The Portage County Land and Water Conservation Committee voted to empower Tracy Arnold, county conservationist, to sign the five‑year Soil and Water Resource Management master grant and to assume the duties previously held by the former county conservationist.

Tracy Arnold, the county conservationist, reviewed the master grant, which sets expectations and reporting for county staffing and grant administration. A committee motion authorized Arnold to sign the master grant for the county; the committee then approved a blanket appointment allowing Arnold to take over the prior conservationist’s committee and board assignments.

Why it matters: the Soil and Water Resource Management master grant governs state funding and reporting requirements for county staffing and conservation program administration. Authorizing the county conservationist to sign the contract ensures continuity of grant administration and allows staff to continue previously established committee and external appointments without separate votes for each item.

What the committee did
- Master grant signing: the committee moved to empower Tracy Arnold to sign the five‑year Soil and Water Resource Management master grant; the motion carried on a voice vote.
- Appointment to duties: the committee approved a motion to appoint Tracy Arnold to the committees and external obligations previously handled by the former county conservationist, streamlining administrative continuity.

Both actions were approved by committee voice vote at the meeting; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the minutes for the votes.