Broad River Watershed Association Annual Retreat

January17, 2010

Present at Meeting: Dudley Hartel, Sam Linhart,
Victor Johnson, Pat Kelly, Becca Haynie, Mary Freeman, Paul Webb, Jean Smith,
Bud Freeman, Robbie Griffith

Pat presented the minutes from the Dec. board
meeting. Dudley found one typo. Victor moved
to approve the minutes as corrected. Motion was seconded and approved
unanimously.

Victor presented the December Financial Report. Dudley moved to accept the December report. Motion was
seconded and approved unanimously.

Jean reported that membership stood at 71. That was
up from last year, mainly due to 11 new members from Elbert County.

Robbie reported that Andrew Bryson, from Wyoming, is still
interested in a conservation easement. He is in the process of buying out his sister’s
share of the 40 acres they own on the Hudson in Banks County.
Robbie had provided a brokers price opinion for his use to make the purchase.

Victor reported that he has been approached by a
client who is interested in a conservation easement on timber land that he his
purchasing as a retirement vehicle.

Also Eddie Drinkard, a realtor from Washington, GA has
approached Victor about selling 126 acres on the Broad River in Wilkes County
at Hwy 17. It has wetlands and duck ponds on it. The Elba
pipeline goes through it. He is interested in selling for $2750/acre.

Elberton Incinerator is still going forward despite
the request of many Elberton citizens that more review and study is needed to
fully access the future impacts. Bob Thomas is saying that the Commission has
already done their homework on this project and further review is not
necessary.

Jean related that he City of Elberton has not been contacted about
supplying water to the incinerator even though Green First is saying that is
where the water for the incinerator will come from.

Sam reported that the Sierra Club plans to have
representatives at all public meetings regarding the incinerator and may engage
in a law suit to stop it. He asked the BRWA board to write a letter to the
Sierra Club to ask that they keep us informed of their actions regarding the
incinerator, offering our support to their efforts. We are in need of their
leadership in dealing with this type of problem and are officially offering our
willingness to work with them. It was agreed to draft the letter.

Victor noted that there is an organization that
exists to help fight large hazardous waste businesses that target low income
and minority areas.

Mary asked if there were any government subsidies
involved in waste to energy plants. Jean said she had heard of a subsidy that
would pay twice as much for sawdust to be burned as what the composite wood
industry can pay.

Robbie mentioned a government subsidy that provides
for converting coal plants to wood burning because they are cleaner. Waste wood
that is not used in the wood products industry if used by the wood products
plants to provide power will get a check from the government.

The BRWA office situation has not changed. Rent has
been paid for the entire year.

Mary asked if anyone would be interested in judging
the State Science Project and awarding the $100 award from BRWA. Dudley is judging the regional level and he would look
into judging the state level.

The GA River Network Annual conference is Feb. 19th
and 20th at Jekyll
Island. Jean and Sam and
Victor are planning to go. There is money available from BRWA to pay for the
conference.

Victor said we had received one or two scholarships
last year after we had paid for attendees. He will ask if those are still
available for use this year.

Victor agreed to stay on as Treasurer. Pat agreed
to stay on as Secretary.  Robbie agreed
to stay on as Co Chair. Dudley agreed to serve
as Chairman if the date for the board meetings could change. Everyone agreed.
Dudley moved to accept the board with Dudley
as chair, Robbie as co chair, Victor as treasurer, and Pat as secretary. The
motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Dudley
asked to switch the board meeting to the third Wednesday of the month at 7 PM.
Victor moved to make the change to the third Wednesday of the month. The motion
was seconded and approved unanimously.

Next meeting will then be February 17.

Dudley moved to adjourn. It was seconded and passed unanimously.