DRAFT

The sixty-first Annual Meeting of the Kankakee County Soil and Water Conservation District was held on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at Quality Inn in Bradley with 86 people present. Jeff O’Connor welcomed the guests and offered a blessing before the meeting.

Chairman Jeff O’Connor opened the Business portion of the Annual Meeting at 7:55 A.M. by thanking everyone for coming. He then introduced board members and staff: Directors Alan Wissmiller, Erich Schott and Dave Peters, Associate Directors Paula Karlock, Alex Panozzo and Larry Kirchner, Conservation District Manager Rich Howell, Administrative Coordinator Linda Settle and NRCS District Conservationist Bob Gotkowski.

Jeff O'Connor publicly thanked Paula Karlock for the work she has done for the District in the time she served as Director and Associate Director. He said "Paula has resigned from the board and will be greatly missed."

Alan Wissmiller reported the minutes of the 60th Annual Meeting had been published in the Annual Report. A motion was made by Alan Wissmiller to approve the minutes as printed; it was seconded by Larry Kirchner. Motion passed.

Dave Peters reported the financial statement had been published in the Annual Report and he moved to approve the report as printed, it was seconded by Alan Wissmiller. Motion passed.

Larry Kirchner eported for the nominating committee and presented the names of Dave Peters, Alan Wissmiller and Brian Grob in nomination for 2-year terms each. He then asked for nominations from the floor and when none were received he moved to accept the nominated candidates as duly elected, it was seconded by Erich Schott. Motion passed.

Rich Howell introduced the invited guests in attendance. Included were Kankakee County Board Chairman Karl Kruse, County Board Members Steve Liehr, Kelly McLaren, Bob Scholl, Jim Vickery and Leo Whitten, County Treasurer Mark Frechette, County Planning Dept. Mike Van Mill and Don Pallissard, Farm Bureau Manager Chad Miller, Rep. Lisa Dugan, NRCS Assistance State Conservationist Jon Hubbert, Bureau of Land and Water Resources Regional Representative Joe Bybee, Universiity of Illinois Extension office Beth LaPlante, Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Village of Bradley Mayor Gael Kent and Village of Hopkins Park Mayor Samuel Payton. Special introduction was made of Gene Mitchell retired NRCS District Conservationist for Kankakee County. Members of the press introduced were Laura McElroy from the Herald, Mike Lyons and Mike Voss from the Daily Journal and Dave Becker from WKAN..

Jeff O'Connor presented the Conservation Farm of the Year Award to Gerald and Joyce Warn of rural Grant Park for the conservation practices that they have implemented on their farm, Jeff O'Connor also presented two Friend of the District Awards. one to the Kankakee County Board under the leadership of Karl Kruse and one to the Kankakee County Regional Planning Department under the leadership of Mike Van Mill for the work they have done to help protect and improve the natural resources of Kankakee County, Larry Kirchner presented the Teacher of the Year Award and a $250 check to Jill Penrod, 4th grade teacher at LeVasseur Elementary School in Bourbonnais for her efforts to bring agricultural, conservation and environmental lessons to her class..

Paula Karlock announced the winners of the Environmental Education Teacher Grants. This is the ninth year the District has offered a grant program for local teachers to enhance and expand their agricultural or environmental programs. This is the first year the District received fewer applicants than available grants. The recipients of the grants this year are Heidi Munsterman, junior high science teacher at St. Anne Grade School and Susan White of Kankakee's Lafayette School. The District will be giving each of these teachers a book titled Creating Habitats and Homes for Illinois Wildlife for their classrooms as well as the $250 grant.

Jeff O’Connor gave a PowerPoint presentation review of the local partnership activities from the past year.

Rich Howell introduced the speaker, Dr. Randy Winter, IL State University and IL Wind Coalition. Dr. Winter gave a PowerPoint presentation on Wind Power in Illinois, Wind Energy Update and Issues.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 A.M.