FOBHL Board Meeting Minutes
Jan 9, 2007 at 7pm
BHCNRA meeting room
WELCOME: By Bob Croft.
Board members present; Keith Grant, Bruce Morrison, Bob Nemitz, Bob Croft, advisors Darrell Cook and Rick Lasko for BHCNRA. Ken Grant excused . FOBHL Members also present Orin Jones, Joe Anderson and Gerald Perkins.
Advisor: Darrell Cook, Superintendent of BHCNRA indicated they were still operating under a continuing resolution(no 2007 budget approved by congress yet) which really slows down getting projects worked on. However they still intend to do as mush as possible on the previously outlined projects. There is still no reply from the Solicitor Generals Office concerning the MOA in question. He answered questions and expressed thanks for the efforts of FOBHL in behalf of BHCNRA. The meeting tomorrow afternoon will address details with more of the BHCNRA staff present.
Reports by Directors with discussion:
Keith indicated that ERG is continually providing the county with professional data and advice on how to proceed in resolving ongoing issues. They are preparing an agenda for consideration for the next public meeting on Saturday February 17 at 10am at the Lovell Fire hall. He also mentioned several grants that are being considered to fund various projects. We hope to have one of the FOBHL members become our grant writer (please contact Keith if you would be willing to do this). While in Cheyenne for the Governors inaugural celebration he was able to meet with several state leaders concerning issues at Bighorn Lake. Our offers to meet with Montana Governor Schweitzer and Senator Baucas have been turned down so far, we will continue the effort. Keith felt we should always provide written documentation of our concerns and needs when communicating with each other and other government agencies about lake issues eg: optimum and minimum lake elevations.
Ken provided the information to Bob Croft on his ideas about advertising to promote the local area especially Bighorn Lake. We need to pool advertising with neighboring communities for the most bang for the buck. There are many sources of advertising monies and each is presently being explored. A 3 page handout outlined ideas for the June 23 grand opening for Bighorn Lake “It’s a NEW DAY at Bighorn Lake”. Ideas offered were: Free BBQ with all the goodies, boat rides, fireworks, fishing derby, educational displays by various governmental agencies plus area boat, jet ski and rv dealers displays with demonstrations. There will be multiple sites for the activities: Horseshoe Bend, Crooked Creek Bay, on the flats near Jim Creek, Mormon Point and on south to the new south Kane boat launch area. There will be ongoing promotions beginning in early 2007. We will need a lot of helpers for this event so be ready to volunteer!!!!! The MORE show in Billing March 16, 17 and 18 will be used in this promotion. FOBHL, Town of Lovell, Lovell Chamber of Commerce and The Pryor Mtn Mustang Association have teamed up to staff a 1200 foot booth (#115). BHCNRA will also provide promotional materials for this event. First National Bank of Powell, Cody and Lovell will provide 3 nicely framed reprints of a painting of Bighorn Canyon by local artist Mike Kopriva to be given away during the 3 day event. We are still looking for photos or video of Bighorn Lake from HSBend south to be used for a DVD production being used at the MORE show. Contact Ken if you have some to share. The MORE show will be staffed by volunteers from the various groups……..yes, you can be one of them!!!!
Bob Nemitz Ducks Unlimited will be coming in the spring with their biologists to look over possibilities for development to improve recreation at Bighorn Lake and the Yellowtail Wildlife Mgmt area. Bob has contact with the Powell Economic Development Group and will keep us informed . He presented us with a donation check for $200 from First National Bank and also some samples of the Mike Kopriva art work spoken of by Ken. Bob has also been working on getting info on the MORE show DVD as well as the Promo DVD to be used at the June 23 event. He presented material from Vision West and Eastman Journal both located in Powell. A decision will be made soon as to the company who will produce these two DVD’s. A motion was presented and seconded to not spend over $3000 on the MORE show. It was passed by all board members present. This includes the $1400 already received from Town of Lovell, Lovell Chamber of Commerce and First National Bank. Bob N and Keith discussed making a nicer signup form for FOBHL. Keith offered the new color copier from Big Horn County to produce these forms. Do directors need FOBHL business cards to hand out?
Bruce will be continuing to work with our neighboring municipalities and arrange for FOBHL to meet with them as a group in the coming weeks. He reaffirmed the Town of Lovell’s commitment to support BHCNRA and the upcoming projects and events. He will join Bob C for the meeting tomorrow with BHCNRA officials.
Bob reviewed several on going issues plus some up coming items. The marina and concession at Horseshoe Bend will be open this summer with FOBHL help. There will be vending machines to provided drinks and other goodies plus the possibility of boat gas and slips on the weekends. There are still some issues concerning lake elevation, inflows and outflows being reviewed by those affected.
There will be more improvements to the FOBHL and BHCNRA web sites in the coming weeks that should provide all with more timely and centralized information about recreation in BHCNRA. We are always seeking member input on web site improvement. The maintenance work at the Kane north plus the new launch on the south side is moving forward hoping for April. The possible use of a dredge that will handle vegetation in the bay for the channel merge and to open up the channel from the swim beach to the 58 mile marker is still being checked into. The driftwood burning project is well underway with hopes of being ready for volunteers to gather driftwood by early February after which the burn team will complete the project. This is another event we will need your “muscle help” to accomplish. The new large south end waterproof maps will be done as a combined effort of NWC in Powell, FOBHL, WGF and BHCNRA. They will provide detailed info for recreation enthusiasts about lake levels, islands, rocks, beach areas, docks and roads, fish species in the lake and a short historical sketch about each map area. A smaller total lake map is being reprinted with changes, by BHCNRA, for general lake use.
New Business:
1. FOBHL board mtgs dates will continue as scheduled
2. Tentative (3rd review) Bylaws of FOBHL are being reviewed by Bob N
3. Additional board members and areas of representation was discussed and carried to next meeting.
4. Other Lake issues
a. rock near mile marker 45 - replace the hazard buoy once there. The cable is still at the location.
b. More and improved (or repainted) warning signs and markers in the lake maybe needed.
c. Need to clarify off road travel areas eg: ice fishing access in the flats