September 27, 2005
To: Yellow Creek Watershed Partnership Attendees and Interested Persons
From: Bobbi Reagan, Stephenson Soil and Water Conservation District
Re: Minutes from September 15, 2005, Quarterly Meeting, Freeport Park District office, Freeport
Having a quorum present, the meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by President, Roger Carson.
The minutes of the June 16, 2005 meetings were reviewed. Having no objections, the minutes stand approved.
Old Business
- By-Laws: The following changes were recommended to the draft By-Laws :
- Mission Statement – reword to read "the purpose of this organization is the welfare of Yellow Creek".
- Article I, Section 3, Purposes – The partnership is an organization (not a not-for-profit) that has as its primary purpose to promote responsible management of Yellow Creek….
- Article III, Section 6 - ….executive committee (not board) of the board…..
- New – Section 9 – Officers shall be considered the Executive Committee and shall prepare agendas and other duties as requested by the Board.
- Article IV, Section 4 – change board members to board directors.
- Article VI – delete section 6.
- Article VII – add "and any assets will be given to 501(c) 3 organizations.
Mark Keister moved to adopt the by-laws as corrected at this meeting, seconded by Steve Spudich. Voting aye: all, motion approved.
- Grant Committee:
To reapply for the NRCS grant in 2006, Andy Sallee said that he would help us again. Bobbi will send the grant committee comments to him so that we can improve the next grant. It will probably be due in February.
- Wetland Iniative Group
: Don Hey could meet with someone from this group about other grant opportunities.
- EPA Ranking Systems
: There may be some funding through IEPA.
- Canoe Reports
: Too low to paddle now, will look after crops are out. There is a lot of blockage upstream from Hideaway Park. The group will try to GPS from Pearl City down stream. Blockages across the creek will try to be pulled aside to create habitat. If anything suspicious is found on the creek, call the IEPA in Rockford, present the problem, tie it down and give a GPS location.
- Publicity
: It was suggested that Roger write a letter to the Journal Standard about landowner cooperation and to recognize people who have already cooperated. Try to get additional articles with photos in the paper to keep the Yellow Creek name out in the public. Keep an item on the agenda called "creek management recognition". Could send a certificate of appreciation to those landowners who have already cooperated.
- Sugar Pec Grants
: The fish survey could document the need for a fish ladder. We could apply for a fish ladder and for planning monies.
- Park District Report
: Bobbi reported for Jack Carey that 10 landowners up from Krape Park have been notified and all agreed to allow public access to Yellow Creek for organized activities. They will continue to contact landowners upstream.
New Business
- Fish Shocking Report: Karen Anderson has completed her field work and will be starting on reports. We should have a report by our next quarterly meeting.
- Annual Meeting
: The December meeting will be the Annual Meeting. The board members need to select terms. A nominating committee of Lee Butler, Stan Slachetka and Craig Schroeder was selected.
- Guest
: Shelley Griswold, Community Development Director for the City of Freeport. In 2006 remapping of Stephenson County’s flood plains and floodway will be completed. Lobbying needs to be made to the City by individuals that a new survey should be completed before the mapping is done.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m. The next meeting of the Partnership will be Thursday, December 15, 2005, 1:00 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library.
Minutes recorded by Bobbi Reagan