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Minutes
- April 12, 2002
Utah Geological Survey Board Meeting BOARD OF THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEETING MINUTES AttendanceBoard Members:
Excused:
Guests:
Staff:
Chair Robert Robison called the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey to order at 8:35 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Deedee O'Brien made the motion to approve the minutes of the January 11, 2002, meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Ronald Bruhn seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Financial Position Director Allis reported that we are tracking closely to the same as last year and are well below our operating budget for this fiscal year. He feels that we will stay $200,000 below the operating expenditure budget, which has been modified to reflect the first two rounds of budget hold backs. Personnel expenditures will be close to 100 percent. Other operating costs are running below projections and we are at 53 percent spent to date. The $25,000 of additional cuts identified by the legislature have not been incorporated into the operating budget. There are two areas with revenue that are difficult to predict - mineral-lease revenues and contract billings. Mineral-lease revenues are coming in well below last year. Projections for mineral-lease revenues for this fiscal year are for the low $600,000s. Approximately $1,000,000 in contracts and grants need to be secured to balance our budget each year. Director Allis reviewed the list of grants and contracts with the Board members. Based on the number of proposals that have been accepted, he feels the level needed for revenue from grants and contracts is on-line. The $577,000 carried forward may be dropped down to $300,000-500,000. Personnel Update Director Allis informed the Board that a temporary GIS analyst and revenue technician have left the Survey. David Madsen is retiring in July. We want to convert the temporary GIS analyst position in the ground water program to a merit full-time position. This action will not increase the number of schedule B positions in the Survey. Staff has been discussing the STATEMAP proposal process and revisiting how we approach our proposal. One approach may be a tie-in with the special basin studies we have been doing for Water Rights. Legislative Update Director Allis reported that Senate Bill 66, Revenues from Federal Land Exchange, passed the Legislature which could result in more mineral-lease revenues coming into the Survey. Tom Faddies reported that 12 percent of the royalties on federal lands is charged as management fees. The rate was changed to 8 percent; however, it is still more than Mr. Faddies' staff can expend in a fiscal year. There are specific projects that these funds can be used to complete. These funds have carry-forward authorization. Counties will also be receiving more funds as a result of this piece of legislation. There is a special session of the legislature next month, and the budget may be reviewed again during the special session. DISCUSSION ITEMS September Field Trip The Board discussed different alternatives for their September 27-29 field trip. It was decided to tour the western area of the state. Staff will put together a tentative agenda and present it to the Board for approval at their next meeting. State of Geologist Career Ladder Review Deputy Director Kimm Harty reminded the Board that the Department of Human Resource Management is in the process of examining the geologist career ladder. The salary surveys sent out a few months ago were not conclusive. The private sector was not able to tie any of their positions into the project geologist position listed on the salary survey. UGS staff met with Department of Natural Resources' Human Resource staff to discuss the description of the project geologist and made suggestions for a better description of the position. The UGS also included wording for specific geologist disciplines. During this past legislative session, some market salary adjustments were made and the geologist career ladder salary ranges have been moved up one step. However, salaries were not commensurately increased. Unfortunately, we haven't heard any more information on the geologist career ladder review. We are hoping that by requiring project geologists to be licensed that this will weigh into consideration with DHRM to move up the geologist career ladder. Geologist Licensure and Implementation Director Allis reported to the Board that the geologist licensure legislation passed. He feels that as a result of licensure, there may need to be a Board policy to address how it is handled in the Survey. Director Allis went over the time-line for implementing geologist licensure. Dr. Bruhn has been asked to serve on an advisory board in setting up the rules for licensure. The four-member licensure board, appointed by the Governor, will be in place by August. The act requires the state geologist to serve on the licensing board. The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing doesn't want anyone who is in a leadership position in a professional society to serve on the board. The board members will serve for a four-year term. Director Allis informed the Board that another aspect of geologist licensure is how it will affect positions in the Survey. We are currently looking at having every position at a project geologist level and above be required to be licensed. Director Allis sent out a sample test to staff and asked them to take it and also to let him know their opinions about requiring anyone in a project geologist position and above to be a licensed geologists. It may be that there are some exceptions to having project geologists and above licensed. Another suggestion is to strongly recommend project geologists and above licensed, but requiring project managers to be licensed, as well as the director and deputy director. Another area the Director is concerned with is when the seal is required to be stamped on reports. Director Allis is hoping to have this addressed during the rule-making process. ACTION ITEMS Amendment to Policy for UGS Support or Memberships and Licensure Director Allis reported that because of the passing of the geologist licensure bill, we reviewed the current Board policy to make sure it will work. There are two minor changes that need to be made to cover the licensing fee. It is proposed to change the policy to take out "one" professional membership and use the $100 for licensure and towards a membership. The other change is to allow use of the allotment for a two-year period for licensure. Another change that needs to be made but is not related to licensure is to make this policy consistent with a current UGS policy for reimbursement for meals for a professional meeting by correcting the amount of reimbursement. Chuck Semborski made the motion to accept the changes in the policy. Dr. Bruhn seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Selection of Crawford Award Recipient Director Allis reminded the Board that they selected Hellmut Doelling to receive the Crawford Award last year. During this year's nominating period, several nominations for Doug Sprinkel and Tom Chidsey were received for their work on UGA publication 28, Geology of Utah's Parks and Monuments. Director Allis recommended that these two geologist be awarded the Crawford Award jointly. Craig Nelson suggested that Paul Anderson be given a certificate to recognize his contribution to the guidebook. Geoff Bedell made the motion to award the Crawford Award to Tom Chidsey and Doug Sprinkel and a certificate to Paul Anderson in recognition of his contribution. Mr. Nelson seconded. Motion carried unanimously. The Board requested that the UGS summer picnic be held in conjunction with the Board meeting on June 21, 2002 so that the Crawford Award can be presented at that time. ANNOUNCEMENTS/MISCELLANEOUS The next meeting of the UGS Board is June 21, 2002. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Nelson made the motion to adjourn the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Mr. Semborski seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m. |