FOBHL

Board meeting agenda

Bighorn Federal meeting room

November 13, 2007 at 6:30 pm

 Lovell

Call to order and Welcome – Bob C              Excuse: Bruce Morrison, Jim Liner and Bob                                                                             Nemitz

Approval of Oct 9 email minutes: Motion by Ken and second by HD

Now that the MORE and Great Outdoors Shows have merged what will be our position? The show will be in mid January not March as usual. A short discussion followed with followup later.

We welcomed John Keck, Montana – Wyoming NPS Coordinator from Cheyenne*. We spent the rest of our meeting reviewing needs at BICA as FOBHL see them now and for the next 10 years.

BICA Planning Considerations

From FOBHL

Nov 2007

HSBend area:

Boat dock bumpers on all docks

Refurbish the concession building with new appliances as Darrell suggested

Marina and concessionaire setup affordable for the operator (with reduced red tape)

 Hire a full time grounds and maintenance person for HSB area May 1 to Oct 1

 Improve weed control and clean up on beach and fishing beach,  etc.

 Resurface the HSB dock to reduce slipping for 2008

 HSB picnic and play area would be more useful with the lights working

 Hazard Markers in the water around courtesy docks where cables run

 Set guidelines for campground fees and how the fees will be reinvested and accounted for

 Signs – some new ones needed and others need repaired or replaced

 Swim beach – replace barrier rope and floats

 BICA 14AE entrance sign – rail fence needs attention

Install mooring anchors at HSB  and more slips for overnight or daily boat storage

Boat gas service at marina

Designated over flow parking area

Tent camping area needed

Replace main dock at HSB ramp

HSB campground larger up to 50 sites

Install a second water storage tank above the campground to accommodate the new          well

HSB campground wireless internet service and cell phone booster tower

Silt removal at HSB

South of Horseshoe Bend

Kane campground reopened

Kane boat ramp – all season dock installed

Improved road on the east side John Blue to Hwy 14AE

John Blue road – raise the grade in 2 low areas to prevent lake flooding over and closing the road

Kane boat ramp – foot path to restrooms

South Causeway Ramp – marker posts to mark upper end of ramp

Keep roads graded more often in YT Unit and other areas

Noxious weed control in whole recreation area

Jim Creek area – restroom, all season dock, tables and campsites

Reroute road from Jim Creek to Abercrombie area to top of red hill where road washes out

More access roads from Jim creek road to west lake shore for bank and ice fisherman

Abercrombie restroom – all season dock for boats

ML Ranch access road improved

BICA’s help in requesting an improved road and railroad crossing at CETCO

Improved picnic, camping and other facilities for visitors to HSB and for Barry's Landing.   What about showers?  Concessions; gas?

Improved roads leading into the BICA on the West and East sides of the lake with more amenities available South of HSB. 

          BICA MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

. BICA encourage USBR to manage silt south of the causeway to stop future silting in at HSB

.BICA establish a minimum lake level of 3625’ for winter time recreation and fishery needs

(work with WGF to establish minimum, 3625’?)

BICA budget, management plan, etc on their web site

BICA needs to be more proactive at convincing BOR of needs.

Develop a 5 year strategic plan as per “Government Performance and Results Act of 1993”

          Public relations and promotions

Visitor Center – up to date picture displays of the area and its recreation activities

BICA public ads on TV, radio and billboards promoting the recreation area

Web site improvements covering all aspects of the recreation area. Sell BICA to the public.

More and improved signage, not only at the lake and recreation area but also along major highways leading to the lake; like the signs over on the Sheridan side of the mountain for Yellowstone so why not for BICA?

More support needs to be shown to the local communities by BICA. This would include a presence at local celebrations, town meetings, chamber of commerce, special events, etc. It is necessary that there be more ownership!

A brochure, video tape, DVD and other material which can be provided to various organizations in other states delineating the resources available in our area.  Our Friend's DVD recognizes the HSB area but not much else.

We thank John for listening and passing on our concerns and suggestions!

Our next meeting will be Dec 11 at 6:30 in Lovell. John would like to join us for a tour of the south end of BICA that day starting at 1:00pm. We are to meet at the visitor center in Lovell, all board members are encouraged to be on the tour.

*Since this meeting John Keck was appointed the Assistant Superintendent at BICA and will be our contact person.