Author: Wende A. Ibarra

Minutes from the March 20th, 2012 PCCD regular scheduled meeting
to be presented on April 17th, 2012 for Board approval and
subject to corrections, additions, deletions and approval.
March 20th, 2012

1:00 PM
1:00PM
1:00PM
1:10PM
2:00PM

Notices of this regular meeting were posted in the Hays and Caldwell County Courthouses at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Receipts of the notices are on file in the office of Plum Creek Conservation District.
Checks were reviewed and signed, just prior to the call to order, by Vice President, James O Lipscomb.
The meeting was called to order by President of the Board, James Holt, with the following Board members present: James O. Lipscomb (Vice President ), Peter Reinecke (Secretary/Treasurer), Lucy Knight (Director), Ben Twidwell (Director) and Fred Rothert (Director). Also present were Johnie Halliburton (Executive Manager), Bob Wilson (Attorney) Feathergail Wilson (PCCD Geologist) and PCCD staff Karen Bassett, Korey Schuelke and Dan Meyer. Minutes were taken by Karen Bassett and transcribed by Korey Schuelke.
President Holt requested motions or comments regarding the minutes of the Plum Creek Conservation District Regular Meeting held on February 21st, 2012. Mr. Lipscomb made a motion that the minutes of the Plum Creek Conservation District Regular Meeting held on February 21st, 2012, be accepted as mailed out. Mr. Twidwell provided the second and the motion was approved unanimously.
President Holt then requested any unfinished business. Mr. Bob Wilson then discussed the deeds without warranty previously approved for the City of Luling to repair property discrepancies and stated that he had drafted resolutions to perform the aforementioned actions. Mr. Lipscomb made a motion by resolution allowing President James Holt to execute the two resolutions and two deeds without warranty in order to repair the property discrepancies for the City of Luling. Mr. Twidwell provided the second and the motion was approved unanimously.
President Holt requested discussion of Item IV on the agenda. Mr. Halliburton then introduced Mr. Kirk Holland with the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. Mr. Holland then gave the Board of Directors a presentation on a possible monitoring/test well regarding the saline Edwards aquifer and the Trinity aquifer zones. Mr. Holland gave the Board of Directors the status of the possible monitoring/test well project, as well as, the amount the project would cost and the amount he was requesting from the Plum Creek Conservation District in assistance. Mr. Holland also discussed other parties interested in possibly assisting with the project along with other monitoring/test well options should the amount of funding they were requesting not be obtained. Mr. Holland then discussed the possible location for the possible monitoring/test well project. After much discussion between the Board of Directors, Mr. Holland, Mr. Feather Wilson, and Mr. Bob Wilson, the Board of Directors elected to take no action at this time.
President Holt requested discussion of Item V on the agenda. Mr. Halliburton discussed the need for approval of a resolution for the commitment of the Plum Creek Conservation District for the rehabilitation of Flood Control Structure Site # 21. Mr. Halliburton then discussed the resolution in detail and informed the Board of Directors that he had already obtained resolutions from the Hays County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Caldwell-Travis Soil and Water Conservation District. President Holt entertained motions, but no motions were received. President Holt continued to the next item on the agenda.
President Holt requested discussion of Item VI on the agenda. Mr. Daniel Meyer then discussed drought contingency plans and informed the Board of Directors that two water supply corporations within the Plum Creek Conservation District would be presenting to the Board of Directors regarding their drought contingency plans. Mr. Meyer then introduced Mr. Bill Loven of AQUA Water Supply Corporation. Mr. Loven then gave the Board of Directors an overview of AQUA Water Supply Corporation’s drought contingency plan and its implementation. Mr. Loven discussed the pros and cons of their drought contingency plan with the Board of Directors in depth. Mr. Meyer then introduced Mr. Bud Cheatham with Polonia Water Supply Corporation. Mr. Cheatham then gave the Board of Directors an overview of Polonia Water Supply Corporation’s drought contingency plan and its implementation. Mr. Cheatham discussed the advantages and flaws of their drought contingency plan with the Board of Directors in depth.
President Holt requested discussion of Item VII on the agenda. Mr. Halliburton informed the Board of Directors that the Plum Creek Conservation District had received two bids for the fertilization and herbicide application of the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Flood Control Structures. President Holt then announced the bid amounts of each bid with Lindemann’s at thirty thousand five hundred forty-six dollars and thirty cents ($30,546.30) and Ehrig’s at twenty-eight thousand seven hundred dollars ($28,700.00). Mr. Twidwell made a motion to select the low bidder, Ehrig’s, for the fertilization and herbicide application of the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Flood Control Structures. Mr. Rothert provided the second and the motion was approved unanimously.
President Holt requested that action be taken on the resolutions for the possible rehabilitation of Flood Control Structure Site #21. Mr. Rothert made a motion by resolution for the commitment of the Plum Creek Conservation District to the possible rehabilitation of Flood Control Structure Site #21. Mr. Twidwell provided the second and the motion passed unanimously.
President Holt requested a report from the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Geologist, Mr. William Feathergail Wilson. Mr. Feather Wilson discussed a recent increase in activity regarding the Pearsall formation oil and gas exploration. Mr. Feather Wilson then gave the Board of Directors a presentation regarding LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data in Hays and Caldwell Counties. Mr. Feather Wilson also recommended that the Plum Creek Conservation District purchase a computer program to help implement the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data more expediently. Mr. Feather Wilson discussed applicable uses of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data with the Board of Directors.
President Holt did not request a report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s District Conservationist, Mr. Isidro Morales, as he was not in attendance.
President Holt requested a report from the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Assistant Manager, Mr. Daniel Meyer. Mr. Meyer then discussed the Desired Future Conditions process and the important issues arising within the Groundwater Management Area-13. Mr. Meyer then discussed the Plum Creek Conservation District’s water well monitoring program with the Board of Directors. Mr. Meyer also discussed drought contingency plans and the Plum Creek Conservation District Management Plan with the Board of Directors.
President Holt requested a report from the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Executive Manager, Mr. Johnie Halliburton. Mr. Halliburton discussed the cleanup of debris on the structures following the recent flood. Mr. Halliburton discussed the finalization of the move from the Scott Annex Building to the new Plum Creek Conservation District office at 1101 W. San Antonio, Lockhart, TX, 78644. Mr. Halliburton informed the Board of Directors that the equipment stored in the Caldwell County Barn in Luling, TX would have to be relocated soon due to changes being made at that location. Mr. Halliburton discussed a recent phone conversation with Mr. A. E. Nicholson with the Board of Directors. Mr. Halliburton informed the Board of Directors that the Plum Creek Conservation District had received its first request for frac water for oil and gas exploration from one of the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Flood Control Structures. Mr. Halliburton discussed recent information obtained from the water master. Mr. Halliburton also discussed a recent request of support from Mr. Jim Watts, Jr., regarding the Post Oak Dump possibly being placed in the Darst Creek area in Guadalupe County. It was the consensus of the Board of Directors that a letter of support be drafted in support of the Stop Post Oak Dump project led by Mr. Jim Watts, Jr.
President Holt requested a report from the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Attorney, Mr. Bob Wilson. Mr. Bob Wilson then discussed the recent decision of the Texas Supreme Court regarding the taking of groundwater (real property), requiring compensation in the State of Texas. Mr. Bob Wilson discussed the ramifications of this decision in depth with the Board of Directors. Mr. Bob Wilson also discussed a task list calendar that is necessary to complete each assigned task necessary for the continuing operation of the Plum Creek Conservation District.
President Holt requested a building committee report from the Board of Directors. Mr. Halliburton informed the Board of Directors that there was nothing to report.
Mr. Lipscomb then provided the Board of Directors with the investment committee’s quarterly report. Mr. Lipscomb informed the Board of Directors that the Sage Capital Bank Certificate of Deposit has matured and would be rolled over due to lack of other options and incentives. Mr. Lipscomb also discussed questioning Mr. Buckner regarding ownership of the privacy fence behind the new Plum Creek Conservation District office building. Mr. Halliburton discussed many questions regarding the maintenance and upkeep of the new Plum Creek Conservation District office building. It was the consensus of the Board of Directors that the new Plum Creek Conservation District office building lots be surveyed.
President Holt requested discussion of Item XIV on the agenda. Mr. Reinecke then discussed changes that had been made to the Draft Plum Creek Conservation District Personnel Policies and Procedures at the request of the Board of Directors. Mr. Twidwell made a motion to adopt the Draft Plum Creek Conservation District Personnel Policies and Procedures. Mr. Lipscomb provided the second and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Twidwell made a motion that the Plum Creek Conservation District Personnel Policies and Procedures take effect on the 1st of April, 2012. Mr. Lipscomb provided the second and the motion was approved unanimously. The Board of Directors then adopted and executed the Plum Creek Conservation District Policies and Procedures.
President Holt gave a five minute break and moved the meeting into executive session for personnel issues following the break.
President Holt called the meeting back to order following the executive session. Mr. Twidwell made a motion to increase the mileage rate by twenty cents ($0.20) above the State of Texas rate for driving that occurs in situations regarding the Plum Creek Conservation District’s Flood Control Structures with and effective date of March 20th, 2012. Mr. Reinecke provided the second and the motion was approved unanimously. President Holt appointed Mr. Twidwell to begin searching for a used pickup truck to possibly purchase for the Plum Creek Conservation District via a proposal presented to the Board of Directors. President Holt also requested that Mr. Halliburton contact the insurance company regarding insurance on a possible purchased pickup truck.
Mr. Twidwell made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Lipscomb provided the second and the motion passed unanimously.

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