Santa Fe Trail Ranch POA
Regular Board Meeting
May 21, 2005
FPFPD Station 3 on SFTR

Directors: Present Absent
  Bill Wenstrom, President  
  John Albert  
  Bob Dye  
  George Gonzalez  
  Diana Novacek  
  Diane Rader  
  Don Ruward  
  John Sanders  
  Robert Scott  

Guests:  Jim Davis, Steve Bolton, Frances Purswell-Montoya, Carol Rawle, Flora Martinez, Ann Scott, Betty Ruward, Mike Shelton, Bob Scott, Jerry Withington, Betty Withington, Michelle Minion, Scott Chase (Vermejo Park Ranch), Barry Benware, Cheryl Benware.

  1. CALL TO ORDER – Bill Wenstrom called this meeting of the Board to order at 9:00 AM.
     
  2. PROOF OF NOTICE – Bill Wenstrom gave proof that proper notice of the meeting had been given.
     
  3. ROLL CALL & DETERMINATION OF QUORUM - Eight (8) of the board members were present, which made a quorum and all business official.
     
  4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Don Ruward moved that the minutes from the board meeting on March 19, 2005 be approved.  The motion passed.
     
  5. OLD BUSINESS
     
    1. COMMITTEE REPORTS
       
      1. Common Area – Bob Scott reported on a recent dispute regarding the ownership of the well on Cottonwood Canyon.  The new owner of the adjacent lot apparently believed that the well, windmill, and water tanks were part of their lot, and removed the tanks.  A recent survey has shown that the well is on POA property, and the POA grazing lease assumes the use the well for the cattle.  The water tanks that had been placed there were the property of Alan Walters (our lessee).  Additionally, the owner will need to cease personal use of water from the well and restore the original windmill pumping equipment.
         
      2. Road Committee – John Albert reported that since the March meeting, red ash had been applied to over a mile of roadway.  He also explained that each truckload of red ash requires an hour to load, haul, and spread, and only covers about 100 feet.  As the weather improves, he expects to have more equipment and manpower working on projects, and hopes to be able to apply road base to approximately seven miles of roadway this year, as well as performing other routine maintenance of road surfaces, drainage ditches, and culverts.  The roadways to be improved will be determined by usage and safety issues.
         
      3. Communications - GGeorge Gonzalez reported that the committee has developed written policy for restricting postings during litigation, a written policy for banning owners who violate posting guidelines, and a policy for reinstating banned owners.
         
      4. Covenants – Bill Wenstrom reported that Gary Cowan is still working on this issue.
         
      5. Covenant Violations – Bill Wenstrom reported that additional two covenant violations had been reported since the March meeting.  Both involved objects that had been improperly placed on POA common area or easements (on Doewood Lane and Raton Overlook) for an extended period of time.  These matters will be handled according to the new covenant violation procedures.
         
      6. Emergency Services - There was no report from this committee.  Several new owners have reported that their realtors did not provide them with copies of the covenants or other POA documents.  The board requests all area leaders pass out information packets to new property owners.  John Sanders has some copies of the old packets from Century Small Business, but they are outdated.
         
      7. Forest Health - Diana Novacek reported that the committee has rescheduled the FireWise Training seminar and it will be held on June 18th from 1:00-4:00 pm at the All-Purpose Room, Sullivan Center, TSJC.  A FireWise site tour on SFTR will be held on July 2nd and conducted by CK Morey, District Forester.  The committee plans to poll SFTR property owners regarding their interest in site visits to Lake Dorthey and the Bosque.  If there is enough interest tours of these properties will be arranged.  The committee plans to have a web page soon on the SFTR website.  Work continues on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan but the committee is still waiting on the paperwork for the WUI grant.  Mapping of the ranch hazard/risk will begin once the monies are secured.  The mapping will require the services of a professional.
         
      8. Finance – Diane Rader moved that all funds in the POA power account, which has been used to hold funds for the Metro Board, be transferred to the Metro Board, and that address changes be filed so that future bills and checks will be sent to the Metro Board.  The motion passed.  After Diane presented the financial reports, John Albert moved that they be accepted.  The motion passed.
         
      9. Ranching (Grazing and Fencing) - Jerry Withington was present, but had nothing additional to report.
         
      10. Weed Control – Bill Wenstrom reported that the annual Weed-Out event is scheduled for May 28th & 29th.
         
    2. Phelan Lawsuit - The court recently ruled against Mr. Phelan and awarded attorney’s fees to Ms. Frost and the POA.  An additional hearing date has been set regarding the matter of damages.
       
    3. Security - Elizabeth Polasek was not present to discuss her security proposal.
       
    4. CBM - Bill Wenstrom announced that the board had recently received a letter from a CBM developer and met in executive session to discuss it.  The board members in attendance at the executive session voted AGAINST taking any further action at this time regarding CBM development.
       
  6. NEW BUSINESS
     
    1. VPR Fire Protection Project - At the request of the Board of Directors, Scott Chase, Head Forester of Vermejo Park Ranch, presented a proposed shaded fuel break plan to the board.  The initial project plan has been a co-operative effort between Colorado State Forest Service (C.K. Morey), Vermejo Park Ranch (Scott Chase), and New Mexico forestry division.  CSFS District Forester C.K. Morey was unable to attend today’s meeting so Scott Chase agreed to give this presentation.  The project will occur on Vermejo Park Ranch property in both the states of Colorado and New Mexico starting from an anchor point just outside the southwest corner of SFTR and will extend approximately one mile north and one mile east along the SFTR borders.  The project will be jointly managed and monitored by CSFS, NM forestry, and VPR head forester.  This $68,000 project will employ a hydro axe and other motorized equipment over a two to four week period during June, weather permitting.  Scott indicated if there is enough interest within the SFTR community he will attempt to provide a guided tour of the project site.  This project will greatly benefit SFTR property owners, as it will provide a firebreak to halt the progress of wildfires in this fire prone area and provide access roads for firefighters.  SFTR’s contribution to the project will be to allow a limited number of truckloads of saw logs to travel our roads to get to the mill in Trinidad.  This will reduce transport costs and slightly increase the number of acres to be treated.  After Scott’s presentation, Bill Wenstrom read a letter from CK Morey that provides more information on this project.  The letter is included at the end of these minutes as Attachment A.
       
    2. Metro Settlement - Jim Davis summarized the recent metro settlement.
       
  7. FROM THE FLOOR – None.
     
  8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – The next scheduled meeting of the Board is set for August 20, 2005 at 9:00am at the Fishers Peak Fire Protection District station on Old Mission Ridge.
     
  9. ADJOURNMENT – Bob Scott moved that the meeting be adjourned.  The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 12:38 PM.
     
  10. ATTACHMENTS
     
    1. Letter from C.K. Morey

Recorded and posted in draft form by John Sanders, Secretary, on May 25, 2005.
Approved by the Board of Directors on August 20, 2005 and reposted on August 31, 2005.