TIMBERON DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Minutes of the Meeting Held March 14, 2009 IN ATTENDANCE: Everett Putney Gwen Adams G. McGaha Larry Hanson B.F.Adams R. F. Page Karen Martin Mary TylerCal Tyler Burt Rubinowitz Scott Millar Jane Huisingh Linda Lea Richard Dysart Ron McCormick Rachel McCormick Larry Woods Cheryl Miller Charlie Ross Sue Guthrie Jim Ackermann Rick Merrick Fran Trendler Stan Bulsterbaum Jackie Fioretti The meeting was called to order by President Everett Putney at 10:05 am. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given followed by a prayer from Everett. Everett asked if anyone would like the minutes read from the previous meeting. Fran Trendler made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Scott Millar seconded the motion and the minutes were approved. The Treasurer’s report was given by Gwen Adams. A motion was made by Rick Merrick to accept the report. B.F. Adams seconded the motion and the motion was approved. Gwen read the bills which totaled $549.19. Rick Merrick made a motion to pay our bills. Jane Huisingh seconded the motion and it was approved. Everett Putney gave a report on Colonias Day in Santa Fe. Representatives from the Timberon Water and Sanitation District were unable to attend so Jackie Fioretti and Everett Putney attend- ed representing Timberon. Everett and Jackie met Hubert Quintana, Executive Director for SNMEDD Council of Governments. He has been to Timberon and is aware of our problems. It was a real pleasure to spend the day with him. Rick Merrick gave a report on the Park Thinning Project. Mary Glover Park and Shallow Creek Park have been completed. He and Jim Ackermann have started on Deer Park. The thinning has really opened up the area and really looks nice. The evacuation route down Sacramento is really looking good. The thinning is provided by a grant from the Bureau of Land Management and New Mexico Association of Counties. This grant requires $5,000.00 “In Kind Dollars”. There is plenty of wood available for fire wood to the community. It is free and all you have to do is keep track of the time it takes for you to pick it up and then call Fran Trandler with the date and hours. She will convert it into “In Kind Dollars” for the grant. About June or July we will start outside Timberon advertising for anyone to pick up the firewood Rick advised he will be attending the second meeting of the Southwest Sustainable Forest Partnership on March 31, 2009. This organization helps small companies research and buy equipment for wood products. It is also a networking for wood cutters. Rick mentioned he will talk about fire mitigation at the Community Action Plan meeting today at 1:00p.m. Private property thinning was discussed and he hoped Timberon wouldn’t have to go thru a devastating fire like the Pacheco Fire which destroyed 16,000 acres or three miles in one hour. The Forest Service has been telling us for several years that grant money will not always be available for private property owners to thin their property. The Timberon Development Council has been sending mailings for several years to property owners who live permanently on the mountain and over Page 2 those who live off the mountain informing them of the thinning grants that were available. Those who have thinned their property need to talk to their neighbors who haven’t thinned. It is a proven fact that, if there is a fire, those properties with houses that have been thinned survive when others have not. Everett mentioned he has checked on the liability insurance for the 4th of July activities. Liability insurance for vendors runs from $125.00 to $250.00. The Timberon Development Council, Inc. requires liability insurance to cover the entire event which costs $283.00. Scott Millar made a motion for the Timberon Development Council to purchase liability insurance for the July 4th event. Jane Huisingh seconded the motion and it passed. Jane Huisingh gave her report and said her committee is doing very good. They have received applications from five vendors. She will be sending an e-mail for the next meeting to be held later this month at Linda Lea’s house. The committee has added two Costume Contests to the activities, one for the people and one for pets. If you are interested in wearing a costume, you may rent one from Nan at Nan’s Hair Shop in Timberon or from Audry Bunker in Alamogordo. Cal and Mary Tyler are working on the store front panels. If you are interested in having a store front panel for your business they cost $35.00 each. Jane thanked her committee. B.F. advised the committee will meet after the meeting outside the lodge to determine where to place the store front panels. Everett gave an airport progress report. Bill Nancarrow, Client Services Manager with Delta Aviation Consultants, Inc. has provided the paper work to Otero County to change the airport from private to public. After checking with Ray Backstrom, Assistant Manager Otero County, the contract between Otero County and the Timberon Development Council, Inc. (TDC) states that we, TDC will pay the airport liability insurance. There is money left over from the 2006 and 2007 airport grants to provide an engineering study. Everett mentioned he would like to see the airstrip asphalted instead of chip and seal. Everett advised he has taken soil samples from the two lakes at the Lodge to a soils engineer in El Paso, TX. He is waiting for a report and then will meet with the Timberon Water and Sanitation District on the findings. It is very important we get these lakes working as fishing lakes again. It would be nice if the Timberon Development Council would make this a community volunteer project. Trees need to be cut. The lakes need to be cleaned out. They could be burned instead of hauling the slash out. The soil analyst says the existing bags of bentonite are ok to use in the lakes. The existing bags need to be covered with plastic. Linda Lea advised there are a lot of other benefits to having the lakes in addition to fishing. Linda made a motion for the Timberon Development Council to look into the feasibility of making this a community volunteer project. Scott Millar seconded the motion and it passed. Larry Woods asked if it was feasible to make them into a swimming lake. Liability would be a major concern in that instance and would not be feasable. Gwen Adams gave an update on her “Beautify the Lodge Entrance” project. She thanked Fran Trendler for heading the campaign to provide drapes in the lounge. Gwen is still looking for ideas in using rough cut lumber for book shelving. If you have any ideas on the book shelving or any other ideas please call her. Rick Merrick asked “what is the status of Otero County paving another mile this year”? Everett advised the county doesn’t have the money in this year’s budget to do this. Perhaps they can put money in the budget to pave two miles next year. Rick also requested to activate our Community Action Team (CAT) Committee that has been held in the past. He sees this Page 3 committee to view, research, and make recommendations at the TDC meetings on ideas, projects, etc.. The CAT Committee could meet on a week night one week prior to the TDC meeting. This would allow time in case research is required on the subject. The people on this Committee would serve for one year. There will be more on this at the next meeting. Dick Dysart mentioned he would like to solicit participation on the Timberon Water and Sanitation District (TWSD) Budget meetings held on Thursday mornings. If you would like the information on Senate Bill 645 introduced by Rod Adair to e-mail the Judiciary Committee please call B.F. Adams and he will send it to you. Burt Rubinowitz gave an updated report on providing cellular phone service in Timberon. Plato contacted Dell Telephone and was advised Dell Telephone is in negotiations for thirty days with someone on this subject. There will be more on this after thirty days have passed. Scott Millar gave an update on the Timberon Weather site. He has added monthly and annual evaporation totals to the site. By comparing these totals with our rainfall totals you can see how dry we really are. By clicking on the thunder cloud in the left hand column you can now go to the National Weather Service forecast and see watches or warnings for the weather in our actual area. The webpage code has been updated and is completely up to standard with all new web browsers that are on the market today. Scott advised all veterans may now salute the flag during the National Anthem or Pledge of Allegiance, indoors or out, and also whenever the Flag passes by as in a parade. This is an honor given all veterans last year by congress in appreciation for their service to our country. Loyalty day is May 1st. This holiday was first created in the 50’s to counteract the Socialist May Day. As part of Loyalty Day, May 1st in Cloudcroft, the VFW will recognize the Cloudcroft School winners in the Patriot Pen, Voice of Democracy and Teacher Awards, the public will be invited; more info at next month’s meeting. The VFW will hold a Memorial Day Service in Timberon on Memorial Day about 10:00 a.m. The flag will fly at half staff until noon and then it will go up again. The VFW or the Army National Guard (if available) will provide the color guard for our opening ceremony on July 4th. Fran Trendler made a motion to adjourn and Scott Millar seconded it. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 11:40am. The April meeting will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Timberon Development Council Office, 1841 Sacramento. These are open meetings and everyone is invited to attend. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend! Respectfully submitted, Jackie Fioretti, Secretary