Minutes August Meeting

Date of Meeting - August 18, 2010, 4800 Eielson Farm Road

Commissioners Present - Ed Arobio, Irene Coben, Stuart Davies

Other Attendees - Bill Blockcolsky, Robyn Davies, Travis & Kelly Eggleston, Sharon Harlow, Ron & Marji Illingworth, Charles Knight, Paul Paden, Mike Prax, Warren Smith, Brian & Jody Tansky, John Tobin

1. Meeting called to order at 7:10 p.m.

2. Election of officers: Nomination Stuart Davies, Chairman, Ed Arobio, Secretary. Moved and seconded
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

3. Review of the agenda – no changes requested. motion by Ed to approve, seconded by Stu,
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

4. Review of minutes from winter meeting - no changes, no comments from body, motion by Ed to approve, seconded by Stu, no objection
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

5. Review of financial report for past year, no comments from members, no changes

6. Reviewed new budget for 2010-2011, discussion about borough pulling $33,000 that had been proposed for projects this summer year and that will now be delayed until at least next summer

7. Reviewed and talked about Rolling Stone’s billing for past year and proposal for work in coming year, many concerns by commissioners and members to increased work charges; generally satisfied with Rolling Stone’s road work but very dissatisfied with brush cutting and charges being made; Stu will call to talk to contractor about concerns

8. Stu announced that the Commission is still looking for someone to fill the alternate position on the Board and applications are available for anyone wishing to apply

9. STATE MAINTENANCE ISSUE: Robyn met with Representative Tammie Wilson and went to FMATS meeting. Ethan Birkholz, DOT, told Robyn that EFR is not an alternate route and has never has been used as an alternate route when the Richardson Hwy has been closed, residents know differently. Bottom line is that the DOT Commissioner needs to approve the state taking over maintenance of main road. No volunteers to serve on committee to pursue this issue. Commissioners encouraged Robyn to keep on pushing this issue with State

10. On May 10-14 a speed and vehicle counter was placed on EFR, discussion about what excessive speeds and weight issues from commercial trucks dumping sewage are doing to cause damage to EFR

11. Stu talked about what he was doing to get signage installed, did everything asked for by the borough, filled out forms, everything, and there are still no signs installed, even though the borough has money in the budget for signage; excuse was borough was inventorying all 15,000 signs in the borough first; Stu proposed going and buying signs, Ed moved to spend up to $1,000 on signage, seconded by Irene, approved by members.
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

12. Project Funds: Plan to use $2K/mile project fund to fix 3 sections did not happen this summer. We used savings to fix 1st and 2nd section. Need to vote to fix final part down around 7.2 mile. Ed moved to spend $33,440 from $2/K project fund account to improve Eielson Farm Road from 7.2-7.9 mile. Improvement will utilize the engineering expertise of FNSB, pubic works, to come up with a plan for surface upgrade which is not to exceed $33,440. Irene seconded the motion and approved by members.
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

13. Stu gave the membership a rundown on sewage trucks using our road even during weight restriction. Suggestion made to talk to owner about suspending dumping during the time we have weight restriction on EFR, or ask him to donate some additional money to RSA for road maintenance due to damage caused by his trucks, motion made by Ed, seconded by Irene to have Stu write a letter from all RSA commission members to Fairbanks Pumping and Thawing addressing our concerns. Residents present approved
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

14. Review of road repairs done this summer: rapped 1 section at 2.0-2.6 mile, asphalted 1/2 mile section, bladed at breakup, just under 4 miles of brushing had been done so far and commission has already been billed $3,420 for that brushing, when contractor had proposed and had previously been approved for only 8 hours, contractor has already charged RSA more than was budgeted and originally proposed and the job is less than half done. Discussion on improper use of equipment and Stu will contact contractor and express commission concerns.

15. Robyn presented proposals for project requests from the borough, see attached information. Changes to recommended submittals include deleting request to construct roads which do not go to any property. These include Brutus, Casper, Gopher, Lizzy Lou Drive, Ringo, Rum, Stormdoor, Stripes and Swede. Motion made by Ed and seconded by Irene to approve recommended submittals with above changes. Prioritize top 2 with #1 being Safety improvements to EFR & #2 being Surface upgrade to EFR.
#1 $500,000 of safety improvements to EFR identified by commissioners, residents, contractor and borough engineers. These could include widening of corners at 4 mile, constructing 3 pullouts for wide vehicles, adding gravel to steep banks which have a history of causing accidents…
#2 Upgrade the surface of EFR starting at 1 mile and going until $500,000 has been spent
Motion approved by all present
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

16. Tax Cap Discussion: after discussion of this issue among membership, motion made by Ed to keep tax cap at current rate of $38,000, seconded by Irene, no objection or discussion, approved by residents.
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

17. Review of driveway and subdivision applications for Second Chance & Marlow Subdivision and Garn driveway. No concerns from residents. Moved and seconded to approve all applications.
Vote - Stu Davies: Yea Ed Arobio: Yea Irene Coben: Yea
Motion approved

18. Discussion of bus routes and any safety issues. Ron noted corner at 6 mile needs brushing. No other concerns.

19. ARSAC comments by Stu: ARSAC passed a resolution about minimum road standards, Stu voted against it because there were no costs associated with the approved resolution; rural services put out that resolution without any input from RSAs, they changed road specifications and sent out bids to contractors and said nothing could be done to stop public works personnel from doing so; no rural services manager in place which is a detriment to RSAs, resolutions come before ARSAC and are submitted to assembly without really any cost issue considerations

20. Next meeting will be held February 5, 2011 from 4-6 pm

21. Adjournment at 9:25 p.m.