Skip to main content

November 2021 Minutes, Apr 19, 2022

MINUTES
ST. LUCIE SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

The St. Lucie Soil and Water Conservation District regular board meeting was called to
order at 1:30p.m., at the St. Lucie County Agricultural Complex. Those in attendance were:

Mike Adams – Vice Chair, St. Lucie SWCD
Robbie Johnson – Supervisor, St. Lucie SWCD
Stephen Koppelman – Supervisor, St. Lucie SWCD
Matthew Kyle Hamilton – Supervisor, St. Lucie SWCD
Jennifer Abbey – District Conservationist, USDA NRCS
Katie Pritchett – Soil Conservationist, USDA NRCS
Bess McKinney – District Administrator, St. Lucie SWCD

Mr. Adams called the meeting to order at 1:30p.m.

Mr. Johnson motioned to approve the June 8, 2021 minutes. Mr. Koppelman seconded; motion passed.

Mrs. McKinney went over the treasurer and budget report with the board. Mr. Johnson motioned to approve the Treasure and Budget reports. Mr. Koppelman seconded; motion passed.

Mrs. Abbey went over the USDA NRCS report with the board. Mrs. Abbey updated the board on the current contracts. There are currently 25 active EQIP contracts and 8 applications obligated for FY2021. They are stilling accepting FY2022 applications. The deadline is October 1, 2021. There are 7 active CSP contracts and they are still accepting FY2022 applications. They are accepting FY2022 ACEP-WRE FY2022 applications.

Mrs. Abbey told the board that Florida received 1 million dollars in funds to help fund historical under served Ag people this year. St. Lucie County did not receive any of those funds.

Mrs. McKinney informed the board on the Ag MIL. She told them that Mr. Coleman was in the field and was unable to attend the board meeting. She told the board that Mr. Camilo Gaitan, FDACS had taken Mr. Mark Maleo, FDACS place as Contract manger of the Ag MIL grant. She reminded the board that we have worked with Mr. Gaitan before with the Ag MIL.

Mrs. McKinney told the board that the Farm-City AG Bar-B-Q will be held at IRSC Public Safety Campus on Kirby Loop Road in Ft. Pierce.

After discussing the 2021 Outstanding Conservationist of the Year award. Mr. Adams motioned to nominate Mr. Flip Gates as this year’s Outstanding Conservationist of the Year. Mr. Johnson seconded; motion passed.

PAGE 2
MINUTES
ST. LUCIE SWCD
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

Mrs. McKinney and Mrs. Abbey discussed the Local Working Group (LWG) meeting with the board. Mrs. Abbey told the board that this LWG meeting for the FY 2023 funds. Mrs. McKinney the board that USDA NRCS has hired the Association Florida Conservation Districts (AFCD) to help the Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD’s) to hold and set up their LWG meetings. This is to help make sure that every SWCD holds a LWG meeting. The AFCD will advertise the meeting to the public. They will also set up the zoom part. Mrs. McKinney told the board that the St. Lucie and Martin LWGM is scheduled for November 18, 2021 at 2:00pm in the Hurricane House next to our complex.

There being no further business to bring before this board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:00pm. The next regular board meeting will be held October 12, 2021 at 1:30pm at the St. Lucie County Agricultural Complex located at 8400 Picos Road, Ft. Pierce Fl.

Philip C. “Flip” Gates Jr.
Chairman, St. Lucie SWCD