It is important that supervisors on each county’s Soil and Water Conservation District board learn more about their duties and responsibilities in serving their county. As each supervisor joins the board, he or she is issued a helpful handbook explaining the basics of what a conservation district does and what the supervisor’s responsibilities are. Further information is provided at trainings and meetings held across the Commonwealth through the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
The field representatives assigned to each county are available to answer questions and help the district supervisors navigate the roles and responsibilities of serving on the board. Recently, the field representatives have begun presenting a 10-minute training module during each district board meeting. These modules are designed to give the supervisors necessary information throughout the year rather than waiting for yearly centralized trainings.
The Soil and Water Conservation Commission allows each county to increase a supervisor's per diem payment as an incentive to attend trainings. If a supervisor attends two qualifying events during a fiscal year, they may receive up to $25 more per meeting during the next fiscal year. This increase must be approved by the local conservation district board and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission before taking effect. A supervisor must attend at least eight of 12 of the 10-minute training modules in a fiscal year to count as one qualifying event. Other qualifying events include, but are not limited to, National Association of Conservation District events, Kentucky Association of Conservation District events and area meetings.
Suggestions for topics for trainings can be sent to the Division of Conservation by emailing conservation@ky.gov.