SPRING CREEK REGION COOP. WEED MANAGEMENT AREA

Minutes

Monday September 24, 2007

Round Table Pizza

Spring Creek, Nevada 

Present:            Doug Clarke, Teri Johnson, Jay Paxson, Kim Steninger, Greg Pyatt

Meeting Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 pm by Jay Paxson, President

Approval of minutes June 8, 2007 

Teri pointed out grammatical errors under Announcements:

First bullet:  ….. spray paint to SCA for ‘marking’ the weed locations.

Second bullet:…..Jill followed ‘up’…..

Doug made the motion to approve the minutes with corrections noted, seconded by Kim, motion passed unanimously.

Financial Report

Karen called in to Jay to report “nothing in nothing out” since the 6/8/07 report.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

·         Greg reported that Spring Creek Utilities is installing new water lines throughout the area and are creating 25 foot easements on private ground within and outside of Spring Creek Association property.  He attended the SC Utility public meeting at the Horse Palace with the intention of asking how they planned to rehab the disturbed sites but there was so much dissention in the meeting over other subjects that he did not get the opportunity to ask.  He will follow through and contact Elyse (sp) with SC Utilities to ask about rehabilitation of the disturbed sites and offer SCR CWMA assistance with reseeding the areas.

·         It was reported that the Spring Creek Association green stripping project was underway and Pam Borda was not pleased with the work being done by the contracted brush beater.  It was identified in the contract that the private contractor would leave islands of brush, cover for wildlife movement, and mark noxious weed locations and this is not being done.  Kim had notified SCA that he had the paint to be used for marking the weed locations, but the private contractor never picked it up. 

·         Gerald Miller sent information on Good Governance Practices for non profit groups.

·         Gerald also sent information for the filing of IRS 990 for all non profit groups.  Kim will take the information to our legal counsel (Copenhaver) for clarification.

·         Teri Johnson submitted a written resignation to the Board of the SCR CWMA effective 9/25/07 as she will be moving out of the area.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  no public comment

NEW BUSINESS: 

• Action/Discussion:  Submit receipts and invoices for reimbursement for 2007 NVDAG grant.  No receipts were submitted.
• Action/Discussion:  What is status of Slater Seeding spraying CC & RR?  If not able to do this year, how should we handle this on the grant?  Kim reported that he had contacted Slater and was told they were out of town until October on a spraying project but would give him a call when they returned.  He has not heard back from them but will give them another call to see about fall spraying. 
• Discussion:  Please bring control records that include weed species, number of acres treated and number of volunteer hours for our year end report.  Doug asked if volunteers other than the SCRCWMA board could submit hours.  Yes, if they are within the boundaries of the SCRCWMA.  It was discussed if this needed to be on a special form – no, just as long as the species, acres, and hours were noted.
• Action/Discussion:  Surveying… because it’s been so incredibly dry, may weeds have already gone dormant.  It will take extra effort to spot those weeds that have already dropped their customary foliage.  The semi-woody stuff like spotted knapweed will, of course, still be there but it won’t be quite so readily visible.  Do we still want to do some survey in the Campground/Rifle Range?  This was discussed at the 6/8/07 meeting – see minutes.  Jed Bradley was approved for additional $’s to continue working on the mapping but it was not completed.  The board agreed that it was too late now for successful mapping and will re-visit this item at a late winter meeting to prepare for spring mapping.
• Action/Discussion:  Purchase of an ATV w/integral sprayer on board or on a small towable trailer.  We could rotate its use among us and get a lot more spraying done… also incorporate a small manual hose-reel if possible.  It was discussed that this type of equipment was denied in a previous grant application.  Kim has an ATV rigged for weed spraying and has offered it for anyone to use.  The approximate cost of an ATV is $5000.  By experience, using the hose-reel was not as effective as using a back-pack sprayer and the ATV/tank for re-filling.  It was decided that we would look for a grant that would cover the purchase of an ATV and attachments.
• Action/Discussion:  Purchase couple of “nurse tanks”, polyethylene containers that can sit in the back of a pickup or Explorer to carry water for refilling backpacks or the ATV sprayer.  We currently have 8 +/- water containers donated from USFS (QB 5 gallon) that we are using as nurse tanks.  Board members will check into the availability of larger containers and the price.
• Action/Discussion:  Purchase tip-and-pours: those containers that can be labeled with a particular herbicide or adjuvant, say Tordon or Activator 80, so the whole 2 ½ gallon container of herbicide doesn’t need to be carried out to the field.  These come in quart, 2 quart, and gallon sized.  Much easier to handle and a great deal less likely to spill than when using the big containers.  Jay is currently writing a Fact Sheet on the use of these containers.  Greg suggested these were available on line from several suppliers (Gempler, Wilbur Ellis).  Jay will follow up and check with Jon Carpenter, NvDAG, as to the regulations for use of these containers. 
• Action/Discussion:  there was discussion on the SCRCWMA assisting Jay in writing a weed related curriculum (see agenda) for Elko County Schools similar to the Montana War on Weeds program.  It was decided that Jay will discuss with Jill and Kent and plan to have the curriculum ready for the 2008 school year.

OLD BUSINESS:

·         Doug contacted the Realtor’s Association and left a message but has had no response to his offer of making a presentation at their monthly meeting.  He will contact them again later this winter in preparation for a spring presentation.

ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 

·         Costs of ATV, nurse tanks, tip-and-pours,  seed for ROW work to be requested in 2008 grant applications – or purchase with 2007 grant funds

·         Hours/weed species/acres treated for 2007 end of year report

·         Greg will report back on his offer to SC Utilities to re-seed disturbed areas involved in the new water line project.

·         Re-visit Business Plan (Work Plan) for 2008

·         Accept nominations for Board Secretary

NEXT MEETING DATE AND TIME: the next meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 6, 2007 – time and place to be announced.

ADJOURN – at 7:43 pm, with no further business to discuss, Doug made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Kim, motion passed unanimously. 

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