PROGRAM

Attachment to Minutes of Annual Membership Meeting

July 15, 2006

GUEST SPEAKERS

Roger Terry – Wildland Urban Interface Specialist

Frank Atmore – President Cimarron Watershed Alliance

Libby Morales – Manager Arthur Insurance Company

Bill Conley – Colfax County Commissioner

Roger Terry

Roger explained that the Taos Pines forest thinning and restoration project is moving forwards. This project will entail thinning a “firebreak” next to the La Jara firebreak on the properties adjacent to the Carson National Forest. This “firebreak” will be the removal of small diameter trees and underbrush to slow down the progress of any advancing fire. It will not be a clear-cut as on the National Forest side. The committee in charge of this project (who are not Taos Pines owners) is still meeting and making plans. The project will then need to go out for bid. There needs to be a survey of each lot to determine the amount of work to be done and an agreement in place with each lot owner. Some lots may not be thinned in certain areas because of the steep terrain and some lots will not be done because the owners prohibit it. He feels that there will be sufficient money to thin every lot including those adjacent to the Taos Pueblo. They are still trying to get the Pueblo to thin along their property line and those talks are looking hopeful.

Frank Atmore

Frank explained what the Cimarron Watershed Alliance is, how it got started and what its goals are. (See taopines.org for more information.) Although the current project is referred to as the Taos Pines Project, it is officially known as the La Jara Project at the State level. The monies for this project are tied to the La Jara Project. The funds will be coming from the State ($500,000), the Stevens Allocation ($104,000) and from the CWA ($30,000). Monies from the State and CWA are matching funds and can be matched through a number of ways which will not include any monetary repayment by Taos Pines property owners. Various services and participation in the project plus the sale of lumber and other materials for commercial uses will be included in matching the funds. The Stevens Allocation does not require any repayment.

The Committee is hoping to start the project in mid-August and they will have 1 fiscal year in which to complete the project (until July 1, 2007). The entire project will cover 1,100 acres. Property owners’ authorization forms are being worked on and will be sent out as soon as possible.

Libby Morales

Currently property insurance providers are only considering ISO ratings when establishing their insurance rates. The ISO rating in Taos Pines is at 7 now but may drop to 6 when the fire sub-station is completed. Hopefully, insurance companies will look favorably towards communities with a Firewise Communities/USA designation. Such areas certainly do increase property values and desirability. Libby reiterated the importance of owners keeping their records and details of their property on some safe media (such as a DVD) and having it at another safe location. She said that property owners should provide detailed maps of their properties to their insurance providers and have a copy with their fire departments.

Bill Conley

Bill is a trustee on the Moreno Valley Hospital Board and has been instrumental in getting a new clinic building for the area. The building is being built off-site and will be shipped in for placement. He is also a member of the CWA. Bill is a Colfax County Commissioner representing the largest district in the County. There is a population of approximately 14,000 people which represents 60% of the property tax collected and 60% of the County budget. Raton, Cimarron and Springer are losing population while the Moreno District continues to grow. There are more real estate agents in the Moreno Valley than in Raton, Cimarron, Springer and Taos combined.

He said he gets lots of questions from the Commissioners regarding progress in Taos Pines, particularly regarding the roads. The County is still refusing to include these roads in their road maintenance department because the roads still do not meet the County Standards and there are no funds available. Funds are allocated to the County by the Federal Government through State agencies. An engineering plan needs to be part of any approach to the Commissioners in order for Bill to push for funds and acceptance by the County. He stated that the SAD Board must work more closely with the County offices and the County Commissioners in developing a plan. Once a plan is ready for consideration, he will work to get the plan approved. The plan will probably have to include problem areas such as Elk Run. Elk Run could possibly be platted as a “private road” and excluded from County maintenance. Larry Parnes, Chairman of the SAD Board, stated that he and his Board will work on getting such a plan developed.