2016 Minutes
TLPOA
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES – 2016
Meeting called to order at the Bridgeport Elementary School, Sunday, July 3, at 9:05 am.
Community Speakers:
Sheriff Braun told the members that the department is looking for 11 new deputies to bring the Mono Co. Sheriff Department to a full complement of 28 (including herself & the under-sheriff.
The department received 5 new vehicles (black & white) this year.
To see the timely information about county incidents, look on Facebook. The county site will give links to other sites regarding emergencies.
Sheriff Braun said she is still having patrols in each Mono Co. community. Bob Wilson asked if they were patrolling in Twin Lakes and he was told the deputies are patrolling.
Members can sign up for reverse 911 calls for emergency situations through the sheriff’s office. A member asked if we could have a 2nd call notifying us the emergency is over. The sheriff will see if that can be done.
Members are concerned about the speeding vehicles along Twin Lakes Rd. The deputies have hand held radar equipment to check speeds of cars, so they may give tickets. It was requested that the “end of 25mph” sign be removed west of Lower Twin Lake Resort, so that 25mph would be enforced west to Mono Village. Supervisor Tim Fesko said he would look into doing that. Also, the members would like to determine if the section of Twin Lakes Road that has homes is considered “Residential” and residential speed limits would apply.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Supervisor Tim Fesko talked about the county having a slight general fund increase because some areas have experienced a property value increase. North County is still experiencing decreases in revenue.
Regarding county Strategic Planning, the county, with California State Parks, has further improved the road to Bodie Historic State Park. The county is partially paying for stocking Oregon trout at Upper & Lower Twin Lakes as well as the Reservoir.
Supervisor Fesko has been working with a committee to restore Paramedic Services; their recommendations will go to the full Board soon.
With the downturn in the economy, ALL county employees had salary cuts of 3% so that there were no layoffs. Now, that funding has been restored. Jan. 2017 the board is planning to offer cost-of-living increases. To do this, the county will streamline their operations. Health costs are up 26%, retirement costs are up 10%, and the county expects cuts in road tax funding because better mileage new vehicles & more electric cars will lower gas taxes to the state.
The Memorial Hall building had both bathrooms rebuilt and the upstairs area improved. The county expects to install an elevator soon.
Tim said he will look into flashing speed signs (as are at Lee Vining), to decrease speeds on Twin Lakes Road.
Regarding cell service at Twin Lakes, the supervisor suggested making individual cabins into “hot spots” if their internet connection and cell provider supports this.
Posting on Sonora Rd – “No Trucks” signs will go in this year.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Mike Booher, our Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief, will retire this year from the sheriff’s office as well as the fire district.
The fire district will spend $62,000 on replacing the solar panels on the Twin Lakes Fire Station with a new LED system & batteries this month. Following that work, Mike stated the department will be providing two fire trucks that will be housed in the fire station.
14 Mutual Aid fire engines will be in the county over the July 4th holiday. There will be NO FIREWORKS allowed west of the county buildings on Twin Lakes Rd.
Chief Booher brought some “green waste” coupons so owners can clear dead material around their cabins to the dump transfer stations free. The new coupons require the Chief’s signature and Glen Sittel will have them available.
Regarding vacant lots which have dead material: the county Code Enforcement officer will not ticket those owners. Chief Booher will contact Cal Fire and the US Forest Service to try to resolve this issue.
Regarding the fire near Mono Lake, the investigation is ongoing, but Mike said he heard that a witness reported power lines arcing before the fire started.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Sue Burak, the county avalanche expert, said she was hired to help county road crews work safely. The El Nino this year fizzled, although the county has had significant drought relief.
Ms. Burak discussed going back in Mono Co. history to learn what triggers avalanches, and in what areas. There have been 3 lives lost and a number of homes ruined in the area. The county approved purchase of a weather station this fall, which will be placed at 10,000 ft. on US Forest Service lands. The goal of tracking weather information is to help county road crews learn where to work safely. The station data will go to a county web site by Nov. 2016 which Ramona Reed will link to the TLPOA web site. Ramona will download onto the TLPOA web site Ms. Burak’s Power Point information for all to read.
Ms. Burak would like to have more winter observers in the Twin Lakes area who she would provide with materials and believes funding of a license for an updated avalanche analysis tool would greatly help future support to Mono County regarding avalanche support.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Business Speakers:
Suzanne Baker, of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, brought detailed information for distribution about housing and lots sold in the Twin Lakes area. Suzanne is optimistic about the Twin Lakes area, with 2 homes sold at full price, and 2 at less than full price in 2015. Six lots are on the market now. She suggested cabin owners update their cabins, since this is what people are looking for. Suzanne will provide comps for anyone who contacts her re their property and encourages any of our members to contact her if they have questions.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Chris & Jen Nichols spoke about the new broad band internet service Fox Industries is providing in the area. The service will only be offered year round (i.e. no discounts to suspend service) since their company has a 5 year, year round contract from the provider. There will be no contracts to sign, with service estimated at costing $75-$100/month (depending on how many cabin owners sign up), with download speeds at 10-30 Mbps, and unlimited, no data cap, service. It will be possible for owners to use cell phones through their internet if supported by their cell carrier. They provided a sign-up sheet for interested members and Chris & Jen will bring a contractor to your cabin to find the best placement of their small dish, and determine if the service will work at your home. A good router is a must for the best service, and the company has them available to buy. Installation would cost $150 minimum, with the router costing $100. The company may place a few repeaters in the valley. The service is “line of site”. Trees may cause interference. They have a solution where line of site is an issue that will result in reduced performance, but still be better than satellite internet.
TLPOA Business:
Our President, Glen Sittel, asked for corrections & additions to the 2015 minutes and financial report. Hearing no corrections, Glen asked that we accept the minutes & report – members approved. Glen then asked if the members would like to make the same donations to our community organizations this year, with a positive reaction and approval from the members.
Lou Carvhalo, our Vice President, will contact local business’ asking for a $30/year or $50/2 year fee to have their listing on the TLPOA web site. These amounts were approved by the members and a new agreement document will be developed for the sign-up options.
Diane Wilson asked those helping with our annual Lake Clean-Up to meet Sunday, Sept. 4, 8:30am at the Patterson Bridge.
Greg Eisele has installed 3 new street signs and you can contact Greg if you have any sign issues.
Gerry Smiedeberg said the Fire Safe Council looked at all lots last year, making a list of those with real fire hazards, giving the list to the county, but no action was taken. Glen Sittel reported on behalf of John Hicks that last year’s chipping days were very successful and John did not recommend a need for a chipping day this year. Members agreed and we will assess the need for a chipping day next year.
Ramona Reed spoke about her goal setting up a “pay dues online” or purchase apparel option through the TLPOA web site this year. She is checking costs for the board.
Ramona told the association that we won Best Overall Float the last 2 years in the Bridgeport July 4 parade, and she hopes to win a 3rd time with this year’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow Trout” theme, following the parade’s general theme, Fish, Fireworks & Fun. She asked for members to help identify people to follow the float as a part of the Fish Guild, wearing trout hats & carrying Fish Kites.
Ramona requested members email her any news of their trips, family news, big fish caught, etc. to go on the web site.
It was agreed the TLPOA’s annual picnic/potluck will be held at the Memorial Hall, Sat., August 27th. Glen Sittel will email all members a picnic flyer and updated roster attached. Those with no email will get them by USPS. Since the meeting the date has changed – the event will be on Saturday, September 10th. The county could not guarantee Memorial Hall would be available on the 27th due to ongoing construction.
Adopt-A-Hwy chairperson, Claudia Hughes-Pearman, asked volunteers to meet her at the Lower Twin Lakes Fire Station, Mon., July 18 at 8am.
New Board Member Elections: Helene Frakes was nominated and elected for the Treasurer position. Kristina Sittel was nominated and elected for the Secretary position.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.