PINE/STRAWBERRY FUEL REDUCTION, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
August 28, 2019
CALL TO ORDER:
President Mike Brandt called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
The meeting was held at the Pine Senior Center Dining Room
Mike Brandt led the Pledge of Allegiance
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Brandt (President), Melvin Palmer (Vice-President), Brenda Darling (Secretary), Nancy Hubbs (Treasurer), Janet Brandt, Joan Backman, Elsa Steffanson
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:
Janet moved to approve the minutes of the July 31, 2019 meeting as presented and the Executive Session minutes of August 13, 2019. Joan seconded.
Motion Passed.
ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION – COMMUNITY QUESTIONS/SUGGESTIONS
Ron Keller asked a question about the status of the fire sirens. He was referred to Tommy Martin with the Gila County Emergency Management. All were reminded to sign up for readygila.com.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Fuel Reduction
Beginning Balance: $30,266.87 (from statement)
Deposit: $7,889.00
Expenses: $2,164.96 (insurance, brush pit, CERCA)
Ending Balance: $35,990.91
Fire on the Rim
Beginning Balance: $20,110.67 (from statement)
Deposit: $3,717.00 (Ponderosa table, vendors, sponsors)
Expenses: $1,021.11 (FOTR swag bag advertising)
Ending Balance: $22.815.56
Edward Jones
Total Portfolio Value: $165,114.19 (From July 26, 2019 statement)
Mel moved to accept Treasurer’s Report as presented. Brenda seconded.
Motion Passed.
BILLS/CORRESPONDENCE:
Gila County donated $5,000 to PSFR from their left over general funds.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Brush Pit: We are waiting for rain and need a push. We are getting pretty full. As soon as it rains they will burn the brush. About 25% of those depositing brush are from Payson.
Fire on the Rim: The ninth annual Bike race is scheduled for September 14, 2019. The spaghetti dinner is the Friday night before on September 13 and tickets are still available for $15. The Band is the Mighty Bison’s. The first race starts at 7:30 am. To see the route and a video from a GOPRO camera go to Fireontherim.com. There are 150 registrants so far.
The incident action plan and incident command protocol was briefly explained. CERT manages the aid stations and communication stations for the race.
Trails in the Fuel Break: We just finished the race course. We are working with Matt Roberts on some areas of the trails and we had to postpone some work because it needs to be more extensive than originally planned. We have been waiting for the Forest Service to complete some NEPA’s on the trails that we have laid out to ensure no archeological or environmental damage is done. It takes 3-5 years to complete those projects. PSFR is planning to pay for the NEPAs and then go for grants. The grant system will not fund trail work that has not been NEPA approved. Volunteers are needed; sign up on the PSFR website.
Pine Trail Run: Working on the website so that we can open registration. It should be ready shortly after the FOTR bike race.
OLD BUSINESS:
Food Truck Re-cap: PSFR ran the beer tent for the Food Truck Festival in Payson in order to get a percentage of the profits. This year we made $2,669, a little less than last year.
NEW BUSINESS:
Deadman Mesa Mastication Project:
Arizona Game & Fish, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, US Forest Service, and PSFR are partners in this project. PSFR has donated $50,000 which increases the Fuel Break on the West side of Strawberry. The first phase consists of a 707 acre mastication process which was completed along the South side of Fossil Creek. The second phase consist of mastication over 3,000 acres in the same area on the North side of the Fossil Creek road. Phase three will consist of post treatment prescribed burning on that landscape 3-5 years after mastication.
Boom head masticators (large excavators) shred juniper and brush down to the forest floor which broadcasts and spreads it out. They use contractors to do the work (over a 1 year contract). They will grind alligator and shaggy bark juniper down to the root ball of the tree. Anything under 20 inches will be shredded. There will remain large groups of trees 150 ft. apart to provide shade for wildlife. Trees of various sizes will stay so we are not left with all the same class/size of trees remaining.
In 2022 a logging project is planned north of Camp Lo Mia.
Mailing to all property owners:
PSFR plans to work on a letter to all property owners to explain the Deadman Mesa Mastication project and request donations so that we can continue to be a partner in this multi-year project. PSFR will match donations each year up to a certain amount, yet to be determined.
Volunteer appreciation party will be on Sunday September 29, 2019.
SET DATE, TIME, PLACE OF NEXT P/SFR, INC. MEETING:
October 30, 2019 at 6:00 pm, Pine Senior Dining Room
ADJOURNMENT:
Brenda moved to adjourn. Nancy seconded.
Motion Passed.
Meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Brenda Darling, P/SFR Secretary
