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Saline County Study Retreat
September 12 and 13, 1999
Old Schoolhouse, Arrow Rock, Missouri
 

 Saline County Study Members Present: Mark Belwood, Kathy Borgman, Wayne McReynolds (Mon), Ruthie Cramer, Richard Clemens (Mon), LeAnn Haling
Saline County Study Members Absent: Becky Plattner, Marc Harris, Roy Hunter, Vince Buck
Saline County Commissioners Present: John Stouffer, Mike Dillon, Richard Pemberton
Saline County Extension Staff Present: Cynthia Crawford, Gerry Snapp, Darin Starr
University Partners Present: Kathy Miller, John Lory (Sun), Chris Fulcher, Tom Johnson(Sun), Chris Barnett(Sun), Anna Cox, Anna Kovalyova(Sun)
University Partner moved and thus resigned from study:  Vincent Burke
University Partners Absent: Mubarak Hamed
Media Present: Chris Post(Mon), Democrat News, Ken Lewellen (Mon), KMMO Radio
Guest Presenter Sunday:  Daryl Hobbs, Sunday Guest: Ted Haling
 

No regular August meeting was held.   The study committee used the August meeting night to participate in a public issues forum on government so they would have the experience of this process of deliberation on issues.  No minutes were kept of that session.

 The Sunday afternoon session of the September retreat began at 3:00 p.m. with Daryl Hobbs as facilitator.  He spoke of the importance quality of life issues are to communities, yet we know little about measuring it.  How do we know what quality of life is and if we have it in our community?   Who decides what quality of life is?  Hobbs maintained it is groups such as the Saline County Study that help define such issues.

 As communities develop, they build social capital if trust and cooperation is fostered among organizations and individuals.  Studies have shown that communities with strong social capital have better schools.  “At risk students and families” who are successfully connected to the community will experience improvements in their lives.  There are so many people who are left out, who feel they are nobodies and who are considered nobodies.  We must work on ways to make connections to the community.  Today we often appeal to young people as consumers and not as producers and leaders.

 We spent quite some time talking about what is good in Saline County.  A big plus in the past few years has been a change in attitude brought by the current commissioners.  They invite discussion and input and have tackled major problems in the community such as the rest home and hospital, the county jail, and roads and bridges.  The study group concurred that current leadership has been good for Saline County.   Among items mentioned were the successful drive to build the YMCA, increase of natural wildlife and plants, and flood plain property going into wetlands.

 Mention was made of the hospital, which has had some controversy surrounding it in the past.  The issue is not resolved, but right now is not a hot issue.   Another change happening in Saline County is the increase of Hispanic population and the effect that is having on our school system.  Hobbs pointed out small numbers of Hispanics are arriving in areas like this across the country.  It might be good to contact communities who have already been meeting this challenge, Storm Lake, Iowa being one.

 The Sunday evening meal was served at the Arrow Rock Old Tavern.  Mark Belwood introduced a number of spouses and guests who were present for the evening meal and program.  Following dinner Mike Dillon and Richard Pemberton presented certificates of appreciation and a small gift to study participants.  Mark Belwood presented the commissioners a certificate of appreciation and a small gift.  Mark Belwood, Cynthia Crawford, and Darin Starr presented the power point media presentation:  “The Heart of Saline County.”  This is the result of the photo project to gather images of our county.  Daryl Hobbs addressed the group on the Heart of Rural Missouri.  The evening closed with the singing of “Jim, Jim, Wonderful Jim” in honor of Jim the Wonder Dog.

 Mark Belwood called the Monday morning session to order at 8:30 a.m.  Chris Fulcher reviewed the tools we have in place for the study.  On the web page these include features allowing us to zoom into an area, measure the perimeter, and identify soil types.  We also have the feature to help site livestock operations.  We do not have an odor plume model.

 Anna Cox talked about the AHP model (analytical hierarchical process) whereby one ranks preferences.  In a focus group one can deal with priorities and with being consistent.  It is possible to do this in about the same time as a public issues forum.

 Cynthia distributed the final copy of the Saline County Retail Trade Analysis.

 Chris Fulcher discussed new tools available, namely the ability for individuals to create maps. Since an agency can’t know it all, this allows for community participation.  Obviously there has to be some password control, but this does allow for increased information gathered, and it also allows individuals to experiment or “play” with planning ideas.  This is a very new available function.  We need to get the word out about this opportunity especially to teachers. Chris will be available for initial training.

 Mark Belwood reviewed the six priorities previously set for the study group:
 

  1. Water resources
  2. Natural and historic site resources protected
  3. How CAFOs affect land values
  4. Capacity of land to assimilate animal nutrients
  5. Legal options to restrict use of land and impact of agriculture on Saline County economy
  6. How has county land use changed

 How have we done on these priorities?  There was some discussion earlier that we have not specifically addressed the water resource issue.  There are no citizen stream teams set up in Saline County.   Currently we depend on state testing of drinking water systems. 

 Following the lunch break we brainstormed on needs for year three:

 

 Knowing some people will have to leave early, we took care of the housekeeping item of a meeting date for the coming year.  We set the monthly meeting date as the 2nd Monday of each month beginning October 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the Saline County Extension Office in Marshall.

 It was decided by consensus that the defining issue for year three would be land use and that we would request Dr. Ron Powers to frame this issue so that we could use the public issues forum format here in Saline County as soon as possible.  Realistically this might be this coming winter.  Dr Powers will be gathering public input as he works on this project.

 LeAnn Haling moved, Wayne McReynolds seconded, that current officers, Mark Belwood, chairman, and Kathy Borgman, recorder, serve for the coming year.  Carried.

 Year two committees were communications, scenarios, options, photo project, odor, and web technology.  Cynthia Crawford suggested the following committees might be workable for year three:  Public Issues Forum and “Trade-offs”, Web Development, Photo-Heart of Saline County, Water Quality/Odor, Public Policy Development and Final Report.  Mike Dillon moved, LeAnn Haling seconded, that we adopt these as standing committees for year three.

 The following committees were formed.  They will set their schedules at the Oct. 11 meeting:

 Public Issues Forum:   LeAnn Haling, Kathy Borgman, Roy Hunter, Tom Johnson, Anna Cox, Chris Fulcher, Ruthie Cramer, Richard Pemberton, Richard Clemens, Becky Plattner.
 Web Improvements:  Mark Belwood, Chris Fulcher, Darin Starr
 Heart of Saline County-photo project:  Mike Dillon, Cynthia Crawford, Darin Starr
 Water Quality/Odor:  Wayne McReynolds, Chris Barnett, John Lory, Vince Buck, Darin Starr
 Policy Development:  Kathy Miller, Gerry Snapp, Mark Belwood, Richard Pemberton, Roy Hunter

 Mike Dillon moved, Wayne McReynolds seconded that we apply for the EPA sustainable grant using in-kind matching funds from volunteers working on the committee.  Mark Belwood, Darin Starr, Gerry Snapp, and Roy Hunter will be the committee to write the grant with assistance from Kathy Miller.

 Meeting adjourned 2:40 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Borgman, recorder

This web site is hosted  by CARES- University of Missouri - Columbia
This web site is maintained jointly by the Saline County Study Steering Committee and CARES
For problems or questions regarding this web contact the Saline County Steering Committee or  Chris Fulcher (CARES).
Last updated: October 13, 2000