Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation
MINUTES OF MEETINGS
Minutes
of the
Regular Meeting
LOWER MOUNTAIN FORK RIVER FOUNDATION
February 23,2008
Hochatown Country Lodge Meeting Room
Hochatown, OK
Directors present were Chairman Sandy Maris, Tom Atwood, Main Hutcheson, Patrick Waters, Mike Love, Clif Harden, Roger Turner, Herman Bell, Don Carter, and Joe Lanza.
Advisory Board Members present were Jesse King, Robert Woodruff, and Sid Ingram.
Other members present were Linda King, Peggy Ingram, Chris White, Linda Carter, Jerry Meyers, Jim Kelly, Mike Henry, Bill Leinberger and Garrison Leinberger.
Visitors Present were John Dean, City Manager, Broken Bow, OK; Oklahoma Game Wardens Kenny Lawson, Dru Polk, and Mark Hanna; Oklahoma State Park Rangers Bill Porton, and Mike Carter; James Alford, United States Forest Service; and Jan Bates
Chairman Sandy Maris called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
Six Garman radios were purchased by the Foundation following Board approval at the October 2007 meeting. Chairman Maris presented the radios to the Oklahoma State Game Wardens to assist them in patrolling the river.
Jim Alford, US Forestry Service highlighted a serious problem with litter due to the increase in the on-water activities by park visitors. Boat, canoe, and float tube usage has increased yearly with an incremental increase in litter. During the discussion that followed, it was pointed out the river is state water, and the ODWC Administrative Code does not adequately address litter to allow enforcement by the game wardens. Arkansas’s code 8-6-418, ”Possession or use of glass containers on navigable waterways,” bans the use of glass containers and provides requirements for litter containment.
Broken Bow City Manager John Dean addressed the Broken Bow Re-regulation Dam Power Project. A temperature study is required to indicate the feasibility of the project. The project would cost the city 12 million dollars. Mr. Dean presented the following time line. Upon issuance of a license, the city would have 12 months to start construction. Once construction is started, it must be completed in 36 months.
Oklahoma State Park Rangers Bill Porton and Mike Carter spoke about their efforts enforcing the trout regulations in the Park. Their role increases during the various hunting seasons as the additional task of enforcing hunting regulations decreases the time the Game Wardens are able to spend on the river. The Rangers were able to apprehend people who were breaking into vehicles parked in the fishing areas. They provided a reminder to not leave anything of value in plain sight in a parked vehicle. They requested that we telephone them at 580-494-6450 or 494-6179 to report any violation of Park regulations, problems, or concentrations of litter and they would arrange for a pick up.
Treasurer Tom Atwood gave a financial report. Motion by Main Hutcheson and seconded by Clif Harden, to approve the report. The motion was approved.
ACTION ITEM: Motion by Main Hutcheson and seconded by Clif Harden, to have Mike Love, representing the Foundation, approach Mike Bloodworth and explore the possibility of adding language to the ODWC Administrative Code banning glass containers and establishing litter controls as set forth in the Arkansas Code. The motion was approved.
Pat Waters reported on the Re-reg Dam flow project, and the ODWC trees and grass projects for the Evening Hole.
The Tagging Project was discussed. Jesse King stated the project was needed to validate our stocking efforts and volunteered to take on the project.
t was noted that Tom Atwood and Pat Waters spent personal funds to purchase necessary accessories for the radios presented to the Game Wardens. Motion by Sandy Maris and seconded by Mike Love, to reimburse the expenditures. The motion was approved.
ACTION ITEM: Motion by Clif Harden and seconded by Roger Turner, to purchase and present three pair of binoculars, identical to those presented to the Game Wardens, to the Park Rangers to enhance their surveillance capabilities. The motion was approved. Mike Love will coordinate.
Roger Turner introduced the concept of offering a Life Membership to the Foundation. Motion by Roger Turner and seconded by Tom Atwood, to make a Life Membership available starting in 2009 at a fee of $250. The motion was approved.
Linda King reported the need for a complete restructuring of the Foundation web site. The cost to design a new site would be $350, and an interactive site would cost approximately $240 annually. Motion by Pat Waters and seconded by Tom Atwood, to fund $1000 to cover design, development, implementation, and first year operating expenses. The motion was approved.
A Fall Project for either good will or a fund raiser was discussed. Ideas suggested included trash pick up, Casting for Recovery, and new rearing pens. Roger Turner, Herman Bell, and Rob Woodruff volunteered to act as an exploratory committee.
The next meeting date for the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation will be Saturday, June 28, 2008.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Lanza,
Secretary