TIMBERON DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Minutes of the Meeting Held April 11, 2009 IN ATTENDANCE: Everett Putney Gwen Adams B.F. Adams Rick Merrick Charles Ross Charles Cummings Cal Tyler Mary Tyler Bobbie Brown Bill Brown John Howell Steve Griffith Larry Hanson Donna Millar Scott Millar Jim Ackermann Ron McCormick Judy Underwood Jackie Fioretti The meeting was called to order by President Everett Putney at 10:00 am. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given followed by a prayer from B.F. Adams. Everett asked if anyone would like the minutes read from the previous meeting. Scott Millar made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Rick Merrick seconded the motion and the minutes were approved. The Treasurer’s report was given by Gwen Adams. A motion was made by Donna Millar to accept the report. B.F. Adams seconded the motion and the motion was approved. Gwen read the bills which totaled $155.00. Donna Millar made a motion to pay our bills. Ron McCormick seconded the motion and it was approved. Rick Merrick gave a report on the Park Thinning Project. Rick and Jim Ackermann have completed Mary Glover Park, Shallow Creek Park and Deer Park. He reminded everyone to turn in the hours spent cutting the wood and hauling for fire wood to Fran Trendler. We need these hours for the grant as in kind service. Everett mentioned he has the signs for each of the parks and will get them installed at a later date. Rick advised everyone to drive by the parks and think of projects we can do in the parks. Gwen Adams advised water to Mary Glover Park is still an issue. Everett said he will mention it to Otero County and Timberon Water & Sanitation District. Rick gave an update on the Community Action Plan. A draft copy is available for review and it will be put on the web sight. He thanked the committee for all of their hard work in putting it together. Everett mentioned he had reviewed it and it is one of the best documents for presentation, documentation etc. Jackie Fioretti reminded Rick to add a signature page for the supporting agencies. Everett mentioned he didn’t think we would need more than twenty five copies of the laminated final copy. Everett gave an update on the Timberon Airstrip. There is a possibility Otero County will pay the Liability Insurance this year. Everett is working with the county on this item which is due this month. He also advised an engineer is working with the county on the paper work to change it from private to public. The Timberon Airstrip is an economic development for Timberon. The Timberon Development Council is not compensated for managing and maintaining the airstrip. The weeds are starting to be a problem on the runway. Work needs to be done on the tie downs. There was discussion of having another fly-in. The Timberon Development Council, Inc. has three pieces of property to be sold. After discussion, John Howell made a motion to give all three properties to Roberts Realty to sell for us. Charles Cummings seconded the motion and it passed. over Page 2 Everett mentioned he had taken soil samples of the lower lake to an engineer in El Paso but after the last TWSD meeting he has dropped the study. TWSD, Timberon Water and Sanitation District, would like to get the lake open and they are talking about putting a liner in the lake instead of using the bentonite. Ron McCormick mentioned TWSD would like to use the upper lake for fly fishing. We need volunteers to clean up the lower lake. It was agreed to schedule the clean up on May 14, 15 & 16. This will be finalized at our May 9th meeting. Mark your calendar, sharpen your saw blades, shovels etc. fill your lawn mowers with gasoline and come join us. We usually have a fun time along with all of the work. Gwen Adams gave a report on the July 4th event. She mentioned we have a “Western Days” Logo. Fourteen events have been confirmed and five are pending. We have seven venders confirmed and B.F. mentioned we need more food vendors. We will need volunteers to help repair the picnic tables and fix the hot dogs for the youths that will rake the pine needles in front of the lodge. Everett mentioned the erosion ruts in the lawn need to be filled in with dirt. The Timberon Volunteer Fire Department will have their pancake breakfast, Mary Hamlet is in charge of the parade and Jeremy McMahon is having his ATV run that weekend. There are costume contests, pie contests etc. B. F. Adams is in charge of the booth assignments. Everett mentioned the bill for the liability insurance on this event will be forthcoming. Gwen gave a report on the beautification of the lodge. The curtains and cornice boards are up. Joan Schug donated horse blankets for the end tables which look very nice. Gwen has someone to make the shelf brackets and use the organic wood with a rough cut for the shelves. She is looking for ideas to display the history of the lodge. If you have an idea call her. Rick Merrick gave a report on attending the second meeting of the Southwest Sustainable Forest Partnership. This organization is out of Arizona and identifies ways to use small diameter wood. It is a networking for small businesses. All of the agencies such as State Forestry, Bureau of Land Management etc. are represented at these meetings. Ruidoso is utilizing 100% of their slash from tree thinning. Rick also mentioned there is a New Mexico Forest Industries Association from Santa Fe, New Mexico who is a non profit organization. Their purpose is to help non profit organizations to find out about grant workshops, training, and equipment needs. The membership for this is $50.00 per year to receive their e-mails. Gwen Adams made a motion for TDC to pay for the membership and Scott Millar seconded it. The motion passed and Rick will be TDC’s representative to receive the e-mails from this organization. Everett Putney mentioned Otero County will pave another mile of our Sacramento Road this year and there isn’t any money in the budget for next year. He also read an e-mail from Burt Rubinowitz on providing cellular phone service in Timberon. This is ongoing and nothing final yet. He also mentioned there is a need for recycling within Timberon. Perhaps the existing trash contractor has containers for recycling. Ron mentioned there is a place in Alamogordo which will pay twenty five cents per pound for recycling. There will be more on this later. Timberon Development Council has caps for sale; they are ten dollars each. Scott Millar mentioned next month we will be celebrating Memorial Day and please take time to honor our war dead who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Timberon’s Memorial Service will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, May 25th at the cemetery. Not at 10:00 a.m. as previously announced. This will be the 25th annual observance in Timberon and should be a very special event. Gwen mentioned the church is thinking about providing coffee and donuts this day. Scott also encouraged everyone to wear a “Buddy Poppy”, not just on Memorial Day but Page 3 all year as a remembrance of the fallen. All donations from the Buddy Poppies go directly into Veteran and Community Services locally. The Cloudcroft High School has asked the VFW to present the “Voice of Democracy” awards on May 13th at 1:00 p.m. during the school wide awards program. Everyone in Timberon is invited to attend. He mentioned without TDC the VFW “Voice of Democracy” Program would not have been such a success. State Secretary of NM Department of Veteran’s Service, John Garcia is looking for a location for a Veteran’s Retreat Center. After discussion it was suggested we invite him to our May meeting. Rick reminded everyone to think about reactivating the Community Action Team. This committee would research grants, review proposals etc., and make recommendations at the Timberon Development Council meetings. Don’t forget your recipes for the cook books! Gwen Adams made a motion to adjourn and Scott Millar seconded it. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 11:45am. The May meeting will be held on Saturday, May 09, 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