|
Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes September 25, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Steve McMahon, Louisiana Co-Chairman.
Steve gave the opening prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Visitors and members were welcomed by Janna Lehman, Treasurer and Interim Texas Co-Chairman.
Janna asked that we forgo introductions due to number of topics to be discussed.
Steve asked Janna to conduct the meeting since she had written the Agenda.
Minutes of the August 28, 2006 meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer Janna Lehman reported there are 16 organizational members and 66 associate members (individuals) now paid in 2006.
The current balance is $474.60. Balance for the Legal Fund is $5680.30 from 111 donations.
Another 5 donations were received in today's mail that total an additional $150.
There being no questions, the Treasurer's Report was approved as presented.
Old Business:
FUND RAISER IDEAS FOR GENERAL FUND: The only idea suggested was to have a Raffle and make a concerted effort to sell
a lot of tickets on a popular item. Ideas will be discussed at later date.
HATS AVAILABLE: TBBSA hats are available for sale at $15 each.
CO-CHAIR FOR TEXAS COMMITTEE REPORT: The committee had no report to give.
New Business:
THANK YOU: Janna said we need to thank Karen deLaunay of RE/MAX 1st Realty for buying a large banner for the TBBSA
to display at any event where we might want to solicit for donations or to distribute information.
APPROVAL OF NEW MEMBERS: Approved for membership in TBBSA are the following: Lloyd Salts of Hemphill, TX;
Robert & Lydia Buttross of Hemphill, TX; Fox's Lodge, Bill & Cindy Ekickson, Hemphill, TX; Michael & Barbara
Burrow, Beaumont, TX; RE/MAX 1st Realty, Karen deLaunay, Hemphill, TX; George Schroeder, Many, LA; Sonny
& Bennie Sue Mason, Lake Charles, LA; Thomas Lambert, Nederland, TX; and Jimmy Walker, Deer Park, TX.
REVISED LETTER OF SOLICITATION: Janna received a phone call after the E-mail went out regarding the Options A & B for
voting on sending out copies of the revised Letter of Solicitation. The caller wanted to contribute $1000 in order to send out all the
letters. Since she was leaving to go out of town for a couple of weeks, and the check had not yet been received, the option voted
on in the last meeting was followed, and 5000 copies were mailed out. After returning from her trip, and receiving the $1000
donation, Janna mailed out an additional 2700 copies, leaving a total of 2139 labels not mailed. It will cost $792 to mail the remaining
letters.
QUESTIONS REGARDING LEGAL ADVICE AND PAST EFFORTS: In answer to a question about legal advice, Janna said no
lawyer has been consulted. Janna asked Larry Kelly to help her answer questions about past efforts and the history of TBBSA,
which was organized in 1997. Larry gave a lengthy speech on all the efforts put forth by TBBSA, and also efforts made by all the
lake organizations in Louisiana to get a law passed in Louisiana. He told about our efforts to get Texas legislators to get bills
introduced in Texas, without success. Also, he told about going through Collaborative Effort, and visits to Austin by members. He
talked about getting Resolutions signed by Sabine County, City of Hemphill, Sabine Parish Police Jury, and Cities of Many and
Robeline. Larry told about the lawsuit filed by the power companies against the Louisiana SRA, and how that ended in Federal Court
with the four entities in court who didn't want change in the first place, left to make an agreement to do nothing until 2018. The
Louisiana law will take effect in 2018, but that is a long time off for some of us, who deserve the use of the lake now. Larry says the
only thing he thinks is left for us to do at this point, is to get an attorney to help us decide where we can go with our efforts. There is
an attorney, not licensed in Texas, that has been looking at the issues, but we have not had an opportunity to sit down with him to
discuss where to go. The SRA of LA and a Louisiana State Representative in Sabine Parish who is Speaker of the House, sent a
copy of the Power Sales Agreement to the Attorney General who gave an opinion that while that is determined by court, it looks like
the way the Power Sales Agreement is written, it has more obligations than just power generation during peaking season. But the
SRA-La was unable to get anyone to do anything. He explained that the only way the two SRA Boards get together is at the Dam on
a Joint Board of both Sabine River Authorities of Toledo Bend Reservoir. He talked about the Guide Rule Curve and the different
scenarios for operation, and how the 168 level was determined as the minimum. Janna passed out copies of the Guide Rule Curve.
In response to a question about what the goals of the organization are and just what are we trying to accomplish, Janna Lehman read
the latest Letter of Solicitation. The visitor asking the questions said he is a non-practicing attorney, but he feels we have two issues,
but it seems to him the political path might be the best way to attain our goal. More discussion followed.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Don Driscoll urged each one who had suggestions to do something about doing those suggestions,
and to write our legislators. More questions and discussion followed. Senator-Elect, Robert Nichols, has a website,
www.nicholsforsenate.com
APPROVAL OF OUTSTANDING BILLS: None submitted.
Next Meeting Date: Monday, October 23, 2006
Meeting Adjourned at 8:35 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Betty Griffin, Secretary
|
