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Board reviews Whitewater grant reconciliation, flags audit fee and hears $46M soil‑health funding request
Summary
Staff updated the board on the Whitewater drinking‑water grant reconciliation and the withheld final 10% pending documentation; the board flagged an apparent $5,000 audit fee typo in an engagement letter and BWSR described a $25M federal/$21M state RCPP soil‑health proposal.
Sheila, Whitewater staff, told the board the drinking‑water grant (started 2020) is in final reconciliation and that the state is withholding the last 10% pending review of contracts and invoices. She said the package includes cover‑crop contracts, septic upgrades and education expenses and that staff will scan and email the documentation for review.
On the audit engagement letter, members identified a likely discrepancy in a Peterson Company letter that listed an audit fee of $5,000 when attendees recalled a different quote; the board agreed not to sign the letter until staff confirms the correct fee and the engagement terms.
BWSR staff reported a major funding initiative: a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) request for $25 million in federal funds paired with $21 million in state funds. The initial base award described would be $180,000 per eligible SWCD (about $150,000 for direct financial assistance to producers and $30,000 for staff technical time) with the option to apply for additional monthly $120,000 grants once initial funds are encumbered. The program is planned for four years and could expand soil‑health work across eligible counties.
The board also received notice that spongy moth monitoring could produce a spray window in June for two blocks inside the Whitewater area; staff offered to add officials and residents to a notification list.
