Monday, 17 May 2010 19:05
SnoCap Caucus Meeting, May 17, 2010
Board Members in Attendance: Kathy DeWolfe, Frieda Wallison, Ken Smith, Tim McFlynn, Brad Zanin, Patsy Batchelder, Michael Kinsley, Kate McBride, Rick Heede, Jan Martin, John Clark, Holly McLain
On Phone: Emily Smith,
Guests: Crystal Yates-White, Pitco Land Manager and Dan Chicoine, Pitco Communications Site Mgr.
John and Addie Zabriskie
The meeting was called to order by Tim at 7:05 pm
I. Dan Chicoine –
Dan gave a presentation on the County’s project converting tv communications from analogue to digital. Pitco got its conversion done in May. They started with 5 channels, then 12 – soon to be 16. If you have a line of site to Williams Hill, you can get a $25-30 small antenna and receive signals for free. An outside antenna is more expensive - $45. Their website is www.aspenpitkin.com/freetv, which will tell you more about what channels are available and where to purchase antennae. He encouraged everyone to take advantage of this access to free television signals.
II. Crystal Yates-White –
www.aspenpitkin.com/weeds or 920-5374
Crystal talked about several programs she has implemented and distributed informative literature on identifying and eradicating noxious weeds. One program gives $20 gift certificates to local nurseries for residents who fill a 13 gallon bag of the six noxious weeds on the County’s list. Simply bring your bag of weeds to the Pitco landfill. (see the website above for the noxious weed list).
Another program will give cash incentives to help pay for weed eradication. There’s 50% reimbursement for costs that include labor and materials; 75% reimbursement for people who do it themselves, with a $200 cap per landowner. The program is based on first come, first served with $4,000 available. This program is in a designated area called the Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), which includes most of Old Snowmass….however, not the areas before the fork in the road. It’s a local weed management organization, designed to facilitate cooperation and coordination with networks across all jurisdictional boundaries. To help get organized, residents can use awareness/outreach; prevention; organize groups to scout; conduct monitoring; or apply for a grant. (Crystal will write a grant for us). If you see a landowner with a lot of weeds, call Crystal, who has the authority to go on the land and spray for weeds.
Crystal asked for interested people who would want to participate in the CWMA and attend a goals meeting.
III. Approval of Minutes from March.
Motion: Ken moved to approve the minutes. Frieda seconded. All approved.
IV. Caucus Road Clean Up Day
Tim thanked everyone for their support. Prizes won were: “Best of Trash” to Brothers John and Aaron from the Monastery for a camper top from a truck that took an hour to haul up a steep ravine. Their prize was lunch for two at the Riverside Grill. Steve Child was runner up for an old culvert he had to use farm machinery to pick up. “Most Unique” was for a Dictionary from the 1940’s found at the bottom of Watson Divide Rd. in a bag to Alexis Karolides and her two sons from Gateway, receiving a new daypack from Bristlecone Sports in Basalt. Finally, “Most Toxic” to James Brundige and his daughter from Capitol Woods for cans and old oil found at the side of the road. They received a gift certificate to Smoke Restaurant in El Jebel. Thanks to the area businesses who donated prizes, and to Jan Martin for putting together a great lunch.
V. Presentation on Hidden Gems
Tim mentioned the County Commissioners have asked all caucuses to hear a presentation from this group so the Commissioners can receive their input, especially pertaining to proposed wilderness areas within their Caucus boundaries. The Crystal Caucus only considered the Gems in the Crystal River Valley. Tim turned the meeting over to Michael, as he had a conflict as a Board Member of Wilderness Workshop.
Jan Martin felt we should not take a position on this. She felt the Gems are not in our neighborhood, other than Eagle Mtn., which is insignificant, obscure, and not heavily used, and the Caucus should only concern itself with issues in the Capitol and Snowmass Creek Valleys. Kathy mentioned Hay Park is also under consideration and within our area, and Michael felt we need to know about what’s going on in other nearby areas, as we are all interrelated and affected by each other’s actions and policies.
Motion: Jan moved as a Caucus we will not take a position on the Hidden Gems but we will facilitate an informational presentation by Wilderness Workshop to take place June 21, at 6:00 pm, before our June Board meeting. Holly seconded.
Tim abstained from voting. There were 10 yes votes; two were opposed. Kathy has volunteered to organize the informational presentation and will have a blast e-mail sent to notify everyone.
VI. Fundraising
Holly said August is better if we wish to schedule something at Moon Run. She and Patsy will have a date by the next meeting.
Adjourned 8:40.
