minutes of Fall meeting

23 Mile Slough RSA October 10, 2009 Meeting Minutes

Meeting called to order at 6 pm.

Attendance

Commissioners: Ed Arobio, Irene Coben, Stuart Davies

Residents: Valerie Baxter, Elizabeth Beks, Robyn Davies, Susan Fulmer, Art & Sharon Harlow, Chris Illingworth, Marji Illingworth, Jack Johnson, Eric Lanser, Paul Paden, Dan Rees, Dave Schmitz, Barb & Warren Smith, John Tobin, Frank Walczyk.

August 11, 2009 Meeting Minutes

The minutes of the August 11, 2009 meeting were reviewed and approved unanimously.

Review of Summer Road Work

Gravel and typar were placed on Old Valdez Trail as discussed in prior meeting. Seven truckloads of asphalt patch were used to fix potholes along the length of EFR. Discussion then turned to winter snow plowing. Noted that the emphasis of snow plowing is on the main Eielson Farm Road. Notation made that costs for work done by Mitch at Rolling Stone are double the amount charged by Harvey Mechanical.

Financial Report

Report is that we are doing work within the budget. RSA has $100,000 in savings. $33,000 is available in project account and needs to be spent in the next year. There was some discussion about ways in which that should be done. The next meeting will devote time to developing next year’s maintenance budget. Discussion of the cost of photocopying and mailing notices to residents within the RSA was held. Motion made, seconded and unanimously approved to use $100 of budget funds to use for photocopying and mailing.

Update on Borough Intention to Reduce "Miles" Included in RSA

There was further discussion about the borough's decision to reduce the number of miles covered in our RSA. Old Valdez Trail, beyond McGowan’s driveway, was the reduction in miles because it is not used as a road. The miles will be added when it is drivable.


Project List

Review of the current project list was made to attendees. Consensus to drop culverts and signage which were done with resurface project.

Weed Control

Discussion again made about how to go about weed control. The costs of each type of control (mowing, pulling, spraying) need to be determined and provided to RSA. Some discussion from residents who will not want spraying because wind carried spray could damage crops, and what could be done to limit possible damage to owners' crops along the Eielson Farm Road areas that might be sprayed. Ed will look into permitting for spraying and invite guest speakers to our next meeting who will explain benefits of each method.

Alternate Position Open

Comment made that the commission still needs an alternate commissioner. Request again put out to attendees at meeting to consider this position.

Application for New Subdivisions

Some discussion on owners dividing property for new subdivisions; motion made for approval, second, and unanimously approved for the Coben and Elsberry subdivisions.

Winter Maintenance

A purchase order is in place to straighten road signs, and replace road signs. Commissioners reported they would replace the current yellow speed limit signs with white and black signs. Since the newly annexed section of Old Valdez Trail has no road signs at all, it was agreed that a 25 mph sign would be placed on that road.

There was discussion of plowing main road. Five plowings approved in the budget for the main road. Additional discussion of who plows the other roads in the RSA, liability for plowing, etc. was held. Motion made and approved unanimously to add $5,000 to snow plow budget.

Tax Cap Adjustment

Motion was made to keep tax cap at the same level, seconded and approved unanimously by commissioners. Request was made for more information to determine whether the tax cap should be increased.

Bylaws

Bylaws were presented to attendees. Vote on proposed bylaws will occur at next meeting.

District Council

Stu Davies approved by commissioners to replace Ron Illingworth on District Council.

Next Meeting

Winter meeting scheduled for Saturday, February 12, 2010.

Meeting adjourned at 8 pm.

Engineers report

The borough engineer sent out his report in a pdf file. I am unable to figure out how to post such a file to this blogsite. If you would like a copy of the report email davrobyn@hotmail.com and I will send it to you. Robyn