Mineral County RC&D

Meeting Minutes

10-6-03

The monthly meeting of the Mineral County RC&D convened at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2003 with Chairperson Kevin Chamberlain presiding. The following people were in attendance:

Jim DeBree, retired Extension

Glenn Koepke, Superior Ranger USFS Forester

Bob Rich, Forester, DNRC

Lee Bastian, FWP

Kit Sutherland, RC&D

James Warnken, Mineral County Commissioner

B. J. McComb, Mineral County Commissioner

Bill Woodford, Superintendent Superior Schools

Kevin Chamberlain, MSU Extension

Rob Harper, District Ranger, Superior USFS

Pat Hayes, MCCF

Roger Hearst, Mineral County Fire Warden

Gary Edson, USFS Ranger, Nine Mile Ranger District, addressed the group with an update on the fire rehabilitation work on the Nine Mile Ranger District. The current work being done is

• Culvert removal
• Temporary bridge at the confluence of Deer Creek and Fish Creek
• There will be no aerial seeding
• There will be 34 miles of road decommissioned
• The cost will be approximately a quarter of million dollars

Bob Rich, DNRC Forester, addressed the group with an update on the fire rehab on state land located in the Fish Creek Fire Complex

• Approximately 2800 acres of State Trust Land was affected by the fire
• The salvage of this timber has already started
• There will be approximately 8-10 million board feet in salvage
• 2 sales will be offered this winter
• 1 sale will be offered in the spring of 2004
• A road contract will be offered prior to the pine sale and will also replace a culvert

Lee Bastian, FWP addressed the group with an update on the Alberton Gorge Lane Trade.

• Approximately 12,000 acres will be traded
• Northwestern Energy still wants to proceed even though they are currently in bankruptcy proceedings
• FWP will be releasing its EIS in November once the comment period is over, will be contact DNRC
• The agreement between River Network and Northwestern Energy is on the table
• Letters of support for this land trade should be sent to Forest Service, River Network, Northwestern Energy, DNRC and FWP
• The Exchange will not be completed in Environment Assessment is complete. The EA will be released jointly by the Forest Service and FWP
• The land exchange is proceeding

REPORTS

Rob Harper, Ranger, Superior Ranger District, addressed the group with the happenings at the Forest Service.

• The FS has started its fall burning
• Two CE’s were signed; one located in Twelve Mile and the other is a fuels reductions
• Will be meeting with Nature Resource Advisory Council (NRAC)on 10/7/03 at 6 p.m.
• NRAC is working to help develop the forest plan

Glenn Koepke, Forester, Superior Ranger District addressed the group with an update Hiawatha Trail.

• There are 13 parcels in private ownership that needs to be purchased, which totals approximately 188 acres and the value is $300,000
• Letter of Support are needed to be sent to the congressional delegation
• St. Regis Community Council co-host a public meeting regarding the Hiawatha Trail

Kit Sutherland, Bitterroot RC&D updated the group.

• Joint application for Western States Forests Grant is due in October
• The council meeting is Oct. 9, Fran Vierick, DOC will be quest speaker
• Darby Schools will be firing up their new Fuels for School heating system in November

Bill Woodford, Superintendent Superior Schools, gave an update on the happenings around Superior School.

• Oct, 6 is the official count for all schools
• Enrollment is down by 12 students
• Working with St. Regis, Trout Creek, and Clinton on a grant
• Sponsored the annual open house and approximately 400 people

Other information for the good of the order was

• Octoberfest to be held Oct 18 from 10-4

The next meeting will be on November 3, 2003. Suggested topic of discussion was to finalize the dialog on the Hiawatha Trail.