Comms / General Meeting June 2, 2008

Minutes of General Meeting

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Date: June 2, 2008

Occasion: General Meeting

Called to Order: 7:13 pm

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QUORUM: There was quorum present.

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AGENDA: The agenda was approved.

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APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes were approved for the General Meeting of April 7, 2008

BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Linda Oxley (Chair) Mike Bishop (Treasurer)

Dana Hills (Secretary) Roni Widner (NE Area Rep)

George Howard (SW Area Rep)Dorthea Taylor (Willow Area Seniors)

Lynn Phillips (Lions Club)Derral Godbee (Emergency Services)

Claire Fitzgaireld (Library Association)Dorthea Taylor (Garden Club)

BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Norman Wakeman, Ember Haynes

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Mat-Su Planner: Emerson Krueger

MEA: Tuckerman Babcock

Mat-Su Planner: Emerson Krueger

  • Update on the Comprehensive Planning for Willow. The 26-member committee has been meeting, (average 15 in attendance) and have made good progress in completing Chapters of the Comprehensive plan dealing with the History of Willow, Public Services & Facilities, Economic Development and Hazard Mitigation.
  • The next meeting is schedule for July 3, 2008 in which the Land Use Chapter would be developed.. It was suggested that rescheduling this meeting would be beneficial due to its importance and the fact that the meeting falls on a holiday week .

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MEA Representative: Tuckerman Babcock

  • Tuckerman Babcock said that in 2002 several projects were funded including the Alaska Energy Authority. Golden Valley from Fairbanks requested the funds with the goal to get more power at cheaper rates. Golden Valley wants to run a 230 kb line, the present MEA system is 115 kb.
  • Tuckerman Babcock said that no state study to support the project has been done and in his opinion there is no reason to build the state project. He said that in 2002, 20 million was appropriated and 10 million of that has been re-appropriated to other projects.
  • The inter-tide was built in 1080′s with a 345 kb line. Utilities can use existing line for another 10 years as granted by the Consumer Protection Agency. The inter-tide has no regulation on it and can run in any matter seen fit. MEA has prescriptive rights.

ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVE REPORT: Tom Kluberton

  • Willow projects funded in the 2009 budget include: Willow Elementary School Playground Fencing ($2,500); Willow Historical and Wildlife Foundation-Move/Repair Historical Cabin ($4,000); Willow Elementary School Library /Technology Upgrade ($7,500); Willow PSA No. 35 Purchase of New Equipment and Maintenance ($30,000); Willow Area RSA #20 Upgrade Service Area Roads ($30,000); Willow Area Community Organization, Inc.-Emergency Supplies Storage ($13,775)(Vetoed); Willow Area Community Organization, Inc-Willow Security Storage Building ($30,000); Willow Area Seniors, Inc.-Bring Power to Willow Area Senior Campus ($100,000); and Willow Airport Parking Lot ($100,000).

SECRETARY’S REPORT

  • Nothing new to report

TREASURERS REPORT

  • Budget stable
  • WACO will not charge Bridge players

VICE-CHAIR’S REPORT

  • WACO received a placque from Willow Elementary from Kachemak Bay Trip
  • Skip Davenport, Willow Teacher sent a Thank you to WACO for their support for the field trip

CHAIR’S REPORT

  • Suggested a thank you be sent to Willow Elementary
  • June 3, 2008 is the dedication of the Animal Control Building at 2:00 pm.

CARNIVAL:Pat Madigan:

  • Held meeting and Carnival schedule is developing
  • No meeting to be held June and July

TRAILS: Steve Charles

  • Trails committee met in April to address Big Lake to Denali contiguous trail. The goal is by February 2009.
  • Trails committee would like to get people together to work on the development of pedestrian trails within town.
  • Trails committee would like to submit 3 proposals for grants: New Snowmachine and Groomer ($14,000); Surveying some trails that didn’t get funded ($10,000) and safety and education ($10,000).

MOTION: Steve Charles made a motion for WACO to give Letters of Support to the Trails Committee in support of the 3 grants they are pursuing. Motion was seconded by Roni Widner.
VOTE: The motion passed with no objection.

CERT: Linda Oxley

  • $30,000 was obtained for the storage shed
  • Making progress on obtaining an emergency generator for the Community Center

RAILROAD CORRIDOR: Linda Oxley

  • Big Lake is endorsing and supporting the Willow Railroad Corridor route

COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT: Pat Madigan

  • Monday, 1:00 pm is Bridge at the Community Center
  • Toddler group still meeting
  • Mondays Children’s Ballet classes
  • The Canoe Race will not be held on Willow Lake

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Revisit decision regarding student requirements for community scholarship

MOTION: Roni Widner made a motion to rescind the Motion passed on May 5, 2008 regarding student scholarships. Mary Shreeves seconded.
VOTE: The motion passed without objection.
The existing policy states:
“WACO policy on assistance grants is as follows:
  1. Grants will be limited to a total of no more than $600 (changed to $1000) in any one calendar year.
  2. No individual may receive more than one grant.
  3. An applicant must submit a request in their own handwriting and providing the following information:
    • State the purpose of the grant and explain how it will benefit the applicant
    • Outline the activities of the applicant and their family which have in the past contributed to WACO or the community at large.
    • Submit a transcript of the applicants school record.
    • Submit one or more letters of recommendation from teachers and/or the principal.
    • If the sponsor is other than the school district, submit a letter or other material from the sponsor detailing the proposed activity.
    • Write a post-activity report to WACO indicating how the grant funds were spent and if the anticipated benefits were in fact achieved.”

2. ML & P: Draft Resolution with Houston: Linda Oxley

  • Linda Oxley presented a Resolution of the Council for the City of Houston, Alaska and the Willow Area Community Organization to jointly propose the utility corridor for ML&P from the Teeland Substation in Wasilla to the Douglas Substation in Willow. This proposed resolution will be brought up at the Houston City Council meeting on June 12th and then brought to the next WACO meeting for consideration by the Willow community.

3. Proposed Houston-Willow Basin gas exploration license-deadline June 30, 2008.

  • Linda Oxley presented a letter addressing Willow concerns for the Houston-Willow Basin Gas Exploration License Proposal. The deadline is June 30, 2008. The letter is addressed to Kathy Means of the Division of Oil and Gas.
    • The letter states:
    “The Willow Community Area Organization (WACO) would like to present certain concerns the community has regarding the issuance of a license for natural gas exploration in the Houston-Willow basin area. A great deal of state land available as proposed by the applicant, LAPP Resources, Inc lies within the boundary of the Willow Community. The issues Willow has with the proposed areas are:
    • Some of the land is located extremely close to residential areas and such proximity is not acceptable.
    • There are several anadromouis fish streams in the area of interest such as Nancy Creek and Lilly Creek, which empty into Nancy Lake; Deception Creek that flows into Willow Creek and several smaller streams that flow into the Little Su.
    • Much of the land is upland, thus raising the question of access for heavy duty equipment in a pristine area.
    • Willow is a well-known for its recreational appeal. The area in question has priceless recreation opportunities, especially in winter. Of major interest is the Haessler-Norris Trail System, a winter use trail system that is vital to the training of dog sled teams, many of whom train for the Iditarod and other distance races. These trails are in the process of obtaining government protection. Access to the entire trail system must be guaranteed. We have included for your reference a copy of the Willow Area Trail Plan.
    • The community of Willow is actively working on a Comprehensive Plan. It would be of value to the community to maintain constant communication with government agencies while this process is underway.
    We respectfully request that DO&G address our concerns before issuing a license for exploration.”

MOTION: Vic Stanculescu made a motion to accept the letter as written and send to Kathy Mean of the Division of Oil and Gas. Tom Phillips seconded.
VOTE: The motion passed without objection.

4. Clean-Up Day: Roni Widner

  • The dump will provide the bags. Pick up bags at the dump, clean-up on your own and return filled bags to the dump.

5. July 4th Celebration Planning

  • No problems following the traditional parade route
  • Have parade master and registered flagger
  • New DEC rules-Pot luck is permitted
  1. WHO Grant Support Request for Willow Market Day
  • WHO would like a Letter of Support from WACO for grant seeking for the development of Willow Market Day.

MOTION: Brenda McCain made a motion for WACO to provide a Letter of Support for WHO in their grant request for the development of the Willow Market Day.
VOTE: The motion passed without objection.

AREA REP REPORTS:

SOUTH-EAST: No comments SOUTH-WEST: No comments
NORTH-EAST: No comments NORTH-WEST: No comments

LOCAL ORGANIZATION REPORTS:

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: No Report

EMERGENCY SERVICES:

  • Call Darrell at the Willow Fire Station if you have fire detectors you want installed

GARDEN CLUB:

  • Soltice gathering at the Birches at 1:00 pm on June 21st.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION:

  • 7 new computers for public use in the library
  • MTA Race for Technology-Raffles, Prizes, June 28<sup>th</sup> Race. Raffle tickets are available in the Library

LIONS:

  • Installed new officers
  • Garage sale this weekend at the Senior Center

PTA: No report

ROAD SERVICE: No report

SENIORS:

  • June 29th. Family Brunch from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Adults $8.00. Children 6-12 years $4.00, Children under 6 Free.

SHE-MON-SUN: No report

WDMA: No report

WHO: No report

4-H CLUB: No report

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Next Meeting: July 7, 2008 at 7 pm

Adjourned: 9:45 pm

Board Meeting July 7, 2008 | Comms | General Meeting May 5, 2008

Communications Committee
Sue Morgan, Secretary, WACO
Phone: 1784 Email: sec@waco-ak.org
Claire Fitzgaireld

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