Steering Committee -Minutes

Saline County Study Committee
Monday, July 26, 1999
Saline County Extension Office, Marshall
Minutes

Saline County Study Members Present: Mark Belwood, Kathy Borgman, Wayne McReynolds, Roy Hunter, Vince Buck, Ruthie Cramer
Saline County Study Members Absent: Richard Clemens, Becky Plattner, Marc Harris, LeAnn Haling
Saline County Commissioners Absent: John Stouffer, Mike Dillon, Richard Pemberton
Saline County Extension Staff Present: Cynthia Crawford
Saline County Extension Absent: Gerry Snapp, Darin Starr
University Partners Present: Kathy Miller
University Partners Absent: Mubarak Hamed, John Lory, Chris Fulcher, Tom Johnson, Vincent Burke, Chris Barnett, Anna Cox, Anna Kovalyova
Media Present: Chris Post, Democrat News

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mark Belwood at 7:05 p.m. Minutes were approved as distributed.

Odor Committee Report: John Lory and Charles Fulhage sent their comments on BION system for treating manure. They thought it would be better for larger operations. Mark Belwood will respond to representative of BION.

Options Committee Report: Cynthia Crawford reported on a successful road trip by thirteen people from Marshall visiting three cities in Iowa. The purpose was to see how similar sized communities were utilizing technology in their communities. The community of Harlan, Iowa, seemed to be especially progressive in providing technology infrastructure for their community. The Virtual Training Initiative continues to be important for the county. We are invited to attend public meetings to showcase the project on August 2 and 3.

Monday morning, before this meeting, Mark Belwood, Cynthia Crawford, Kathy Miller, Gerry Snapp, and Kathy Borgman met with Dr. Ron Powers to discuss using the Public Issues Forum process as a way to address land use issues in Saline County. Dr. Powers recently attended a workshop by the Kettering Institute for framing local issues for deliberation by interested individuals. Dr. Powers suggested the steering committee participate in the process before trying to develop our own public issue forum. The committee agreed participating in a public issue forum would be useful. The committee also recommended a forum on government. Mark presented this idea to the steering committee. Kathy Miller moved that our August 23 meeting be devoted to participation in the Public Issues Forum, AGoverning America, Our Choice, Our Challenge.@ Carried. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. with a catered meal and hold the forum from 6:30-9:30. In order to have more space we will meet at the Marshall City Offices. Cynthia will see about securing the booklet for participants.

Roy Hunter commented on the work of the Odor Committee. Because we have not been able to secure the odor plume model from the University of Iowa, it seems this committee has not had the support to deal with one of the major concerns of the group, i.e. odors. We decided we would wait until the retreat in September to see how committees would be formed for the third year.

Tom Johnson has brought to our attention the possibility of applying for a Sustainable Development Challenge Grant. Roy Hunter, Kathy Miler, Tom Johnson and Darin Starr will gather specific information and proceed with writing the grant if it seems feasible. The committee will check with Mark Belwood or Cynthia Crawford for additional input.

Communications Committee Report: Darin Starr and Mark Belwood gave a presentation on technology to the Rotary Club with emphasis on the GIS maps. Study reports will be placed in the three libraries when Cynthia gets the final Trade Analysis report from the printer. LeAnn will take one book to Sweet Springs, Roy will take other two to Marshall and Slater libraries.

Mark Belwood showed additional photos that have been submitted for the photography project.

Following the break Cynthia Crawford reported on a talk to the Kiwanis Club about the photography project. Instead of soliciting photos she solicited ideas of what we should be taking photos of, knowing many people may not be interested or have the time to take photos themselves. Those present took a few minutes to brainstorm ideas that ranged from photos of rural churches and schools to the new grain elevator in Slater and subsequent merger of other grain elevators.

Mark Belwood reminded all that our September meeting will be a retreat in Arrow Rock, September 12 and 13. The following committee will finalize plans: Mark Belwood, Cynthia Crawford, Kathy Miller and Kathy Borgman.

Scenarios Committee Meeting: Tom Johnson, Richard Pemberton, Roy Hunter, and Mark Belwood met with Phil Tate from the Department of Economic Development. Their purpose was to solicit funds from DED to allow Saline County to participate in a pilot program in targeting jobs for local communities. While we thought it was a possibility it now is evident DED does not wish to be involved in such a program and no funds will be forthcoming. We have also run out of time to get involved in this pilot project.

The trip to Iowa also highlighted the success of local communities in raising funds for community foundations. Perhaps this is something Saline County should consider. No scenarios committee meeting will be held in August. The next meeting will be September 30.


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