TIMBERON DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Minutes of the Meeting Held January 12, 2008 IN ATTENDANCE: Everett Putney Rick Merrick Roger O’Dell Donene O’Dell Fran Trendler Mary Neighbor Howard Neighbor Mary Tyler Cal Tyler B.F. Adams Jackie Fioretti The meeting was called to order by President Everett Putney at 10:00 am. He asked if anyone would like the minutes read from the previous meeting. Roger O’Dell made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Rick Merrick seconded the motion. The minutes were approved. The Treasurer, Gwen Adams was absent so Jackie Fioretti gave the treasurer’s report. Gwen’s brother has an inoperable brain tumor and we will keep him in our prayers. A motion was made by Fran Trendler to accept the report as given. Roger O’Dell seconded the motion. The motion passed. It was agreed by all present the treasurer’s report will be given at each meeting but will no longer be printed in the minutes. Everett Putney asked if there were any bills to be paid. Bills pending totaled $4,579.98 which included the bill for the restrooms in Mary Glover Park. Rick Merrick made a motion to pay our bills. Fran Trendler seconded the motion. The motion passed. Expenditures prior to approval were discussed. Roger O’Dell made a motion for Everett Putney to spend up to $200.00 discretionary amount each month. Howard Neighbor seconded the motion. Rick Merrick gave a report on special events for 2008. The committee met in December. July 5, 2008 was recommended for the special event starting at 10:00am and ending at 6:00pm. The theme is Patriotic and there will be a contest for best costume. The agenda consists of Honor Guards, Roll Call, Music, Games, Arts & Crafts, Vendors, Silent Auction, Contest for best decorated lawn chair, Horse Shoe Pitts etc. Food and a tent were discussed. Everett Putney will check on the price of renting a tent. The next meeting for the committee will meet on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. There was discussion on volunteer work that needs to be done at the park prior to the special event such as: cutting stumps, mowing grass, etc. It was mentioned Larry Hanson may have a stump grinder. There will be more on this event next month. If you are interested in serving on this committee please call Rick Merrick. Howard Neighbor gave a report on the High Country Lounge at the golf course. The Manager has resigned and Cindy Moore is the interim Manager on a part time basis. They are accepting applications for a full time Manager. Their hours of operation are 2:00pm to 7:00pm and are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The New Mexico State Forestry Thinning Funds have been redirected to South Central Mountain RC&D (Resource, Conservation & Development) to administer. The paper work for tree thinning will still be available at the Timberon Development Council Office and on the web. Rick Merrick and Jim Ackermann are the Contractors in Timberon. Steve Griffith will continue to mark the trees for the Contractors. We will be looking for other grants to administer. over Page 2 B.F. Adams advised the Timberon Water and Sanitation District’s new Executive Board was sworn in this morning. Their meeting is next Saturday. The Timberon Development Council still has property to sell which includes a choice piece of property on Sacramento. After discussion, Roger O’Dell mentioned we should go by the rules that were voted on in a previous meeting which included sending e-mails to all of the real estate agencies in the area. B.F. Adams mentioned Frank Bullard is still interested in purchasing the property next to him. After discussion, Roger O’Dell made a motion to offer the property to Frank Bullard for the sum of half way between what he previously offered and the tax value or something greater. B.F. Adams seconded the motion and it passed. Tree thinning on the Mary Glover Park and Tres Marias Park were discussed. Rick Merrick asked if there is a grant to take out larger trees (from eight inches up to twelve inches in diameter) in these same parks? We will pursue this with BLM (Bureau of Land Management). Everett Putney gave an update on Otero County Management. Ray Backstrom is acting County Administrator and bids have gone out to find a replacement for this manager position. Everett advised he spoke to Bill Lee Parker concerning the final coat of seal on the runway and Bill is waiting for warmer weather to do this. Everett Putney reaffirmed with Bill Lee Parker there will be money in the budget each year to pave one mile of road in Timberon. Everett Putney advised the Timberon Development Council is looking for a project to support within the community. He and Jackie Fioretti will be attending the 2008 Western Resource Conservation & Development Council Conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico from January 13 to January 16, 2008. As an Executive Board Member, his expenses will be paid by South Central Mountain RC&D and asked if TDC would pay $250.00 for registration and meals for Jackie Fioretti to attend this meeting. B.F. Adams made the motion to pay the $250.00 and Roger O’Dell seconded the motion and it passed. There was discussion about developing a Business in Timberon to utilize the wood the contractors were cutting on the tree thinning program. Items to make from this wood such as furniture were discussed. It was suggested Everett contact Blake Barrow at the El Paso Rescue Mission for information on this subject. The El Paso Rescue Mission makes furniture and ships it all over the United States. Fran Trendler made a motion to adjourn and Mary Neighbor seconded it. The motion passed. These meetings are held the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Timberon Development Council Office, 1841 Sacramento Drive. They are open meetings and everyone is invited to attend. Respectfully submitted, Jackie Fioretti, Secretary