TLPOA Meeting- July 5, 2014

Opening of Meeting

Rockey Reed brought the meeting to order at 9am, at the Bridgeport Elementary School.  Sixty-eight members were present.  Officers present were: Rockey Reed, President; Linda Eisele, Secretary; Pat Ulm, Treasurer; Lou Carvello, Member-at-Large.  Rockey led the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed new members.  Rockey then asked the members for a moment of silence, in memory of those who passed away during the last year.

Guest Speakers

Ingrid Braun, Sheriff-elect of Mono County, who will start her term January 1, 2015.  She and her husband own a home in Mammoth Lakes.  Ingrid provided a great update on her vision for the future.  She intends to shift focus of her deputies away from traffic enforcement along the 395 corridor, moving to more contact with residents in all communities continuing crime-free environment that will also help promote Mono County as a tourist destination. 

She will institute a Community Advisory Board. A monthly meeting comprised of different stakeholders from different communities, Mono Basin RPAC, HOA, POA, Media, Businesses, Tourism, Hospitals, other government agencies. Topics of discussion would involve Sherriff department, crime, quality of life issues, what could we do better, or what could we improve on, what are we doing wrong.

Question: What is her policy on concealed weapons?

Nothing will change for issuing a Carry Concealed Weapons (CCW) permit, provided those pass a background check,testing and qualification. 

Question: We have speeding issues, how can we enforce the speed laws?

Speed limits within the private property Twin Lakes area cannot be enforced, but laws against reckless driving can be enforced as long as it is caught by an officer or videotaped.

Steve Nobles, owner of the Ruby Inn in Bridgeport, and serves on the county wireless internet board, reported progress in getting wireless internet throughout Bridgeport and the Twin Lakes area.  The transceiver site will be the old TV site on Hunewill Peak and will run at 1-5 Megs estimated download speeds.  The county will front monies from our property taxes for the equipment and the internet company will charge the standard fees for service.  Steve said they are looking for a repeater site in the Twin Lakes area. “We should be up and running by the end of the summer”.

Question: What kind of equipment will the Homeowners need in order to get the signal?

A small square dish. We are still refining the equipment.

Question: Can we tie in cell service?

Not right now. We do see it happening in the future.

Question: What can the TLPOA do to help?

Steve needs a site at the Lower Twin area looking towards the upper Twin Lakes on the south side driving the signal back to Bridgeport.

Angel Nolan, Animal Control Supervisor, and William Clayton, Animal Control Officer, addressed the aggressive dog problem in Twin Lakes, telling us their staffing was cut to 4 positions and they can only write Infractions, building a case against an owner.  If a person is bitten, they can remove the dog, but it will be released to the owner.  Arrests can only be made by the Sheriff’s Dept.  One has the right to defend themselves and their property, preferably with pepper or bear spray.  Fish & Wildlife can be called if dogs chase wildlife. After a membership vote at the meeting, Rockey Reed will look into initiating a Leash Law in Twin Lakes.  There is no leash law in Twin Lakes. If there is an incident with another owners dog that you feel you need to report, call the Sheriff’s office and ask to file an incident report.

Question: When a dog attacks, is that a sheriff issue?

If there is not an actual bite, there is nothing we can do.

Question: How do we get a Leash Law?

Get a petition together, take it to RPAC and maybe to the District Attorney. Double check the process.

 Question: What if a dog attacks my animal on my property?

For a dog-on-dog situation, use pepper or Bear spray or whatever is appropriate and is safe. You can also take civil action against the owners.

Sherriff-Elect – You have the right to defend your property and part of your property is your animals. Recommendation is pepper or Bear spray or fire extinguishers.

Question: Any rabies in the county?

Not for a while. Swall meadows, a couple of years ago.

Question: If a dog is attacking wildlife, who handles that situation?

Fish and Wildlife. To reiterate, because of budget cuts they are down to one person. So the response time will be long. Regardless, it is important to call and report it.

Annamarie Echaverria, U.S. Forest Service Fuel Management Specialist, who told us the 2013 brush mastication on 110 acres near Twin Lakes Road and the Doc & Al Resort was very successful, giving Twin Lakes residents and tourists an egress in case of fire.  This year their target will be the Eagle’s Nest drainage.  They’re still offering free-no-strings inspections to help owners cut fire hazard around their cabins.  Annamarie accepted a bouquet of flowers from TLPOA in thanks for her service to us.  She and her husband were promoted to Utah.  David Easton will provide temporary help to us until her position is filled.

Question: what are the camp fire restrictions on private property?

You can have a campfire. The forest service has no jurisdiction.

TLPOA Business

Minutes from the 2013 meeting were read by Linda Eisele, and were approved.

The Treasurer’s report was summarized by Pat Ulm.

The present Secretary, Treasurer and Member-at-Large were re-elected.

Donations

Bridgeport School                                       $250

Bridgeport Volunteer Fire                             $250

Sheriff’s Search & Rescue                             $250

Friends of the Library                                   $250

Bridgeport Historical Society                          $200

Committee Reports

• Adopt-A-Highway, Claudia Hughes-Pearman, Wed. July 16, 8 am and the TLPOA Fire Station.
• Lake Cleanup, Bob & Diane Wilson, Sun. Sept. 7, 8 am, meet at the Patterson Rd. bridge.
• Road Signs, Dave Holcomb, none need to be replaced.
• Annual Picnic, Sat. Sept. 6, 4-8pm, Bridgeport Memorial Hall.
• Fire Safe Council, Gerry Schmiedeberg, for John Hicks, no TLPOA brush or tree clean-up this year; contact Wilsons, Hicks or Schmiedebergs for green dump coupons; contact Rick Edney for individual tree cutting.
• Website, Ramona Reed asked the members to send photos and stories of adventures to add to the TLPOA web site.

New Business

• Rockey Reed will talk with county staff to update our CC&R’s, which must be voted on by all property owners. 
• Members voted 18 to 14 to have a Leash Law be investigated for Twin Lakes.
• Camping on private property is illegal according to Mono County. In addition, trailers are not allowed unless there is construction in progress per county code.
• Dick Crawford talked about asking Norm Annette if owners who use Glacier Rd. can upgrade its road condition. 
• Dick Crawford will look at the condition of the Bridgeport Cemetery which he thinks could use a TLPOA donation in the future. Property owners in Twin Lakes can be given plots in the cemetery.

Adjournment

Members voted to adjourn the meeting at 11am.