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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes January 28, 2008
Maurice Patterson, Texas Co-Chairman, called the meeting to order and gave the opening prayer.
Janna Lehman presented the flag and joined Maurice in leading The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
Under Changes and Additions to the Agenda, Janna added approval of the December 18th Board of Directors Meeting Minutes. She also had topics to add under Old Business and New Business.
Maurice said there were two Special Awards to be presented tonight, but one chosen to receive an award is not present. He asked Janna to present the other award. Janna presented the award, 'The Best Party Planner Ever' (complete with brownies on the plaque) , to Sherry Thibodeaux for service above and beyond the call.
Minutes of the November 26, 2007 TBBSA Meeting were approved as written. Janna read the December 18th Board of Directors Meeting Minutes. The meeting was called to sign a Resolution regarding the endorsement and co-sponsoring of a Grandparent-Grandchild Fishing Tournament. The Resolution was to be sent to the Sabine County Chamber of Commerce and the Sabine County Commissioners Court. The December 18, 2007 Minutes were approved as read. Regarding the Resolution, Maurice said he took a copy to the Sabine County Commissioners Court and it was accepted unanimously. The Chamber of Commerce also approved the Resolution.
Maurice introduced some visitors to our meeting, Mr. and Mrs. LeBlanc from Nebraska, and Mr. Brad Shirley, a candidate for office in Sabine County.
Janna Lehman gave the Treasurer's Report. There are 15 organizations and 148 associate members paid for 2008. The account balance is $9,514.17. Printed copies were available.
The report was approved as given.
Old Business: GIANT SALVINIA SEMINAR: Jim Binns mainly came tonight to thank Sherry and the big backers of the seminar. Jim said if our goal was to have people leave the meeting with more education about a very serious issue, he feels TBBSA met that goal. Since the meeting, Jim has met with the lead biologist for the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The biologist will be gathering information for Jim to do another article for the Lakecaster that would feature the Louisiana side. Jim hopes to get that information in time for a March or April publication. Jim said he also visited with Howard Elder about plans the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. has to combat Salvinia. They are going proceed to have signs to go around the boat ramps that explain the danger of carrying this plant to other locations. They are going to protect the boat ramps and make them 'Safe Zones'. Ramps could be quarantined if a problem is found with people misusing the area. Then they would recommend the SRA be called. Local authorities are going to be encouraged to enforce the existing laws about containing the plant.
Jim Binns went on to say he feels the TBBSA could be one of the organizations to help SRA in working with methods such as the booms to contain the plant at some of the bad areas. The SRA has told him they would be delighted to have the Alliance work with them. If someone is going to work with booms, Steven Dougharty should be contacted at (409)-746-2192. If someone wants to spray herbicides, they should contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife at (409) 384-9965 for the guidelines and the paperwork. The SRA has asked they be contacted when paperwork is submitted. A suggestion Jim has for TBBSA is to discuss working with weekend work-parties that are trying to get the salvinia out of the lake. More public awareness through more seminars and talks at civic organizations is something else Jim stressed. Glen Provost thinks we should work toward getting Texas Parks and Wildlife, the SRA and our legislators in the same room to discuss what is needed to take care of the salvinia problem. TBBSA could indicate we think this is important and offer to attend those discussions, if appropriate, Glen said. Since the new TX-SRA Board member was appointed from Shelby County, and not Sabine County, Glen thinks TBBSA representatives should see about meeting with the new board member and talk with him about the problem, while offering our help. Maurice thanked Jim Binns for coming and talking with our group tonight. Maurice told members there are small cards on the table by the entrance with addresses, e-mails and phone numbers of legislators, and encouraged each one to write or contact these people.
GRANDPARENT-GRANDCHILD FISHING TOURNAMENT - Cara Martin, committee chairperson, said their committee met with Karen Stevens of the Chamber of Commerce to discuss plans and guidelines for the tournament. Cara said the Chamber and the city are behind us in this venture. She talked about some of the requirements for entry and said they hope to get committees together to work out details. She invites anyone interested to help. Their goal is to have everything in place for a June 27, 2009 tournament. Maurice has offered to ask for sponsors, and Janna is going to work on a brochure for the event. Larry Kelly suggested Janna & Jerry contact the Lake Association for financial help.
GAME WARDEN On WAKE ZONES: Janna has not yet reached the speaker, but will follow up on that.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Maurice said Jim Clements, one of our TBBSA members, is seriously ill. If you know Jim, please call him and tell him you are thinking of him. He purchased and donated four copies of the 'Las Sabinas' history of Sabine River books that are available for loan to members. Janna said two copies are available tonight. Also, there are two hats available for $15 each. Janna said Don Driscoll is another of our members who is out sick after suffering a light stroke. Larry spoke with him last night, and he is feeling better.
New Business: TOLEDO BEND LAKE ASSOCIATION: Jerry Lehman has invited Jack Canson of the Caddo Lake Institute to come speak at the Toledo Bend Lake Association meeting to be held at the Lions' Club building on LA HWY 191, 0.8 miles north out of Toledo Town. The meeting will be held on February 7th at 7:00 P.M. A meal of Elk Chili will be served, so bring a covered dish if you wish. Jack Canson spoke at the Giant Salvinia Seminar in December, and is an excellent speaker. Jerry invited everyone to come, especially if you missed the seminar meeting. Today, via E-mail, Jerry learned Jack is no longer with Caddo Lake Institute, but he will send a substitute or come himself.
EAST TEXAS REGION I PLANNING COMMITTEE: Bill Heugel, representative from TBBSA, gave a report from the last meeting of the committee. Bill said this meeting was probably the most dynamic meeting in the past 6 years he has been involved with the Planning Committee. One major presentation at the meeting was made by Lower Neches River Valley Authority (LNVA). It concerned their request to TCEQ for a change in the way their water rights for Rayburn and Steinhagen Lakes are considered. Their original request would have had an impact on Lake Columbia, but they have since revised that to limit the impact to lakes which are not already committed. Major development planned for the Beaumont-Port Arthur area will require a dramatic increase in water for both the plant construction and operational phases. The water requirements for that area had been projected to be within the available supply for the next 50 years. Now it is thought the new development will exceed that need in the next 10 to 12 years.
Bill says there is a meeting set for next week where the SRA will get together with the Dallas folks to talk about concepts of moving water from Toledo Bend to Dallas. They decided they would not be laying out a plan for the pipeline as this time. Bill said they also talked about 200 small water systems in Region I that don't meet TCEQ requirements and water is not fit to drink.
The board may evaluate ways to regionalize them to correct problems. TP&W made a presentation on the dead zone that occurs off the gulf coast. Bill explained how that happens and how they are considering growing crops to replace the nutrients. Maurice thanked Bill for keeping us informed.
PROPOSAL: Janna proposed the TBBSA take an ad with a new publication, 'Bass & Bucks & Other Stuff', that is sort of a replacement for the former 'Hook Line and Sinker' paper that we used to see. It is going to be a monthly publication. A business card-size ad is $20 per month. Janna said we could put our website, goals, and other information there, and try it for a month. The first issue will come out on March 1st. Janis Waldrop is the person running the business; Cindy Frankson will be doing the printing. It will be free for folks to pick up at businesses. Motion was made, seconded and passed to try the ad for a month.
Closing Comments: RADIO SHOW: Maurice said he and Joe Kelley will be on the radio again on February 15th from 7:30 to 8:00 A.M.
Meeting Adjourned.
Next Meeting Date: February 25, 2008 @ 6:30 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Betty Griffin, Secretary
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