Mineral County RC&D

Meeting Minutes

April 7, 2003

The monthly meeting of the Mineral County RC&D met in the Commissioner’s Room at 10 a.m. on April 7, 2003 with Chairperson Kevin Chamberlain presiding. The following people in attendance were:

B. J. McComb, Commissioner

Jim Warnken, Commissioner

Judy Stang, Commissioner

Kit Sutherland, Bitterroot RC&D

Becky Aaring, Supt St. Regis School

Bill Woodford, Supt. Superior School

Sharon Patterson, Extension

Rob Harper, USFS

Pat Hayes, MCCF

Kevin Chamberlain, Extension

Bob Spokas, Soil Scientist Ravalli County

After introductions of guest the following program was presented:

Rob Harper, District Ranger, Superior District, presented an update on the Hiawatha Trail. This trail runs from Lookout Pass to St. Regis. On the Idaho side this trail is restricted to non motorized traffic; the Montana side the trail is open to motorized traffic. This trail in the past year has seen approximately 20,000 visitors. There are 13 parcels of land that need to be purchased. The biggest landowner involved in Jim Davis. The survey of the private property should be completed this summer. The money used to purchase the property from private landowners located along the trail will come from the Land & Water Conservation Appropriation. Last year 10 projects were submitted for funding; six of those projects were funded, one of the projects not funded was the Hiawatha Trail. Now is the time to get interested folks involved in supporting this project also the Congressional Delegation needs to be involved. The more community involvement the better chance of getting this projected funded. Sometime this summer a Show-Me Tour will be scheduled for interested community members and congressional delegates.

After Rob’s presentation the following reports were given:

USFS – Rob Harper

• The RAC meeting is scheduled for 4/8/03. The RAC has received 16 project proposals for funding through this committee. This committee will be making the selections at the April 8 for projects to be funded.
• Field Day will be held on April 22 in Seeley Lake
• Knox Brooks Stewardship Committee will be meeting on April 23
• There has been no word from Judge Malloy on the lawsuit
• Prescribed burning will be done this week in the two-mile area
• Logging Activities continue on the Landowner sale
• ATV travel needs to be kept to the roads not cross country. There are numerous areas within the Superior District where ATV riders have gone off roads and have created ruts and damage to unroaded areas. May be this is the time for some accommodations to be made for ATV owners.

MCCF – Pat Hayes

• Fund raising drive to cover costs Youth Center and family services programs that are currently being supported by MCCF. In May a box holder mailing will be done to all residents of Mineral County.
• Corporate fund raiser will be done later in the year for Economic Development and Forest Management
• MCCF has been providing technical support to FORESTS task force. This task force has been meeting at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Now that the lawsuit has been heard the task force will meet to set goals and objections.
• Fund raising potential for Natural Resource Education Program

St. Regis School District – Becky Aaring

• 5 year comprehensive plan has been completed. This plan covers facilities, technology, community relation, staff
• The school is also gearing up for the next year school year
• The school is looking for a place to build a regulation track. The possibility is locating the track at the St. Regis Park. Research and funding needs to be addressed.
• Enrollment is up; 35% of the school population is transient, 74% of the student base is receiving reduced/free lunches
• Technology levy will be voted upon at the May 6 election. If this levy is passed it will raise $26,000 for 10 years.
• Distance Leaning Center with Flathead Valley Community College will begin in September. Adult Distance Learning will also be made available to the community and will be funded with Adult Education Funds

Superior School District – Bill Woodford

• Full slate of sport activities
• Bidding of re-roofing of gym
• Looking into the possibility of wood fire boilers
• 5 Year Comprehensive Plan is complete
• 9 people attended the “We Teach All” workshop that was sponsored by OPI – This program uses different types of teaching instruction to reach low end students as well as the high end students.
• 9 people will attend MASCD Conference June 16-17
• 30% of student body is transient
• 68% K-6 student body is on reduced/free lunch; 51% of Jr High student population is on reduced/free lunch; 28% High School student population is on reduced/free lunch.

County Commissioner – Judy Stang

• Judy reported on the Schools and Counties Coalition of Forested Counties me in Reno
• The Coalition supports legislation funding of the 25% fund be tied to forest management
• More projects for Title II funds
• Western Governor Conference will be in Missoula June 17
• Report on how the 25% fund money is being spent
• Legislature two years ago passed into law a bill that states that Montana State would fund the District Court 100%. In the 2003 Legislature there is a bill that states that Montana State will only fund the offices but not the juvenile probation officer. This expense must be picked up by the Counties.
• Contractor Laws are being amended so that Counties won’t have to bid out a project that their employees can do.
• Looks like the Sales Tax proposal is going to pass. This will be a trial for two years and then put to the vote of the people in 2005. The tax amount is 4%
• The land exchange at the Alberton Gorge is held up at DNRC

Website – John Q Murray

• Alex Philp has the mapping and GIS links to the state in place
• John Q working on the setting up the web pages for each department
• Alex will present an update on the Website at the May 6, 2003 meeting

RC& D – Kit Sutherland

• National Grange Conference will be held in Missoula, seminar on Conflict Management by the Extension
• No new homeowner classes have been held for awhile
• District RC&D meeting will be April 24 at the Sizzler followed by a presentation by Tony Pready at the EDA evening meeting on April 24, 2003.
• Marianne Roos will be speaking at the RC& D meeting on May 1
• The Fireworks Trailer is now available.

With no other business to come before this group the meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon. The next meeting will be May 5, 2003 possible program Forest Plan Revision and RAC Report.