Floyd County conservation director reports hires, REAP grant and equipment purchases ahead of summer season

Director Tyron Steere outlined staffing and operations updates at the Floyd County Conservation Board meeting on May 5.

Steere said Cole Hansen will begin work as an intern on May 26, and summer interns Carter Burkhardt and Clay Price started this week. He reported eight applications were received for the Natural Resource Manager position and three candidates were interviewed. Naturalist Heidi Reams has been active in local schools and public programs, and volunteer training drew 16 volunteers for the season.

On funding and equipment, Steere reported the board received a REAP CEP grant toward the purchase of a six-seat golf cart for program tours; grant funds are expected to be just under $11,000 against a total cost of about $13,000. The board purchased a John Deere 1025R tractor with fork and box blade attachments. A Chevy 2500 HD pickup has been ordered for purchase in the next fiscal year, and a snowplow will be acquired. Bids were accepted for siding and concrete work at the Director's Lodge, with work to begin at the start of the new fiscal year.

Steere also said the department completed roughly 10 prescribed burns this spring; windy conditions limited additional burns. Wentland Woods has been surveyed and the office is awaiting deed transfer. An Eagle Scout project placed posts for QR-code interpretive signs throughout the park.

The board was told a budget amendment will be processed in May to account for the golf cart, a new touchscreen, SILOs intern funding and salary moves to cover seasonal intern wages. An open house to mark the Fossil and Prairie Center's 25th anniversary is scheduled for Sunday, May 10.

The board did not take policy action on these operational items at the meeting; the budget amendment is expected to appear on a future agenda.