Utah Geological Survey - UGS Board

Minutes - November 5, 1999
Utah Geological Survey Board Meeting

UGS Conference Room

Attendance:

Board Members:
  • William Berge, Chair
  • Deedee O'Brien, Vice Chair
  • Richard Kennedy
  • Charles Semborski
  • Craig Nelson
  • Robert Robison
  • Excused: Cary Smith
Staff:
  • Kimm Harty
  • John Kingsley
  • Cheryl Ostlund
  • Dan Kelly
  • Tom Chidsey
  • Jeff Campbell
  • Dan Aubrey
Guests:
  • Sherm Hoskins, Department of Natural Resources
  • Lowell Braxton, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining
  • Tom Faddies, School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
Chair William Berge called the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey to order at 8:30 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Robert Robison made the motion to approve the minutes of the June 18, 1999 meeting, as corrected. Deedee O’Brien seconded, and the motion was approved.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF

Acting Director Kimm Harty introduced John Kingsley, associate director, Jeff Campbell, revenue technician, and Dan Aubrey, warehouse worker.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Role of the UGS Board
Because of other items requiring lengthy discussion, the discussion of the role of the Board and the Survey was postponed until the next meeting.

Sherm Hoskins, Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director, updated the Board on the status of the search for the director. Because of several different circumstances, the decision to fill the director’s position will be delayed until after the first of the year.

Mr. Hoskins informed the Board that several different scenarios about consolidation of different divisions had been reviewed. Those consolidations will not take place. However, Kathleen Clarke, DNR Executive Director, has formed a committee to look at ways for the Survey to run more efficiently and to resolve budget shortfalls. This committee will also give recommendations to Ms. Clarke on how to proceed with the search for the director. Sherm Hoskins; Lowell Braxton, director of DOGM; Kimm Harty; and Dennis Carver, DNR Finance Director, are the members of the committee. The Board’s input is welcomed.

Mr. Hoskins reviewed the primary role and responsibility of the DNR Executive Director. He also reviewed the mission statement, vision statement, core values, and goals recently drafted by the division directors.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Budget Status
Associate Director John Kingsley reviewed with the Board the budget history of the last few years for the Survey. The Survey is facing a possible $246,000 deficit for this fiscal year. Acting Director Kimm Harty reviewed the budget reduction plan she has implemented. These measures amount to a savings of $212,050. Mineral lease revenues, so far this year, are up from last year and we hope this trend continues. There were a number of factors that led to the financial problems the Survey is currently facing. These include unfunded salary increases, lower mineral lease revenues, fewer grants and contracts, unfunded state and DNR mandates, increased data processing costs, and other miscellaneous expenses. Ms. Harty reported that the unfunded salary increases amount to almost $50,000 per year (the equivalent of the salary of a higher level geologist).

Report on New Account for Friends of the Utah Geological Survey
Acting Director Harty reported that the Friends of the Utah Geological Survey account has been moved to Bank One, which is located closer to the Survey offices. The account is non-interest bearing, and must have a $600 balance in order to waive the $6/month service charge.

Upcoming Legislative Session
Acting Director Harty reported that there is currently no legislation proposed for the upcoming legislative session that should affect the Survey. An application for registration of geologists may be submitted by local community geologists to the interim committee assigned to review professional licensing within the state. However, she doesn’t anticipate any action on it this session, unless the new formed committee becomes fully functional by the time the Legislature is in session (January, 2000).

Severance Tax Funding Issue Update
Ms. Harty reported that she and Craig Nelson served on a committee to review the proposal of reallocating severance tax funds to help fund the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining and the Survey. Industry and legislative representatives were also on this committee. The committee drafted a plan and it was presented to Lynne Ward, Director, Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget by Kathleen Clarke and Lowell Braxton. Ms. Ward said they would only go for the plan if the severance tax was increased, not reapportioned. Local industry is opposed to raising severance tax, so the severance tax issue has been dropped for now.

Observation Wells near Delta
Acting Director Harty informed the Board members that as part of our water program we were given a grant by the Department of Environmental Quality to study water quality near Delta. The UGS drilled 64 wells for this study. Unfortunately, the wells were drilled without permission from the landowners. We have contacted most of the landowners and informed them about the study and said if they didn’t want the well on their property, it would be removed.

Funding Ideas
Acting Director Harty informed the Board that one of the ideas that she came up with was to look at more projects with the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. Tom Faddies said he would talk with Ms. Harty about additional work the Survey could do for SITLA. Further discussion about funding ideas was delayed until the December 6 meeting.

Ms. Harty is also working with the Bookstore to make it self-sustaining. Prices have been or will be increased on several items. Also, employee work hours have been reduced.

MISCELLANEOUS
Richard Kennedy made the motion for the Board to meet on December 6, 8:30 a.m., to discuss the status of the director search, role of the Board and Survey, update on the UGS committee, and the reduction in force process. Craig Nelson seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Richard Kennedy made motion to move forward with the director’s search and to take it to a national level (advertise in trade journals). Deedee O’Brien seconded, motion unanimously passed. Ms. Harty will forward the Board’s motion to DNR.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Robison made the motion to adjourned the meeting of the Board of Utah Geological Survey. Richard Kennedy seconded, and the motion was approved.

Meeting adjourned 12:20 p.m.