Chair / Review of 2007/8

2007–8 Annual Report from the Chair

April 7, 2008

WACO/Board Composition and Structure

  1. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) leadership accepted by Mark Allen (Erv Dedeker moved back east).
  2. Comprehensive Planning Process begun and actively moving forward. Dean Davidson and Ed McCain voted to be the community leaders.
  3. Recognized the Willow 4H Club as a community organization (without a seat on the Board).
  4. Email group size growing (contact sec@waco-ak.org to add your name).
  5. Breeze converted to electronic version with paper copies posted at Post Office; to take copies available at the Community Center.
    1. Mary Shreves remains the Editor
    2. Claire Fitzgerald providing support and assistance to Mary.
  6. Continued support provided to committees and local organizations to develop and maintain their web pages on the WACO site.
  7. Analyzed General Meeting attendance (re: quorum) and compared with previous years – numbers of meetings with and without quorum seem consistent with previous years; meetings without quorum remain avenues for sharing information.

Major Actions Achieved in Last Year

  1. Successfully defended WACO, the WACO Board, and the 7 named individuals named in the Pralles lawsuit.
  2. Lobbied postal authorities successfully to avoid a proposed decrease in open hours of the post office.
  3. Participated extensively and provided significant documentation about the expected impact of Rail Spur development in the Willow area. Venues included borough meetings, rail and borough meetings, and the public hearings held by the Surface Transportation Board as part of their EIS Process (Environmental Impact Study).
  4. Participated both as individual community and in collaboration with the other Upper Valley Community Councils to address draft changes with the Southeast Susitna Area Plan (formerly the Willow Subbasin Plan). (DNR)
  5. Identified and tracking several other issues with likely substantial impact on Willow lands and/or lifestyle.
    1. Borough Forest Plan.
    2. “Houston” Area Gas Lease for Exploration plans (DNR).
    3. ML&P Utility Corridor/MEA corridor plans.
    4. Timber sales.
  6. Leased out Carnival Kitchen on trial basis.
  7. Awarded $60,000 grant from State for Emergency Generator installation.
  8. Notified key borough leaders and Assembly members about the expensive and antiquated electrical systems of community center defined with our audit. (Ron Swanson, prior to his retirement, had assured us that we could get a full upgrade at the time the generator was installed.)
  9. Renegotiated contract with Iditarod. Key new terms: 6 year length, increased rental to $6000 with automatic increases based upon Anchorage increases in cost of living.
  10. Named Home of the Iditarod Restart!!
  11. CERT team honored for its level of development!!
  12. Finished audit of electrical system deficits, potential solutions and expected start up costs.
  13. Letter of support written for the Upper Susitna Shooters Association and the Montana Creek Dog Musher’s Association to buy a parcel of land adjacent to their existing lands. Will allow protected recreation by both groups and guests.
  14. Letters sent to request accuracy of reporting to the ADN and to Rindy White of the ADN. (See website)
  15. Jim Houston, on WACO’s behalf, has successfully achieved the lawsuit against Shawn McCrary for animal mount losses.

Major Events Successfully Conducted or Supported

  1. Annual Clean Up Day.
  2. July 4th Parade and Picnic with EMS, Fire Auxillary and Lions. Donation from Robert and Donna Anslem funded bicycles in honor of their grandson, Kevin Barner and Pat Newman. Thank you.
  3. 2nd Annual Octoberfest and Money Raffle.
  4. Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair.
  5. Annual Holiday Dinner.
  6. 47th Willow Annual Winter Carnival.
  7. Junior Iditarod Race and Banquet.
  8. 2008 Iditarod Restart.
  9. Several Family Movie Nights.
  10. CPR/AED classes for CERT team members.
  11. Sponsored Food Handler classes conducted by DEC (to come into compliance with new regulations) for all interested in the community.
  12. Sponsored Certified Food Protection (Kitchen manager) class and funded 3 seats conducted by consultant (to come into compliance with new DEC regulations).

Community Center Improvements

  1. Exterior Siding replaced.
  2. Carpet replaced.
  3. Movie Site License purchased by Library and Community Enrichment.
  4. Auditorium floor stripped and re-waxed.
  5. Grounds extensively groomed and cleaned up.
  6. Water system in process of upgrade to address change in federal levels of allowable arsenic; drinkable water remains available. Allowable arsenic levels dropped from 50 to 10 parts per billion.
  7. PFC in early stages of implementing the new regulations required by DEC for kitchen.

Finances In/Out

  1. Carnival net this year about $16,000.
  2. Octoberfest and Money Raffle net about $3500.
  3. Iditarod Restart net about $9000.
  4. $3000 grant from MSB received for the Community Enrichment program.
  5. Credit for $1500 received from MSB for excess electrical charges. They are unable to go back any further than current open books for the rest of the overcharging.
  6. Library was cleaned by volunteers for 2 months. Savings of $1500.
  7. Trails Committee received grant from Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
  8. $60,000 grant received into borough hands from state for installation of emergency generator. We have not received further word of this process.
  9. Denied $30,000 requested in above grant to build storage unit for both emergency supplies and local community groups.
  10. Storage unit has been resubmitted via our legislative representatives as part of this year’s budget process. To date, we remain hopeful.
  11. CERT received $500 grant from MatSu Health Foundation for supplies. Other supply donations have been received from members of the community.
  12. DVD player donated to WACO by Nicole Pease – many thanks; Popcorn popping machine purchased by donations and community enrichment funds.
  13. Beautiful wooden bench donated to WACO by Dallas Sundquist
  14. Also awaiting word on the Bed Tax Grants.
  15. Local student funded $100 in Scholarship money to attend health care career workshop out of state.
  16. Elected to continue postal bulk rate permit for this year.
  17. Pull Tabs now available at Sully’s!!!
  18. Austerity measures imposed and effective:
    1. Breeze now electronic. Savings about $4800/year.
    2. Extra electrical appliances removed (offer made to leave them here if cost of electricity covered). Savings about $2000/year.
    3. Caretaker position eliminated and janitorial work contracted out. Savings about $5500/year.
    4. Budget priorities were defined for any money left after building needs, required permitting costs, and Carnival start up fees addressed.

Processes that will continue into the next year

  1. Begin to track and post Board member attendance for constituents.
  2. Appoint a Bylaws committee to assess need for and suggest changes to the community.
  3. Appoint Audit committee.
  4. Continue planning on the development of the Mountains Reflection Park on this property and the 40 acre parcel on Willow Creek Parkway.
  5. Continue tracking and reporting on all major processes that might affect us, eg. Rail spur, gas leases, etc.
  6. Continue support for the Comprehensive Team members and their process.
  7. Continue to develop mutually supportive relationships with the other Upper Valley Councils and the Houston City leadership.
  8. Evaluate continuing the lease for the Old Cabin from the Willow Historical and Wildlife Foundation. (Can expire at the end of every August.)
  9. Pursue state of our $60K for the generator and the electrical upgrades needed.
  10. Work with borough in efforts to get a hand washing sink installed.
  11. Develop materials for all using the kitchen to know the DEC rules and help all be in compliance.
  12. Continue to work with the borough on ways to allow limited alcohol consumption in our Community Center.
  13. Follow up on the McCrary case to see if any feasible way exists to achieve the money he owes us.
  14. MOST IMPORTANTLY, FIND WAYS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE FUN AND FUNCTIONS OF WILLOW!!!!

Respectfully submitted,
Linda Oxley, Chair

Willow Area Community Organization
Linda Oxley, Chair
Phone: 2615 Email: chair@waco-ak.org
Meets: 1st Monday/Month, WCC, 7:00PM

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