Mineral County RC&D

Meeting Minutes

9-8-03

The monthly meeting of the Mineral County RC&D convened at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 8, 2003 with Chairperson Kevin Chamberlain presiding. The following people were in attendance:

Rob Harper, Superior Ranger District

Randy Russ

Kurt Gelderman, DNRC/RC&D Forester

Kevin Chamberlain, Extension

Jim Warnken, County Commissioner

B.J. McComb, County Commissioner

Margie Ewing, USFS State & Private Forestry

Judy Stang, County Commissioner

Sharon Patterson, Extension

Kit Sutherland, RC&D

Reports:

Kit Sutherland – RC&D

• RC&D will be organizing a meeting of inter-agency people with regards to the fires of 2003.
• There will be some difficulty getting money, so it will be stressed at the above meeting as to what agencies will have money to help the private landowner with the after affects of the fires
• Need to know what landowners were in affected by the Fish Creek Fire
• Kit questioned as the progress of the Alberton Gorge Exchange. At this point there is nothing happening-waiting on DNRC to hold their public meetings.
• Small Roundwood Conference in Seeley Lake. There is scholarship money available to people who would like to attend but can’t afford the expense

Rob Harper – Superior Ranger District

• On Saturday, September 6 there were 4 fires on the district, and all are under control
• 4 active timber sales
• Will be granting extensions to Thompson River Lumber on their sales
• 2 CE’s ready for bid; Upper Quartz and Twelve Mile
• 2 CE’s in the hopper
• The Post Burn suit will be heard on October 7
• The Hiawatha Trail is still in the works

Kurt Gelderman – DNRC/RC&D Forester

• Kurt gave a little history of himself. He has been a forester since 1976. Has worked most of his time in the State right away division and development. Welcome to RC&D Kurt.

Judy Stang – Mineral County Commissioner

• The State Aeronautics Board will be meeting in Mineral County on September 26. This will be an opportunity for Mineral County to show the Board what the airport in Superior needs and what the future plans for the airport are.

The speaker for the September meeting of the RC&D is Margie Ewing, from the Forest Service State and Private Forestry. Margie presented the group with the following information

• Forest Service has no money due to fires
• The Western State Urban Interface Program is now available and the applications are due on Oct 10. These funds can be used for fuel mitigation, public education, must have a 50/50 match either monetary or in kind and encourages landowner participation.

With no other business to come before this group the meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon. The next meeting is Oct 6, 2003. Judy Stang will try and get someone from the State to come talk about the Alberton Gorge Exchange.