Mineral County RC&D

Meeting Minutes

1-5-04

The monthly meeting of the Mineral County RC&D convened at 10:00 a.m. on January 5, 2004 with Chairperson Kevin Chamberlain presiding. The following people were in attendance:

Pat Hayes, Mineral Economic Development Corp.

Kevin Chamberlain, Extension

Rob Harper, USFS

Sharon Patterson, Extension

John Q Murray, Poor Coop’s Almanac

Kit Sutherland, Bitterroot RC&D

Kurt Gelderman, RC&D Forester

Judy Stang, Commissioner

B. J. McComb, Commissioner

James Warnken, Commissioner

Announcement was made regarding the Quarterly Council Meeting to be held at the Golden Corral on January 29, 2004 lunch at 12 Noon, business meeting 12:45-3:00 p.m. Following this meeting will be the Bitterroot Regional Economic Development meeting.

The minutes of the December 5, 2003 meeting were approved.

An overview of the Hiawatha Trail meeting held in St. Regis on December 10, 2003 was given. The concensous of the group that was represented is that the trail should be established for multiple use. There is a possibility of another meeting in January or February.

Before reports were given Chairperson Kevin Chamberlain asked the group what issues they would like to have addressed throughout 2004 at the RC&D meetings. The following are suggestions:

• Five Valley Land & Trust presentation on the Alberton Gorge Exchange-possibly for February
• Healthy Forest Issues – Fire Wise Grant
• Comprehensive Plan
• Forest Plan Revision
• Hiawatha Trail Campaign
• Health/Care outreach clinic in DeBorgia
• Mineral County Small business profiles
• Fire Safety and preparations
• Economic Development – Lolo Ski Area – Phil Edholm, Tricon Timber, Bailey’s Post and Pole
• Restoration of the Forest Area

REPORTS

Rob Harper – USFS

• Dick Wilkinson has retired from the Forest Service after 42 year of service with the Superior Ranger District
• Lisa Kreugar Ranger for the Plains District is leaving
• There is an apology from the Sierra Club regarding a picture of a clear cut that was taken on private land and was said to be on FS. This apology is on their website.
• Working on 4 new Categorical Exclusions and they are almost complete
• Will be starting new CE’s soon

Kurt Gelderman – RC&D Forester

• Superior School has completed the feasibility study for the “Fuels to School” program
• There are 5 schools altogether that have completed their feasibility studies

Kit Sutherland – RC&D

• Kit presented an invitation to a meeting in Bismarck, ND for the end of January
• Please submit an invoice to Bitterroot RC&D for $1,000.00 for clerical support to Bitterroot RC&D.

With no other business to come before this group the meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon. The next meeting will be February 2, 2004. The program will be Windy Nintemann or Greg Tolefson from 5 Valley Land & Trust to talk about the Alberton Gorge Exchange and explain about the workings of 5 Valley Land & Trust.