In order of Borough scoring
$197,912.00 old valdez trail (1) bring all of Old Valdez Trail up to Title 17 standards, includes newly annexed area
$1,289,200.00 Skila & Prince upgrade
$349,800.00 resurface last mile of EFR with RAP
$5,593,467.00 pave 8.1 miles EFR
$66,550.00 repair and replace damaged culverts
$99,825.00 Construct apron entrances for farm equipment from fields to existing roads.
$133,100.00 Construct equipment passing pullouts at three locations along EFR
$266,552.00 sawmill trail bring up to Title 17 standards
$91,520.00 sebaugh bring up to Title 17 standards
$193,380.00 repair corner between Sebaugh and 23 Mile Slough Bridge, realign to straighten S curve
Cowpie reconditioning
signage
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Summer Road Repairs
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 3:30 PM
Subject: Road Service News
Just a quick update on road repairs.
Our contractor has completed $15,000 worth of asphalt repairs. He’ll be applying one more truckload which will bring the total up to around $17,000.
We have been discussing RAP repair on two sections. The first estimate was $43,000, for two ½ mile sections, without any oil added. We are now discussing a less expensive experiment of $13,000 for a 1/4 mile without oil, near 5 mile.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, Mitch will start $10,000 worth of upgrade on Old Valdez, the newly annexed area. This will include gravel and grading with some typar applied at wet areas.
Your commissioners will be meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, 7pm at my house. We will be finalizing the projects we are submitting and deciding how to best spend the remaining money in the $45,000 approved for road repair. Please feel free to attend.
Thank you, Stu
Subject: Road Service News
Just a quick update on road repairs.
Our contractor has completed $15,000 worth of asphalt repairs. He’ll be applying one more truckload which will bring the total up to around $17,000.
We have been discussing RAP repair on two sections. The first estimate was $43,000, for two ½ mile sections, without any oil added. We are now discussing a less expensive experiment of $13,000 for a 1/4 mile without oil, near 5 mile.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, Mitch will start $10,000 worth of upgrade on Old Valdez, the newly annexed area. This will include gravel and grading with some typar applied at wet areas.
Your commissioners will be meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, 7pm at my house. We will be finalizing the projects we are submitting and deciding how to best spend the remaining money in the $45,000 approved for road repair. Please feel free to attend.
Thank you, Stu
Weed control
Below is a summary of what Darcy talked about at our last meeting. We will be discussing this issue in upcoming meetings, Stu
Along our roadsides, EFR has two major invasive plants of concern, white sweetclover (Melilotus alba) & perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis). It would be good to contain these weeds so that they do not move into our fields, or get transported by our vehicles to other areas in Interior Alaska.
Discussion on impacts:
White sweetclover - can create monostands by shading out native species. Possibly has the ability to keep monostands in a forb stage - not moving on to willow stage, which alters moose habitat and forage. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 80 years. It is a biennial, which means it produces flowers and seeds the second year. Control: pulling, herbicides
Perennial sowthistle - aggressive perennial weed that can be hard to eradicate once established. It hogs water resources, which can decrease the number of other plants in the community. It is a prohibited noxious weed, which means it is regulated and cannot be sold in the state. Perennial sowthistle is resistant to most common broadleaf herbicides, which makes control difficult in grass/grain crops. Tilling may increase the number of plants by breaking up the rhizomes. Control: Mowing, pulling (care must be made to ensure the entire root is pulled), herbicides.
Discussion on control:
Darcy suggested 3 possible management strategies. 1 - everyone is responsible for controlling weeds on their road front. 2 - make it a community effort, where pulls are organized community-wide a few times each summer. 3 - RSA issue where funds are expended to keep the roadsides weed free, either by mowing or herbicides. The community seemed in favor of spraying with a broad spectrum herbicide, but there needs to be complete community support and notices when spraying will occur.
Final note - the weeds will only continue to get worse if we do nothing about controlling their spread!
Along our roadsides, EFR has two major invasive plants of concern, white sweetclover (Melilotus alba) & perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis). It would be good to contain these weeds so that they do not move into our fields, or get transported by our vehicles to other areas in Interior Alaska.
Discussion on impacts:
White sweetclover - can create monostands by shading out native species. Possibly has the ability to keep monostands in a forb stage - not moving on to willow stage, which alters moose habitat and forage. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 80 years. It is a biennial, which means it produces flowers and seeds the second year. Control: pulling, herbicides
Perennial sowthistle - aggressive perennial weed that can be hard to eradicate once established. It hogs water resources, which can decrease the number of other plants in the community. It is a prohibited noxious weed, which means it is regulated and cannot be sold in the state. Perennial sowthistle is resistant to most common broadleaf herbicides, which makes control difficult in grass/grain crops. Tilling may increase the number of plants by breaking up the rhizomes. Control: Mowing, pulling (care must be made to ensure the entire root is pulled), herbicides.
Discussion on control:
Darcy suggested 3 possible management strategies. 1 - everyone is responsible for controlling weeds on their road front. 2 - make it a community effort, where pulls are organized community-wide a few times each summer. 3 - RSA issue where funds are expended to keep the roadsides weed free, either by mowing or herbicides. The community seemed in favor of spraying with a broad spectrum herbicide, but there needs to be complete community support and notices when spraying will occur.
Final note - the weeds will only continue to get worse if we do nothing about controlling their spread!
August 11, 2009 minutes
23 Mile Slough RSA
August 11, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Meeting called to order at 7 pm.
Election of Officers
Ron Illingworth, current chair, resigned effective August 5, 2009, leaving a position on the commission open. The FNSB filled the position by moving Ed Arobio from alternate to full commissioner. Election for officers was then held among the three commissioners: Stu Davies, Irene Coben, and Ed Arobio. Without objection, the following were elected:
Stu Davies, Chair
Ed Arobio, Secretary.
The alternate commissioner is now open. A request was put out to those attending meeting to apply to the Borough for this position if interested.
Weed Control Presentation
Darcy Etcheverry made a presentation about weeds along EFR, and how control in that area will help entire RSA. A discussion was then held among those attending about spraying a weed killer like Roundup along EFR road easement next May, probably 2x, to kill weeds (kills everything) to prevent weeds from spreading further into RSA. Cost appears minimal. There was some discussion about making full notification to community to see if there is any objection to spraying.
Prior Meeting Minutes
Reviewed and approved
Update on Current Road Service Work Cost
Stu Davies gave an update on roadwork activities and budget. Stu reported that of the $42,000 approved to spend this year on road maintenance, $10,600 has been spent as of this date, and additional maintenance work is anticipated amount to $15,000.
Update on Borough Intention to Reduce "Miles" Included in RSA
There was a discussion about the borough's plan to reduce the number of miles covered in our RSA. Attendees at meeting encouraged commissioners to hold fast on historically accepted RSA miles. Commissioners will try to give update about borough position at fall meeting.
Update on Road Repairs
The new contractor is Mitch Loveless of Rolling Stone, he is the only one who bid on RSA work. He has made repairs, basically filling all the potholes along EFR, and will continue to finish up that kind of work this week. Commissioners will ask Mitch to give an estimate for road upgrade for the newly annexed portion of Old Valdez Trail, and for repair of EFR on the side of the road from Cobens’ to Old Valdez Trail, and for repair of EFR on the side of the road for about ½ mile before Davies'. There was a discussion about how the oil will need to include rap in order to have the repair work. We are fast loosing the temperature at which that kind of repair can be done, so it is likely, unless it can be done immediately, that these repairs will have to wait until next season. There was further discussion that just putting D1 gravel on the newly annexed section of Old Valdez Trail would not be effective without something to keep it from just being pushed down into the road base by next spring. Commissioners stated that the plan now is to do some grading and gravel before winter at the end of EFR and on the newly annexed section of Old Valdez Trail to get those areas in shape before winter, which they believe can come out of this year's $57,000 budget.
State Road Maintenance
Robin Davies reported that she has spoken with DOT and some legislators about having State maintenance of EFR because of its alternative route use when the Richardson Highway is closed, but of course was told that there is no plan to include EFR as a DOT project or otherwise. Overall the attendees at the meeting agree that this is a good idea. Moved and second that Robin was authorized to draft a letter to the legislature to be signed by the commissioners on this issue.
Road Maintenance committee
Discussion on formation of standing committee to review options for repair/maintenance of road. No one willing to serve on committee and consensus that commissioners would do.
Project List and Submittal for Funding
The borough wants commissioners to submit 2 projects for borough consideration, each up to $500,000 with the RSA to match with 10% of the cost. Those present reviewed the project description list, see attached. Unanimous agreement to assign the equipment pullouts as our # 1 priority and upgrade of OVT, newly annexed, as #2 priority. Commissioners will review, discuss and sign project requests prior to being submitted to Rural Services.
Maintenance needing to be done before winter
Those present did not see a need to mow any roads in RSA. Agreement to grade the gravel end of EFR before freeze-up. No objection or other requests heard from those present.
District Committee News
When Ron Illingworth resigned, he also resigned his position on the District Committee. The commission by-laws were checked to see if that position requires that it be filled only by one of the sitting RSA commissioners, and it was determined that this is not a requirement to serve on the District Committee, so it was suggested that the commissioners ask Ron to continue on the District Committee on our behalf.
Next meeting scheduled on October 10, 2009.
Meeting adjourned at 9 pm.
Attendance
Commissioners: Ed Arobio, Irene Coben, Stuart Davies. Residents present : Bill Blockcolsky, Robyn Davies, Kelly Eggleston, Todd & Dustin Elsberry, Darcy Etcheverry, Art & Sharon Harlow, Jack & Sue Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Paul Paden, Warren Smith, John Tobin
August 11, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Meeting called to order at 7 pm.
Election of Officers
Ron Illingworth, current chair, resigned effective August 5, 2009, leaving a position on the commission open. The FNSB filled the position by moving Ed Arobio from alternate to full commissioner. Election for officers was then held among the three commissioners: Stu Davies, Irene Coben, and Ed Arobio. Without objection, the following were elected:
Stu Davies, Chair
Ed Arobio, Secretary.
The alternate commissioner is now open. A request was put out to those attending meeting to apply to the Borough for this position if interested.
Weed Control Presentation
Darcy Etcheverry made a presentation about weeds along EFR, and how control in that area will help entire RSA. A discussion was then held among those attending about spraying a weed killer like Roundup along EFR road easement next May, probably 2x, to kill weeds (kills everything) to prevent weeds from spreading further into RSA. Cost appears minimal. There was some discussion about making full notification to community to see if there is any objection to spraying.
Prior Meeting Minutes
Reviewed and approved
Update on Current Road Service Work Cost
Stu Davies gave an update on roadwork activities and budget. Stu reported that of the $42,000 approved to spend this year on road maintenance, $10,600 has been spent as of this date, and additional maintenance work is anticipated amount to $15,000.
Update on Borough Intention to Reduce "Miles" Included in RSA
There was a discussion about the borough's plan to reduce the number of miles covered in our RSA. Attendees at meeting encouraged commissioners to hold fast on historically accepted RSA miles. Commissioners will try to give update about borough position at fall meeting.
Update on Road Repairs
The new contractor is Mitch Loveless of Rolling Stone, he is the only one who bid on RSA work. He has made repairs, basically filling all the potholes along EFR, and will continue to finish up that kind of work this week. Commissioners will ask Mitch to give an estimate for road upgrade for the newly annexed portion of Old Valdez Trail, and for repair of EFR on the side of the road from Cobens’ to Old Valdez Trail, and for repair of EFR on the side of the road for about ½ mile before Davies'. There was a discussion about how the oil will need to include rap in order to have the repair work. We are fast loosing the temperature at which that kind of repair can be done, so it is likely, unless it can be done immediately, that these repairs will have to wait until next season. There was further discussion that just putting D1 gravel on the newly annexed section of Old Valdez Trail would not be effective without something to keep it from just being pushed down into the road base by next spring. Commissioners stated that the plan now is to do some grading and gravel before winter at the end of EFR and on the newly annexed section of Old Valdez Trail to get those areas in shape before winter, which they believe can come out of this year's $57,000 budget.
State Road Maintenance
Robin Davies reported that she has spoken with DOT and some legislators about having State maintenance of EFR because of its alternative route use when the Richardson Highway is closed, but of course was told that there is no plan to include EFR as a DOT project or otherwise. Overall the attendees at the meeting agree that this is a good idea. Moved and second that Robin was authorized to draft a letter to the legislature to be signed by the commissioners on this issue.
Road Maintenance committee
Discussion on formation of standing committee to review options for repair/maintenance of road. No one willing to serve on committee and consensus that commissioners would do.
Project List and Submittal for Funding
The borough wants commissioners to submit 2 projects for borough consideration, each up to $500,000 with the RSA to match with 10% of the cost. Those present reviewed the project description list, see attached. Unanimous agreement to assign the equipment pullouts as our # 1 priority and upgrade of OVT, newly annexed, as #2 priority. Commissioners will review, discuss and sign project requests prior to being submitted to Rural Services.
Maintenance needing to be done before winter
Those present did not see a need to mow any roads in RSA. Agreement to grade the gravel end of EFR before freeze-up. No objection or other requests heard from those present.
District Committee News
When Ron Illingworth resigned, he also resigned his position on the District Committee. The commission by-laws were checked to see if that position requires that it be filled only by one of the sitting RSA commissioners, and it was determined that this is not a requirement to serve on the District Committee, so it was suggested that the commissioners ask Ron to continue on the District Committee on our behalf.
Next meeting scheduled on October 10, 2009.
Meeting adjourned at 9 pm.
Attendance
Commissioners: Ed Arobio, Irene Coben, Stuart Davies. Residents present : Bill Blockcolsky, Robyn Davies, Kelly Eggleston, Todd & Dustin Elsberry, Darcy Etcheverry, Art & Sharon Harlow, Jack & Sue Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Paul Paden, Warren Smith, John Tobin
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