The Cass County Conservation District Board will be holding a Public Hearing on their fiscal year 2021/2022 Budget on Monday, September 13, 2021 at the Cass County COA. All are welcome to attend.

Budget Hearing Notice

NOTICE

Nominating Petitions – Due by Thursday, October 7, 2021, 4:30pm

Cass County Conservation District is currently accepting nominations for conservation-minded county residents to serve on the Board of Directors.

The Election will be held at the

Annual Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, December 7, 2021 to fill new terms for three (3) Board of Director positions

(Terms are not limited; 2 positions will be 4-year terms and 1 will be a partial term of 2-years.)

The Conservation District Board consists of a total of five (5) Directors.

As locally elected public officials, Directors are responsible for the overall operation and management of the district, while the staff carry out the day-to-day activities. Board members develop and implement policy for staff as well as guide the district in conservation and stewardship activities to best serve our county’s future and strive to fulfill our mission to protect and enhance Cass County’s natural resources. Blank nominating petitions are available at the Cass County Conservation District Office at 1127 E. State Street, Cassopolis, 49031 or here on our website: Full 4-year term position; Partial 2-year term position

For the 30pm Monday February 6, 2021 Cass County Board Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85414859474?pwd=RnBWa0lCSXkwU1NYSS84WnZtZzlZZz09

Meeting ID: 854 1485 9474 Passcode: Happy

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Due to Veteran’s Day the Cass County Conservation District regular Board meeting will be held a day earlier on November 10, 2020 at the Council on Aging in Cassopolis.

See this Public Notice for details.

We are accepting applications through October 9 for the full time MAEAP Technician position.

Position Description
MAEAP Program Technician 

Location: This position is located at:       
Cass County Conservation District (CCCD),
1127 East State Street, Cassopolis, MI 49031

Application Deadline: October 9, 2020                          
Starting Date: November 1, 2020

POSITION OBJECTIVE: To oversee and implement all aspects of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) in Cass County. This is a grant-funded position with intentions for annual grant renewal. 

1. This position will deliver the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program through on-farm technical assistance, using farm specific risk assessments, education, and conservation plan development. The Technician coordinates local, state, and federal agency resources to help clients implement practices that reduce identified environmental risks and progress toward MAEAP verification.  

RELATIONSHIPS: The Technician is supervised by, and reports to, the CCCD Administrator. The Technician works with the CCCD Board and several partner organizations (i.e. Farm Bureau, Southwest Michigan College, DNR) in developing priorities for the program. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  

1. Coordinates all aspects of the county’s MAEAP and is fully familiar with, and adheres to, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) grant agreement and guidelines for conducting the program at the local level.  
2. Provides timely reports and updates to the CCCD Board of Directors. Completes and submits regular reports to MDARD. Maintains and secures accurate administrative and financial records and a well-organized filing system for those records. 
3. Promotes Farm*A*Syst, Crop*A*Syst, Livestock*A*Syst, Forest, Wetlands & Habitats Systems *A*Syst, Clean Sweep, Greenhouse*A*Syst, best management practices to prevent soil erosion and protect water quality, invasive species awareness, and other stewardship practices through displays, newsletter articles, Facebook posts, group presentations, demonstrations, news releases and any other creative means. 
4. Conducts Farm*A*Syst, Crop*A*Syst, Livestock*A*Syst, FWH Systems *A*Syst and Greenhouse*A*Syst assessments. Works with MDARD to complete system verifications.
5. Assists landowners in developing emergency management plans for their farmsteads. Promotes the use of emergency planning, and other activities identified by the local advisory Environmental Assurance Team. Attends Cass County Office Emergency Management Planning meetings.
6. Coordinate annual field day and community water testing event as required by MDARD.
7. Participates in occasional trainings and meetings which require overnight lodging.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:  

1.  Assist with office and other programs as needed: Annual meeting, tree sale, newsletters, walk-in customers, answering telephones, special event booths, and anything else not specifically listed yet deemed appropriate for district or office work. 
2. Develop a weekly work schedule in consultation with the District Administrator.
3. Assist and promote, through public relations, the district’s events. 
4. Conduct prepared presentations on soil and water conservation topics as requested. 
5. Prepare news articles of local interest and about general conservation subjects including notices of demonstrations and workshops. 
6. Other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

1. Education: A minimum of a B.S. degree in agriculture, animal, crop, environmental, agronomy, natural resources management, dairy and/or soil science; or horticulture. 
2. Experience: A minimum of two years of experience in agricultural or natural resources fieldwork. Experience working with field crops, dairy and/or livestock preferred. 
3. Training in site planning, and/or nutrient, fuel and pest management desired. 
4. Ability to interpret print materials, soil/water testing results, and government policies for clients. 
5. Experience working with specialty crops, forest management, or on-farm food safety beneficial. 

ABILITIES: 

1. Operate a standard PC workstation and effectively use Windows-based software.
2. Excellent organizational, management, written and verbal communication skills. 
3. Exhibit excellent social and interpersonal skills. 
4. Work cooperatively with other district personnel and with other agencies. 
5. Must be able to work efficiently outdoors in varying conditions and rough terrain.
6. Maintain a valid driver’s license. 
7. Must be able to pass a Federal Background Security Check. 

COMPENSATION PACKAGE: 

Salary: $16.50 -$20.00/hour, dependent on qualifications. 

Benefits Include: health insurance stipend, compensated annual and sick leave. Mileage reimbursement for business related use of personal vehicle. 

Send cover letter, resume and list of 3 references to: 

Cass County Conservation District 
1127 E. State Street 
Cassopolis, MI 49031
Attn: Korie Blyveis or email korie.blyveis@macd.org

Cass County Conservation District is an equal opportunity employer and provider

The Cass County Conservation District will hold their Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Budget Hearing on Wednesday, September 9th, 2020.

The Hearing proceeds the regular board meeting and is open to the public. See this link for details.

For question/concerns please call District Administrator Korie Blyveis at 269-445-8641 x 5.

The Cass County Conservation District will hold their Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Budget Workshop on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.

The meeting is open to the public. See this link to notice for details.

For question/concerns please call District Administrator Korie Blyveis at 269-445-8641 x 5.

The August 12, 2020 Cass County Conservation District Board meeting will be held in the outside pavilion at the Cass County Council on Aging facility. All are welcome to attend.

See this public notice for details.

The Wednesday July 8, 2020 regular Cass County Conservation District Board meeting will be held at 8:30am at Dr. T.K. Lawless Park.

Please click here for meeting notice and details or call Korie at 269-506-8334.

Cass County farmers/residents don’t miss this opportunity to rid your barn/shed of unwanted or no longer usable pesticides.

Berrien County provides the important service of collecting unused and unwanted old pesticides to eliminate the potential danger to groundwater quality, and environmental and human health if they spill or are improperly disposed. This service is available to qualified applicants, including Michigan pesticide retailers.

Here is the 2020 schedule for this event – please make an appointment today for July 29 collection and get your barn/shed cleaned out of these high risk materials. 2020 Clean Sweep Collection.

The two dates in Berrien County are June 24 and July 29 – for more information contact Jill Adams at 269-983-7111 x 8234 or the Kalamazoo Clean Sweep Program at 269-373-5211.