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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes February 26, 2007
Maurice Patterson, Texas Co-Chairman, called the meeting to order.
Gene Nethery gave the opening prayer.
Stan Verret presented the U.S. American Flag and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the January 22, 2007 monthly meeting of TBBSA and Minutes of the January 31, 2007 TBBSA Board meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer Janna Lehman reported there are 17 organizational members and 333 associate members (individuals) now paid. The current balance in the regular account is $6,434.46 and $4,475.92 in the Legal Account. There are 86 more checks to be moved from the legal account, if the people contacted by mail agree. The Treasurer's Report was approved as presented.
PRESENTATION OF MONTHLY AWARD: Maurice presented this month's Special Award for doing a great service to this organization to Larry Kelly. The certificate read : AWARD of the MONTH to Larry Kelly for the Amazing Ability to Sell Tickets in Unheard of Quantities for Any Worthy Organization. Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance.
New Business:
WEEKENDERS INFORMATIONAL MEETING: Requests have been received for an informational meeting on a Sunday for those people who are here just on weekends. March 25th at 3:00 P.M. at the Library was agreed upon for that meeting.
TEXAS SRA MEETING: The next TX-SRA Board meeting will be held on March 1, 2007 at 10 A.M. at Texas Country Music Hall, 300 West Panola, Carthage, TX. Everyone is encouraged to attend as this may be the most important meeting that has been held. Car-pooling was suggested and Janna offered one more seat in her van.
REPORTS FROM MEETINGS: Glen Provost was asked to give updates on what is going on and what is not going on. He explained in all legislative proceedings, there are ups and downs, good days and bad days and we hope the day ends on a good day. In the interest of full disclosure, Glen said he will tell everything he knows about what is going on between the SRA and Entergy. The latest information he has been told is that the SRAs of TX and LA and Entergy are engaged in discussions or negotiations for re-writing the current Power Sales Agreement. Glen went on to explain his expectations in what the outcomes of those negotiations should be, and his concern that we have been provided very little information about the progress or even what items are being negotiated. He has been in touch with persons from Senator Nichols' office and Rep. Christian's office, as well as someone from Entergy. Glen is worried that the negotiations could drag on and the March 9th filing date for legislation be missed. He feels the March 1st TX-SRA meeting will give us a chance to ask questions that need to be answered regarding those negotiations. Glen also suggested Janna provide members with the name and address of the TX-SRA Board president so letters or e-mails can be written prior to the meeting, asking about what the SRA is doing about ceasing power generation at 168 msl, and to also send copies to our legislators. In reply to a question about a legislative bill written by Entergy, Glen said he was told that bill would be contested right away. Glen has offered to write a version of a bill that he feels would not be contested. More discussion followed on the upcoming TX-SRA meeting and the importance of as many as possible attending and being ready to ask questions of the Board.
REPORTS OF MEETINGS: Gene Nethery began by reviewing how efforts have gotten to the point now reached. He said on two recent occasions, TX-SRA members have said they are willing to give up the revenue from hydroelectric power generation during summer months, but Entergy would not cooperate. At the Huxley meeting, it was suggested Rep. Christian get all the concerned parties together in a meeting at Jasper. Jerry Clark agreed to participate in such a meeting, but when Entergy was approached, they declined because they felt a bunch of angry landowners would make them look like the 'bad guys'. Rep. Christian assured Entergy that would not happen, but the meeting was cancelled. During the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, Entergy drafted a bill and brought it to Rep. Christian and Sen. Nichols and said they believed it would work. After that, they came to Rep. Christian and asked that Entergy and SRAs be allowed to settle this problem contractually without a bill being introduced. Sen. Nichols and Rep. Christian honored that request. At this point, there seemed to be no need of a meeting in Jasper of all the parties. Rep. Christian and Sen. Nichols have remained faithful in trying to solve this problem, but have been unable to get Rep. Hamilton to sign on because of a fear of downstream flooding. Rep. Christian gave up a lucrative chairmanship to take a Vice-Chairmanship of Regulated Industries in order to help, so we should write, call or e-mail him and let him know how much we appreciate his doing this significant move. This certainly shows he is anxious to get this issue resolved for the area. Gene again emphasized the importance of everyone making an effort to be at the March 1st meeting of the TX-SRA meeting in Carthage. Bill McCarty was asked to tell of efforts in Newton County to get assistance from Rep. Mike Hamilton. Bill said only a very small portion of Toledo Bend Reservoir touches Newton County, so the only thing most of the people know of Toledo Bend Lake is that it floods the river below the dam. Glen Provost, Larry Kelly, Joe Kelley and Bill met with Rep. Hamilton, but learned he felt Toledo Bend Lake could operate just fine at 167 msl, so the group left. Bill explained everything he has learned about the Texas Open Meeting Act, and found any help from that would require going to court on a local level to get anything done. Maurice gave further information on the Texas Open Meeting Act.
CLOSING COMMENTS: Maurice reminded people about continuing to distribute bumper tickers for the Save Toledo Bend STB-168' Campaign. Janna asked members about requests for our TBBSA E-mail Addresses List. Motion was made and approved to keep the TBBSA E-mail List private. Maurice said, however, information will be accepted and distributed to our E-mail List by TBBSA.
Next Meeting Date: March 26, 2007
Meeting Adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Betty Griffin, Secretary
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