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Minutes for Saline County Study Retreat
September 13-14, 1998
Stolberg-Jackson Community Center (Old Schoolhouse)
Arrow Rock, Mo
Group:
Saline County Study Steering Committee in conjunction with the Saline County Study
Management Team
Steering Committee Members in Attendance:
Mark Belwood, Kathy Borgman, Vince Buck, Richard Clemens, Ruthie Cramer, LeAnn Haling,
Roy Hunter, Wayne McReynolds, Marc Harris attended Sunday evening, Becky Plattner attended
Monday sessions
Management Team Members in Attendance:
Russell Dehn, Richard Pemberton, Cynthia Crawford, Darin Starr, Gerry Snapp, Chris
Fulcher, Tom Johnson
Management Team Members Absent:
Mike Dillon, Dennis DiPietre
Other Team Members in Attendance:
Chris Barnett, Mubarak Hamed, John Lory, Kathy Miller, Vincent Burke, Dr. Ron Powers
Others: Dr. Powers brought, as a guest, Nelleka Bak, visiting professor from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Also present for portions of the event were Ken Lewellen, KMMO radio, and Chris Post, Marshall Democrat News.
The retreat was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by acting chair Mark Belwood. New steering committee members Ruthie Cramer, Becky Plattner, and Roy Hunter were announced and introduced. Becky Plattner will attend the Monday session. Kathy Miller was introduced as a new participant from the University group.
Dr. Ron Powers summarized evaluation work done by Ken Pigg and Mary Hendrickson on year one of the Saline County study. This evaluation was based on interviews with all committee members. They noted the study dealt with a set of complex issues, and that there were feelings that a "way of life" has been lost. It was also felt that there was a lack of understanding as to what a community based study was all about.
Dr. Powers highlighted the fact that a community is by its very nature a paradox, representing the tension between self determination and realizing one cannot live totally alone. When dealing with changes and decisions in a community one needs to consider a variety of kinds of capital: money, human capital, social capital (how do people relate to one another), and wisdom capital.
Dr. Powers also spoke about the model of the expert, a model that has been used extensively in effecting change in our country. With this model the expert does research, applies his or her findings, and seeks to get his or her ideals adopted. There are always consequences when new ideas are adopted and sometimes the consequences are unintended. In the Saline County Study we are attempting to operate with another kind of model, that of the co-learner and co-creator, in which all parties involved are respected for bringing valuable human capital to bear on an issue.
As we think about the process of dealing with issues we might describe it as 1), gathering a common body of information or data, i.e. taking the ignorance out of arguments, and 2), looking for common values. We may find common values exist, or can be reached, or they may not. In a democracy, we vote to determine the will of the people. Year one of the study has been focused on gathering data and learning to use tools to communicate that common body of information. The Internet has been key to this. In year two we need to move toward finding out if there is a "community of Saline County," that is, will we be able to find common ground as we deal with particular issues.
Dr. Powers then asked that the larger group be divided into four small groups for discussion of two questions:
1. What are the strengths of the study thus far?
2. What are the challenges for the study as we continue?
(See attached report for list of strengths and challenges)
The Sunday portion of the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner was held at the Evergreen Restaurant at 6:00 p.m. Committee members were invited to bring a guest and these guests were introduced. Richard Pemberton, on behalf of the County Commissioners, presented gifts of appreciation to all participants in the study process. Thanks was expressed to retiring members of the steering committee, Tim Simmons, David Perkins, Patti Carr and Cory Lyon, who were not present Ron Powers presented gifts of appreciation to Commissioners. Members of the media were also recognized for their accurate coverage of the study process. Chairman Belwood distributed a packet of information to review before Monday morning meeting.
Monday, September 14, 1998
Monday morning session began at 8:30 at the Old Schoolhouse in Arrow Rock. Cynthia Crawford led us in opening mind exercises to get us to think in creative ways.
The university campus partners reviewed the set of tools that have been developed this past year. While on the Internet as a "dynamic document," it was also felt we needed "paper copies" to help communicate what has been accomplished thus far. Each participant received a notebook and set of maps. Time was taken to deal with specific questions. One item we definitely felt could be dealt with by the steering committee was to have information about the historical and cultural sites gathered and added to the web page.
Tom Johnson and Kathy Miller handed out printed copies of their work from the Community Policy Analysis Center (CPAC), the Saline County Baseline 1998-2007 and The Role of Agriculture and Agricultural Processing in Saline County.
After a break we began the process of setting the goals for year two. The process was continued following a lunch break at the Old Tavern. The following are the set of goals and assignment to committees arrived at by the study group for year two:
1. Identify legal options and other options available to bring about desired change on county level
do this within 6 months
2. Study committee needs education on how to present issues to the county
3. Review data collected and fill in missing pieces
4. Create a community-based data input on web
5. Citizen education on what has happened to date
Schools, civic g roups, government
6. Make recommendations for a county web site/presence
7. Secure odor plume model
8. Review "state of the art" technical solutions to odor problems
9. Provide capacity on web site for "what-if" analysis
10.Set up scenario proposal committee to generate scenarios of interest to the committee
The following groupings were designated:
COMMUNICATIONS 2 & 5
WEB-TECH 4 & 9
SCENARIOS 3 & 10
ODOR 7 & 8
LEGAL AND OTHER OPTIONS 1
No. 6 will stand by itself and be carried out by the commission.
University partners will follow through on finding experts on legal issues, one committee will deal with "other options of effecting change."
The election of officers and formation of committees for the coming year was the next item of business. Mark Belwood was nominated for chairman and elected by acclamation. Kathy Borgman and Richard Clemens were nominated for Recorder. Kathy Borgman was elected. For the coming year the Study Committee will meet the 4th Monday of every month beginning in October and excluding December. Meeting time will be at 7:00 p.m. and most probably will be at the Spainhower building at the Marshall Habilitation Center
Everyone volunteered for the committee they chose to work on. Following committees were formed and the following meeting dates set:
COMMUNICATIONS
Meet the 4th Wednesday of every month beginning Sept. 30 at 6:30 at a restaurant in
Marshall
Chair LeAnn Haling, Roy Hunter, Chris Fulcher, Kathy Miller, Russell Dehn, Becky
Plattner, Gerry Snapp, John Lory, Ruthie Cramer.
SCENARIOS
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m. Arrow Rock, Friends of Arrow Rock Building on the Boardwalk
Tom Johnson, Chris Barnett, Russell Dehn, Becky Plattner, Mubarak Hamed, Kathy
Borgman, Roy Hunter, Cynthia Crawford
ODOR
Monday, Sept.28, 7:00 p.m. County Court House
Chair Vince Buck, Richard Pemberton, Chris Barnett, Darin Starr, Marc Harris
OPTIONS
September 29, 7:00 p.m. Extension office
Richard Clemens chair, Mark Belwood, Tom Johnson, Darin Starr, John Lory, Mike Dillon,
Wayne McReynolds.
Feeling that the meeting was a good one and that we have set a good course for the second year of the Saline County Study, the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Borgman, Recorder