BOARD OF THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEETING MINUTES
UGS Conference Room
Salt Lake City, Utah
June 20, 2003
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Attendance

• Robert Robison, Chair
• Craig Nelson
• Stephen Church
• Kathleen Ochsenbein
• Geoff Bedell

Staff:

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

Guests:

• Robert Morgan, DNR Executive Director
• Sherman Hoskins

Chair Robert Robison welcomed everyone to the June 20, 2003 Utah Geological Survey Board meeting.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Geoff moved to accept minutes as written. Kathleen made a second. All approved and the motion carried unanimously.

REVIEW OF UGS BOARD POLICY ON REIMBURSEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL FEES
Executive Director Morgan explained that in other DNR divisions, professional licenses were an individual responsibility and also stated that he approves of division staff being a member of a professional organization. He announced a new policy that professional licensure will be an individual responsibility for all DNR employees. For consistency Executive Director Morgan asked for the Utah Geological Survey Board’s support this licensing policy. The division will be allowed to pay the initial fee, but all renewal fees will be up to the individual.

Chairman Robison wants to be careful because of the issues regarding the classification of geologists and also the fact that geologists have not been receiving a pay increase. Rick recommended the board consider a motion to apply the current Board policy based upon the Executive Director’s comments and for the UGS director to enforce the part where he can suspend payments. Chairman Robison would like to see that geologists are compensated in some way and said he would accept a motion to adopt the Executive Director’s policy, but would also like to review how this is affecting our geologists’ salaries.

Director Rick Allis will take the appropriate steps to bring the UGS Board policy into compliance with the Department of Natural Resources policy. It was agreed that single memberships benefiting the UGS library and reimbursement for the initial professional geologist (Utah) license fee will be permissible, and reviewed annually by the Board at their January meeting.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Financial Position
Director Rick Allis stated that the division anticipates going into the next fiscal year with a carry forward of about $300k. At the start of the year Mineral Lease payments were expected to be relatively low. This occurred, but in the last quarter of the year the payments are now expected to be higher than normal. This has been a difficult year to manage the budget because of several cuts to General Funding, and volatility in the monthly Mineral Lease payments.

Personnel
Rick discussed how salaries have been frozen for two years and that a market comparability survey last year indicated that UGS geologist salaries are 35% - 40% below the external market. The Board discussed a recommendation to make a priority improving the comparability of UGS geologist salaries. At present there is a freeze on salaries adjustments, but it should be looked at when the freeze is lifted. Because salaries are so low, hiring new geologists will be difficult. Geoff Bedell and Steve Church mentioned the enrollment in colleges for geosciences is way down. Steve Church made a motion that because the UGS has a great disparity with geologist salaries as compared to the market, Director Rick Allis should investigate with whatever means he has, to give a two-step compensation for geologists, both in salary and range. Geoff Bedell made a second. All were in favor and the motion carried.

Sherm suggested the board write a letter of appreciation for work done by UGS staff in hosting the AAPG conference. Craig Nelson made a motion to have Rick write a letter of commendation in behalf of the board to pass on to staff congratulating them for running a very successful conference. Kathleen made a second. All were in favor and the motion carried.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
Bill Lund – Cedar City

Bill gave a history of the Southern Regional Office’s establishment. The office provides a presence for two programs; Geologic Hazards and Energy and Minerals. Bill’s scope of work has traditionally covered the seven counties in the southwest of the state, whereas Bob Blackett’s work covers the entire state. Bill is presently involved with the Utah Quaternary Fault Perimeter Working Group that is funded by the National Earthquake Hazard Program. He is also involved in several hazard studies in the southwest counties.

Bob Blackett is working on nine geothermal sites and a geothermal web site. Bob is also involved in the Utah Geothermal Working Group, in conjunction with the Department Of Energy’s interest in geothermal energy.

Current Issues: (1) The office is undergoing a mission drift because of pressure to be involved in state-wide projects. Contact is limited with elected officials because of working on funded projects. (2) There are many benefits to being on campus, but there are two drawbacks; public access is not good and room for future growth is not available. If the office wants to grow, it will be difficult to do so on campus.

Board Field Trip Discussion
Rick went over the proposed two-day trip agenda with board members. The Econo Lodge Stateline was selected for Friday night’s lodging.

The proposed field trip agenda to the northwest of the state was supported by board members.

Selection of Crawford Award
Rick asked if the board would like to pass on their commendation to all nominees and received a unanimous yes. There was a discussion of each nominee and a unanimous vote was given for Bulletin SS102 by Lowe, Wallace, and Bishop. The financial part of the award will be divided three ways. A board member will be present at the UGS summer party to hand out the award to the three recipients.

ADJOURNMENT
Craig motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Kathleen made a second and the motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.