Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee Meeting
Meeting Notes
Meeting Location: Mineral County Courthouse
Commissioner’s Room
Superior, MT 59872
Designated Federal Officer: Robert Harper
Facilitator: Robert Harper
Recorder: Ron Schlader
RAC Members Present: Michael Byrnes, James Lommen, Denley Loge, James Arney, Gordon Hendrick, Patrick Hayes, Dennis Hildebrand, Philip Donally, Raymond Rugg, Dale Harris (phoned in), Wendy Ninteman (phoned in)
RAC Members Absent: Scott Burnham, Anngela DeAnne-Boutelle, and B.J. McComb
RAC Replacement Members Present:
Others Present: Gary Edson (District Ranger from Nine Mile District), Glenn Koepke (FS), and Larry Price
Meeting Minutes Review – The meeting was called to order by Chair, Mike Byrnes at 1808 hours. The agenda was amended to add 5 minutes for Rob Harper. The minutes from the March 11, 2003 meeting were approved after making the following changes:
·
Report on the District Ranger’s meeting changes OHB
traffic to OHV
· Dennis Hildebrand was presented a certificate for permanent position and Phil Donally’s will be presented his when Rob Harper receives it.
· Strike the sentence Rob said it doesn’t affect this RAC other than bringing other projects to the table for consideration concerning the lawsuit in progress.
Rob Harper presented Phil Donally with a certificate for permanent position appointment to the committee. Rob informed the committee that only one person called him with an interest on being on the committee. There are a couple of teachers he is going to ask. Rob also passed out a paper on the public lands conference.
A review of project proposals included an amendment to the Loge Trail sent by Sharon Patterson. The total cost of the project is $14,344.00 with $11,650 requested from the RAC. The amendment to the Loge Trail was mailed to Harris, Ninteman and Rugg but they did not receive it. Denley Loge gave a brief presentation on what the Loge Trail is and Rob went down the criteria sheet for the folks on the phone.
The committee then begins the selection process with each member giving his or her top four choices. Rob said the mid-summer blading was not on the sheet and to add Dry Creek Trailhead. The following are the projects to be considered:
1. Camel’s Hump Jersey Rail
2. Roadside Brushing
3. Savenac Creek Bridge
4. St. Johnswort site
5. Little Joe Tansy Ragwort
6. District Road Signing
7. Verde Creek BMP’s
8. Meadow Creek Road BMP’s
9. Blacktail Weed Spray
10. Trail Lake Road Maintenance
11. Silver Lake Road Improvement
12. Dry Creek Trailhead
13. Superior Vista Trail
14. Savenac Nordic Ski Trail
15. Loge Nature Trail
16. Mid-summer District Blading
Top 4 choices by member:
Mike Byrnes: Roadside Brushing, Dry Creek Trailhead, Superior Vista Trail, Loge Trail
Pat Hayes: St. Johnswort, Tansy Ragwort, Blacktail Weed, Loge Trail
Denley Loge: Camel’s Hump rails, Tansy Ragwort, Vista Trail, Loge Trail
Jim Arney: Vista Trail, Loge Trail, Savenac Ski Trail, Tansy Ragwort
Ray Rugg: Camel’s Hump, Dry Creek Trailhead, Superior Vista Trail, Loge Trail
Phil Donally: Camel’s Hump, Tansy Ragwort, Vista Trail, Loge Trail
Jim Lommen: District Road Signing, Blactail Weed Spray, Dry Creek Trailhead, Loge
Trail
Dennis Hildebrand: Roadside Brushing, District Road Signing, Vista Trail, Loge Trail
Wendy Ninteman: Loge Trail, Tansy Ragwort, Silver Lake Improv, Vista Trail
Dale Harris: Loge Trail, Tansy Ragwort, Silver Lake Improv, Vista Trail
Denley Loge suggested they take another vote on a road project. Gordon Hendrick reported the right away for the Vista Trail was pretty much taken care of.
Proposal: Fund the Loge Nature Trail. Pat Hayes made a motion to fund Loge Nature Trail for $11,650.00. Seconded by Gordon Hendrick. Vote: All ayes; no nays.
Proposal: Motion by Ray Rugg to accept Tansy Ragwort site for $2,520.00. Seconded by Gordon Hendrick. Vote: All ayes; no nays.
Proposal: Wendy Ninteman made a motion to do St. Johnswort Bio-release, Camel’s Hump Jersey Rails and Dry Creek Trailhead and Blacktail Weed Spraying. Seconded by Denley Loge. Vote: All ayes; no nays.
Dale Harris suggested that Rob Harper write a news release and for the committee to write a letter to the County Commissioners, requesting additional Title II money for 2004. He also wanted to put up a list or map of the accepted projects in the County Commissioners office for the public to see.
Rob asked the RAC if they wanted to meet over the summer. Dale Harris thought the committee should get together and do a field trip and meet every couple of months to discuss the Forest Plan revision. Most of the RAC was in agreement. Mike Byrnes doesn’t want the RAC to die and agrees they need to have periodic meetings. Jim Arney still wants to meet once a month.
The members agreed to not have the April 22, 2003 meeting. The next meeting will be May 6, 2003. The agenda for the May 6 meeting will cover discussion on Title III and Forest Plan. Mike said it would take an hour to give his presentation on Title III. All agreed to have May 6, 2003 meeting from 1800-2100 hours to discuss Forest Plan and Title III. Rob needs to get some Forest Plan people here for the May 6 presentation.
June 3, 2003 was the date selected for June’s meeting.
Public Comments: Glenn Koepke gave an update of the Loge Trail. Mike Byrnes congratulated everyone for getting so much done in record time. Gordon Hendrick made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Denley Loge seconded it. The meeting was adjourned at 1945 hours.