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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes
April 2002
The meeting was called to order by Larry Kelly.
J.B. Meyers lead the group in the opening prayer.
Janna Lehman requested a change to the agenda to include the subject of TBBSA making a contribution to the library.
In the absence of Joe Goodson, Larry Kelly noted there were no visitors present and also stated that Senator Todd Staples was unable to attend tonight's meeting.
DEDTA Report: No report. Committee representative was absent.
East Texas Regional Water Planning Committee report: Bill Heugel
Two items of interest from the committee were brought up, one being a meeting in Nacogdoches at 10:00 A.M. on the second Wednesday of May (May 8, 2002) where Cindy Loeffler of TP&W will present the results of the modeling of the fresh water requirements for Sabine Lake. The second item was the LNVA is requesting that the Corps of Engineers perform a study to analyze the operation of the Neches River as a system to improve the operation. LNVA will pay for 30% of the study. LNVA requested that the Region I Planning Group prepare a resolution in support of the study.
Collaborative effort: Larry Kelly
The Collaborative Effort meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, April 23 rd, and will probably be the last one, as the participants do not feel they can continue in the present environment. More lawsuits have been filed, now from Sabine Parish. The Lower Sabine River Action Coalition is expected to request the pool level of Toledo Bend Reservoir to be changed from 172 msl to 169 msl. Larry emphasized we are willing to support whatever can be done to mitigate flooding below the dam, but we do not support changing the Pool Level of the Reservoir to any level below 172' msl and that we have not changed our stance with regard to 168' msl. With the discontinuation of the collaborative effort, we need to talk with friends and our state and local commissioners and representatives about what actions can be taken to attain our goal. Larry suggested we might want to seek legal advice.
Rep. Salter of LA will be notifying us when the House Commerce Committee will be meeting in Baton Rouge to take testimony on a House Study Resolution concerning the lake level. This resolution was adopted during the 2001 regular session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Janna suggested a called meeting be set to present all the information members should know about what actions have been taken and where we stand so that we might know what to say to various organizations.
She also suggested we might need to invite an attorney for legal input.
May 13, 2002 was set as the date for the special meeting.
Minutes of the March 25, 2002 meeting were approved as read.
The Treasurer's report was presented. There are 9 organizations that have not paid dues for this year. The current balance is $1,780.52.
Motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the Treasurer's report.
Janna brought the sport hats bearing the TBBSA insignia and presented them for sale. She was able to negotiate a better price for the hats and they are now available for $12 each.
No bills were presented for payment.
Larry Slocum moved that the TBBSA contribute $150 to the J.R. Huffman Library. Motion was seconded and approved.
Ms. Linda Mauer of Hillside Inn & RV Park offered to get information to the Texas marinas regarding our efforts and to generate new members.
Another suggestion was to have an advisory group meet with the Sabine River Authority to discuss our efforts. Larry is willing to meet and make presentations to any organization that will listen.
The next meeting is May 13, 2002
(The regular meeting on May 27th has been canceled in lieu of this meeting).
Meeting was adjourned.
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