Broad River Watershed Association Board Meeting

July 13, 2010

 

 

Present at Meeting:   Jean Smith, Sam Linhart, Pat Kelly, Debbie Lester, Mary Freeman, Bud Freeman, Victor Johnson, Paul Webb, Michael Moody

 

Pat presented the June 2010 board meeting minutes. Michael moved to approve the minutes as written. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

Annual Meeting: Board members will bring a dish for breakfast. Lunch is usually catered. Debbie volunteered to contact a caterer. Jean moved that Debbie contact and arrange catering for the annual meeting for $250.

Michael suggested that we invite the county commissioners and chamber of commerce to the annual meeting and fall float. Jean will send them a card about the annual meeting and float.

Dudley will put together an annual report. He asked that we send him anything we have to put in the report.

Details for annual meeting will be finalized at Aug. board meeting.

 

Paddle GA- BRWA will be receiving a $5000 grant. BRWA will need to use the money for a specific project or program. Canoe trails on the Broad is a suggested project. Discussion to build boat ramps at Hwy. 72 and Hwy. 77 could create a canoe trail from 72 to 79 that would connect 3 sections of the Broad River.

Mary stated that although she agrees with and supports canoe trails she doesn’t think it is that it fits well with the mission of BRWA.

Paul asked if we could use the grant to continue the monitoring project of Shiloh and Scull Shoals Creeks begun last year.  Pat will check to see if EPD and NEGRC would help continue the managing the data if we take the samples and pay for supplies and lab fees.

The project will be discussed and hopefully decided on at the next board meeting.

 

The Georgia Environmental Action Network- At the last meeting the board voted to become a sponsoring partner. They need a person to attend quarterly meetings. Victor will do it for now but said he needed some one to take it over.

 

Victor reported that Merryl Lynch has reduced the interest rate on the BRWA money market account to almost nothing.  The only benefit from having the account with Merryl Lynch is that they list individual accounts in a monthly statement.  Bud suggested a bank online from New York, that is easy and no fee to move money around and is paying more interest than other banks.  Bud will check to see if it would work well for BRWA funds.

 

Victor presented Treasurers Report for June. Dudley moved to approve the June Treasurers Report. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

Victor had received a letter from the new owner about discussing the lease for the BRWA office.

He sent them back a letter explaining the history of the lease agreement we presently have and asked that we renew the current lease.

Dudley will check to find the cost of a space in Comer in case the new owners want to raise the rent.

 

There was discussion to change the by laws to read that officers do not need to be board members. Dudley moved to change the by laws to read that officers do not need to be board members. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

Dudley will get the nominating committee together to provide a slate of new board nominees for voting on at annual meeting.  One board member, Debbie, is going have to sit out for a year and her seat will have to be filled. Sam was asked if he would be willing to cme back on the board.  He agreed.  Pat suggested that an email be sent to the membership to see if any one else is interested in serving on the board. Dudley will email the nominating committee and the membership. Jean will send the list of membership emails to Dudley.

 

Victor presented a request from The Food and Water Watch to support their campaign to urge the introduction and passage of Renew America’s Water legislation to provide dedicated federal funding to upgrade and repair our country’s aging water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure that the nation has safe, clean and affordable water for all.   Mary moved to endorse the campaign. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

After discussion if was decided to invite all of the county commissioners in the watershed to the Fall Float on Sept. 25. The Float will be from Hwy. 29 to Camp Kiwanis. Pat will arrange to use the outdoor pavilion with Kiwanis. The float will meet at 11AM at Kiwanis and BRO will shuttle to Hwy 29. Snacks and drinks will be available at the outdoor pavilion after the float.

 

Victor asked if BRWA wanted to do the Danielsville Fall Float or get decals or T-shirts printed this year. Given the state of the budget it was agreed to not do either this year.

 

Meeting was adjourned.