In attendance: Gary Alkire, Jeremy Broadwater, Ed Taggart, Maureen Wise, Michelle Shively, Bo Hysong, Jim Toms, John Slack, Judy Rufener, Merv Burton, Mike Farber and Phil Rufener
Ed Taggart called the meeting to order at 5:32.
Judy Rufener gave the Treasurer’s Report:
March 20, 2007 Balance 1,871.92
Membership/ donation +25.00
Eagles grant +5,000.00
Repository VISTA ad -63.36
Balance April 17, 2007 $6,833.56
Bo Hysong motioned to approve the report. Gary Alkire seconded.
Ed Taggart asked for approval of the minutes (as seen on the webpage or sent via postal mail). Gary Alkire motioned to approve the minutes. John Slack seconded. A vote was taken. Ayes won.
New Business
Adopt a Highway: At the last meeting, the HRWRP agreed that they’d like to look into adopting a portion of State Route 800. Maureen called ODOT and they sent information. Both sections north and south of Mineral City are open. ODOT asks that groups pick up trash four times a year. If we do for five years, we become a gold star group. They will provide vests, trash bags and signs that we must pick up from them and the signs we must return. They do not like children under 12 to be part of the crew but they do have a parental release form. This would exclude our Environmental Explorer kids. ODOT will also provide a short safety training the first time we go out. All agreed that they like the idea but would like more information about liability. It was agreed to sign up for the southern section of highway because the northern section is more residential and will have less trash.
Watch Dog Survey: Maureen told the group that the Targeted Watershed Grant paid for the printing and mailing of the Watch Dog Directory. They ask that we give a survey about the Directory to our group to obtain some quantitative information. Everyone present took the survey.
Merv Burton stated that he owns the property where the new Huff Run meeting road sign was put up. He said that he was not asked if we had permission to put it up. Maureen apologized; saying that they were replacing the sign and so thought it would not be a problem. John Slack, Sandy Township Zoning Inspector, asked if Merv was unhappy with the sign and Merv said that he did not have a problem with it. Bo Hysong also said that he and the Township were involved with helping replace it and they were also sorry for not asking permission.
Old Business
Project Update: Maureen said that she talked to both Jim and Cheryl about the project update. They both apologize for not being able to make the past few meetings. It’s just been a schedule conflict for both of them, not a lack of interest. Maureen said that the only thing to report is that the final plans for the Belden project are now underway with ATC. They had completed a study and preliminary plans and are now moving ahead.
Crossroads’ 319 grant: Maureen reported that she had talked to Sandy Chenal from Crossroads RC&D within the past week. Sandy wanted to tell the group that their OEPA 319 grant is almost complete. Only the Awareness Day and the upcoming newsletter are left. She will send a final report to the group when it is done. Unfortunately, because of many changes with the grant, over $30,000 will be given back to OEPA unspent.
Eagles Funding: The Sandyville Eagles have given a grant to the HRWRP of $5,000. Ed discussed paying back-rent to the Legion for the times we met at their space when we did not have the funds to give them. It was agreed to give them $500. John Slack made the motion to pay the Legion $500 of back rent. Gary Alkire seconded. A vote was taken. The ayes won. It was also discussed if we should put the funds into an interest bearing account (savings, CD or money market) instead of our interest free checking. No decision was made but Maureen will talk to Linda Thornton, Rural Action’s fiscal director, to see if there are any rules against501(c )3 organizations having such accounts. Maureen asked the group if they had brought any ideas or needs they think the group may have. Maureen brought up these ideas: a sign for above the door of the office (so people know this is no longer the city building), a GPS unit, a phosphorus Hach kit, and a rolling cart for the coffee for meetings. Ed added that he’d like to have a flag for outside the office as well. All agreed with the ideas.
Awareness Day: Michelle reminded the group of the upcoming Awareness Days on May 4 and 10. She reported that about 75 home school kids will be there on the 4th and over 200 Bell Herron 7th graders on the 10th. She passed around the sign up sheet again asking that people sign up to ride the bus with the Bell Herron kids. We’ll meet at the office at 8:45.
Correspondence: Ed Taggart shared the following correspondence for the month: an OSM newsletter, a letter from OEPA about a water quality standard change and information about the OMP meeting on May 3.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45.