Board of Commissioners
Meetings of the Johnson County Soil & Water Commissioners
The Johnson County Soil and Water District will hold their next board meeting on Monday, February 14, 2022 at 12:30 PM. The meeting will be virtual. To participate, email the District, or call (319) 337-2322 ext. 3 for meeting details.
Johnson County Soil & Water Commissioners
Ed Ruppenkamp, co-Treasurer – serving since 2006
Jody Bailey, Chair – serving since 2014
Travis Spevacek, co-Treasurer – serving since 2017
Wayne Petersen – serving since 2021
Michael Donovan – serving since 2021
Meeting Minutes
2021
What Do Commissioners Do?
Per Iowa Code Chapter 161A.7. A Soil and Water Conservation District has the power to:
- Conduct surveys, investigations, and research related to soil erosion and sediment damages, and prevention measures needed in cooperation with the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station.
- Conduct demonstrations on state-owned lands with consent of agency owning the land, on private lands with landowner consent, in cooperation with the Extension Service.
- Establish conservation practices to protect resources on state land with consent of administrating agency or private lands with landowner consent, including both structural and vegetative practices.
- Furnish financial and other aid to landowners within limits of appropriations to carry out erosion control, watershed protection practices and flood prevention operations.
- Acquire property from gift, purchase, lease, grant, etc. and receive income from that property. Income to be used in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter.
- Make soil conserving equipment available to landowners, as well as fertilizer, lime and other materials necessary to conserve sources.
- Build and maintain conservation structures and improve structures as necessary.
- Develop and publish comprehensive resource conservation plans for the control and prevention of soil erosion, floodwater and sediment damages.
- Sue and be sued. Enter into contracts. Make rules to carry out District programs.
- Accept donations of money and services from U.S. and State agencies and expend such monies in carrying out District operations.
- Require contributions by landowners as a condition of extending SWCD benefits.
- No provisions with respect to acquisition, operation or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable.
- After formation of any District, all participation shall be voluntary, except as specifically stated.
- Change the District name with State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee approval.
- Require filing with the District of lands on which permanent cost-share practices have been established using state cost-share funds. Require landowners to maintain cost-share practices throughout maintenance agreement period. No projects shall be removed, altered or modified without consent of Commissioners.
- Encourage schools to provide natural resource conservation instruction.
- Develop soil and water resource conservation plans for the District.
- Enter into agreements for carrying out water protection practices to protect the state’s groundwater and surface water from point and non-point sources of contaminations.
We are a member and supporter of the Conservation Districts of Iowa.
Find out how you can become a Soil Commissioner.