Soil and Water District outlines services, funding and new earthworks permitting

Troy Kofall, director of the Soil and Water Conservation District, told the Scott County board the district’s mission is to “promote and support conservation of natural resources in Scott County.” He said the district receives a $92,000 annual base grant from the county and substantial in‑kind support — office space, IT, GIS and legal services — that together account for roughly 10% of the district’s operating revenue.

Kofall walked board members through revenue sources and a long‑term shift from a single annual cash grant to a contract‑for‑services model that, he said, expanded partnerships and increased grant activity. He said grants and special levies now make up the largest portion of the budget: roughly 45% from grants and program revenues and about 36% from services to other local government units.

“On average over the past 10 years we’ve averaged about $560,000 in grants bringing into the county,” Kofall said, and he cited a USDA formula estimate that those conservation dollars translate into roughly $2 million in total economic value countywide.

Kofall described core services — technical assistance, countywide education, regulatory assistance, water‑quality monitoring and equipment rental — and noted program growth. The district has expanded its no‑till equipment fleet: a second 15‑foot drill was purchased with state grant funds and district equipment has been used on more than 17,000 acres over the past six years, he said. He described tree and plant sales as a major public program: annual sales typically range from 25,000 to 35,000 trees and several thousand plants.

On permitting, Kofall said the district launched a separate earthworks permitting program to speed plan review and inspections. He said the program issued about 40 permits in the year to date under the newer system and continues to perform construction‑site inspections.

He also reported operational limits on drone use. Citing federal funding rules, Kofall said the district paused most drone operations starting Jan. 1 because common commercial drones are manufactured abroad and federal‑funded projects may be restricted from using that equipment.

Board members asked about demand and pricing for rental equipment; Kofall said the district keeps rental rates low to cover repairs and replacement and expects large operators to eventually buy their own machinery after trialing district equipment. He also summarized ditch‑system work: transfers for two county ditches, ongoing repairs and a three‑year maintenance program for county ditch 3.

The presentation closed with an update on McMahon Lake restoration efforts. Kofall said easement negotiations have slowed the project but that alternative designs within the county right‑of‑way may allow construction if cost estimates are feasible.

No formal board action or vote was recorded during the presentation. The district asked the board to note the program updates and to continue the existing county support model while the district pursues grants and service contracts.