Broad River Watershed Association Board Meeting

December 14, 2010

 

 

Present at Meeting:  Robbie Griffith, Jean Smith, Pat Kelly, Victor Johnson, Michael Moody

Debbie Lester, Paul Webb

 

Pat presented the Nov. 9 minutes. Debbie moved to accept the minutes. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

Victor presented the treasurer’s report for Nov. The accounts have been moved to First Madison Bank and Trust. Paul moved to accept the treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

Victor reported that the new landlord has offered the office lease at $500/month with the tax write off for the landlord reduced from $200 to $150/month. That will result in a $50/month increase in the lease cost to BRWA. Robbie moved to accept the new lease agreement. The motion was seconded and accepted unanimously.

 

Pat reported that Camp Kiwanis needed $65 to have the retreat there. The group decided that it was well worth the $65 to have the retreat at Camp Kiwanis even though Jean was very gracious and offered to have the retreat at her house for free. Pat will make the arrangements

for Jan. 8 10AM – 4PM.

 

Dudley brought up the officers for 2011. Pat agreed to stay on as secretary. Robbie agreed to stay on as co-chairman. Victor agreed to stay on as treasurer. There was no volunteer for chairman and Dudley says he really won’t have the time.

 

There was discussion on the water trails meeting that Victor, Michael and Pat attended with the GA River Network staff. GRN offered contacts with folks that have created trails in GA. They also have contacts with the Corps of Engineers and DNR. They also will have a website up and running in Jan with information with real economic impacts to present to counties and Chamber of Commerce. BRWA already has the power point from annual meeting to present to the county commissions and chamber of commerce. GRN did agree that it would be a good idea to start at the Corps and 17 Hwy. boat ramp and work our way up the river. Dudley suggested that Victor ask the GRN staff to get on the agenda at the Association of County Commissioners annual meeting as well as the Georgia Municipal Association annual meeting. GRN could give a 15 minute presentation that would impact all of the commissioners at once. They could high light the trails already in existence in GA.

 

In November Jean and Dudley received their Adopt A Stream certification for chemical and ecoli monitoring. Pat is working on getting another training session in January somewhere.

 

Victor reported that the air conditioner and heater does not work in the back room of the office.  Dudley offered to take a look at it and attempt to repair it. It was discovered that one of the heaters in the front office is working.

 

 

Victor said that to get conservation defense insurance we need to have a written records policy, base line documentation, and a back up in a secure storage place. Robbie will look for the base line documentation. Dudley will research a written records policy. Victor says we have a safety deposit box for safe storage. He will look to see if we have back up documentation.

 

GA River Network annual meeting will be at the Chattahoochee Nature Center Feb. 25, 26.

 

Jean has created new membership envelopes and they have already been paid for by four   members who renewed from 2005.

 

Because of the server that the BRWA website is on, Jean says her contact cannot help us with the website. There was discussion and Dudley and Michael volunteered to research creating a new website because the old one doesn’t function the way it needs to.

 

The Elbert County incinerator has been backed out of by Covanta the company that would operate it. A measured victory is being celebrated by the Citizens for Public Awareness. However donations are needed to pay for the legal fees for the law suit.