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1775 Mackenzie Drive, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
(515) 963-9582
mycountyparks.com
Volume LIII February 1, 2013 Issue XIV
Iowa’s County Conservation System
Since
1959
IMPORTANT DATES:
* February 26 - REAP DAY
at the Capitol
February 26-27 – Director’s
Retreat – Polk County
* March 5th – CCPOA East
Workshop – Benton Co.
* March 7th – CCPOA West
Workshop – Pott. Co.
* March 9 – IACCB Spring
Workshop – Reiman
Gardens – Ames, IA
* March 13th – CCPOA
Cent. Workshop - Story
* March 14-15 – ISAC
Spring School of
Instruction – Des Moines
* Sept. 26-28, 2013 - IACCB
Fall Conference in Okoboji
The IACCB Newsletter is
produced on a periodic basis, and
provided in digital format as a
membership benefit to IACCB
Members and stakeholders.
PLEASE forward or make copies of this communication for your Board Members.
IACCB SPRING WORKSHOP – March 9th
REGISTRATION is FREE!
The IACCB Board of Directors wants YOU to attend our 2013 Spring Workshop, and to entice
you just a bit more – for 2013, it will be provided at NO COST as a benefit of your IACCB
membership! With a unanimous vote yesterday, the Board endorsed the no-cost proposal as the
agenda provides some critical and timely “survival” information for board and staff members
alike. We still need you to register your participants so that we can allow for seating, meals, etc.,
so please print off a copy of the form from the following link, and get it sent in by the Feb. 25th
REGISTATION DEADLINE – LINK: http://mycountyparks.weebly.com/spring-workshop.html
We look forward to hosting you for this special event!!
Ground Hog Day
February 2nd
BRANDRUP TAKES I.A.C.C.B. OATH OF OFFICE Mike Brandrup, Hamilton County Conservation Board Member
was installed as the District 1 Representative on the IACCB Board of
Directors at the regular meeting of the Board on January 31st. Current
Board President, Darrell Frerichs (Clay) administered the Oath of
Office. Many of you already know Mike from his 40+ years in the
conservation field – many of those with the DNR. WELCOME MIKE!
DISTRICT III & DISTRICT IV I.A.C.C.B. REPRESENTATIVES NEEDED! Speaking of District Representatives to the IACCB Board of Directors - the board seats for
representatives from IACCB Districts 3 & 4 will be up for election in 2013. Terms are for 3 years,
and the board generally meets 5 to 6 times a year – including both the Spring and Fall IACCB
Conferences. Gene Olsen (Decatur) currently represents District 4, and Darrell Frerichs (Clay) is
currently representing District 3. Representatives are elected by a vote of the CCB Board
Members and Directors from their particular district. IACCB strives to attain a gender-balanced
board, and encourages application from interested board members from any counties in these
two districts. Candidate names are placed on a June ballot to all relative district counties, and
the vote is ratified by the Credentials Committee at the IACCB Annual Meeting in September.
Interested CCB Board members are welcome to contact their existing representative as well as Tom
Hazelton at: [email protected]
HOUSE FILE 92 IS INTRODUCED!! - IACCB SUPPORTS & REGISTERS IN FAVOR!
“An Act relating to the natural resources and outdoor recreation trust fund by increasing the sales and use
tax rates and including effective date provisions.” And so it was “read in” this past Tuesday at the capitol and assigned
to the House Ways & Means Committee….the effort to elevate Iowa’s sales tax by 3/8 of one cent gets underway! IACCB has
registered in favor of this proposal, and encourages other organizations to do the same. Additionally, the IACCB Board of
Directors voted unanimously at their January 31st meeting to provide $5,000 in financial support of this effort – equally
divided with $2,500 towards the “Natural Resources Public Education Fund”, and another $2,500 towards additional direct
advocacy (lobbying). It will be of critical importance this legislative session for all of us to work at getting this initiative out of
committee and hopefully guide it to a successful conclusion. You are encouraged to commence discussion(s) with your local
legislators NOW, and look forward to additional talking points and information to be forthcoming soon! Exciting times!
VOLUNTEER IOWA NEEDS YOUR STORIES! GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE – JANUARY 31st!
County Conservation Boards have been invited to submit some volunteer stories for the
weekly spotlight at Volunteer Iowa.org. They are looking for stronger geographic diversity
and have had very few environmental/historical volunteers so far. The interview/biography
form is available here: http://www.volunteeriowa.org/downloads/50FacesTemplate.pdf. It
also contains background and instructions about their 50 Faces of Volunteerism
Series. They take submissions on a rolling basis and will feature them at the next available
date (right now that is in early May)...but a good time for people to think about getting
outdoors and lending a hand. Thanks! For more information, please call: 515.725.3091
NEW PREFERRED VENDOR: HUFFCUTT CONCRETE !
Huffcutt Concrete, Inc. produces precast concrete products including
restrooms, vault toilets, utility buildings, boat planks, dug outs and other
standard and custom park and recreation products. Huffcutt is now listed on the
PREFERRED VENDORS page of our website – viewable at the following link:
http://mycountyparks.weebly.com/preferred-vendor.html We appreciate their
support of our county conservation system, and encourage you to consider our
IACCB Preferred Vendors FIRST as you seek products, services & solutions!
2013 FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE Iowa DNR and other partnering agencies have posted their fire training schedule for 2013. A listing of all trainings in the
state of Iowa and surrounding state can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/fire Click on to see all Fire Training Schedule classes. Contact Ryan Schlater at 515-233-8067 Ext. 2 with any questions.
?
NEW DIRECTORS ANNOUNCED ! Please join us in welcoming two new County Conservation Directors to our system! Chris Lee is the
new Director for the Des Moines County Conservation Board – most recently having served as their
Operations Foreman; and Cale Edwards will assume the Director position in Hancock County on
February 11th. Cale is a recent graduate of ISU and has several years of season experience with the
Marion CCB. If you connect the dots…yes, Cale is the son of longtime Marion CCB Director, Steve
Edwards. Not sure – but this may be the first set of active father/son Directors in our history?
CONGRATS to both of these gentlemen – we look forward to working with them in the months & years
to come. Look for more information on all new Directors in the next edition of the IACCB Board
Member – due out in late Spring. Feel free to contact them via the following connections:
Chris Lee (Des Moines): [email protected]
Cale Edwards (Hancock): [email protected]
WEED COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE The Iowa Weed Commissioners’ Association is holding their annual Invasive Species Conference in Ames on March 7th-8th at the Quality Inn. Presenters on the agenda include: Mark Pingenot – Field Coordinator -Trees Forever; Dr. Jane Mangold – Rangeland Weed Specialist - Montana State University; Chris Henze – Roadside Manager - Johnson County, IA; Anthony Cortilet – State Weed Scientist - MN Dept. of Agriculture; John Pearson – Botanist/Ecologist - Iowa DNR; Isaiah Messerly – Invasive Species Biologist - National Park Service; Robin Pruisner – State Entomologist – Iowa Dept. of Agriculture; Dr. Mike Owen – Associate Chair, Agronomy Dept. and Extension Weed Specialist - Iowa State University Anyone wanting to learn more on Invasive Species in Iowa is encouraged to attend. Visit the following link for more info.: http://iowaweedcommissioners.org/2013_winter_meeting/ LWCF GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 15th
Just a note requesting you to remind you that the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant applications are due March 15,2013. The applications are due in the Des Moines DNR main office in the Wallace Building by 4:30 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013. The 2013 application and guidelines are
on the DNR website at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/GrantsOtherFunding/LandWaterConservationFund.aspx
If there are any questions, they can be forwarded to Sandy Sampson at [email protected], 515-281-8004 or Kathleen Moench at
[email protected] , 515-281-3013
2014 I.A.C.C.B. FALL CONFERENCE IDEAS?
Woodbury County Conservation, our hosts for the 2014 IACCB Annual Fall Conference in
Sioux City is offering up a special opportunity for you to assist with building the educational
agenda for the conference! If there are any specific topics or presenters that you would like
to see at a conference – they would like you to respond directly to WCCB Director, Rick
Schneider at: [email protected] (snail mail is O.K. too ) The broader theme for
the conference will center on the Loess Hills resources – but YOUR timely input might just
put something on the agenda that you wanted to see! THANKS for the assistance!
FIREWOOD CUTTING POLICIES?
Kurt Baker, Director Wapello County Conservation, is looking for information on any CCB that
may have firewood cutting policy in place. If so, he is hoping that you might be able to share it
with him. You can contact Kurt directly with this information at the following email address:
[email protected] and, “cc” IACCB in too please: [email protected]
MOVING AHEAD FOR PROGRESS IN THE 21st CENTURY - MAP-21
At the January 15 Transportation Commission (Commission) meeting, Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) staff presented for
action a formal recommendation for implementing the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP); Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality;
and Surface Transportation Program funding. The Commission approved the staff recommendation as presented. The Commission
expressed their understanding that MAP-21 and these implementation policies are significant changes that need to be monitored very
closely. The Commission directed Iowa DOT staff to provide an update on the status of implementation that is tentatively scheduled for
June. The Commission will be monitoring implementation very closely and will consider changes to these policies based on how the
implementation is proceeding and the impacts of these policies.
As a result of these decisions, the Office of Systems Planning will be accepting applications for the Iowa’s Clean Air
Attainment Program (ICAAP), federal Recreational Trails Program, and Safe Routes to School program with a deadline of
March 1, 2013. Even though the Safe Routes to School program was eliminated in MAP-21, it is included in this round of
applications because there is funding still available from previous years appropriations due to project underruns and
turnbacks. Details regarding the process for application and award of the $1 million discretionary TAP funding retained by the
Iowa DOT will follow at a later date. More information: http://www.iowadot.gov/iowabikes/trailsfunding.html ;
Charlie Wittmack and Darrell Draker deliver
keynote addresses on Tuesday & Wednesday to
packed general sessions.
An impromptu visit from
Governor Branstad was a
pleasant surprise at the
Thursday AM morning
break
108 college students from
7 colleges enjoyed
educational sessions, a
collegiate seminar and a
resume review session.
IAN & ICEC Awards * Outstanding EE Program (< 2 Interpreters) - Mahaska County Conservation
* Environ. Educator Award – Kate Zimmerman, Ringgold County Conservation
* Environ. Education Award – Winneshiek County Conservation
* Outstanding EE Efforts by a Business – E-Resources Group (Jean Eells)
* Outstanding EE Program For Youth – Palo Alto Ducks Unlimited Chapter
* Outstanding Interpretive Print Media – Polk County Conservation
IZAAK WALTON HABITAT IMPROVEMENT AWARD * Union County Conservation
JOB OPENINGS CURRENTLY LISTED AT: http://www.mycountyparks.com/Info/Employment.aspx 1. Butler CCB – Campground Hosts
2. Sioux CCB – Park Ranger/Maintenance Technician
3. Johnson County – Park Ranger I
4. Poweshiek CCB – Resource Manager/Naturalist
5. INHF – Land Stewardship Assistant
6. Buchanan CCB – Seasonal Park Technician
7. Linn CCB – Park Attendant (6), Watercraft Concession Manager(2), Natural Resource Aide (10)
8. Hamilton CCB – Park Operations Internship
9. Sioux CCB – Summer Maintenance Position
10. Montgomery CCB – Seasonal Park Maintenance
11. Floyd CCB – Summer Natural Resource Aide
12. Story CCB – Conservation Park Aide, Summer Naturalist, Natural Resource Aide, Park Ranger Aide, Vegetation Management Aide
13. Butler CCB – Park Technician Internship
14. Mahaska CCB – Summer Park Ranger
15. Carroll CCB – Associate Naturalist
16. Johnson CCB – Campground Attendant
17. Dickinson CCB – Seasonal Conservation Aide
18. Clayton CCB – Seasonal Maintenance (5), Seasonal Naturalist (2)
19. Hamilton CCB – Park Operations Internship
20. Muscatine CCB – Summer Conservation Worker
21. Winnebago CCB – Seasonal Natural Resource Technician
22. Woodbury CCB – Summer Naturalist & Habitat Mgmt. Interns
23. Winneshiek CCB – Park Intern
24. Palo Alto CCB – Seasonal Park Maintenance
25. Cerro Gordo CCB – Park Management Internship
26. Cerro Gordo CCB – Park Attendant Internship
27. Cerro Gordo CCB – Conservation Education Internship
28. Cerro Gordo CCB – Vegetation Management Internship
29. Cerro Gordo CCB – Wildlife/Parks Internship
30. Carroll CCB – Park Ranger Summer Internship
31. Worth CCB – Seasonal Naturalist Internship
Located at the bottom of each and every page on the MyCountyParks.com website.
Association For Integrated Roadside Management Winter Meeting March 6, 2013 Quality Inn – Ames, IA - AFIRM Business Meeting, ROW Haying/Mowing Permits –
As Time Permits, Troy Siefert, IDOT – Living Roadway Trust Fund Updates, IRVM Program Manager
(Kirk’s Replacement), Bob Sperry, LTAP – ROW Use, County Rights & Responsibilities, Maria Urice –
Trends in LRTF grants funded , Hydro-seeding Discussion . MORE info: [email protected]
