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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes June 23, 2008
Maurice Patterson called the meeting to order and gave the opening prayer.
Stan Verret presented the flag and joined Maurice in leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the May 26, 2008 TBBSA Meeting were accepted with the following corrections and additions: Under TOLEDOCHRONICLE.COM: …'the ad will appear everyday for 60 days (not 90) and cost $56 per month (not $80)' ; also, …..'subscription to TOLEDOCHRONICLE.COM should have been for an additional 4 months (not 6 months) of advertising for a total of 6 months (not 9 months), ….the additional 4 months (not 6 months) would be $320 (not $242) totaling $432 for the 6 months. '
The Treasurer's Report was approved as given by Maurice in the absence of Janna. There are 22 organization members, 179 associate members, and $8,157.64 Total Funds Available. All the bills are paid.
Old Business:
DONATION OF $500 IN MEMORY OF JIM CLEMONS: Maurice read a Thank You note from the Board Members of the J. R. Huffman Public Library for the donation of $500 for use in buying books in memory of Jim Clemons.
AIR BOAT NOISE PROBLEM: Maurice said Vicky Ostrom is working hard to get more information on how to handle the problem.
GIANT SALVINIA: Maurice asked if anyone saw the big article about Salvinia on the front page of Section B in last Sunday's Beaumont Enterprise. Maurice talked with Howard Elder of the TPWD and some people in the Caddo area. They now have an airboat and will be able to do about 10 times more spraying.
New Business:
SYMPATHY CARD: Maurice said he will be signing and sending a card of sympathy from our organization to Sharon Miller on the loss of her husband, Johnnie. The Millers' have been longtime members of TBBSA.
DEERFEST: Maurice said we have received information about Deerfest and he feels it is a good thing for us to participate. He said there are two ways we can participate. We can go as a Sponsor. For $100 donation we will receive 2 Admission Tickets, 1 Parking Pass, a listing on Deerfest web site and recognition on the 'Sponsor Wall'. For $500 donation, our name will be included on 2000 brochures & posters, in addition 4 Admission Tickets, 10 Free Deerfest Raffle tickets & we can put our Banner up at the event. $1000 donation gets the above plus Radio & Newspaper coverage. The other way we could go is as a Vendor, and the cost would be $35, if we register prior to September 1st, $15 for electricity, $10 for 1 table and 2 chairs. We would get 2 Admission Tickets and 1 Parking Pass. After some discussion, it was recommended we 'table' the decision until next month's meeting when we hope to have more in attendance.
MILAM SETTLERS DAY ORGANIZATION: Maurice read an invitation from the Milam Settlers Day Organization to attend a Power Point Presentation of the History of El Camino Real de Los Tejas on June 30th at 7:00 P.M. in the J. R. Huffman Public Library. The speaker is Mr. Jeffrey M. Williams of Arthur Temple College of Forestry & Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has been involved in trying to plot the original traces of the El Camino Real de Los Tejas, part of our present day State Highway 21. He has made some fascinating discoveries using a type of sonographic technology called Geographic Information Systems, or GIS. This is the same technology used by Mr. Williams and others in the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery efforts of 2003.
Other Comments:
NEW MEMBER: Maurice introduced new member Bob Cole, a retired sheriff.
REGION I WATER BOARD MEETING: Bill Heugel, representative for TBBSA, reported on the Region I Water Board Public Meeting held on June 4th at the Nacogdoches Recreation Center. Bill said there was supposed to be a number of people to come speak on what is being planned, but no one showed up, so the meeting was short. Other committees reported small numbers in attendance also. Bill said the main topic that affects us is the work being planned to help the small water companies correct violations, but none in Sabine County were considered in that plan because they were too diverse. Also, a consultant has been in Dallas defining places where water would be received when it eventually gets moved there from Toledo Bend.
Bill says the Lower Neches Valley Authority is struggling with the task of trying to provide water to the Beaumont area with all the new development that is going on down there.
The plan thought to provide water for the next 50 years, now may last only 15 years. The process then would be to find more water. Another report given at the meeting was on water used in power generation for cooling. Bill says in Texas, roughly 44% of the water withdrawn is used in the 'Open Loop' system where after use it is then returned as heated water. In the 'Closed Loop' system (used in the large towers at nuclear plants) less water is used, but more is consumed by the process. Bill decided to use the information he learned to calculate the amount of water he uses on a yearly average, and that amounts to 50 acre feet of water per year.
WELCOME BACK: Maurice welcomed Don Driscoll and his wife, Lynn, to the meeting. Don has been out with back surgery and other health problems. He is now planning shoulder surgery on July 14th. Don inquired about the Airboat problems in Carrice Creek and Maurice gave a short update.
TX SRA Meets July 10th at Hilton Hotel on Lake Ray Hubbard, 2055 Summer Lee Drive, Rockwall, TX
Next Meeting Date: July 28, 2008 @ 6:30 P.M.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:00 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Betty Griffin, Secretary
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