Board & Election Information

Board Members

  • Chair
    Doug Melton
    Areas Served: 
    4
  • Vice Chairman
    Mark Havens
    Areas Served: 
    1
  • Treasurer
    Dennis Branstetter
    Areas Served: 
    3
  • Member
    Brian Dean
    Areas Served: 
    2
  • Secretary (University of Missouri Extension)
    Sarah Higgins

Board of Supervisors Meetings
Meeting Place:
Phelps County Soil and Water Conservation District Office, USDA Service Center, 1050 Hwy 72 E., Rolla, MO  65401
Meeting Date and Time:
First Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.

Election Information

Next Election: February 1-20, 2024 Area 1 (Miller and Arlington); Area 3 (Dawson, St. James, North & South Maremec)

BALLOT

Nomination Period - November 1-30, 2023

SWCD Board Member Job Description
What is a Soil and Water Conservation District?
A District is comprised of a county wherein a project for saving the soil and water has been established to encourage the wise and productive use of natural resources.
What is a Soil and Water District board member?
A board member is an individual who has been elected or appointed to the local governing body of a soil and water district. There are 4 elected board members and 1 appointed board member. The elected members comprise the roles of Chair, Vice-chair, Treasurer and Member. The appointed member is an employee of the University of Missouri Extension who holds the Secretary position.
Being on the board is great way to leverage the district into meeting goals, improving cost-share spending, driving diversity, and helping resolve county complaints. Being a supervisor ensures your chance to vote on behalf of your constituents.
The supervisors of the Soil and Water Conservation District board provide oversight, direction, transparency and act as an auditing authority as the governing body of the district.
The board of Soil and Water supervisors assist the Soil and Water Districts Commission in the administration of a state soil and water conservation cost-share program. This entails management of funds provided by the Commission or other federal funding for the purpose of saving the soil and water within the district. The cost-share program involves contracts between landowners and the district for the installation of Commission approved cost-share practices. Contracts must be executed within a certain timeframe following Commission approved rules.
The board is the employer of the SWCD employees and is responsible for providing direction and guidance to the SWCD staff. They are responsible for hiring, and if necessary firing, the SWCD employees. While the board does not generally provide day to day work load oversight, they ask for progress reports and provide yearly employee evaluations. The board acts as an auditor of employee hours by reviewing timesheets, approving leave and requesting office coverage.
The board holds regular meetings to review the district

Self Nomination Form 

Elections are held every two years.

The qualifications required to be a supervisor are:

  1. Being a land representative from the district (as defined in 10 CSR 70-4.010 (1) (I)). A land representative is defined as the owner or representative authorized by power of attorney of any farm lying within an area proposed to be established, and subsequently established, as a soil and water conservation district under Chapter 278, RSMo. Each farm is entitled to representation by a land representative: provided, however that the land representative is a taxpayer of the county within which the soil and water district is located.

  2. Residing in, or owning a farm in, the area from which he/she is nominated where there is an expiring term.

  3. Being a cooperator of the district, defined as, "a person who is actively engaged in farming and practices conservation activities related to agriculture".

  4. Being a current resident and tax-paying citizen of the county for at least two years preceding the election date.

  5. Being eighteen (18) years of age or older by the election date.