TIMBERON DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Minutes of the Meeting Held March 08, 2008 IN ATTENDANCE: Everett Putney Rick Merrick Fran Trendler Ron McCormick John Howell B.F. Adams Gwen Adams Cal Tyler Mary Tyler Bill Gideon Elsie Gideon Scott Millar Donna Millar Arden Schug Frank Bullard John Thorell Medicine Wolf Marguerita Guspad Peg Bullard Mary Neighbor Howard Neighbor Lillian Devine J.R. Samaniego Cynthia C. Jordan Richard Rodriguez Jackie Fioretti The meeting was called to order by President Everett Putney at 10:00 am. He welcomed everyone to the meeting. He asked if anyone would like the minutes read from the previous meeting. Rick Merrick made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Gwen Adams seconded the motion. The minutes were approved. Gwen Adams, Treasurer gave the treasurer’s report. A motion was made by Donna Millar to accept the report as given. Fran Trendler seconded the motion. The motion passed. Everett Putney asked if there were any bills to be paid. Bills pending totaled $17.31 to Jackie Fioretti for purchasing envelopes used in our mail outs. Bill Gideon made a motion to pay our bills. Rick Merrick seconded the motion. The motion passed. Everett advised we need an audit committee to audit last year’s books prior to giving them to the CPA to compile our taxes. Lillian Devine and Mary Tyler agreed to do the audit after the meeting. Rick Merrick, Chairman of the July 4th Activities Committee, gave an extensive report on the meeting held March 6th at the TDC Office. Our event will be called “Independence Day Celebration” and will be held July 5, 2008 in the Mary Glover Park from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Everett has located tents for the event. One 20 x 40 tent and the other one is 20 x 30. We are still looking for crafters and venders. Arden Schug, Fire Chief, advised the Fire Department will have a “Pancake Breakfast” that morning from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and then there will be a parade at 10:00 o’clock. Anyone interested in participating in the parade can contact Shantel Keune. Donna and Scott Millar will give a VFW presentation at 11:00 am in the Mary Glover Park. Rick advised the Business’s will be included in the celebration and we will ask them to donate something for the “Silent Auction”. There won’t be a booth charge but we will ask the venders to donate an item to the “Silent Auction”. The day will be full of activities and J.R. Samaniego agreed to give a chain saw demonstration on his carvings. There will be a patriotic lawn chair decorating contest, a pie baking contest and lots of music and games. We hope to see you all there. Rick advised the next committee meeting is April 10, 2008 at the TDC office at 6:00 pm and everyone is invited who would like to help make this a great day. Everett gave an update on the Mary Glover Park. He thanked John Howell, B.F. and Gwen Adams for moving the bridge from the TDC Office to the park and power washing inside the Over Page 2 restrooms. The bridge looks great. He thanked Ron McCormick for the repairs and painting and installing handles in the restrooms. Everett also said he and Jackie Fioretti met with Otero County Purchasing and permanent signs will be made for all of the parks in Timberon. Volunteer days will be required to cut stumps, etc, to spruce up the park. B.F. Adams advised the top of the tables need another coat of varnish, and three steps need to be made for the bridge incline. J. R. agreed to work on the horseshoe pits and Rick will work with him on this project. Everett Putney talked about the tree thinning program and the importance of having your property thinned. He asked for those who have thinned their property to talk to their friends and neighbors and encourage them to thin their property. Rick Merrick mentioned the Bark Beetle are starting to move again. The problem at the dry lake was discussed Arden Schug and Everett have talked to State Forestry and solicited their help to resolve this problem. It was mentioned BLM (Bureau of Land Management) has approved the use of their chipper at the dry lake. There is no easy solution to the dry lake problem. The Timberon Development Council has submitted two grants to the New Mexico Association of Counties. One grant is for educating our property owners on tree thinning and the other one is to re-inter the parks and remove trees from eight inches up to twelve inches in diameter. The Circle Cross Ranch is interested in the trees closest to twelve inches in diameter. Since the dry lake is full there was discussion on what to do with these trees. Another option mentioned is Circle Cross Ranch has a machine that will start at the top of the tree and eat it up. Everett discussed the possibility of making furniture out of some of the wood and others might want to make something with the wood and we could advertise the product on the web or e-bay. An Artist’s Directory was discussed. After further discussion, Ron McCormick will investigate what is required to sell a product on e-bay etc. and will report this at the next meeting. Fran Trendler advised the community needs a resolution to accept the grant for Deer Park. Rick Merrick made a motion that we accept the grant to thin Deer Park and B.F. Adams seconded the motion and it passed. Arden Schug, Fire Chief, mentioned there is someone back in the fire tower to watch for fires. He said the Forest Service is very concerned about the start up of fires this year. Richard Rodriquez explained the process in calling 911 and advised you will get quicker response by calling 911 first in an emergency. The Timberon “Emergency Medical Team” is then notified. Calling someone on the emergency medical team first delays the response time because they have to call 911 located at the Sheriff’s Office and report the emergency. He talked about the training the responders are given and the equipment they have that can save time and then make a determination to leave Timberon by ambulance or chopper. Also, if you are on Medicare, they will pay for 99% of the trips. The main thing is to call 911 first in an emergency. Donna and Scott Millar advised the VFW is sponsoring a coming home celebration for their adopted “Delta Group” coming back from Iraq. This celebration will be in Alamogordo on March 29th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the National Guard Armory located at 1600 South Florida. Everyone is invited. There will be free food, door prizes etc. Plan now to attend. Page 3 Everett Putney gave an update on the Timberon airstrip. We are waiting for the final seal and he isn’t sure if the gravel in the tie down area will be used for this. Arden said he talked to Otero County and was told the county will pave the rest of the black top on Sacramento. Everett mentioned Otero County has committed to pave at least one mile in Timberon every year and this is in their budget. Priority is given to the streets on the school route. Cynthia Jordan advised the “High Country” is now open seven days a week for business. She gave the hours open for lunch and the Saturday hours etc. She looks forward to seeing you there. Donna Millar made a motion to adjourn and Fran Trendler 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. Respectfully submitted, Jackie Fioretti, Secretary