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5 <br />ruling in the summer of 2008 prohibited the USDA District Conservationist from <br />assuming such duties in future for activities that were outside of the scope of <br />USDA and their agreement with Soil and Water Districts. This included any <br />administrative or financial responsibilities for the County. The USDA <br />reorganization also assigned the District Conservationist to serve the same role in <br />Person County as well, greatly increasing his workload and reducing his time in <br />the Orange office. <br />Given this situation, upon discussion with the ERC Director and the District <br />Conservationist, the County Manager asked the ERC Director to assume <br />administrative responsibilities for non-USDA functions that the District <br />Conservationist could no longer perform (County administrative duties such as <br />signing off on performance reviews, purchase requisitions and timesheets/leave <br />records), given the projected. affiliation between the two entitles and the need for a <br />County department head to perform these duties. The ERC Director began <br />assuming these duties in November 2008. <br />In late-January, the ERC Director and District Conservationist met with the Chair <br />and Vice-Chair of the Soil and Water District Board of Supervisors. It was agreed <br />that a formal affiliation would benefit both entities, that many potential synergies <br />could result, and that the District's Operational Agreement with the County was <br />overdue for renewal (last adopted in November 2000). This Agreement was <br />decided to be the appropriate vehicle for formalizing a partnership between the <br />two organizations, and providing an administrative "home" within County <br />government for the District staff. <br />On February 10, 2009, the Board considered the proposed reorganization plan, <br />and generally indicated interest in forming two departments from the plan <br />presented. While there was no formal action, general agreement appeared to <br />indicate that the ERCD/Soil and Water partnership should proceed. <br />The District Conservationist and ERC Director have been working since that time <br />on revisions to the 2001 Agreement, and on identifying shared interests and <br />mutual benefits desired by the County and District through such an arrangement. <br />The draft agreement includes atwo-year Partnership Initiative work plan for joint <br />activities by the District and ERCD. The draft agreement was favorably received <br />by the Soil and Water Board of Supervisors, and a representative of the State <br />Division of Soil and Water, on May 28, 2009. The Operational Agreement would <br />be completed and presented to the Board of Commissioners in August. <br />Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. <br />Copies: Willie Best, Assistant County Manager <br />John Roberts, County Attorney <br />Brent Bogue, District Conservationist <br />