pecan valley groundwater conservation disistrict

Pecan Valley GCD Office       1129 N. Esplanade, suite 1129       Cuero, TX 77954

 

minutes

september 4, 2007 – 4:00 P.M.

 

Board Members Present:   Lias “Bubba” Steen, Director Prect. 1/Vice-Chairman, Gary Colman, Director Prect. 2, Tim Voelkel, Director Prect. 3, Bob Davis, Director Prect. 4

 

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:  Jim Allison, District Attorney; Kay Wild, PVGCD General Manager

 

GUESTS: Wilbert Sourmilch, landowner

 

agenda:

  1. CALL TO ORDER:  The board meeting was called to order at 4:01 by Vice-Chairman, Lias “Bubba” Steen.

 

  1. REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 7th MEETING:  The minutes were presented in the board packets for review.  One typographical error was noted.   With a motion from Gary Colman to accept the minutes as corrected, second by Bob Davis, the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. REVIEW AND APPROVE FINANCIAL REPORT FROM 8/7 - 9/4:  The financial report was presented in the board packets.  With a motion from Tim Voelkel to approve the financial report as presented, second by Bob Davis, the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. CONSIDER AND APPROVE NEW HIRE FINELY BARTH AS FIELD AGENT:  Kay Wild presented the board with information regarding Finley Barth’s qualifications as field agent.  Bob Davis suggested that the board consider combining agenda items 4 and 5 in one motion to approve the hiring and compensation for Finley Barth.  Bob Davis made a motion to approve Finley Barth as Field Agent for PVGCD to do well locating, monitoring and testing as needed, with compensation of $40 per well and mileage reimbursement at the current maximum state allowable rate.  Tim Voelkel seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1.  CONSIDER AND APPROVE COMPENSATION FOR FIELD AGENT:  Approved in agenda item 4 motion.

 

  1. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT BUDGET:  Vice-Chairman, Bubba Steen, opened the public hearing at 4:12 P.M.  The proposed budget for 2007-2008 was presented in the board packets.  Jim Allison suggested that the category of Professional Services be added to cover legal, accounting, and research expenditures.  With that change noted, Gary Colman made a motion to accept the proposed 2007-2008 budget, second by Bob Davis, the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT TAX RATE:  With a motion from Tim Voelkel, second by Bob Davis, the tax rate of .015 was adopted for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.  The Order to Adopt Tax Rate was signed by the Vice-Chairman, Bubba Steen, and Secretary, Gary Colman, and approved with 4 Ayes and 0 Nays.

 

  1. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT CERTIFIED TAX ROLL:  With a motion from Gary Colman to adopting the order for approval of the Tax Roll, a second by Bob Davis, the order was signed by the Vice-Chairman and approved with 4 Ayes and 0 Nays.

 

  1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  Guest/landowner, Will Sourmilch, was introduced to the board.  Mr. Sourmilch brought concerns regarding uranium exploration to the board and shared information that he gained from attending meeting and reading materials on the subject.  Mr. Sourmilch has offered to have his well monitored and quality tested to establish a base line of information for future groundwater concerns.  Mr. Sourmilch’s presence, concerns, and interest in groundwater was greatly appreciated by all in attendance.  The Public Hearing was closed and the general meeting re-opened at 5:00 P.M.

 

  1. REVIEW TRANSPORT PERMIT APPLICATION FROM ENERGY LEASE SERVICE, INC. dba ENERGY WASTE:  The application for transport permit was submitted in the board packets for the board’s review.  The board discussed the permit with regard to.the amount requested, and intended use/purpose.

 

  1. SET PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER TRANSPORT PERMIT APPLICATON FOR ENERGY WASTE:  With a motion from Gary Colman to hold the public hearing in conjunction with the next regularly scheduled meeting on October 2, 2007, second by Bob Davis, the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. CONSIDER AND APPROVE END OF YEAR BUDGET TRANSFERS:  The budget transfers were presented in the board packets.  Transfers were made from line items to balance deficits in other line item areas.  With a motion from Bob Davis to approve the budget transfers as presented, a second by Tim Voelkel, the motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. GENERAL ELECTION UPDATE:  Jim Allison brought the board up to date on the necessary procedures to conduct the up-coming election for the two Director positions coming up for re-election this year (Prect. #1 and #3).  With a motion from Bob Davis to authorize the board president to issue an order of election should more than one person make application to be on the ballot (deadline 9/5/07 at 5:00 P.M.), second by Gary Colman, the motion carried unanimously.  Bubba Steen and Tim Voelkel each completed their application to be placed on the ballot.

 

  1. CONSIDER AND APPROVE WATER QUALITY TESTING:  Lengthy discussion was held during the public comments segment of the agenda regarding the need for quality water testing.  The GM presented information gathered thus far on the cost of testing of water samples.  Further information gathering and process considerations will be further developed and presented to the board for approval at the next meeting.

 

  1. MANAGER’S REPORT:  The manager, Kay Wild, brought the board up to date on the activities of the GM and the district.  An article prepared for the news papers regarding the need for historic users to register their wells was presented to the board for review.  The GM informed the board that she is partnering with the DeWitt Co. Farm Bureau to participate in their Ag Days to provide conservation information to 4th graders.  The manager will also contact other school districts to provide the same proposal of participation. 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: (If necessary) (Pursuant to Sec. 551. 071, or Sec 551.074 Govt. Code.)

 

ADJOURNMENT:  With no other old or new business to conduce, Tim Voelkel made a motion for adjournment, second by Bob Davis and the Vice-Chairman adjourned the meeting at 5:25

 

 

 

                                                                                                                 

Sec/Gary Colman              

Recorded:  Kay Wild, GM