Minutes of the Regular Monthly DVLA Board Meeting January 29, 2008
Board Members attending: Cyndy Johnson, Jerry Yurek, Mike Barker, Crystal Phillips, Alan Strebeck
Eleven landowners and Boy Scouts were in attendance.
President Cyndy Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
1. Approval of Agenda
Guest speaker Shawn Jaca, Washington County Fire Warden, was added to the agenda following the financial reports. Under new business item b was added: setting the date of the Annual Meeting.
MOTION was made by Jerry Yurek to accept the amended agenda, Crystal Phillips seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
2. Review & approve minutes of the November 27th meeting and the January 15th special budget meeting.
MOTION was made by Jerry Yurek to approve the minutes. Mike Barker seconded the motion. The motion was passed
3. Review & approve financial reports - Stella Callagee
MOTION was made by Jerry Yurek to accept the financial reports, Crystal Phillips seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
4. Guest speaker, Shawn Jaca
Shawn Jaca told the group that there was a presentation planned in the Valley for March 14th - 15th (tentative dates). Ten fire departments would be involved and there would be demonstrations of wild land fire training. Landowners could learn "tricks of the trade". The purpose was to help landowners learn how to protect their homes on the wild land/urban interface. There would be brochures and other information provided in an open house format. Shawn was looking for homeowners in Pinion Hills to sign up for protection simulations around their homes. A sheet was passed around for Pinion Hills homeowners to sign up but others can call Shawn at: office: 435-658-5893 or cell: 435-590-4715. Information about the event will also be placed in the upcoming water bills. Shawn said that he hoped the program would serve as a pilot to be used throughout the state. He said it would be publicized with local media.
Chief Talbot said he appreciated Shawn's work as fire warden. The leadership of the Dammeron Valley Fire Department supported Shawn's efforts.
5. Reports
a. Fire Department
Chief Talbot gave the report for the fire department. There had been no fires over the past month. There had been a number of medical calls - two vehicle accidents, one involving a death; a diabetic shock patient; several stroke calls.
The department vehicles are all operational. At winter fire school some work was done on the big engine.
Captain Bud Balagna has resigned. Due to personal reasons he has been unable to fulfill the time obligation required by his position. Chief Talbot said that the department has appreciated Captain Balagna's work over the past three years. Bud will stay on as a volunteer fire fighter. There are several volunteers eligible to move up to the position of Captain and a decision will be made by the end of February.
The Chief passed on a concern about the cleaning required after this year's DVLA Christmas Party. Fire department volunteers ended up having to do quite a bit of cleaning - mopping floors and cleaning carpets. The Board expressed concern and said they had not been aware of the problem. Next year a clean-up crew would be added to the party assignment list.
In response to a question from the Board the Chief said that the burn pile process has been going very well. The Department appreciated the volunteers and their diligence at the gate.
Crystal Phillips asked about the repeater problem. The Chief said that six difference agencies are involved in trying to come up with a solution. The repeater which sends out the emergency pages is barely working. But he does not have anything further to report concerning a solution.
b. ARC
There was no report for the month.
c. Trustee Reports
Jerry Yurek turned over to the floor to Mac Thomson for a report on the firewise committee. Mac said that they have five videos left which were made by Ned Cordery. He encouraged landowners to continue to fill our firewise forms documenting work done or items purchased to help protect lots. These forms can be placed in the DVLA box or given to Wayne Staab, Mac Thomson, Karen Sharkey or any Board member. Mac will be sending in to the state a report which will help determine the amount of in-kind services the Valley will receive.
Crystal Phillips reported that work is continuing on the Community Center. It is not ready yet for use as it needs to be painted on the inside.
Cyndy Johnson reported that she had been successful in getting the dead tree near the first entrance cut down.
Cyndy Johnson had also looked into the loan for the firehouse which is held with US Bank. The loan was set-up to be paid over 10 years but the documentation states that it will be called at the 5 year point in 12/09. The bank officer told Cyndy that the excellent payment record of the DVLA will most likely ensure a continuation of the 7.01% current percentage for the following five year period of the loan. Also, the DVLA has established excellent credit with the bank and can even apply for an additional loan, if needed.
Alan Strebeck reported that the request for feasibility study is available for signatures. Approximately 60 signatures are needed to get the study requested.
A landowner suggested getting a dialogue going to discuss incorporation. What is the vision for a municipality, what would be the type of government? Cyndy Johnson said that these were good questions but they would be appropriate after the study was done and given to the community. Then there would be meetings and extensive discussion about the study results.
Mike Barker reported that the flooding documentation went out to the County and State entities about two and a half weeks ago. He had told the agencies that the report was coming. He was working on setting up face to face meetings with those who received the report.
6. New Business
a. The local Boy Scout troop (Varsity Team 1799) presented information about a flag project they are sponsoring. Inquiries can be emailed to Craig Bennett at: cbennett@infowest.com
b. The Annual Meeting was set for Saturday, May 17, 2008.
The Board discussed the need to set up a special meeting 60 days before the date of the Annual Meeting for receiving and preparing by-law changes. The Board would like to put forward a by-law change that will establish a system of fines. Cyndy Johnson had attended a meeting some time ago about this subject and said that if this were to go forward a fee scale would have to be suggested. It was also discussed that assessments such as late fees on the dues should be documented in the governing documents. Landowner Rick Smith said that he agreed with the need to define late fees and fines for noncompliance issues. He was willing to help with the definition effort.
Cyndy Johnson asked the Board members for their thoughts on the issue of putting a fining system on the Annual Meeting ballot. All the board members felt they should pursue this issue.
MOTION was made by Jerry Yurek to look at the wording of a governing document that would define a late dues fining process and add that to a fining mechanism. Crystal Phillips seconded the motion. It was passed.
MOTION was made by Alan Strebeck to set up a meeting 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting to establish ballot issues.
The Board decided to set up an agenda at the next meeting.
7. MOTION was made to adjourn the meeting by Jerry Yurek. It was seconded by Mike Barker.
Stella Callagee
Recording Secretary
