Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust
Date:
December 21, 2007 1:00 to 2:35 pm
Location:
Metro Parks Conference Room, 1297 Trevilian Way, Louisville, Kentucky
Oversight Board Members in Attendance:
Kurt Mason James Braun Bob Schindler
Noel Rueff Reba Doutrick Phyllis Croce for H. Schardein
Lisa Hite for Mike Heitz Richard Jett for Charles Cash
Staff in Attendance:
Theresa Senninger
Lee Wells
Opening Remarks
Staff was asked to bring to the next Board meeting the conservation easement boundary markers that were ordered in October along with the Frannie Aprile baseline documentation. The board discussed the need for a press release to announce the recent completed conservation easement projects. Lee Wells will ask Connie Ewing, Planning and Designs public relations officer, if she can assist with a press release. This is also LJCET’s 10-year anniversary.
October and November 2007 Minutes
Kurt Mason called the meeting to order and asked everyone to look over the October and November minutes to see if there were any errors. Richard Jett moved that the October minutes be accepted as presented, and Bob Schindler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Bob Schindler moved that the November minutes be accepted as presented, with Richard Jett and Noel Rueff seconding. The motion passed unanimously.
Conservation Activity
Duncan Conservation Easement, 404 Mockingbird Valley Road [22-2004-01]
Theresa Senninger informed everyone about the latest progress on the Duncan site. Mr. Potter will return in January for the Board’s decision about whether a sewer line could be run at the edge of the Duncan estate to serve his adjacent development site. .
Board members asked if Mr. Potter has contacted the next door neighbors to see if they would allow a sewer line to be run across their property. Theresa Senninger reported that to her knowledge this has not happened. There was discussion of allowing the sewer line if it could allow a connection to the Duncan House as well. This would improve water quality of groundwater associated with the Duncan house.
All these factors need to be considered as the Board decides what is best for the conservation value of the property and what is consistent with the conservation easement. No final decision was reached at this time.
LJCET Endowments
Theresa Senninger reported that Laura Lee Brown has given the Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust $10,000 dollars for an endowment to assist with long-term monitoring costs. There was discussion about whether the money could be used for supplies and equipment such as a metal detector (for finding survey pins) to monitor the property. The board discussed other possible future endowments from other donors and how to determine the amount of endowment to request for a particular property.
Lisa advised that a Park Foundation has been set up to raise money and receive and hold private donations and grants for parks-related uses. The Foundation can receive the Brown donation and set up a dedicated endowment fund so it can earn interest.
Conservation Easement Monitoring
During colder weather, with leaves down, monitoring sites is quicker due to better GPS reception. For these reasons the winter monitoring schedule was drawn up. First the Trinity site should be completed for baseline documentation. Second, the Donoho site should be looked at since the new (permitted) house should be completed, and survey points on the south end of the property still have not been finalized. Third, Culbertson is due for its’ annual monitoring, and fourth with leaves down Musselman and Hilliard Easements will be easier to access and find their survey points.
Board and Committee Appointments
Noel Rueff moved that David Fothergill be appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust and Phyllis Croce seconded this motion. The motion carried unanimously.
With Dudley Saunders declining a second term on the board, possible replacement members were discussed. There was a suggestion that land owners who have donated a conservation easement would provide a welcome perspective to the Board.
It was agreed Layla Musselman, and Franny Aprile would be contacted to see if they would be willing to serve. Possible conflict of interest would be avoided because the landowners already have donated a conservation easement prior to joining the board. Lee Wells agreed to contact the Sierra Club to see if there was interest from someone in serving on the Advisory Committee.
The Board discussed adding more people to the advisory committee.
Announcement
Kurt Mason was invited to speak to the American Farmland Trust on Agricultural Districts and Conservation Easements.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjoined at 2:35 PM.