The PINECONE REVIEW

Fall – October 2009

News and Views from Pine Forest

Wow – it’s been a long time. This writer has been too busy/lazy, it seems. Let’s catch up a bit.

Spring Membership Meeting:
Held as usual at Sun Mtn Lodge on Memorial Day weekend, it must be said that there were not a whole lot of issues that troubled those in attendance. We did elect two new members to the Board; Lynn Theobald and Harry Grant. Lynn has served in the past and we welcome her back on the board. Harry Grant is a welcome edition and he will bring plenty of energy and professionalism to our group.
Lynn Lewicki, who served for so many years decided to step down. It is important to remember how much she has brought to Pine Forest over the last dozen years and most especially in the area of obtaining grants to fund our Fire prevention and fuels reduction program. It is likely that this successful program would not have happened at all without her dogged determination and countless hours of working with the various granting agencies. As a result, Pine Forest is in pretty good shape as it regards fire protection. More on that later.
Also stepping down after several years was Robert Steiner. Robert worked very hard and successfully, in leading the opposition to the development that was planned immediately to our south. For that we all thank you very much Robert.

Our latest forest grant project was completed except for the burning of the pruning piles. That will likely have to remain now until spring, as we had some heavy rain earlier than expected before we could put the plastic sheeting on those piles that allows them to burn efficiently in the early winter. However, we will be seeing some burning this fall of piles that remain from earlier projects.

The board of directors met recently and several important decisions were reached that will have impact on our future.

• Our By-Laws call for an annual audit of the books. For years we did NOT perform that audit. Last year, as allowed in those BY-laws, we asked the membership at the annual meeting if they wanted an audit performed. Considering the cost, they voted to not perform the audit. However, the board feels that it is good business practice and therefore has ruled that we should have an audit of our books at least once every 5 years starting in mid-year 2010. In this way, we maintain the utmost transparency in our dealings. We will continue to ask permission of the membership annually at our Spring meeting if they wish to have audits performed more frequently.

• Regarding Forest Stewardship,the board has decided to set up a fund for forest management that can supplement any potential grants that may be available or in lieu of grants can pay for fuels treatment and other forest practices that will benefit Pine Forest in it’s commitment to keep the danger of forest fire at a minimum. Money will be budgeted every year to keep this fund going. At this date, no name for the fund has been selected. Needless to say, more information will be forthcoming about this plan.

• The board made it a policy to file a lien on any property when payments are in arrears by more than $2000. It has been a practice carried out in the past but without specific board direction until now.

Because our snowplowing costs were far less than budgeted this last winter, we had some money to spend on road improvements. These have been done and those road sections will be both safer to drive on and will be easier to maintain in the winter. The most important issues for homeowners are good, reliable water, followed by good access to their homes and property, and that includes keeping the roads in the best shape.

This will be the last mailed newsletter. From now on, any communication to the general membership (i.e. Newsletters) will be made available on our website: www.pine-forest.org. We will however, continue to send you written notices of any and all general membership meetings, and special or urgent matters. We will attempt to publish a newsletter at the beginning of every quarter.

Go back to top
PineForestHomePage