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Toledo Bend Bi State Alliance
Meeting Minutes
For
March 26, 2001
The meeting was called to order by Larry Kelly.
The opening prayer was conducted.
The minutes of the previous meetings were read and approved.
The treasurers report was given. Present balance is $2437.48. Presently there are 7 organizations and 4 associate members. The Treasurers report was approved as presented.
A discussion was held concerning the dues for the TBBSA. Dues were due Jan 1,2001. The Secretary will send out letters requesting the submission of dues to the organizations that were members last year.
Water Planning Group
There was no meeting of the Region I water planning group.
DEDA
The DEDA report was given by Charles English. The next meeting is scheduled for March 30th at Crown Colony in Lufkin. The topic will be incentives for economic development. A discussion of unique stream segments had been conducted at the last meeting. This is a confusing area and the regional water planning groups have asked for clarification by the legislature.
Lake Level Project
Larry Kelly reported that no collaboration meeting was held by FERC. The Sabine River Action Coalition submitted many changes to the confidentiality agreement and CLECO made it clear that they could not work with the downstream elements because some of the parties to the law suits are also involved in the Collaborative process.
The next FERC meeting is scheduled for April 24th. At that time members of the dispute resolution group of FERC will be in attendance.
The language modification to the confidentiality agreement requested by the TBBSA has been incorporated.
At one of the meetings Larry Kelly made a presentation in response to a request by the power companies that we not pursue legislative options concerning the lake level. At that time he agreed that we would not pursue these options provided the power companies did not make special agreements with the SRAs. The power companies have offered to pay the cost of relicensing for the SRAs provided no change is made in the power operation of the dam. At this point in time no feedback has been received from the power companies indicating that this proposal was acceptable. Accordingly Larry is working with the LA legislature to get an appropriate bill introduced. Larry has also been in contact with Wayne Christian concerning possible legislation.
Larry passed out the information about the water gallons relationship to the Acre Ft used for generation. at the last meeting of the TX SRA. He also provided historical information on the 4 floods to show there never has been a flood when the lake level was at 168' msl when the rain event started. Nothing the TBBSA is asking for will contribute to the downstream flooding. The board members also asked how LA was going to pay for their share of the relicensing costs. The relicensing is scheduled to occur in 13 years. Larry again requested that members from the Texas side of the TBBSA attend the TX SRA meetings. At the last meeting only he and UTA were present.
The people below the dam are requesting that the FERC change the lake to a flood control operation.
Louisiana Wild Life Federation Meeting.
The meeting was well attended and they were pleased with the facilities at Cypress Bend.
General
A motion was made seconded and carried that a By Laws amendment be prepared to allow the officers to serve more than two terms. The primary purpose of the original by laws limitation of terms was to ensure that the TBBSA would be lead by Texas as well as Louisiana people. The cochairman arrangement ensures the participation of Texas as well as Louisiana residents.
The modification will be presented at the next two meetings and the member organizations will have the opportunity to review it and discuss it with their membership.
A motion was made seconded and passed that $5.00 be paid to renew our license to operate.
The SRA weather station has been installed. The frequency is 162.425
The meeting was adjourned.
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