Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting Minutes - October 9, 2024 - Meeting minutes approval, treasurer report, and cost share requests

Sep 10, 2026

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Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District board meeting minutes for October 9, 2024 record the directors’ attendance, staff and guest participation, and the 1:00 PM call to order. The board approves the July regular meeting minutes, reviews treasurer reports for July–September with detailed discussion of account balances, project expenses, and USDA rental timing. Action items focus on District cost share requests, including approval of a Stern Urban Conservation project and six additional cost share applications, plus guidance on policy and future eligibility for haul-road gravel claims.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Board Meeting Minutes - October 9, 2024

Call to Order and Minutes Approval

Treasurer’s Report Review

Public Comment

Action Items - District Cost Share Requests

Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting Minutes – October 9, 2024 Directors: Bill Hammel Phil Kaser Larry Powell Ken Bailey Bob Krein Stan Shephard Directors Absent: Shawn Sorensen Staff: Shilah Olson Jennifer Sampson Abbie Forrest Drake Gilbert Dean Dark Scott Susi Staff via Teleconference: Karen Lamson Guests: NRCS: Emily Huth, District Conservationist FSA: Lissa Biehn, County Executive Director OSU Extension: Jacob Powell, County Agent 1:00 PM Call to Order Bill called the meeting to order and asked if there were any additions to the agenda. Shilah noted she accidentally listed ECOP Cultural surveys under action items and updates, so she will cover everything under action items. Minutes: Bill asked if there were any additions or corrections to the July regular board meeting minutes. None were made. Ken moved to approve the July regular board meeting minutes as presented; Larry seconded. Motion carried. Treasurer’s Report: Shilah reviewed the July, August, and September Treasurer’s Reports, noting income, expenses, account and fund balances. Stan inquired about who Andrew Spaeth was. Shilah explained he is the facilitator for the Forest Collaborative. Phil inquired about Emily Stranz and the Board succession planning as he has not reached back out to her to complete his part of that. Bill noted he has not reached back out to Emily either. Shilah will ask Emily to reach back out to Bill and Phil. Shilah noted on the September Treasurer’s Report there was a large expense to Cascade Well Drilling for the Mosier Million project, and there was a receipt for the first reimbursement on that project. On the September Treasurer’s Report, Ken noted a high balance in the Checking Account. Shilah planned to move the majority of the balance to LGIP, but was leaving it for now to deal with some large expenses on the Mosier Million project. Phil inquired how long the rental agreement with USDA was contracted for. Shilah reported the USDA rental agreement was for three years, but it had an extension added so it is probably up for renewal in the next year or two. Stan shared that there is a new federal law where if you don’t maintain a savings account at least once a year, the bank has the right to cash you out and take taxes out as well, and then you have to start over. Ken moved to receive the Treasurer’s Reports for July, August, and September; Phil seconded. Motion carried. Public Comment (5 Min. limit/person)– None at this time. Action Items a. District Cost Share Requests – Abbie announced that the District received $100,000 through Google Grants funding, the Tides Foundation, for Urban Conservation Projects. This program will be run the same as regular District Cost Share agreements, but will be targeted towards projectson small acreages in The Dalles/Mosier area. At the July board meeting, Abbie had presented a cost share application from Lance and Misty Stern for rain water harvesting, which the board had tabled in anticipation of this new funding pool. As the Sterns wanted to complete this project before winter, Abbie approved their application without board approval after the funding was secured. Abbie requested the board’s forgiveness and approval of Stern’s cost share project after the fact. They requested the maximum of $7,500 . Bob moved to approve the Stern’s Urban Cost Share Application; Ken seconded. Motion carried. Abbie presented six cost share applications: Smeraglio – This application was for two haul roads, but one section is only 250ft long so Abbie had Smeraglio submit it as one application. Abbie has verified the site and has walked it. She is requesting the maximum of $3,000 . Horseshoe Bar Cattle Co – Abbie and Scott have been working with Dale Smith, the new owner of the old Mary Mauer Ranch, on a spring development and livestock water project. They both agree it is a good project, and they are requesting the maximum of $7,500 . B.Markman & J.Mar

FAQs

What decisions did the board make regarding previous meeting minutes?

The board determined there were no additions or corrections to the July regular board meeting minutes and approved them as presented after a motion and second.

What topics were covered in the treasurer’s report for July, August, and September?

The staff reviewed income, expenses, account and fund balances, discussed specific project-related expenses such as Mosier Million well drilling and reimbursement, and asked questions about checking balances and USDA rental contract timing.

Which cost share projects were approved during the action items section?

The board approved the Stern Urban Cost Share application and all six district cost share applications presented by Abbie, including projects for haul roads, livestock water, orchard chipping, and pipeline/sprinkler replacement.

Sep 10, 2026

Upload by Kyle