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Minutes for Saline County Study
October 26, 1998 7:00 p.m.
Spainhower Building, Marshall Habilitation Center

Steering Committee Present: Mark Belwood, Kathy Borgman, Ruthie Cramer, Marc Harris, Roy Hunter, Wayne McReynolds, Becky Plattner. Absent: Vince Buck, Richard Clemens, LeAnn Haling

Commissioners Present: Russell Dehn, Richard Pemberton. Absent: Mike Dillon

Saline County Extension PartnersPresent: Darin Starr, Gerry Snapp. Absent: Cynthia Crawford

University Partners Present: Mabarak Hamed, Vincent Burke, Tom Johnson, Kathy Miller, and two graduate students guests, Steve Henness and Matt Fannin. Absent: Chris Barnett, Mark Stillwell, Chris Fulcher, John Lory, Ron Powers.

Media: Chris Post, Marshall Democrat News

Chairman Belwood called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The minutes of the retreat meeting were approved as mailed. A supply of business cards with the Saline County Web Site address was distributed to all present. It was announced Vincent Burke is a new member of the Scenario Committee.

The group viewed a video provided by CARES entitled, "Maps with Teeth," explaining the power of maps and how different kinds of maps tell different stories.

Mark Belwood reported on the Odor Committee meeting. Their task was to secure the odor plume model and review start-of-the-art ways to treat odors. Darin Starr gave a summary to the Odor committee on odor controls and has talked with John Hoehne and Charles Fulhage from the University of Missouri. They are considered experts in this field and are willing to make a presentation to our group. Roy Hunter moved, Wayne McReynolds seconded, that Hoehne and Fulhage make an oral, written, and digital report to the study group and that the report be placed on the web site. Carried. Darin Starr will arrange the date, preferably on our regular meeting night, the fourth Monday night of the month.

It was announced that Dennis DiPietre has left the Study Group due to illness in his family. Dr. Powers has named Vincent Burke to take his place.

In Richard Clemen’s absence Mark Belwood reported on the Options Committee meeting. The committee listed available options for control such as zoning and planning, health ordinances, and DNR regulations. They also discussed the effect of Federal controls and were interested in innovative approaches such as initiating a county park system to help preserve natural resources. A high priority of this group is to explore legal options available to the county. Tom Johnson has received approval from Dr. Powers to find a lawyer versed in this area. While inquiries have been made, Tom is still in the process of finding such a person.

Mark Belwood read the report of the Communications Committee chaired by LeAnn Haling. They felt the first year was a fact gathering time and now that there is adequate data in place it is time to begin community awareness. The committee asked the University partners to put together a program that can be presented to schools, civic groups, local libraries, etc. The presentation should be about 20 minutes long, and include a computer demonstration, handout brochures, and other methods of presentation, such as overhead projections. Kathy Miller and Chris Fulcher are working on such a presentation. Kathy Miller presented a draft brochure about the study process that was well received.

Kathy Borgman presented the report of the Scenario Committee meeting. Tom Johnson set the stage for the discussion by describing scenario development as looking at what will be the impact "with" a certain happening and what will be the impact "without" that happening. Scenarios must be specific. The baseline is "what if we do nothing and it continues as it has in the past." CPAC (Community Policy Analysis Center) has already prepared a Saline County Baseline 1998-2007.

The committee brain stormed on possible broad topics with the following being the ones chosen for the creation of scenarios: 1). Health care; 2). Technology and Saline County, high speed connectivity for all public and business entities; 3). CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations); and 4). A County Park System as an option for preserving natural and cultural sites.

Tom Johnson and CPAC are working on the health care scenario and CAFOs. Roy Hunter is working on targeting businesses to come to Saline County. Mark Belwood is checking into doing an ecological audit of the county. A group has been meeting in the county to discuss fiber connectivity and will be making a trip to MoreNET in Columbia on February 2. Anyone may attend; contact local extension staff for details.

The idea of county parks was a new one to the group and led to general discussion. Following a short break Roy Hunter moved, Ruthie Cramer seconded that we study the feasibility and the potential impact of a county park system. Carried. Vince Burke will pursue this.

Tom Johnson and Mubarak Hamed provided Scenario Committee members copies of scenarios prepared for other communities for their review before the next committee meeting.

Vincent Burke presented the Web Technology report for CARES. They had prepared a price list for purchase of equipment to operate our own web site. Costs ranged from $4,500 to $6,577. Generally a system will need to be replaced every four years to stay up with the technology. Russsell Dehn moved, Marc Harris seconded a request that CARES secure three bids for a server to provide these services, both with and without creating the web page itself. Carried.

Tom Johnson reported the opportunity to nominate our study process for recognition for a community using technology to increase quality of life and as well as another award for innovative ways to do community planning. Russell Dehn moved, Roy Hunter seconded that Tom nominate our project. Carried. Tom also announced our project has been featured on a teleconference to New York on the topic of participatory research.

Gerry Snapp requested the participation of study members in the University Extension’s four year planning cycle sessions. We will receive a letter with details.

Meeting adjourned 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Borgman, Recorder

Next Meeting: Monday, November 23, 1998

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