DRAFT

The sixty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Kankakee County Soil and Water Conservation District was held on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at Quality Inn in Bradley with 52 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 7:43 A.M. by thanking everyone for coming. He then introduced board members and staff: Director Dave Peters, Erich Schott and Alan Wissmiller, Associate Directors Larry Kirchner and Alex Panozzo, Conservation District Manager Rich Howell, Administrative Coordinator Linda Settle and NRCS District Conservationist Kelly German.

Erich Schott reported the minutes of the 63rd Annual Meeting had been published in the Annual Report. A motion was made by Erich Schott to approve the minutes as printed; it was seconded by Alan Wissmiller. Motion passed.

Dave Peters reported the financial statement had been published in the Annual Report. A motion was made by Dave Peters to approve the report as printed, it was seconded by Jeff O'Connor. Motion passed.

Larry Kirchner reported for the nominating committee and presented the names of Jeff O'Connor of Otto Township and Erich Schott of Norton Township 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 Dave Peters. Motion passed.

Rich Howell introduced the invited guests in attendance. Included were Gary Preston representing the Village of Bourbonnais, Kankakee County Board Members Jim Tripp, Donald Flett and Roger Hess, County Treasurer Mark Frechette, Kankakee County Farm Bureau Manager Chad Miller, Universiity of Illinois Extension office Beth LaPlante and Farm Service Agency Loan Manager Ben Josefik.

Jeff O'Connor presented a special recognition award to past NRCS District Conservationist Bob Gotkowski who retired in June 2010 after 35 years with NRCS, 19 of those were in Kankakee County.

Jeff O'Connor presented the Friend of the District Award to Steve Engleking of Momence. Jeff O'Connor presented the Teacher of the Year Award to Lori Henry, Science Teacher at Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center in Bourbonnais.

Rich Howell gave a PowerPoint presentation review of the District's activities from the past year.

Rich Howell introduced the first speaker, Kelly German, NRCS District Conservationist. German gave an overview of NRCS programs most used in Kankakee County. Those programs include EQIP, WHIP and CSP. Rich Howell then introduced the second speaker, Rob Littikin from the Nature Conservancy. Littikin spoke about what the Nature Conservancy does and then talked about the Kankakee Sands and Black Oak Savannah's area in Pembroke. He explained that city parks are modeled after Savannah's.

The meeting adjourned at 8:47 A.M.