Call to Order and Roll Call
The 1st meeting of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee was held on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at 10:00 AM, in Room 129 of the Capitol Annex. Senator C.B. Embry Jr., Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator C.B. Embry Jr., Co-Chair; Representative Myron Dossett, Co-Chair; Senators Paul Hornback, Stephen Meredith, Dennis Parrett, and Robin L. Webb; Representatives Kim King, Phillip Pratt, Brandon Reed, and Dean Schamore.
Guests: Warren Beeler, Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy; Bill McCloskey, Deputy Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, Hannah Forte, Boards Coordinator, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy; Beth Mobley, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy; Stefanie Osterman, Project Manager, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy; Bill Crist, Kentucky Dairy Development Council; and Representative Wilson Stone.
LRC Staff: Lowell Atchley, Kelly Ludwig, and Marielle Manning.
Upon motion made by house members, Representative Myron Dossett was elected House co-chair by acclamation and without objection.
Upon motion made by Senator Parrett and seconded by Representative Reed, the December 7, 2016 minutes were approved by voice vote and without objection.
GOAP officials provided an overview of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board’s various programs such as the Deceased Farm Animal Removal Program (DAR), County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP), Shared-Use Equipment Program, and On-Farm Energy Efficiency Incentives Program. GOAP representatives also described the Master Settlement Agreement for the new members of the committee.
Responding to Senator Parrett, GOAP officials explained that everyone in the state should have access to the Dead Animal Removal Program. For example, the rendering plant in Metcalfe County can be used by the surrounding 8 or 9 counties. The Conservation District promotes the program.
Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy
Warren Beeler, Executive Director, and Bill McCloskey, Deputy Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, presented projects receiving the Agricultural Development Board approval at its December 2016 meeting. These included a grain elevator feasibility study, farmers market expansion, on-farm investments, environmental stewardship, and major statewide or regional projects.
The committee received reports on six regional projects: (1) Kentucky Dairy Development Council, Inc., approved by the board for $1,003,675 in State funds to continue educating, representing and promoting Kentucky’s dairy producers and the dairy industry as a whole; (2) Kentucky Horticulture Council, Inc., approved by the board for $617,500 in State funds to continue important research, support new and existing producers and provide market analysis for Kentucky’s growing horticulture industry; (3) Kentucky Beef Network, LLC, approved by the board for $909,498 in State funds to continue to provide programs to cattle producers that will enhance their net income; (4) Kentucky Department of Agriculture, approved by the board for $1,657,750 in State funds to be used for the Kentucky Proud programs; (5) Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation, Inc., approved by the board for $9,165 in State funds to contract KCARD to conduct a study on the feasibility of location a grain elevator in the Lake Cumberland region along the Cumberland Parkway corridor; and (6) City of Pikeville, approved by the board for $90,000 in State funds to conduct Phase II of the Pikeville Farmers Market, which includes constructing a metal roof, blacktopping the parking lot and adding water and electricity to the site.
Warren Beeler and Bill McCloskey presented projects receiving the Agricultural Development Board approval at its January 2017 meeting. These included a high school greenhouse improvements, on-farm investments, environmental stewardship, shared-use equipment program, and major statewide or regional projects.
The committee received reports on one regional project: (1) Oldham County Schools, approved by the board for $5,000 in Oldham County funds to replace the roof of the high school greenhouse.
GOAP officials described one funding denial: (1) Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, turned down for $2,500 in Fayette County funds and $20,000 in State funds for a part-time festival coordinator for the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival in 2017 and 2018. The board denied this request based on projected income being greater than festival costs.
Committee members commented on the purpose of the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee.
Senator Webb commented on the importance of the Master Settlement Agreement and encouraged new members of the committee to “protect this fund.”
Representative Schamore encouraged GOAP officials to seek out funding for water related projects.
Senator Meredith thanked and commended GOAP representatives for their work.
Responding to a question from Representative King, GOAP officials explained that the state board is divided into three review committees and labeled as blue, red, and white.
Documents distributed during the meeting are available with meeting material in the LRC Library. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.