2021_1_20_NewHanover_Minutes
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New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting held in Wilmington, NC.
FY Meeting Number #8 Date: January 20, 2021
Supervisors Present: Others Present:
Bill Hart, Chairman Dru Harrison, NHSWCD Director
Sue Hayes, Vice-Chairman Amy Renfranz, NHSWCD Program Coordinator
Frank Meares Haley Moccia, NHSWCD Conservation Technician
Matt Collogan Lilly Triolo, NHSWCD Intern
Evan Folds Joshua Davis, USDA NRCS Supervisory Soil Conservationist
Tom Boland Sheryl Kelly, NHC Assistant County Manager
Amber Ellis, NCSU Bio & Ag Engineering Department
John Wojciechowski, CFCC Program Director of Sustainability Tech
Lloyd Singleton, NHC County Extension Director
Sara Warmuth, NHC Chief Facilities Officer
Mike Brown, Cape Fear FD Stonewater, LLC
Was this meeting held during a meal: No
Chairman Hart called the monthly board meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. The meeting was held virtually on Zoom.
CALL TO ORDER
A. Approval of Agenda
Motion: Approve the agenda with an amendment by Hayes to add “Board Training” to Old
Business section.
Motion: Hayes
Second: Hart
Vote: Passed unanimously. Motion approved.
B. Introduction of Attendees.
REVIEW & DISCUSSION OF NEW NHC GOVERNMENT CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
A. Warmuth shared that the NHC Board of Commissioners approved funding for the project.
Groundbreaking has been delayed until March 2021. Warmuth shared the preliminary layout of the
building and grounds (see Addendum).
B. Building Design. Brown shared that the new building will be 25,000 square feet less than the current
building and that it will utilize sustainable technology such as LID and a vertical design (smaller
footprint). He stated that it should save the county $300,000 per year in operating expenses.
1. A green roof is not being considered for the building.
2. Cistern. Harrison is going to share information regarding the current building’s water collection
cistern with Brown.
3. Wojciechowski encouraged thinking about the longevity of the technology used, including the
use of solar for energy production. He stated that though the county will not receive tax credit for
solar energy now, he believes that solar energy will be the cheapest way to produce energy in
the years to come.
4. Warmuth shared that though the building exceeds standards, there are no plans for it to be
LEED Certified. The design team is taking considerations into account while weighing costs to
the taxpayer.
C. Exterior Design. Hart introduced discussion on the exterior component of the project.
1. Hart recommended the following:
Tree canopy coverage in the parking lot to improve aesthetics, capture stormwater,
moderate temperatures, and carbon sequestering.
2. Ellis recommended the following:
Strategically placed bioretention cells. A current example in New Hanover County is the
shallow-media bioretention cell near Olde Time Pottery that is successful at removing
90% of pathogens.
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Shallow infiltration basins such as the swale at the NHC Arboretum
Permeable pavement
Cistern and creative solutions for use of the water that is collected
Strategic tree placement
3. Wojciechowski recommended the following:
Focus on sustainable design in the parking lot, as the source of stormwater and
stormwater pollutants
Applying SITES rating system to the exterior design of the project
4. Harrison shared:
Pervious pavement has been shown to be just as effective in small pockets, located near
storm drains, than if placed across a large area.
NHC Parks Department may not have the capacity or skills to maintain projects beyond
traditional projects
5. Warmuth stated that NHSWCD will be invited to participate in future meetings regarding the site.
6. Folds expressed appreciation to Ellis and Wojciechowski for sharing their expertise and for the
openness of Brown and Warmuth. He and Wojciechowski shared that this is an opportunity for
New Hanover County to be a model and to set a precedence.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Consent Agenda
Motion: Move for approval of consent agenda, excluding the Director’s Report.
Motion: Meares
Second: Hayes
Vote: Passed unanimously. Motion approved.
Motion: Approve the Director’s Report.
Motion: Hart
Second: Hayes
Vote: Vote: Passed unanimously. Motion approved.
SUPERVISOR AND STAFF REPORTS
A. Chairman’s Report.
1. Hart stated that finding ways to connect Soil & Water initiatives to climate change resiliency
would be to the benefit of all. He is cogitating on ways to move forward.
2. Hydric Soils Symposium. Hart will be emailing a draft outline of the symposium to the board.
B. NRCS Report.
1. A soils presentation will be done by Barry W ard, NRCS Resource Soil Scientist, at the March
17, 2021 board meeting with a follow-up in-the-field demonstration on March 24, 2021. Ward
has stated that the NHC soils list needs to be updated and corrected.
2. There are no EQIP or CSP applicants from New Hanover County. NRCS has extended the
deadline for CSP until March. Preference will be given to applicants who are already utilizing
stewardship practices and/or tree planting. Applicants must have an FSA number which can be
obtained at the FSA office in Burgaw by showing a deed that includes acreage. Zoning issues
do not apply. If farm is on highly erodible land, NRCS will write a conservation plan to mitigate
the issues. Farmer must comply or appeal the suggestions.
Folds inquired about the amount of funding allocated to New Hanover County – as a way
to engage with the county and city by showing them what is offered. Davis will have
more information to report at the next meeting. Folds and Collogan will research ways to
better communicate NRCS resources to potential applicants.
Break from meeting at 9:44 a.m. Reconvened at 9:54 a.m.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Annual Meeting Review
1. Community Conservation Committee
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Hayes stated that it was decided to write a letter of support to state legislators and the
Governor regarding an increase of funding to the CCAP program. Hart approved and
recommended further editing. He will mail the letters in February.
Stream Guide. Prompted by Mecklenburg SWCD, a Steering Committee has formed to
develop a guide regarding stream conservation. The Committee will meet once a month.
The intended audience for the guide is riparian landowners. A draft of the document will
be presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting. Hayes, Folds, and Harrison are members of
the committee.
2. Legislative Committee
Hart reported that the committee endorsed the Community Conservation Committee’s
recommendation for $1.5 million for CCAP. The committee also eliminated a phrase in
the action item of the general assembly that stated to not take money away from the
agricultural cost share program to fund CCAP.
3. Research & Technology
Collogan reported that the committee discussed identifying new funding sources for
supporting the development of new technologies. They discussed remote sensing, soil
health, precision cover cropping, precision seeding, and herbicide-resistant weed
management. Conservation Innovation Grants are available to EQIP-eligible farms.
4. Natural Resources Committee
Boland reported that the NC Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler, attended the
committee meeting. He stated that they reviewed a document pertaining to goals and
objectives. They discussed trees as BMPs for stormwater management and forestry
initiatives, and encouraging engaging with local foresters.
B. Hydric Soils Update. Hart reported that Dr. Jim Gregory, NCSU Emeritus, outlined an approach to
hydric soils management in two emails that were distributed to all members of the board which lays the
groundwork for a “drainage district”- acreage with a managed water table. This will be discussed during
the Hydric Soils Symposium.
1. Harrison will reach out to Rebekah Roth, NHC Interim Planning Director, and Jim Gregory to
attend the March presentation on hydric soils by Barry Ward.
C. Harrison’s Evaluation – Timeline & Process
1. Hayes, seeking clarity on the timeline and process of Harrison’s evaluation, provided a list of
questions for Harrison to share with Kelly regarding the evaluation process.
2. Harrison will share her goals, the process of evaluation, and Kelly’s responses to Hayes
questions with the board.
D. Tick List. From December 12, 2020.
1. Clarify details of proposed bike path along Hewlett’s Creek – Dru
2. Send “wish list” of agricultural projects to Josh – supervisors
3. Develop database of New Hanover farmers and identify list of farmers for EQUIP program –
Josh and Evan
4. Contact experts in LID and LEED for and invite them to attend January Board meeting for
discussion of the design of new County Admin Building – Dru
5. Develop process for County Commissioner meetings with supervisors – Sue, Dru and Amy
6. Contact Kirsten Dixon, Brunswick County Planning Director, regarding our interest in rezoning
our property on Eagles Island from Industrial to open space or recreation - Dru
7. Develop timeline and location for soil scientist to visit NHC and schedule presentation at Board
meeting – Josh, Bill and Dru
8. Propose edits to county tree ordinances – Bill
9. Develop process for use of trees for stormwater management as a District BMP – Dru
10. Develop Water table management seminar – Bill, Evan and staff
11. Develop priority list of projects for grant proposals and identify grant-writing assistance -
supervisors and staff
E. Board Training. Harrison has not yet confirmed the dates of the rescheduled board training.
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NEW BUSINESS
A. 2021 Budget. The new budget is due next week. It will be similar to what was proposed in 2020, with
the exception of increased funding for Moccia’s position.
1. A list of projects for funding consideration by the county in 2022 will be due in the summer.
Harrison advised the supervisors to begin constructing that list.
2. Harrison asked that supervisors interested in a leadership program let her know. She will email
more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Virtual Supervisor Training - February 2, 2021.
Virtual NACD National Meeting – February 1-10, 2021.
Cape Fear River Watch/Eagles Island Presentation with Roger Shew – February 6, 2021.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Without objection, the meeting was adjourned.
Adjourned at 11:11 am.
The next regular board meeting is set for February 17, 2021 at 8 a.m. on Zoom.
Recorded By: Amy Renfranz
Approved By: ____________________________________________________________
ADDENDUM
LINKS SHARED DURING THE MEETING
Four Easy Steps to Get Started with FSA: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-
Public/usdafiles/Outreach/pdfs/Brochures/4%20Steps%20to%20Assistance.pdf
Register for Eagles Island Presentation with Cape Fear River Watch:
http://capefearriverwatch.org/event/february-first-saturday-seminar-with-roger-shew/
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
My work with our Hydric Soils Project will be more thoroughly covered later in the agenda. However, a
considerable amount of time was spent in the correspondence with Dr. James Gregory on his experience with
a water table management system on the Hofmann Forest, a tract of some 35,000 acres. Production of trees
for harvest depend on the ability to raise the water table in dry periods and lower it in wet periods. Dr. Gregory
has laid out the steps that, in his opinion, ought to be followed before widespread development takes place in
the hydric soils in the north of the county. Reading his emails is akin to a primer in hydric soils management.
The break between meetings was a good to time to think about the institutional location of the districts in what
seems to be an emerging flow of money associated with climate change. Two examples are cited in the
January 19th issue of the Wilmington Star-News:
…. a recent study by the Johns Hopkins University 21st Cities Initiative and the American Flood
Coalition estimated that investing $1 billion in projects to prevent or manage flooding would create 40,000 new
jobs.
If just 10% of the $4 billion spent on flood insurance payments had been put into building stormwater
retention areas or other projects that would make buildings, roads and utilities resistant to or safe from future
flooding, it would have created 160,000 construction and retail jobs ….
With the likelihood of new flows of resources, the question is whether the districts are located institutionally to
benefit from these new flows. The fact is our location in the DACS means the districts are in the flow of
William J. Hart (Feb 17, 2021 11:30 EST)
William J. Hart Feb 17, 2021
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agriculture oriented programs and money. For New Hanover County: no farms, no agricultural money. There
is a need to broaden the legislative/administrative charge to the districts.
PRELIMINARY LAYOUT NHC GOVERNMENT CENTER
Signature Needed: 2021_1_20_NewHanover_Mi
nutes
Final Audit Report 2021-02-17
Created:2021-02-17
By:Amy Renfranz (arenfranz@nhcgov.com)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAiY0TSTNX5G-KkHJzORjmMfq1uCC6pnUJ
"Signature Needed: 2021_1_20_NewHanover_Minutes" History
Document created by Amy Renfranz (arenfranz@nhcgov.com)
2021-02-17 - 3:27:43 PM GMT- IP address: 152.31.193.130
Document emailed to William J. Hart (bhswcon1126@gmail.com) for signature
2021-02-17 - 3:28:29 PM GMT
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Document e-signed by William J. Hart (bhswcon1126@gmail.com)
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Agreement completed.
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