Minutes of the Board of Trustees – Wednesday, January 9, 2008.
Present: President, Bruce Myers; Secretary, Belen Gomez; Evan Long; Bette George, and Harold Dozier.
Staff: Manager, Michael Alburn.
It was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the December meeting be approved as mailed.
Following discussion, it was moved by Bette George, seconded by Harold Dozier and unanimously carried that the December Bills be approved and ordered paid. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 13, Exhibit I.
It was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Belen Gomez and unanimously carried that the December Bills (2) be approved and ordered paid. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 14, Exhibit II.
It was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Harold Dozier and unanimously carried that the January Payroll be approved and ordered paid. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 15, Exhibit III.
None.
Bruce Myers to serve as President, Belen Gomez as Secretary, nomination by Harold Dozier, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried to approve the Officers of the Board of Directors for 2008.
World Ag Expo Feb 12-13-14, (1) entry ticket will be mailed to each trustee in time for the event. The District booth is in Pavilion C, Booth 3428, same as in past years.
Pre emergent weed control is ongoing. T-6, Silverado is in service replacing T-26.
Weed signups are as follows:
· 81 invited – 72 on program, returning from last year.
· 45 have signed up – 18 have incorrectly filled out the form and have been mailed the form once again.
· 16 are being personally visited to offer sign up this year.
· 2 declined via original mailing.
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Source reduction effort is ongoing. Kings River projects are nearly complete; Kaweah River, Kaweah Rock, St. Johns still to be initiated with completion expected by the end of February.
Vehicle, light trap, chicken coup refurbishment, sprayers and small engine maintenance ongoing.
The Manager reported that he had addressed the Commission with the recommendation to perform a Municipal Service Review as prescribed in statute. The Commission has delayed the scheduled approval of the current Sphere of influence pending a meeting between a member of the Board of Supervisors and the Executive Director of LAFCO to determine the best process to follow as mosquito and vector control services are evaluated. The Manager reported that he would seek advise from counsel regarding the options available to LAFCO with respect to the SOI review. The next scheduled meeting is February 6th.
The Manager reported that the midyear numbers looked to be in great shape. Wages and Benefits will see enough of a savings due to reduced premium in the Workers Compensation category as well as cost savings in personnel as Kathy Ramirez was off for the birth of Olivia Ramirez, to fund the overtime expenses from last fall. In the Services and Supplies categories gasoline appears to be well funded and cost savings in Spray Materials have come in as expected with the switch from Larviciding Oil to BTi in waste treatment facility impoundments. Building and yard will be able to fund the garage doors and the parking lot as we have been able to modify the existing lighting to function satisfactorily. The expectation was to only be able to perform two of the three items before the modifications. Capital items should end the year with a $12,000 carryover once all purchases have been completed.
The District policy manual provides no flexibility with respect to the Vertebrate and Terrestrial Invertebrate certifications employees are required to earn within the first 36 months of employment. The revision relaxes these requirements to allow the Manager some discretion when employees do not meet the time requirements. Counsel has reviewed and is pleased with the draft revision as it has been presented. The Board will hear and vote on the revision at the February meeting.
The Manager requested approval for the budgeted and planned travel of the Biologist, Assistant Manager and Manager to the conference in Palm Springs, January 13-16th. It was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Belen Gomez and unanimously carried to approve the attendance by all identified.
The District inventory is currently 35 of which 7 were purchased by the state. Nelson Auctions in Porterville will sell 2 vehicles, T-16, fish transport truck with 73,000 miles, and T-21, seasonal truck with 91,000 the first part of February. The schedule is on a sliding scale; normally we are charged a 15% commission.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Board Minutes approved on February 13, 2008.
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Michael W. Alburn, Recording Secretary