC meeting and was fully funded. Vicki noted that her seat expires in September and that the thought is to have Dick Iversen appointed as her alternate then he can apply for the seat after Vicki’s term.

 Dick reported on the huge oil movement going on in the Dakota’s and that the best water for the fracking is the Missouri River. The Missouri River Dredge is up and running and that there was no backlog as the new operator was hired in the off season and started. They are working on 20 – 25 pump sites.

5. MACD- no report at this time but it was noted that Jeff Tiberi and Steve Hedstrom were going to Witicha, Kansas in June for the NACD Regional meeting. They will carry forward several of the Council’s talking points.

6. DNRC- Karl stated the DNRC was gearing up for the new fiscal year and that there was no new funding. He also reported that they are looking at a possible 4% across the board cut for the next fiscal year.

7. NRCS- Tim reported that the NRCS had rolled out the new proposals for cost share to MACD, Local Working groups and watershed working groups. He noted that there will be a reduction in funding in the next 2-3 years and that they will be funding from the ground up for the next 2-3 years. He stated that there will be a letter rolled out next week and that the deadline for suggestions is September 1st. He also mentioned that the NRCS can fund projects on federal ground as long as they have a direct benefit to the producer.

New Business:

1. Changes to the Ground Rules – Provisions for Secretary, Treasurer, and Ex. Com. The council discussed the ground rules changes and John Chase thought that the Executive Committee should have a floating member or two, as provided in this revision. The Treasurer position was discussed and after a lot of discussion Dean moved to approve the ground rules changes with removal of the Treasurer position. John Chase seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

2. Bison Summit Panel – the proposals were read and discussed. John Chase felt that option A was the better choice. The council discussed the details in the options and the panel of experts. Dick felt that Option A is the best choice but it needed a rancher or someone from a grazing association and a natural resource expert on the panel. Vicki noted that the discussion was leaning towards option A with a panel of 8 experts. John Chase cautioned that they need to be careful who they get. It was thought to have an MSU extension Ag- Economist. Dean moved to approve option A with a panel of 8 experts and case studies and John Chase seconded, the motion passed unanimously.

3. Video Project – Vicki noted that these could be used to educate the public on what CD’s are, what they do and how they work. Vicki also noted that previous experience with the display and brochures indicated that you get what you pay for and that the council should hire a professional. Dean moved to go with option A and Dick seconded, the motion passed unanimously.

4. Transition Plans – Vicki noted her transition plans and they are

1. MRRIC travel funding

2. CREP

3. Tour reschedule

4. Bison Summit – felt won’t be able to complete

5. Stakeholder group

6. Interview and Hire process

7. Website and newsletter

8. FY2011 budget to DNRC

Old Business:

1. State Water Plan: Vicki noted that Jim had relayed that this had lost all of its funding with the exception of USGS and GIS study funds. It was noted that the grocery bag project, flood photo archive, and the hotel promotions would not get done before Vicki left.

Public Comment: None

Next meetings:

 The council discussed to reschedule the CMR tour for July 7th and the planning meeting for July 6th in Jordan. Dick moved to schedule the tour for the 7th and planning meeting for the 6th, John Chase seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 No River Rendezvous this year

 The council discussed their 1st quarter meeting and Dean moved to have it the evening of September 14 in Malta as the Governor’s Range tour at Bill French’s place in Malta September 13 & 14th. They also noted that the 2nd quarter meeting would be at the state convention in Billings in November.

With no further business coming before the council, the meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Submitted by:

___________________                                  ________________________

Carie Hess, Secretary                                 Dana Darlington, Chairman