December 12, 2002

Meeting Location: Mineral County Courthouse

Commissioner’s Room

Superior, MT 59872

Designated Federal Officer: Robert Harper

Facilitator: Sharon Sweeney

Recorder: Sandy Green

RAC Members Present: Norman Reinicke, Michael Byrnes, James Lommen, Denley Loge, Dale Harris, Wendy Ninteman, B.J. McComb, Raymond Rugg, Anngela DeAnne-Boutelle, Sylvia Bookout-Reinicke, James Arney, Gordon Hendrick and Patrick Hayes

Committee Members Absent: Mary Jo Berry, D.Scott Burnham

RAC Replacement Members Present: Dennis Hildebrand

Others Present: Eric Barclay, Forest Service; John Murray, Mineral Independent; Larry Price, Lorena Price

Meeting Minutes Review – November 12, 2002. Mike Byrnes asked for corrections to the previous meeting minutes. Denley noted that on page 2 “DOD” should be “DOT” and on page 4 the suggestion by Pat Hayes concerning dealing with land management for the next 15 years was a generalization. Minutes were approved as changed. The revised Draft Agenda was approved.

Correspondence, Announcements, Misc. Business:

Mike Byrnes was re-elected Chair and Gordon Hendrick Vice-Chair for a period of 1 year.
Mary Jo Berry resigned from the Committee and Dennis Hildebrand will fill the vacated position.
Replacement members are needed for groups B & C. Turn in suggested names to Rob Harper by January 9, 2003.
RAC Budget of $300.00 of the $35,000.00 was decided and agreed upon for mileage and dinner for speakers. The $300 can be amended up or down as needed.
Members would like a budget worksheet for projects.
Jeanne Higgins was a suggested speaker from the Ravalli Co RAC. We will need to pay for mileage and dinner.
Prioritize project proposals at next meeting

New Proposals: Need all projects in by February 28, 2003 and the form is on the web

Meadow Creek Road BMP. Small timber sale with roadwork. Will be approximately 10.6 miles of ungated road with culverts. This road is associated with the fires of 2000. Need to bring this road up to standard to haul for small timber sale verses a large timber sale. Jim Arney asked how this fit in with the Forest Service’s 5-year plan. This is not in the FS 5 year plan. Large timber sales include the cost of road work. Small timber sales and the distance to haul are too exhorbant to include in the purchaser costs. There is no opportunity for more timber sales in this area.
Forest signage – Eric Barclay went over the costs of forest signs and installation.
Delineate State Line – topic discussed and was requested it be brought forth on appropriate form for consideration
Title III money that needs to be approved by RAC – will put on next agenda.
Other suggestions – Alberton Gorge; Superior trails for hiking, biking, walking; anything on the river.
Title III discussion will continue next meeting and Mike Byrnes will hand out copies. Will need to spend some meeting time on a speaker from another RAC and get a report from the county commissioners.

Next Meeting Date: It was decided to skip the January meeting and have meetings the 1^st Tuesday in February and March. Title III and the Ravalli County RAC will be the focus of the February meeting.

February 4, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. - speaker Jeanne Higgins (45 minutes) covering how the Ravalli Co. RAC chose to prioritize and what they are doing once the money is allocated.
March 4, 2003 at 6:00 p.m.

Public Forum:

Larry Price – appears that the RAC has more projects than money.

Meeting adjourned