Soil & Water Conservation District

Mar 4, 2026

The lede

District raised fees for Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) reports: full report base fee increased from $400 to $500, additional acre fee from $20 to $30, and established new wind project fees ($500 for first turbine, $300 per additional turbine)
Approved $250 donation to the northeastern Illinois Envirothon event for operational support
Approved NRI 1811 for a 5-acre rezone from A-1 to RE on Spring Creek Road in Belvidere for two private residences, with comments regarding floodplain considerations and buffers
District has approximately 640 new acres enrolled in cost-share programs for strip till practices over the next 3 years

January meeting minutes approved (Motion: Mike Frank; Second: Aaron Brahmstedt)
Finance report approved showing total funds of $532,517.20 across accounts (Motion: Aaron Brahmstedt; Second: Mike Frank; Passed unanimously)
$250 donation to NE IL Envirothon event approved (Motion: Mike Frank; Second: Jack Ratcliffe; Carried)
New NRI fee schedule approved: Base fee increased to $500 (from $400), additional acre fee to $30 (from $20), wind project fees set at $500 for first turbine plus $300 per additional turbine (Motion: Jack Ratcliffe; Second: Aaron Brahmstedt; Passed unanimously)
NRI 1811 approved with comments for 5-acre rezone on PIN 05-08-200-015, Spring Creek Road (Motion: Mike Frank; Second: Aaron Brahmstedt; Carried)
Board organization maintained as-is (Motion: Jack Ratcliffe; Second: Aaron Brahmstedt; Passed unanimously)
Meeting adjourned (Motion: Aaron Brahmstedt; Second: Mike Frank; Carried)

QuickBooks and grant reporting: Staff reported on annual subscription increases and expected instructions from IDOA on using Amplifund for future grant reporting
Committee meetings: Staff discussed upcoming meetings for development, stormwater, agriculture, KREP, Envirothon, and groundwater
1992 agricultural area review: Board discussed upcoming review for agricultural area in northern Boone County
Document storage: Bill Hall asked district to research fireproof safe or cabinet for important documents like deeds; staff confirmed district has two easement files on hand
Local work group meeting: Staff suggested holding meeting after April’s board meeting similar to Winnebago, rather than joint meeting this year
NRCS ranking: EQIP applications ranking due March 20th; open CRP sign-up with FSA; NRCS assisting with CRP review backlogs in Stephenson and Jo Davies counties; one possible CRP application for Boone
Erosion control: Three active sites in Belvidere under inspection, with Belvidere Retail needing fixes

Fund balances: Midland checking $250,575.06; Midland savings $15,060.35; Illinois Funds account $266,881.79 (total: $532,517.20)
Timesheets approved by Jack Ratcliffe
Cost-share programs: Approximately 640 new acres enrolled for CPRG and PFC for strip till practices over next 3 years; ranking to be completed for next board meeting review
NRCS Administrative Agreement: Payments made for previous year’s local work group meeting
Annual report highlights: Staff reported on 2025 activities including events, election, erosion control plan reviews/inspections, cost-share programs, NRIs completed, social media, trainings, and sales for tree, fish, and conservation seed
Tree and fish sale: Update provided on current year sales

Filed to the wire — written by a machine from the agenda and the minutes. No human reporter attended. How this is written