BOARD OF THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEETING MINUTES
UGS Conference Room
Salt Lake City, Utah
January 10, 2003

Attendance

• Robert Robison, Chair
• Charles Semborski, Vice Chair
• Craig Nelson
• Deedee O'Brien
• Stephen Church
• Geoffrey Bedell
• Ronald Bruhn
• Tom Faddies, Ex officio, SITLA

Staff:

• Richard Allis
• Kimm Harty
• John Kingsley
• Jo Lynn Campbell

Guests:

• Robert Morgan, DNR Executive Director
• Sherman Hoskins

Chair Robert Robison called the meeting to order with a welcome at 8:30 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Steven Church made a motion to approve the minutes of June 21, 2002, meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Craig Nelson seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.
Justin Johnson was introduced as UGS' newest staff member and was welcomed by the board.

ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE
Craig Nelson asked if there was any reason to change chair and vice-chair. It was unanimously agreed there was no need to change. Geoffrey Bedell motioned to have Bob Robison remain as chair. Stephen Church seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.

Ronald Bruhn motioned to have Chuck Semborski remain as vice-chair. Geoffrey Bedell seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Financial Report
Director Rick Allis reported the UGS is doing well. He stated that UGS has had a couple of budget cuts in General Funds. UGS is operatiing in a deficit, using mineral lease carry forward from previous years. There have been cut backs in expenditures and savings with personnel through attrition.
Associate Director John Kingsley handed out new information regarding UGS' financial position. Rick Allis explained the decrease in staff and how we are surviving. Dave Madsen's work was mostly funded through grants (Dugway). UGS no longer has the Paleoecology program since Dave Madsen's retirement. Due to the budget cuts, the secretarial position vacated by Jo Lynn Campbell will not be filled. Pat Speranza terminated her employment to move to Florida. Her position has only been filled by temporaries at this point. Cut backs for FY03 have amounted to $250k. Rick Allis thought the Mineral Lease would end up above budget by the end of the year. The Division is drawing down the carry forward by $200k in FY03. The UGS can do this for one more year, before Mineral Lease carry forward is used up (unless there is another spike in Mineral Lease revenues).

Executive Director Bob Morgan
DNR Executive Director, Bob Morgan explained the handbooks given to the UGS board members distributed to members of the almost 500 boards and commissions within state government. He stated the handbook was mainly for those who have not served on a board before, summarizing the index topics and reading the first paragraph of Governor Leavitt's introduction. Bob Morgan welcomed any questions from the board and stated that most problems with boards occur when they speak with media.

Bob Morgan handed out a copy of the Governor's 1,000 day plan and explained why the governor had put it together, and where we are chronologically in the plan. He thanked the board for being here. Craig Nelson asked who the department public relations contact is. Bob Morgan stated it was Darin Bird. Rick Allis stated that Jo Lynn Campbell is the division's public relations contact and board members will want to take any media related issues through her first, then she will take it to Darin Bird.

Other Funding Trends.
The STATEMAP bid is a $300k proposal and we have very good chance of getting it, providing there are no cuts in federal funding of the USGS. Mapping will eventually be UGS' biggest grant funded program within the division. Expansion our ground-water program is a priority and UGS has had funds from Water Rights which have been helpful. Jerry Olds, Division of Water Rights director, has only been funding us for the last couple years and there is a possibility these may be cut. This would have serious implications for our ground water work.

Personnel
GIS Analyst, Neil Storey was replaced by Justin Johnson. Cheryl Ostlund's position was filled and Jo Lynn Campbell's position will not be filled. Pat Speranza's position will only be filled with part-time personnel for now. UGS is now back to the staff level of the early 1990s. With state funding in trouble, so too is staffing. Bob Robison asked about salaries and raises - particularly freezes on raises. Rick Allis told the board the division can only give incentive awards at the moment and that depends on the cash on hand. Because of the budget crisis, no merit raises will be given. In FY03 if funding allows, incentives will be given. Craig Nelson asked about the age distribution of geologists. Rick Allis said it looked like a pretty normal distribution. After five years to ten years of government service, an employee becomes committed to the retirement system and they tend to stay, whereas those here for a shorter time will leave for better pay within the private sector.

Other Issues
Professional Geologist Licensure: 80% to 90% of UGS geologists are now licensed. The remainder intend to be licensed within the next month or two. Steven Church inquired about the fee for a license and Rick Allis stated it was $165 for the first two years, then $130 for each 2 years licensure after that. The $165 will be counted as a professional membership fee by UGS and will be reimbursed back to UGS geologists.

Ron Bruhn stated that the economy is going down and emphasized the importance of putting in a plan for prioritizing programs. Rick Allis stated that Mineral Lease monies are being heavily relied on at this point to help UGS get through the budget crisis.

It was announced that SITLA gave Bryce Tripp an incentive award for the potential client he generated for them.

Legislative update
Deputy Director Kimm Harty stated there was no legislative issue of concern to the UGS at this time.

Rick Allis, is a member of the professional geology licensure board due to his position as State Geologist. Rick Allis said DOPL apparently doesn't require the director to be licensed, but in fact, he is already licensed. Steven Church made the point that having required licensure of the UGS director in state code would ensure a director with geological background. Kimm Harty said the Division may want to look at it next year. The new UGS Board Policy (see below) requires the Director to be licensed.

ACTION ITEMS
Approval of Membership and Licensure Plan
There was discussion about a Board policy requiring geologic licensure of UGS geologic program managers and above or all project geologists and above. The Board reviewed the proposed UGS licensure policy in the handout. Chuck Semborski questioned the probationary period for geologists. Rick Allis stated it was 1-2 years. It was stated that if retakes on ASBOG test for licensure were necessary the tests would only be given once a year. Ron Bruhn said there may be someone who can do the job competently, but just can't pass the test. The director said that may be able to be addressed through giving the employee a different title or position. Ron Bruhn suggested UGS may want to add in an option of putting them into another position and under extreme measures, the director may waive licensure if a person can do the job, but can't pass the test.

Craig Nelson motioned to have the board adopt the policy as amended, seconded by Chuck Semborski. All in were in favor and accepted the policy as written with the added amendments. It reads as follows:

UGS Schedule B employees currently in State of Utah job positions of a project geologist and above are required to hold a valid professional geologist license issued from the State of Utah by December 31, 2003. For new Schedule B UGS employees holding the position of project geologist and above, a valid professional geologist license is required by no later than the end of their position's probationary period. Failure to obtain a license by the end of the probationary period will result in demotion to the position of geologist or another state job title, or termination of employment with the UGS. UGS geologist positions requiring a professional geologist license include: project geologist, senior geologist, geological program manager/senior scientist, UGS deputy director, and UGS director. Appeals to this policy will be resolved by the UGS board.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
Program Update - Sandy Eldredge
Sandy Eldredge, program manager, gave a presentation on the role of the program in UGS and the status of projects they are currently working on.

TENATIVE SCHEDULE
The board agreed upon the following dates for the 2003 meetings: April 11, June 27, September 26-27, 2003, and January 9, 2004.

Chair Robison asked about the liability in Hazards' Liability in dealing with public. It was mentioned that there had been discussion with the Attorney General's office. The UGS is now using disclaimers on all publications, and all staff have been advised to be very careful when talking with media. It is believed the UGS has liability coverage under state code.

ANNOUNCEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS
Status of Replacement For Deedee
Chair Robison offered the board's appreciation to Deedee O'Brien for her years of service to the board and presented her with a plaque.

Board members briefly discussed suggestions for September's board field trip. There was a preference for visiting geologic sites in the northwest of the state.

ADJOURNMENT
Craig Nelson motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Deedee O'Brien seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.