Draft

Minutes of Annual Meeting

Stuart Island Airway Park Owner’s Association

May 27, 2012

 

     

Trustees in Attendance:

Rhys Spoor, President             Steve Knopp, Vice Pres. Absent          Sally Linwick, Treasurer

June Bohannon, Secretary       Greg Schmidt, Trustee              Denny Swirtz, Trustee

Rhys opened the meeting with the flag salute.

The 2011 minutes were approved as posted in the mail shed and the web page

Board reports:

Road Report:

·        It was reported that the roads are in better shape this spring due to all the improvements made last year

·        Mark Green worked on the repair of the roads with other members helping

·        Mark reported that there is a drainage problem off the road going up to the Hart cabin with water running unto the roadway and suggested a ditch may be put in to help this problem

·        It was stated that people are driving too fast and need to slow down on blind corners and also children on road bikes and four wheelers need to slow down and parents need to remind their children to ride safe.  Adults need to set an example and we need to ask them to slow down.  It was decided that we will not put up speed limit signs

 

Runway Report:

·        It was reported that runway was fertilized once this year

·        Denny Swirtz has mowed and fertilized the runway

·        Denny said that he needs volunteers to help with the mowing

·        June said that she will get a pen for the white board in the hangar so people can sign up for mowing

·        It was suggested that we have a hand held radio for the mowers to use for safety so they can hear planes call while mowing.  A motion was made to buy a headset and radio combination for the mowers. The motion was amended to buy two set ups for the two mowers. Motion was seconded and passed. The price will be about five to six hundred dollars

·        Denny reported that the runway stayed in pretty good shape over the winter

·        Denny  suggested that if a pilot scars up the runway they should fill it in or stomp it down

·        Rhys reported that in Feb. of 2012, the house passed a law, that was an existing law, redefines a public and private airstrip.  This law will give us a bit of liability protection for being a private airstrip.   We still need to have liability insurance, but the state will back us up on being a private runway

·        It was also stated that people on the west side of Stuart are using our runway for a landing strip, one party is using a commercial carrier and another is using a private airplane.  We need to tell them that we are a private runway and they should not be using our runway.  The commercial carriers need to have a list of people who can use the runway and be on Stuart Island Airway Park.  We will look for the list and get it updated as it was stated that there was one in the past.  It was also suggested that we put up a “Private” sign on the roof of the hangar.  This suggestion was tabled for now as to the expenses and Denny reported that he didn’t see much “outside” traffic on our airstrip.  If you see a plane that you don’t recognize, ask who they are or who they are visiting. 

·        Our new web site, that Greg  Bruce is updating, will have information on the conditions on the runway

·        The WPA has remodeled the cabin and will be developing a new user agreement.  We need to see what their agreement will be.  WPA only has about 8 or 9 visitors here a year

 

Dock Report

·        There was a long discussion on the idea of moving the Prevost dock to the South to get it away from the “overrun” area of the runway.  Many questions arose; i.e., permits, floats that may be in the way, what will the legal issues if we move it, can we extend the ramp to the dock to get more dock in the water?  Greg reported that the issues of moving the dock would be cost prohibited and with the idea that we cannot find the permits for the dock we have we had better let this issue go.  A big thank you went out to Dave Clark and his committee for the dock report they did

·        Rhys reported that beginning next summer the state is coming up with a new “shoreline master plan” which may impact all of us on Stuart Island

Fire Wagons and Systems

·        Rhys reported that one fire wagon tipped over and it took four men to pull the tongue down

·        It was suggested that we change the engine on the fire wagons to a Honda engine.  A motion was made and seconded to replace the old engines to Honda engines.  Motion carried

·        Charlene reported that there is a federal program that will make suggestions what we can do to make our community better as far as fire protection goes.  Charlene will look into what they can do to help us with our fire protection.  It is a program that will help us clean up our area and what plants to grow that will help

·        Charlene asked that we have a paper with the lot numbers and names on it.  Sally is working on this and it should be done this summer

Burn Pile

·        A Thank You went out to Mark Green for helping with the burn pile.  The pile that he burned the end of Oct. was full of garbage.  We need to keep our pile with only vegetation that grows on Stuart Island.  Mark had to sort through the pile and spent considerable time doing this.  His bill was much more then we planned on and we had to pay him in installments.  A motion was made and seconded to pay Mark Green the money owed for burning last fall.  Motion carried

·        Considerable discussion was held on burn permits for burning.  Because of the permitting process it was decided that we could get a residential permit which would be a ten foot pile for $15.00 and try and keep the pile small. A motion was made to buy the residential permit for this year and see how it goes.  Motion was seconded and carried.   Mark thought this might work.  We will burn now or before the burn ban is on to keep the pile small.  The stumps are a problem and it was suggested that stumps be placed away from the main pile. 

·        The board suggested we put up a sign stating what can be put in the pile needs to grow here and the items need to be cut small so it can be handled.  Keep the pile small and put materials in the center of the pile to keep it small

·        If you are clearing a lot you should help pay for the burning

Financial Report

·        Sally reported the budget for 2012-2013. The report was read as presented

·        Sally reported that if she had current emails she could send her reports by email

·        We have 13 people who do not pay and have not paid for years.  This year we have 9 new people who have not paid.  She listed a shortfall of 17 and this is added to the ones who pay.  Sally will send one more statement to the non-payers

·        A motion was made to approve the budget as Sally presented.  Motion was seconded and approved.  The dues for 2012 will be $135.00

·        Sally talked about moving our savings funds out of the ING account and putting them into Islander Bank in Friday Harbor.  A motion was made and seconded to close the ING account and move the funds to Islander Bank.  Motion passed

·        Sally stated that she will mail out the contact list with the bill for this year and hopes to get it updated by that time

·        Considerable discussion was held about those who do not pay their dues.  Everyone who pays must pay more because they do not pay.  There were several suggestions as to how to resolve this problem, one was that we publish a list of those who do pay and a thank you for all of those who do pay.  We will see how bad it gets and then maybe publish a list of those who do pay.  It was suggested by Rhys that people please pay as soon as possible so Sally can pay the bills as they arrive in the summer months

 

Mail Shack

·        The mail shack was damaged by a tree this winter.  Denny and Bud removed the tree and fixed the damage

·        It was suggested that we move the mail shack to a new site as it is in the way of Steve Knopp parking his plane and is in a dark area in the winter time.  Several suggestions were made as to where to move it.  A motion was made to move it by the hangar, but Loie commented that the people on the west side get their mail and have to walk a long way from the dock to get the mail.  The motion was withdrawn.  The board will look into where to put the shack

 

Activities

·        We will have our 4th of July celebration on July 7th.  A hand vote was taken for the 7th date

 

Elections

·        Rhys Spoor and Steve Knopp agreed to serve another term.  Everyone voted to have them serve for another three years. 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:50AM

06/01/12 draft JB