Broad River Watershed Association Board Meeting

November 11, 2009

 

Present at Meeting:   Sam Linhart, Jean Smith, Michael Moody, Victor Johnson, Pat Kelly, Paul Webb, Debbie Lester, Robbie Griffith, Becca Haynie, Dudley Hartel, Jeff Pentz

 

Mary and Bud were absent. Robbie Grifffith chaired the meeting.

 

Pat presented the Oct. 14 board minutes. Victor moved to approve the minutes. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

Victor presented the Oct. financial statement. Dudley moved to approve the statement. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

Jean reported that we have 10 new members from Elbert County that Bill Hood recruited.

She will be sending out the last of the renewal notices for the year in Dec.

 

Robbie met with Andy Bryson from Wyoming who owns 50 acres in Banks County on the Broad River. He is considering a conservation easement. He will probably be putting it in conservation use.

Victor reported that Dr. Scoggins owns a 200 acre farm on Crawford Long Rd. It is an active cattle farm. He is interested in a conservation easement.

Robbie checked on Purvis Woods. There is no evidence of any more ATV traffic. Michael was concerned that the bog area be protected from ATV’s after deer season.

 

Sam reported that the Watershed Committee met in Elberton with Bill Hood and two new members from Elberton. They are concerned with the LHR Farms from Carnesville that purchased 900 acres between the Broad River and River Road just above Anthony Shoals. There are two streams flowing through the property, Bertram Creek and a smaller one that forms a beaver pond before entering the Broad River. LHR Farms has an operation in White County and has been sited for numerous violations and has been fined by the EPD for violating their permit. The Broad River location has an agriculture permit for spreading and injecting poultry processing plant waste, then plowing it into the soil and eventually planting Bermuda grass.

The Elbert County members have said they would like to start a monitoring program to identify any violations that could lead to pollution of the Broad River. They would perform the monitoring if BRWA would train and provide equipment to them. The committee felt this is something that would be a good thing to do for the river.

Jean added that Pat will contact Mary Gazaway with EPD for more information on what tests to use in the monitoring.

Sam asked if the board would vote to support monitoring of Broad River and Bertram Creek.

Victor made a motion to support monitoring of Broad River and Bertram Creek in Elbert County. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

Jeff reported that Eric has made it possible to upload files to the website. Jeff can then link them to any place on the website. Jeff would like to see a Pay Pal link on every page rather than just in the news link. He will continue to work with Eric on that. Dudley asked if there was a way to upload files to a password protected area of the website. Jeff said you could always upload a file with password protection and then provide the password to those who need to know. He will check to see if there is a section already in the website that is password protected.

Jeff said the website now has RSS feeds. It allows folks to receive an email telling you that something new has been added to the BRWA website. Jeff offered to resend the email that explained how to set it up on your computer.

Pat asked if there was a link to joining BRWA on the website. Jeff said he will work with Eric to post the different levels of membership and link Pay Pal to it.

 

Victor reported that the owner of the BRWA office is not interested in selling the building for less than $40,000. Dudley reported that rent in downtown Comer was $1/sq. ft. There is a space that would be perfect but it is 900 sq. ft. and would be too expensive at $900/month. There is a room in the old post office about the size of the existing office in Danielsville. He is inquiring about the rent.

Another house is north of 72 and is divided into two apartments. We could probably get that for $300 or 400. Jeff asked if he had contacted Linda Eizenstat and about the old Cup of Karma. Dudley said he had not but he would. Jeff also said that Barbara Bendzunas had just rented the house in front of the studio for $450 and could be a possibility if those tenants leave.

Becca asked if Lexington was out of consideration. Dudley said it would be fine. Michael said that most of the downtown buildings have not been kept in repair and the roofs are no longer intact.

 

Victor said that Abbey Patterson spokesperson for Green First would like meet with BRWA board members to exchange information about the Green First Incinerator being proposed in Elbert County. The board agreed to meet on Nov. 18. or 19 at 7PM.

 

Victor asked who wanted to go to the Soil and Water Conservation dinner in Carnesville on Nov. 17. at 6:30. Paul agreed to go if someone else would go. Becca volunteered Rhett. Paul agreed to call Terry Chandler and reserve their seats.

 

Victor got permission for a spring fundraiser in Athens Land Trust Center at the Old Jail on Meigs St. We just need to let them know a date. Robbie suggested we talk about that at the retreat.

Retreat date will be set at the Dec. board meeting.

 

Victor agreed to serve as Treasurer for another year and Pat agreed to serve as secretary.

 

Meeting adjourned.