COLFAX COUNTY COALITION OF FIREWISE COMMUNITIES

SYNOPIS OF BOARD MEETINGS

Feb. 17, 2007 and March 30, 2007

To: Taos Pines Ranch Property Owners

From: Diana Johnson, Secretary POA

In the minutes of our last Board meeting, I informed all property owners of a newly formed organization which consists of a combined representation of several Firewise Communities in our area. The Coalition continues to grow and address many issues concerning Firewise programs which are beneficial to all of us. Following is a synopsis of their last 2 meetings:

February 17, 2007

There was a discussion of the La Jara Project along the Taos Pines/Carson National Forest boundry. Linda Ford is scheduled to meet with a forester to map out the specific treatment prescription. Repair and maintenance of fencing will be one of the goals to be implemented.

The Santa Fe Trail Ranch project has thinned about 700 acres in the last 2 years. They have been using a bull hog with good results. A bull hog causes less scarring of remaining trees and leaves less leftover scrap. Removal and burning of slash is better than leaving chips on the ground, as there are some negative ecological effects of leaving lots of chips (leave no more than 2” of chips).

Linda Ford met several groups of people at a grant-writing workshop she attended. One of these groups reported that measurements of elk antlers before and after forest treatment showed that elk were healthier with thicker antlers after the treatment.

Troy Ford has learned that some emergency vehicles were not used during the winter storm around the Christmas holidays because of a lack of operators. He suggested to the County Commissioners that they hire qualified volunteer firefighters to operate the equipment during such emergencies. No action from the Commissioners as yet.

Sharon Torrence of Thermo-Gel gave a presentation about her company’s fire retardant gel product. (We are planning to have a presentation at the POA annual meeting June 30.)

March 30, 2007

At a recent meeting of the County Commissioners, there was a proposal for the city of Raton to provide fire protection for the unincorporated area near Raton, but it has been tabled for now. The State funds volunteer fire departments directly, with the County acting only as fiscal agent. Expenditures of fire excise taxes, however, are determined by the County Commission.

Larry Laydon of Black Lake said he is the project coordinator for the new fire station near Taos pines to be built soon. A long range plan for a fire station near Hidden Lake and Elk Ridge is in the works. One homeowner reported that their home insurance rate had been reduced by $800 because of their Firewise activities, which included setting up a water tank as well as thinning trees.

The Coalition is planning a booth at the Fire, Forest and Water Fair to be held in Angle Fire. (Taos Pines POA will also have a booth.)

Jody Gray, Secretary, suggested the coalition sponsor a joint CWPP workshop day this spring or summer for all the area communities to assist each other in writing or updating their CWPP documents. (Linda Ford submitted the Firewise Community renewal application for Taos Pines in December as required by the State.)

There will be a meeting on April 25 about the Carson Forest/Taos Pines CFRP proposal that Linda Ford has submitted. Contact Linda for more information (mtnvoice1@msn.com).

The County has funded a project for a Colfax County CWPP that will cover all communities. Those communities that do not yet have their own CWPPs will be covered by the overall plan until they have plans of their own.

(To see the minutes of these meetings in full, click on Firewise Communities-USA, 4. CCCFC Minutes/Activities). I will continue to post these minutes on the website as I receive them.)