NVCA 2015 budget approved
Highlights of the NVCA board of directors’ March 27 2015 meeting from the NVCA
The board of directors approved the authority’s 2015 budget at $4,877,242. The 2015 budget is $267,044 higher than 2014. Of that increase, $61,000 came from a 3% increase in the municipal levy. The levy accounts for 42% of the approved budget; the remainder comes from government grants, uses fees, donations and interest income.
The budget is available on the NVCA website under About àPlans, Annual Reports & Financials.
2015-2018 NVCA Business Plan Approved
Business Plan to put goals from Strategic Plan into Operation
Following on the board’s approval of the Strategic Plan Initiatives at their last meeting, staff presented a business plan outlining how these initiatives will be implemented over the next three years.
Internal program leads, costs to implement, action items and implementation periods are set for each of the 39 strategic initiatives coming out of the Strategic Plan.
The board approved the business plan, requiring staff to formally report on status of plan on an annual basis.
Both the strategic plan and the business plan are available on the NVCA website under About àPlans, Annual Reports & Financials.
Helping hand for the Tiffin Forest
Children from Maurice Cody come to Tiffin every year in the spring. When they heard about the damage from last year’s tornado, they held a dance-a-thon to raise money to help replant trees lost during the storm.
Utopia Grist Mill Restoration Plan
The board of directors heard from Susan Antler, chair of the Friends of the Utopia Grist Mill & Park, a non-profit group dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the Utopia Conservation Area and the historic Bell’s Gristmill which is located at the site.
Starting in 2007, the Friends assumed financial and stewardship responsibility for the Utopia Conservation Area under an agreement with the NVCA. Among their activities to date, they have established and maintained walking trails, installed fencing, and hosted a number of well-received community events. In addition to raising annual operating funds, the Friends have garnered $150,000 for the restoration of the gristmill.
Ms. Antler presented the Friends’ business plan and the plans for Phase I of the gristmill restoration. Members of the board approved the plan and commended the Friends for their efforts to date.
In brief
During this meeting, the board also approved:
- · The appointment of Nathan Cutler as an officer for the NVCA as per the Conservation Authorities Act.
- · The purchase of trees for the NVCA’s tree planting program up to a cost of $160,000. More than 213,000 trees will be planted by NVCA’s forestry program this year.
- · A policy governing social media use by NVCA staff.
- · A change to the way the board receives information on NVCA media coverage and outreach activities.
I commend Susan Antler for all her efforts and hard work to raise the money needed to restore the Bell’s Gristmill by holding numerous fundraising events at the Utopia Hall. I have attended many of the events there and will continue to support this wonderful project and look forward to seeing the historical mill fully restored.
Thank you Susan for all you do for your community!