Watershed Management Commission

Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 5:35 p.m.

Adair County Annex Building 300 North Franklin Street

PRESENT:  Roger Bland, Clayton Dillavou, Scott Ellis, Marty Jayne, Gary Jones, and Mari Macomber

ABSENT:  Kenny Coy, Jim Novinger and Jerry Smith

OTHERS PRESENT:  Phillip Ayers, Mike Bradley, John Buckwalter, Jack Schuster and Brian Todd

Chairman Dillavou called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

A motion approving the minutes as presented was made by Marty Jayne and seconded by Gary Jones.  The motion carried with the following vote:   Roger Bland – aye, Kenny Coy - absent, Clayton Dillavou – aye, Scott Ellis – aye, Martin Jayne – aye, Gary Jones – aye, Mari Macomber – aye, Jim Novinger – absent, and Jerry Smith – absent.

No introductions were made.

There was no new business to discuss

Chairman Dillavou provided a summary report of a presentation he made to the City Council concerning the work of the Watershed Management Commission.  He noted that the City Council was informed that the Commission was close to completing its work on the Source Water Protection Plan and would expect the Commission’s formal approval at the next meeting.  Chairman Dillavou noted that the media incorrectly reported that the Commission had approved the Plan.

The Commission had received a new page 13 and 14 which included information on the capacity of both lakes and the land owned by the City in the Hazel Creek Watershed.  Language had also been distributed on additional language to be included regarding the number of meetings/presentations made to the City Council. 

John Buckwalter informed the Commission that he could not determine which study was referenced on pages 12 and 15 of the Plan.  Mike Bradley stated that he would check to see if the source was from USDA. 

Chairman Dillavou asked the group to start its review of the Plan using the minutes as a guideline.  The review began on page 5 with no changes requested.  The Commission agreed that a reference to the threats found on pages 44 – 46 needed to be added as a last paragraph of D on page 6.  The Commission asked that the page referring to threats be appropriately labeled for easy identification.

It was noted that there had been some problems with sending correspondence through emails to some of the contacts on page 7.  Gary Jones asked that his home email be included, as he is not at the Court House every day.  Chairman Dillavou noted that he was not sure about the email address for Rich Morrow with Department of Natural Resources.

The Commission requested a clarification of the reference to the number of horses found in the Forest Lake watershed.  The Commission agreed that the language be modified to say nor more than 40 horses and no more than 40 cattle.  Page 12 still needed the study reference.  Marty Jayne suggested that the headers 1) through 3) be eliminated, along with the word Response: at the start of the beginning of the text for each section.  The Commission agreed that declarative statements should be included instead.  The Commission also asked that the first sentence under 1) be modified by striking the words, “I assume this question arises due to the fact that”.

It was noted that language was added on page 13 regarding capacity and on 14 regarding land cover.  The Commission referenced the new hand-outs for these pages.  Page 15 it was noted again that the study would be referenced once the appropriate study was identified.

The Commission spent time reviewing pages 22 and 23.  It was noted that the Plan did not include the milestones identified in the mini grant and that these should be included in Section 6. B. on page 22.  It was also requested that the evaluation methods included in the mini grant be added to Section 6. H. on page 23.  The Commission agreed that the target dates included in the grant could be referenced in Section 6. C. to tie it together. 

The Commission reviewed language provided by Chairman Dillavou concerning testing requirements.  The group agreed that language should be added on page 6 of the document with one correction.  The words “at little expense” were replaced with “in conjunction with micro classes”.  It was also agreed that the language presented at the beginning of the meeting regarding presentations be added at the end of Section 3. D. on page 6.

The document will also include a reference near the front stating the document follows and adheres to the format provided by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Commission was asked whether it was ready to approve the Plan or not.  There was some discussion on this topic.  A motion to place on the February agenda the approval of the Water Source Protection Plan was made by Marty Jayne and seconded by Scott Ellis.  The motion carried with the following vote:  Roger Bland – aye, Kenny Coy - absent, Clayton Dillavou – aye, Scott Ellis – aye, Martin Jayne – aye, Gary Jones – aye, Mari Macomber – aye, Jim Novinger – absent, and Jerry Smith – absent.

There was discussion concerning the attendance of Commission members.  Chairman Dillavou noted that Ken Coy had missed all but one meeting since the Commission was formed.  Mari Macomber stated that she would discuss this with the City Council to identify a replacement.

Scott Ellis asked what the Commission would be working on once the Water Source Protection Plan was completed.  The Commission would need to begin work on the Watershed Management Plan for both lakes.  The Commission also discussed the Public Participation items listed on page 24 of the Source Water Protection Plan.  The Commission discussed several ideas including the development of a brochure of activities, the possibility of conducting a public meeting, the Commission participating in an Earth Day activity.  Jack Schuster suggested that the Commission host a breakfast and invite the land owners.  The Commission discussed the possibility of using the new Missouri Department of Conservation facility. 

Brian Todd suggested that what the Commission was discussing was two different topics.  The first would be an Adair County Conservation Showcase; and the second would be an effort to target the land owners and to interact over a meal.  It was noted that the Missouri Department of Conservation would host its dedication of the building on April 14.  It was suggested that any public events that would be done would be completed prior to the end of the Truman school year to allow the students the opportunity to participate.  More work will need to be done on both of these efforts.

The Commission agreed to hold its next meeting on February 22 at 5:30 p.m.

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mari E. Macomber

Commission Secretary