KEY ISSUES for 2006
- Recruiting Board Members
- Keeping Council Members Involved
- Priority Setting/Project Selection
- Finances/Financial Plan
- Staffing
COUNCIL GOALS
A. Develop adequate public utilities, facilities and services including recreation, housing, roads, water fire protection, etc., for all towns and rural areas.
B. Accelerate and expand economic, industrial, and rural development to meet the area’s needs.
C. Protect and improve the area’s water and air quality.
D. Apply sound management practices on the area’s agricultural and other lands to preserve and enhance the soil and water resource base while increasing economic returns.
E. Maximize the development, protection, and management of the area’s forest lands.
F. Assist small family farms enabling them to remain a vital link in the area’s agricultural system.
USDA-NRCS Goals
- Land Conservation – The purpose of which is to control erosion and sedimentation
- Water Management – Provides one or more clear environmental or conservation benefits, the purpose of which is to provide for the conservation, use, and quality of water, including irrigation and rural water supplies; the mitigation of floods and high water tables; the repair and improvement of reservoirs; the improvement of agricultural water management; and the improvement of water quality
- Community Development – The purpose of which is to improve the development of resources-based industries; the protection of rural industries from natural resource hazards; the development of adequate rural water and waste disposal systems; the improvement of recreational facilities; the improvement in the quality of rural housing; the provision of adequate health and education facilities; the satisfaction of essential transportation and communication needs; and the promotion of food security, economic development, and education
- Land Management – The purpose of which is energy conservation, including the production of energy crops; the protection of agricultural land, as appropriate, from conversion to other uses; farmland protection; and the protection of fish and wildlife habitats.
Foreword
The Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council has developed this plan to guide its efforts over the current year. The adopted projects, when applied according to the Plan of Work, will guide the Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development program through the coming years and will address the goals and objectives outlined below. The Council plans to continue seeking public input during FY 2006 to gain insight in to program needs for each county and for the area as a whole.
The RC & D Council and the RC & D Executive Committee may periodically review this plan during the year to make necessary adjustments in schedules and priorities if necessary.
Program Administration Meetings
The RC & D Council meets quarterly in March, June, September and December. The December meeting serves as the annual meeting. Cawaco is part of the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts RC & D Committee Mid-year and Annual Meetings of the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils are attended, as well as the Southeastern Association of RC & D Councils/National RC & D. Cawaco attends Special Meetings, Resource Committee meetings and County Rural Development Committee Meetings—as called.
Finance
Contributions of $2,000 per sponsor are received each October for general Council operating expenses. Dues for the Alabama RC&D Council, the Southeastern RC&D Association, and the National RC&D Association will be paid annually upon invoice.
Committees
Executive Committee: Meets as needed to conduct business between regular council meetings. County Rural Development Committees: Serves as the county RC&D committee, meets regularly to set County priorities, act on new RC&D measure proposals and execute other responsibilities for the RC&D program. Resource Committees: Include Natural Resources, Business & Community Development, Public Relations, and Finance Committee.
Project Activity
A project is an activity on which the Council agrees to commit funds, human resources, or technical assistance. Priorities are normally based on measure of sponsors interest, local needs, county committee recommendation and available resources. These project measures, as listed, are based on Council priorities as previously established. However, action may be taken on measures not listed if unforeseen opportunities exist, especially on non cost-shared measures. Among the funded programs we have several categories:
- Unrestricted Funds that the Council can use as designated for the advancement of the
- Council’s goals and objectives.
- Challenge Grants are competitively granted from a small allotment from the Alabama Legislature Annually.
These funds fall into two categories
- Unrestricted general funds. These are used by the Council to address opportunities in the Council Area that address an issue within the scope of our mission. Priority is given to environmental issues linked to natural resources.
- Restricted Education Funds are administered in partnership with Auburn University and the local offices of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. In addition to needing the direct involvement of the ACES County Agent Coordinator and concurrence from Auburn University’s representative, these funds are set up for education of children and adults in classrooms, and throughout the community. The program stresses new and innovative curriculum and relies on measurable outcomes.
- USDA-NRCS Program support comes in the form of one FTE in the person of the Project Coordinator, and related support. In addition a Cooperative Agreement is authorized to offset the portion of the Administrative Assistant’s (AA) time spent in support of the USDA-NRCS administrative duties performed to support the Project Coordinator.
- Legislative Community Development Grants. From time to time Alabama Legislators get access to funds directed at Community Development. Cawaco is able to keep and work through an inventory of projects that are needed for community development. We solicit, refine, administer, and close out these projects and report back to the Legislature.
- Technical Assistance is a service we can provide prior to and during the implementation of a project
- ADEM Contracts – From time to time, Cawaco, in support of the stated goals, applies for and receives funding from ADEM to perform specific tasks for example to defray the expenses of a facilitator for a Clean Water Partnership
All other programs. Council Members and support staff must solicit and secure adequate funding from Federal, State, Local and private sources to secure the funds to carry out these projects. These grants support our stated goals and offset salaries of staff to carry out the Council’s stated goals.
