Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

March 3, 2007 Lake-Osceola State Bank, Baldwin

Administrative

1.                  The meeting was called to order by President Fred McLane at 9:05 am. Fred thanked all attendees for making a special effort to attend during this winter’s third large snowstorm.

2.                  Attendance: Jay Barnhart, Paul Bigford, Jim Bos, Rick Conney, Jill Engelman, Dave Gibbs, Fred McLane, Dick Schwikert and Tom Seroczynski.

Excused: Jeff Carpenter, Steve Fraley, Kevin Morlock (running Iditarod), Jim Schramm, Ken Sink and Chuck Turk.

3. Minutes of the January 6, 2007 Board Meeting: Motion made by Rick Conney to ratify the minutes which had been approved February 3, 2007. APPROVED.

4. Minutes of the February 3, 2007 Board Meeting: Motion made by Dave Gibbs to accept the minutes as distributed. APPROVED.

5.      President’s Notices: PMWC has received an invitation to attend a seminar

on the Michigan Wildlife Action Plan to incorporate a nationwide approach on wildlife management; Ken Sink will represent PMWC in Lansing March 8^th.

The Board authorized acknowledgement of Mary Beth Frizzell’s contribution to the successful Sea Lamprey Symposium. A dinner gift certificate will be presented to her.

Contributions to the Ronald L. Ptaszenski memorial have been acknowledged and solicitations requested for a suitable environmental memorial.

Old Business

6. Financial Integrity: Jay Barnhart

A.                 2007 Budget/Spending Plan (appended): The statement is

significantly expanded to provide details on projects and special funds; although projected expenses ($47,433) exceed revenue($31,983), the Council has prior residual funds to cover the deficit. Motion by Jill Engelman to accept the 2007 Budget: APPROVED. Report to be put on file at PMWC office.

B.                 Treasurer’s Report: (appended): Dues and donations highlight the January-February statement with nearly $7,000 in income. Motion by Rick Conney to accept the Treasurer’s Report: APPROVED. Report to be put on file at PMWC office.

C.                 Endowment Funds: To date the PMWC Endowment Fund stands at $10,377; future reports from the Lake County Community Foundation will list donors by date which was lacking in prior reports. PMWC is in receipt of the $400 disbursement from the Fred Manns Endowment Fund.

D.                 Membership Renewals: Jill Engelman reported that within the past month the new dues reminder has brought in 78 members for a total of 91 to date, including several former members who had not renewed in recent years. We have also contacted individuals within local clubs for membership opportunities. C4C participants and guides receive one-year memberships as one of the benefits of the event. The Board wishes to consider a “club membership” option with next year’s renewal notice.

E.                  Expos: The FFF annual meeting at Macomb County will be March 10-11, 2007; Dave Gibbs, Rick Conney, Jeff Carpenter, Fred McLane and others will represent PMWC. We will offer a show special of $30 one-year memberships.

F.                  Annual Fundraising Banquet: Six names were discusses as speakers. Jill Engelman to follow up on leads. Glenn Blackwood has agreed to run the live auction again. Jill distributed a draft of the invitation (minus the speaker info). It was discussed that a raffle should be added to the invitation this year to provide individuals who are unable to attend a way to contribute. Directors were asked to consider the raffle and be ready to discuss options at the April meeting. The banquet (and C4C) was advertised in the recent FFF newsletter. Jill to also submit info to the MUCC magazine for incorporation into an upcoming issue.

The Board to consider revising the Banquet ticket price in 2008 to better cover the cost of the event.

G.                 Cast for Conservation© Event: Steve Fraley will co-chair with Tom Curtin; We will continue the same rules and agenda as in 2006 (minus the casting contest) and will check with Flint Rainbow Club on their facilities. Invitations have been included in the Mainstream newsletter as well as will be available at the FFF Expo March 8-9^th.

The Board to consider revising the C4C fee structure in 2008 to better cover the costs of the guide service, dinner/drink tickets, caps, membership benefits.

H.                 Hazardous Waste Disposal: Motion by Dave Gibbs that PMWC

Contribute $250 to the 2007 Pick-Up next October. APPROVED.

7.      Restoration Committee:

A.     The Winter Restoration Committee meeting is scheduled for

March 20^th, at LOSB. The issue of water mining/diversion will be a PMWC project, not under the Restoration Committee aegis.

Kim Balke, CRA, has submitted a grant for 319 monies to partner

with Conservation Easement projects as a different approach to the

grant.

B. Nature Conservancy: Meeting not yet scheduled.

C. Baldwin Village Stormdrain: PMWC has not yet met with the

New Village President Doug Bolles.

8. Unified Management:

A.                 Natural River Zoning Review Board: At the February 26, 2007

Public meeting, Brad Frederick’s (Big South, Rapids Road off Anthony) requested a second-story addition 28 ft. from the river.

A previous expansion in 2000, permitted by Mason County, had added 75% to the gross floor area, and this new request would have resulted in an overall increase of 225%. As the law currently allows for only a 50% total increase, and two negative letters from neighbors were received, the request was denied.

An After-the-Fact Special Land Use Variance was requested by Clint Anderson (Red Moose Lodge on M37 south of Baldwin) to permit a hunting and fishing guide service based at the Red Moose Lodge. Numerous issues were debated, pro and con. The business would be conducted via internet, the facility is already a commercial business, the Lodge is not the Owner’s (applicant) residence, the applicant does not have a USFS permit (guides under another local permit), and the clients may or may not use the Lodge site. The request was denied 4 to 2.

No March hearing is scheduled.

B.                 Pagura Litigation: On February 9, 2007 Circuit Judge Anthony A. Monton issued the final opinion for the remedy of the Freeman Dam failure. The Judge properly noted “ It is not hyperbole to describe the progress of this case as tortuous.” He cited the plaintiff Denise Pagura’s numerous delays and failures to respond and/or appear, and by her default, was deemed to be in violation of the Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act. Judge Monton ruled that the remedy is removal of the dam, damages for the fish killed, and assessment of a fine ($7,500). Although PMWC was not awarded compensation for repair of the riffles, nor was USFS reimbursed for cleaning the sediment traps, we still feel as though we won.

9. Communication and Information:

A. USFS PM River Management Plan: Fred McLane followed up with District Ranger Les Russell by phone February 21s^t. One reason cited for the delay was that Michigan’s four Native American tribes must review the proposal; per Les, two of the four have been contacted, but as two did not attend public notification is required. The draft has been delivered to Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten who will issue final signatory approval; it is planned for release during March 2007. This will begin a 30-day comment period. Les noted that USFS and MDNR have held many meetings on how to best manage the coordinated management and enforcement of the new regulations. Included were proposals on how best to include the State Access Sites (M-37, Sulak, and Wahalla) in the restrictions which now apply to the Federal PAS’s. Possible consideration was given to the sale, lease or trade of State land to the USFS. Past cooperatives agreements have been authorized through Memorandums of Understanding. The PMWC Board is opposed to any transfer of State land to the federal government. Motion by Jill Engelman that PMWC notify MDNR and USFS that we seek a quick and resolute solution for reciprocal enforcement of the new regulations preferably with a memorandum of understanding: Motion APPROVED unanimously.

We are receiving many inquiries from Riparians concerned about the proposed watercraft permit system for riverfront property owners. To date there has been no clear definition from the USFS. PMWC is on record stating that the riparian permits should not be allowed for commercial use.

B.     Custer Weir: Although scheduled for a March 1, 2007 activation,

The heavy ice and snow have delayed beginning operation. (Does not appear to be a threat due to the understanding that a rise in water temperature is what drives the lamprey upstream). PMWC will request temperature, flow and fish movement data from US F&WS; Tom Seroczynski will contact F&W. Fred McLane will inquire if the funding approval this year is “multi-year” funding for the weir’s operation as well as inquire and push for the weir improvement funds that were discusses at the Symposium.

C. Mainstream Newsletter: Copies of the Winter issue (misdated

2006) were distributed. Newsletter will be mailed to the membership March 5^th. PMWC will not issue a Spring 2007 newsletter. The next issue will be the June/July President’s Message.

C.     DNR/DEQ Permits: Correspondence from the Little Manistee

Watershed Conservation Council indicated that they are renewing sandtrap permits and are objecting to the $500 permit fee for each.

PMWC feels that the MDEQ permit fees for projects undertaken by conservation organizations should be minimal in cost (and not $500).

10.              Ecological Impact:

Ice Mountain: The project needs a chairman. Paul Bigford has correspondence proposing a partnership with other Watershed Councils, at least for conducting the symposium. We need to define objectives, participants, topics, etc. Seems to focus on two issues: legal – whose water is it, and environmental – what impact will it have on natural resources? There is little science to prove any environmental impact, all data to date is Nestle’s. It is important to ask what the long-term effects will be. Is the reported 13% decrease in flow of one tributary significant and what about the reality that riparians will only have 87% of the “original” flow of that water? The difference between removing groundwater vs. surface water is also a question. An accumulation of firm baseline data by tributary must begin at once, and it may already be late. Paul Bigford will report back on the partnership meeting with the Muskegon, White and possibly other Councils. MUCC must be involved as this is a statewide issue….it just happens to be starting in “our neighborhood”. PMWC does not condone ANY activity that would degrade the river.

B. Climate Change: Dave Gibbs e-mailed suggested contacts for

conservation awareness to Board of Directors. Many small activities add up to begin to make a difference. We all need to practice conservation of energy and resources.

New Business

11.              PMWC Business Cards: Directors who wish to have cards should contact

Jill Engelman.

12.              Financial Statements: A member has requested a copy of the financial

statement which is on file in the PMWC office. Jill Engelman to forward a copy of the yearend statement to them.

13.              DEQ Land and Water Management: DEQ is hosting a seminar on permit

Processing in Cadillac March 14 – Paul Bigford will attend.

Meeting Adjourned at 12:02 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Dick Schwikert, Scribe

Edited and keyed,

Jill Engelman, Secretary