Oct 09, 2025 Parks and Sustainability Committee

[Call to Order]

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EVERYBODY. THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

[Roll Call]

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[1. ID 25-0558     REPORT OF ACTIVITIES FOR SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION FISCAL YEAR 2025 4TH QUARTER – Soil and Water Conservation District, Geri Johnson]

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PERFECT. MY NAME IS SARAH BETH SIMMONS. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. MY ADDRESS IS 632 CAMP STREET, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, 40203.

JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, WE WERE FORMED IN THE 1930S BECAUSE OF THE DUST BOWL AND THE REALIZATION THAT CURRENT FARMING PRACTICES WERE DESTROYING THE SOIL, AND THIS KIND OF CONTINUES TODAY, WHERE THE NUMBER ONE POLLUTANT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW IS SOIL. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE DO ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND WITH GUIDANCE FROM STATE AND FEDERAL. OUR WE HAVE A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AS I STATED, WE HAVE SEVEN ELECTED SUPERVISORS THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT ON ALTERNATING YEARS. SO NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE THREE SPOTS THAT ARE OPEN 2028. WE'LL HAVE FOUR SPOTS OPEN. WE DIRECT DISTRICT STAFF. WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR. THAT'S OUR DAILY OFFICE OPERATIONS, BOOKKEEPING, ALSO STAFF MANAGEMENT. WE'RE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR WHO WILL DO AN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM, OUTREACH, ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAMING AND WORKSHOPS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNER DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO HAVE A

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THEY'LL PROVIDE A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN NRCS AND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROGRAM OUTREACH, AS WELL AS SITE VISITS. SO ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO IS THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL INCENTIVES PROGRAM. THIS MONEY IS FROM THE KENTUCKY TOBACCO FUND. SO IT COMES OFF CIGARETTE SALES, AND THAT GOES INTO DIVERSIFYING AGRICULTURE AWAY FROM TOBACCO.

JEFFERSON COUNTY HASN'T TRADITIONALLY ALWAYS BEEN A TOBACCO HEAVY COUNTY, SO WE DON'T GET A TON OF MONEY. BUT THIS THIS YEAR IS MORE THAN WE'VE EVER GOTTEN IN THE PAST.

OF ABOUT $49,400, APPLICANTS MUST HAVE FARM SERIAL NUMBER AND A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. I LIVE IN SHELBY PARK AND A SHOTGUN, AND I HAVE A FARM NUMBER, SO IT'S EASY FOR ANYONE TO GET A FARM NUMBER. YOU CAN DO THIS FOR POULTRY. YOU CAN DO THIS FOR RAISED BEDS. I'M HAPPY TO SEND ANY, ANY INFORMATION OUT FOR YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS TO UTILIZE THIS GREAT PROGRAM.

YOU CAN INVEST IN AG TECH, LEADERSHIP, LARGE ANIMALS, SMALL ANIMALS. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM TO START NEW BEES, BEEHIVES, ALSO VERMICULTURE WHICH IS WORM WORM FARMING. WE ALSO HAVE A SEASON EXTENSION PROGRAM. IT'S BOTH HIGH TUNNELS AND LOW TUNNELS.

THE APPLICATION PERIOD WILL OPEN THE END OF OCTOBER. WE'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP AT LOUISVILLE GROVES THIS NOVEMBER. LOW TUNNELS. THE AWARDS ARE CAPPED AT $1,500. REIMBURSEMENTS ARE FROM 50% TO 100%, DEPENDING ON WHAT AREA THEY'RE THE PRODUCER IS, AND ALSO IF THEY'VE PRODUCED BEFORE. IF THEY'RE A SEASONED FARMER. THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT REASONS THAT THE REIMBURSEMENTS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. IT PRIORITIZES PRODUCERS AND FOOD, DESERT AREAS AND EXISTING FOOD PRODUCERS. HIGH TUNNELS. THE AWARDS ARE CAPPED AT $3,000 FOR NEW BUILDS, 1500 CAP FOR MAINTENANCE. GRANTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS CAN BE UTILIZED TO CONSTRUCT NEW OR REPAIR EXISTING HIGH TUNNELS, SO THIS PROGRAM WILL OPEN IN NOVEMBER AND IT'LL CONSTRUCTION HAS TO BE COMPLETE AND EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SUBMITTED BY MAY BY THE PRODUCER. SO ONE THING THAT WE REALLY WORK HARD AT WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. MAKE LIGHT WORK OF IF EVERYBODY KIND OF PULLS THEIR OWN WEIGHT AND GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE REACH. SO WE'VE STARTED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH TREES LOUISVILLE. WE DO A LOT OF TREE GIVEAWAYS AND SPONSORSHIPS, AND WE ALSO DO INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL DURING THEIR TREE PLANTING EVENTS. KENTUCKY DIVISION OF WATER, KENTUCKY WATERWAYS ALLIANCE, METRO PARKS AND REC, THE KENTUCKY DIVISION OF FORESTRY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON DEVELOPING A JEFFERSON COUNTY RSMA, WHICH IS A COOPERATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREA. AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN ASKED BY LOUISVILLE METRO URBAN TREES TO TAKE PART IN THEIR TREE MASTER PLAN BY CREATING A COMMUNITY WIDE PLAN ADDRESSING INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT. SO WE'VE ALSO BEEN AWARDED THE KENTUCKY DIVISION OF CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT FOR $5,000. WE USUALLY USE THIS EVERY YEAR TO PAY FOR SOIL TESTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF SOIL TESTS DONE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. A LOT OF PLACES IN OLDER LOUISVILLE. WE ALWAYS SAY THAT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO PLANT AND GROW A GARDEN IN THE GROUND INSTEAD OF A RAISED BED TO TEST FOR HEAVY METALS. AND SO THE THE GRANT HAS A $5,000 CAP, BUT IT'S ALSO HAS A $1,200 MATCH, WHICH WE USE. WE PAY FOR THE SHIPPING COSTS FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION. AND WE ALSO HAVE $250 FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WORKSHOPS FOR THIS PROGRAM. I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COOPERATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREA. THIS IS AN ENDEAVOR BY THE KENTUCKY DIVISION OF FORESTRY. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET A SYSTEM IN EVERY COUNTY. IF YOU DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, INDIANA'S GOT A VERY POWERFUL SYTSMA NETWORK WHERE IT EITHER EVERY COUNTY HAS A SYSTEM OR A GROUP OF MORE RURAL COUNTIES WOULD GET TOGETHER AND CREATE ONE. THIS IS JUST TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF INVASIVE SPECIES. IT ALSO PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AS WELL AS HOST COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER EVENTS CALLED WEED WRANGLES. AND ALSO THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO PARKS AND REC, OLMSTED PARKS AND URBAN FORESTRY. WE'VE ALREADY PARTNERED WITH PARDON ME, THE PARKLANDS AND FLOYDS FORK, AND THEY'VE UTILIZED NRCS FUNDS TO DO A LOT OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL. WE ALSO WERE AWARDED A 319 EPA GRANT. FINGERS CROSSED. THE PROJECT FUNDING IS $83,000 AND $500 TO CLEAN UP THE MIDDLE FORK OF BEARGRASS CREEK. THIS

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CURRENTLY, THE FUNDS ARE PENDING EPA APPROVAL. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE LOUISVILLE ZOO ON THEIR EXPANSION, THE KENTUCKY TRAILS PROGRAM, TO CREATE A TREE PLANTING EVENT FOR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION EVENT WHERE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS COULD COME AND TABLE. IT COULD GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN TO PLANT TREES ON THE NEW ZOO EXPANSION SO THEY CAN COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AND SEE HOW THOSE TREES ARE GROWING. WE CAN ALSO HAVE CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATION, AS WELL AS A NATIVE PLANT GIVEAWAY. WE'RE WORKING TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS ON THIS.

WE'VE ALREADY GOT MSD, WE'VE ALREADY GOT PARKS AND REC. WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THE KENTUCKY DIVISION OF FORESTRY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME TREE SEEDLINGS DONATED FOR THIS EVENT, AND TREES. LOUISVILLE IS ALSO A PART OF THIS. JUST TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, A SPECIAL PURPOSE GOVERNMENT ENTITY. WE'RE KIND OF A STRANGE DUCK. WE DO NOT REALLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE'RE NOT REALLY STATE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE NOT REALLY FEDERAL. WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THEM. WE'RE TECHNICALLY A SUBDIVISION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. AND THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, WE BRING IN A LOT OF FEDERAL MONIES THROUGH THAT. FURTHER, THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMING THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE BROUGHT IN OUR TOGETHER WITH NRCS, WE BROUGHT IN OVER $1 MILLION FOR 42 CONTRACTS COUNTYWIDE THROUGH THE NRCS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM AND THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. THE CONSERVATION THESE AREN'T JUST FOR FARMS, NOT FOR JUST TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE. THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IS A FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON PRIVATE LAND. AND THERE WAS A PERSON, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH COUNCIL DISTRICT SHE WAS IN, BUT SHE HAS A SMALL LOT LESS THAN AN ACRE. AND THROUGH THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, SHE'S PUT IN A LOT OF NATIVE PLANTS, A RAIN GARDEN, AND DEALT WITH SOME EROSION ISSUES THAT SHE HAD IN HER YARD. SHE GETS $3,000 FOR FOUR YEARS.

EVERY YEAR SHE GETS $3,000 TO IMPROVE HER LAND FOR CONSERVATION. SO PART OF THIS IS JEFFERSON COUNTY NO LONGER HAS AN URBAN SOIL CONSERVATIONIST WITHIN OUR CS.

THEY'VE TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT WORK UNIT. SO CURRENTLY JEFFERSON COUNTY IS COVERED BY SHELBY COUNTIES. IN OUR WORK UNIT, WE WILL NOT RECEIVE A NEW URBAN SOIL CONSERVATIONIST. THEY'VE STATED UNTIL FOUR PEOPLE EITHER QUIT OR LEAVE THEIR JOB, THEY CAN'T HIRE A NEW ONE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, BEING COVERED BY SHELBY COUNTY, WHO ALREADY HAS A PRETTY HEAVY WORKLOAD. THE CONSERVATION HAS AN 80 OVER 20 EMPLOYEES, THAT IS JEFFERSON COUNTY'S CONNECTION TO NRCS PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL FUNDING. THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NRCS AND THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SERVICE, WHERE WE PAY 20% OF THEIR SALARY AND WE'RE REIMBURSED 80% BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THOSE THOSE WORKERS ARE ARE KEY TO GETTING PRODUCERS AND LANDOWNERS ONTO THESE NRCS PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN URBAN SOIL CONSERVATIONIST. AND THIS IS JUST A BAR CHART KIND OF SHOWING OUR COMPARISON TO OTHER, KENTUCKY'S OR OTHER URBAN COUNTIES, ALL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ARE EITHER FUNDED BY THE FISCAL COURT GENERAL FUND OR A LEVY OF TAX. SO I PUT THE COUNTIES THAT ARE MORE URBANIZED, MORE SUBURBANIZED ON HERE JUST TO KIND OF SHOW A COMPARISON. JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE COUNTY POPULATION IS ALMOST 800,000. WE GET 113 FROM METRO COUNCIL. BULLITT COUNTY HAS A POPULATION OF 82,000, AND THEY GET $237,000 FROM THEIR GENERAL FUND. FAYETTE COUNTY HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 330,000 PEOPLE, AND THEY GET ABOUT $330,000 THROUGH AN AD VALOREM TAX. SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF ALL THE COUNTIES. WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST POPULATION THAT IS TAKING IN KENTUCKY'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. AND WE'RE WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED COMPARATIVELY TO OTHER COUNTIES.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. AND I'VE ALSO PASSED OUT A ONE PAGER THAT WE EARLIER GAVE THIS MONTH TO DEPUTY MAYOR MASON. AS FAR AS JUST SOME NUMBERS ABOUT OUR CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND

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I'M GOING TO GO I'M GOING TO START WITH COUNCILMAN LEONARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY. SO YOUR 80 OVER 20 RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FUNDING FOR YOUR EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEES, I ASSUME YOU YOU HAVE SOME EFFECTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. WE DO CURRENTLY. INITIALLY THEY'VE SAID THAT THEY COULD WORK ON JUST CONSERVATION DISTRICT WORK. BUT THEN IT CAME OUT THAT THEY'RE COMPLETELY FURLOUGHED. AND THEN I ASKED OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TODAY IF WE WERE STILL PAYING THEM BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ON A FEDERAL BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A FEDERAL ENTITY, OUR PAYCHECKS STILL GO OUT. SO IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE'RE THAT THAT PERSON IS STILL GETTING PAID, AND THEN WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THE FURLOUGH TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THEIR SALARY. OKAY. AND THE EMPLOYMENT THAT YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE, IT'S FULL TIME. THE NRCS. SOIL TECHS ARE FULL TIME. OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR IS ALSO A FULL TIME POSITION. OUR CURRENT EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR IS PART TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO PROVIDE BENEFITS. SO THAT IS ONE OF OUR DOWNFALLS AS FAR AS RETENTION, EMPLOYEE RETENTION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE FURTHER ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE COME TO THE METRO COUNCIL AND ASK FOR A BUMP UP OF OUR BUDGET. YEAH, THAT THAT IS A CONCERN. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW THAT TERM 80, 20, 80% OF THEIR SALARIES PAID BY NRC'S. AND THEN WE COME UP WITH THE 20%. SORRY, SIR. SORRY.

MY APOLOGIES. CAN YOU THE PROTOCOLS WHEN YOU SPEAK IN THERE THE FIRST TIME, YOU JUST ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION. OH, YES. DAVID KALYN, SUPERVISOR AT THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. IT'S LOCATED 4200 GARDENER VIEW AVENUE. YEAH, JUST THAT OUR MAIN THESE 8020 TECHS ARE, YOU KNOW, GREAT COST SAVINGS FOR US, BUT THEY CAN ONLY WORK A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS FOR US. YOU KNOW, IT'S BROKE AT THAT PERCENTAGE. I'M IN THE QUEUE, SO I GUESS I'LL GO NEXT. OKAY. SO I NOTICED YOU HAD A HIGH TUNNEL AND A LOW TUNNEL OUT THERE. AND I KNOW THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING CALLED A FLOATING ROW COVER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE THINGS, PLEASE? SURE. THE I'LL GO BACK TO THE SLIDE SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE ILLUSTRATIVE. SO THE BOTTOM PICTURE IS A HIGH TUNNEL, WHICH IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD CALL A GREENHOUSE. IT'S CALLED A HIGH TUNNEL BECAUSE IT'S NOT PERMANENT STRUCTURE. IT'S JUST IT JUST CONSISTS OF PIPES INSTALLED INTO THE GROUND. AND THEN THERE'S A PLASTIC COVER THAT HAS TO BE MAINTAINED. IT HAS ABOUT A LIFE OF TEN YEARS. WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO FIND SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN PLASTIC. BUT CURRENTLY THIS IS THE THIS IS THE, I GUESS, WHAT THE NORM IS.

AS FAR AS HIGH TUNNELS GO, THE LOW TUNNELS, AS YOU CAN SEE ABOVE, THEY'RE JUST POLES INTO THE GROUND. WE RECENTLY PURCHASED TWO POLE VENDORS TO RENT OUT THE FREE TO JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENTS, TO CREATE THESE FROM PEOPLE JUST BUYING METAL CONDUIT AND BEND IT AND PUT IT INTO THE GROUND. AND THEN YOU CAN GET DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIAL TO GO OVER THESE TUNNELS. I HAVE THESE AT HOME, AND I USE A BUG COVER LIKE A BUG NETTING. AND IN THE FALL I'LL SWITCH OVER TO A FROST COVER, SO IT'LL KEEP THE PLANTS A LITTLE BIT WARMER AND IT'LL KEEP THAT FROST OFF THE PLANTS. JUST EXTEND YOUR GROWING SEASON INTO MAYBE 2 OR 3 MONTHS EVEN. AND FLOATING ROW COVER IS SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. IT ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE IT'S JUST GOES INTO THE GROUND TO WARM UP THE SOIL A LITTLE BIT QUICKER.

AND IT ALSO HELPS WITH WEED SUPPRESSION. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND HOW MUCH DO THOSE COST GENERALLY I THINK IT'S ABOUT DEPENDS ON THE MATERIALS THAT YOU GET, ESPECIALLY THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COVERS. BECAUSE YOU CAN ALSO DO A PLASTIC COVER ON THE LOW TUNNEL.

SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE COST. BUT IT'S ABOUT 10 TO $15 A SQUARE FOOT. THAT'S FOR THE

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AND IT IS. THEY'RE BOTH REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS, SO THE PRODUCER HAS TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE MATERIALS AND THEN BE REIMBURSED FOR IT LATER. OKAY. ONE LAST QUESTION. YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING A FARM IDENTITY NUMBER. HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT THAT? THE FARM SERIAL NUMBER. IT'S A FARM SERVICE AGENCY GIVES THOSE OUT. AND WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. BUT YOU CAN GO ONLINE. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE EXTENSION AGENCY TO PROVIDE A WORKSHOP FOR TWO TIMES A YEAR FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AND GET THEIR, THEIR FARM NUMBER AND ALL YOU NEED, ALL I NEED IS TO DO. I ACTUALLY DID IT WHILE WE WERE AT A MEETING IN SHELBY COUNTY. YOU NEED A COPY OF YOUR DEED STATING THAT YOU'RE THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND THAT'S IT. YOU JUST SHOW UP, YOU JUST FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND YOU YOU TECHNICALLY HAVE A FARM NUMBER. PRETTY EASY. ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES. YOU KNOW, I CAN I KNOW HOW TO USE THE LOGIC SYSTEM TO GET MY DEED NUMBER. SO THERE ARE SOME STEPS THAT MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY HAS TECHNICAL AVAILABILITY OR ACCESSIBILITY TO. SO THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO START WORKSHOPS TWO TIMES A YEAR TO HELP PEOPLE GET THOSE. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH.

THE FSA IS LOCATED RIGHT OUT THERE AT THE NRC'S WITH IN THE SAME BUILDING AND SHELBY COUNTY EXTENSION RIGHT OUT BY THE OUTLET MALL, ISN'T IT? SIMPSONVILLE OUTLET MALL, RIGHT PAST THE MOST SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, EXTENSION AGENCIES AND NRCS ARE ALL HOUSED IN THE SAME OFFICES. JEFFERSON COUNTY HASN'T HASN'T TRADITIONALLY BEEN THAT WAY. WE JUST RECENTLY MOVED THIS MONTH INTO THE SAME BUILDING AS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EXTENSION AGENCY, SO WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO SPUR A LOT MORE INNER WORK AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM ON DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS. THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW. I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS THAT MAY LEAD SOME OTHER QUESTIONS. SO LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT GIVES $113,200 A YEAR. THAT'S CORRECT. HOW MUCH OF THAT IS SPENT IN LOUISVILLE? ALL OF IT'S IN SPENT IN LOUISVILLE. AND WHAT DO YOU SPEND IT ON? WE SPEND IT ON PERSONNEL. I THINK CURRENTLY WE'RE AT ABOUT 40% OF OUR BUDGET IS SPENT ON PERSONNEL SALARIES AND ALSO PAYING INTO THE STATE RETIREMENT FUND. WE HAVE ABOUT 11 OR $12,000 IN OPERATING EXPENSE, WHICH IS OUR WEBSITE, OUR UTILITIES, OUR RENT, OUR INSURANCE AND BONDING. ALSO OUR COMPUTER MATERIALS, PAPER, WHATNOT. WE ALSO INCLUDE IN THAT OUR TREE PROGRAM, WHICH WE SPONSOR TREES LOUISVILLE FOR TREE GIVEAWAY, ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE. WE HAVE ABOUT $6,000 AND THAT'S JUST DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS, TRAVEL AND TRAINING FOR ALL OUR STAFF INCLUDES GRANTS AND DONATIONS.

AND THAT'S JUST FOR I JUST HAVE THE PAPERWORK FOR THIS THIS QUARTER. BUT CAN YOU GET THAT TO MY END? CAN YOU GIVE THAT TO ME, PLEASE? SURE CAN. SO IF I IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY.

SO THE THE BAR CHART THAT YOU POSTED WITH JEFFERSON, BULLET, WARREN, KENTON, FAYETTE AND BOONE, I GUESS THAT TOTALS OUT TO NEARLY $2 MILLION, $1.8 MILLION. WHY IS THAT MONEY DOING THE SAME THING IN THOSE COUNTIES? OR ARE YOU JUST USING THE MONEY FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY TO COVER THE THE THE ADMIN EXPENSE AND PERSONNEL EXPENSE FOR ALL OF THE THE WHOLE PROGRAM? ALL THE MONEY IS UTILIZED EITHER FOR STAFFING OR FOR PROGRAMS AND AND ALSO FOR THE TREE GIVEAWAYS AND DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS THAT WE HAVE. HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE FOR BOONE COUNTY? BOONE COUNTY I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY STAFF THEY HAVE. FAYETTE COUNTY HAS THREE. WARREN COUNTY HAS FIVE FULL TIME STAFF. BULLITT COUNTY HAS TWO FULL TIME STAFF.

OLDHAM COUNTY HAS ONE. THEY'RE T ON HERE, BUT OLDHAM COUNTY HAS ONE. AND HOW MANY DO WE HAVE IN JEFFERSON? JEFFERSON CURRENTLY HAS TWO. ONE PART TIME, ONE FULL TIME. OKAY. AND

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THE 40%, 40% OF IT GOES TO STAFF PERSONNEL. AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES STIPENDS FOR THE SUPERVISORS. WE GET A MONTHLY STIPEND. OKAY. THE THE PORTION WE'RE ASKING WHERE YOU DO A LOT OF SOIL TESTING. DO YOU DO YOU DO DO YOU DO THE SOIL TESTING HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WE DON'T DO THE SOITESTING. WE PAY FOR IT. AND TRADITIONALLY, EVERY COUNTY IN KENTUCKY, THE EXTENSION AGENCY TAKES IN THE SOIL TESTING AND THEN SHIPS THEM TO THE SOIL TESTING LABS AND EITHER E-TOWN OR LEXINGTON. AND BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS, WE'VE BEEN PAYING THE SHIPPING FOR THE EXTENSION TO CONTINUE TO DO IT. WE ALSO OFFER FREE VOUCHERS FOR ANY JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENTS UP TO TWO SOIL TESTS A YEAR. SO IT'S FREE. OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE $9 A TEST.

SO WOULD IT BE BENEFICIAL FOR YOU ALL TO TEST THE SOIL AND CHEAPER FOR YOU ALL TO TEST THE SOIL? THAT'S WE DON'T HAVE THE LAB THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TEST WHAT IS WHAT IS THAT? WHAT WOULD THAT TAKE TO HAVE A LAB? I'M NOT REALLY SURE IT WOULD BE. I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE SOIL LAB WOULD ENTAIL. OKAY. I KNOW THAT IT'S A POPULAR PROGRAM. IT'S A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM LAST YEAR. WELL, JUST LAST YEAR ON THAT ONE PAGER, WE HAD 450 SOIL TEST SOIL TESTS.

YEAH. AND THERE WAS IT'S $1,200 FOR EVERY SOIL TEST YOU SUBMIT. NO, IT'S INCLUDING SHIPPING.

IT'S PROBABLY $15 A SOIL TEST. AND THAT. AND SO YOU'RE SPENDING $6,700 OF OF THAT 113 ON SOIL TESTING. OKAY. YOU BROUGHT UP A POINT OF YOU MENTIONED THERE WAS A SPECIFIC COUNCIL PERSON THAT DOES SOME FARMING AND AND I GUESS IT'S NOT LIMITED TO COUNCIL PEOPLE, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY LIMITED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WOULDN'T THE COUNCIL PERSON I APOLOGIZE IT WAS WITHIN I CAN'T REMEMBER THE COUNCIL DISTRICT THE PERSON LIVED IN. OKAY. SO HOW DOES THAT WORK AND WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM? THE THE I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE $3,000 A YEAR. YEAH. THAT THAT'S THE CSP AND WE I LIVE ON OUR TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILY FARM AND OVERLOOKS PAPPAJOHN WORLD HEADQUARTERS OR USED TO BE WORLD HEADQUARTERS, BUT WE'VE BEEN FARMING FOR DECADES, AND I WAS RECOGNIZED AS A MASTER CONSERVATIONIST BY THE STATE IN 2002. AND WE'RE IN THAT PROGRAM, AND IT'S ALL FEDERAL MONEY COMES FROM NRCS.

LIKE JUST LAST YEAR, I PLANTED TWO AREAS IN POLLINATORS AND RESEEDING AND CLOVER FOR BEES AND INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL. BUT THE YEAH, I RECEIVE A PAYMENTBOUT 4000 A YEAR FOR DOING YOU KNOW, THEY COME OUT AND CHECK IT REAL THOROUGHLY. BUT THAT'S YOU GET THAT FROM THE USDA. FEDERAL MONEY PROVIDES EVERY BIT OF THAT. AND WE JUST RECENTLY WENT TO THE CONSERTION DISTRICTS OF CONFERENCE, WHERE THE STATE CONSERVATIONT FROM NRCS STATED THAT THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION HAD FOLDED THE IRA MONEY INTO THE C A ALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM, BY %. ANDHEN THEY'RE GOING TO DOUBLE THE FUNDING FOR THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. OKAY, WITH. AND JUST FOR CLARITY AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, JUST TO UNDERSTAND AND SIMPLICITY, ASIDE FROM THE TREE PROGRAM THAT YOU HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO AND THE STUFF AT THE ZOO AND A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PARKS AND PARKS AND PARKS COMMITTEE OR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY? WE PUT ON WORKSHOPS FOR RAIN GARDENS, RAIN BARRELS, SOIL HEALTH, SOIL TESTING. WE HAVE ALSO DONE WORKSHOPS ON THE HIGH TUNNELS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND HANDS ON, HELP BUILD A TUNNEL. WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR FIRST LOW TUNNEL WORKSHOP THIS FALL. WE ALSO PROVIDE COST ASSISTANCE TO RAIN BARRELS IN CERTAIN COUNCIL DISTRICTS OR CERTAIN ZIP CODES FOR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED. WE ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL

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DECADES AGO, WHEN KURT MASON, HE SERVED, HE WAS IN NRCS PARSON FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS. BUT HE ACTUALLY WROTE LIKE A DEVELOPMENT REPORT ON ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT. YOU KNOW, HE WAS TOTALLY NRC'S. BUT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT USED TO USE THOSE REPORTS WHEN THEY WOULD REVIEW A PROJECT. BUT I'LL, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S NOT DONE ANYMORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ANSWERS THERE. COUNCILWOMAN MARILYN PARKER,Y. , THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS FARM A LOT OF NO PUN INTENDED. FARM A LOT OF WORK OUT TO OTHER AGENCIES. SO I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE SOIL TESTING. YOU SAID THAT YOU DO.

AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT SOIL TESTING. SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T DO IT, THEN WHO'S WHO'S DOING THE TEACHING? WE DO THE WE DO THE TEACHING. WE DO THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN A SAY LIKE A WORKSHOP ABOUT SOIL TESTING. WE'LL HAVE OUR TECHNICAL OR EITHER ONE OF OUR SUPERVISORS WHO'S KNOWLEDGEABLE OR 80 OVER 20 EMPLOYEE OR HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR WILL SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO TAKE THE SOIL TEST OR THE SOIL SAMPLE AND HOW TO DO IT, AND ALSO HOW TO DRY IT OUT, AND ALL THE STEPS THAT YOU NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO PUT IT BEFORE YOU EVEN PUT IT IN THE BAG TO SHIP IT OFF. THE ONLY THING THAT WE THAT WE SUB OUT, SO TO SPEAK, ON OUR SOIL TESTING IS THE SHIPMENT SHIPPING TO THE STATE LAB. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THAT STATE LAB DOING THE TESTING.

OKAY. GOTCHA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OTHER. OH, COUNCILMAN RAYMOND, SORRY. MY APOLOGIES. YES. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR WORK. YOU STARTED TO LEAD RIGHT UP TO IT EARLIER, AND I WANTED TO GET MORE DETAILS ON HOW YOU ALL WORK WITH THE EXTENSION. RIGHT. WE'VE RECENTLY HEARD SOME ABOUT THE EXTENSION AND THE WAY THAT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO DO ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY WANT TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO HOW CAN FOLKS THINK ABOUT THE WORK THEY DO, THE WORK YOU DO, WHERE IT MIGHT DOVETAIL? IF THERE WERE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, SHOULD IT GO TO THEM? SHOULD IT GO TO YOU? HOW CAN WE THINK ABOUT LEVERAGING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THAT PARTNERSHIP, AND HOW ARE WE DIFFERENTIATING? I WOULD BE REALLY HARD EVEN FOR ME TO SAY WHO I MEAN. I'M WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND I WAS VOTED IN THIS POSITION. SO OF COURSE I'M GOING TO SAY THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT DESERVES THE THE FUNDS. WE'RE ALSO DIFFERENT ENTITIES. THE

[01:05:03]

WE'RE WORKING ON THE MIDDLE FORK, THE MIDDLE FORK OF BEARGRASS CREEK, WHICH STARTS IN SAINT MATTHEWS, RUNS THROUGH CHEROKEE PARK, SENECA PARK, AND COMES OUT AT THE BEARGRASS CREEK GREENWAY OUT BY THE BOTANICAL GARDEN. SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT TO MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF THE IMPACT THAT WE EACH HAVE ON OUR WATERSHED. AND I, IN MEETINGS WITH MSD, I TALK ABOUT WHEN WE HAD THOSE FLOODS BACK IN APRIL AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MSD WAS SAYING, PLEASE DON'T RUN YOUR WASHER AND YOU KNOW EVERYTHING AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A HIGH WATER ISSUE. AND TO SEE THE SOCIAL MEDIA POST SAYING, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, I PAY FOR, YOU KNOW, I PAY FOR, I PAY TOO MUCH FOR THIS. AND SO YOU ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

WE ALL WE HAVE TO KIND OF REEDUCATE THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT WE ALL PLAY A PART IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUST BY NOT RUNNING YOUR, YOUR, YOUR DISHWASHER AND YOUR WASHER AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE A LOT OF IMPACT. AND WE NEED TO KIND OF PUT THAT POWER BACK ON THE PEOPLE AND EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE TO DO WITH THE 319 GRANT AND AN EXTENSION. IT SEEMS LIKE I GUESS THAT'S A COUPLE ENTITIES OUT THERE. LIKE A LOT OF IT IS JUST ASSOCIATED WITH YOU. OKAY. AND AND I KNOW LIKE SIX PEOPLE JUST LOST THEIR JOB

[01:10:11]

[Adjournment Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.]