WHITE MOUNTAIN LAND TRUST
Minutes of July 11, 2006 meeting

Board members present: Jim Anderson, Keith Justice, Lynn Krigbaum, Norris Dodd, Dottie Baker, Ginny Handorf, Sue Sitko

Board members absent: Richard Remmington

Also present: Barbara Bechler, Paul Eckel

Jim called the meeting to order at 7 PM. A quorum was present. Dottie moved and Keith seconded that the June minutes be approved. Unanimous passage.

Norris gave the treasurer’s report. Our balance is $1014.50.

There was discussion regarding the open seat on the Board. Paul Eckel described his background and interest in the White Mountain Land Trust. Sue gave background information for Paul and Barbara, especially how we are involved in open space preservation planning and conservation easements. She also described the Tejido Group and their focus on Pinetop-Lakeside.

Ginny described the Lakeside Centennial event which she said was wonderful.

Next, a discussion was led by Sue regarding the Strategic Plan draft which came from the July 5^th meeting. Keith moved and Ginny seconded that we accept the Strategic Plan as a “living document.” Unanimous passage.

Sue gave an update on the Allen property: Sue and Keith met with our attorney, Michael Brown, to review the conservation easement document so we would be ready to move forward as soon as the Allen’s attorney has reviewed it for the Allens. Jim, Keith, Sue and Norris will go to the Allen property on July 24^th to obtain a baseline condition report on the 52 acres and structures. When the Allens and their attorney have approved the easement document and the baseline report is completed, the easement will be ready to be notarized and recorded, which will be complete the initial phase of the project. Subsequently, we will need to spell out the monitoring procedures for the property. .

Keith reported on the Crosswhite ranch trip. Mr. Crosswhite suggested waiting until the monsoon rains have made the ranch greener. Keith proposed going for a day to see the ranch and other areas near Springerville and maybe meet with the mayors of Eager and Springerville to introduce them to WMLT. Saturday, August 12 may be the best day to go and Keith will check with Mr. Crosswhite to see if that is agreeable with him. Jim, Sue and Norris and anyone else who is interested should check with Keith.

Dottie is working on an August newsletter. She is becoming familiar with Microsoft’s Word program as she had used Publisher previously.

Norris will check on the status of the “Adopt-A-Highway” signs. The last word to him from the program indicated that we should be receiving them soon.

Keith led a discussion on the list of newspaper articles he has proposed. Ginny will talk with the Independent to see if we can submit one article per month. Keith noted that if we can get a few articles ready, we may submit one every two weeks. The first article will be background and overview of WMLT with our mission statement and goals included among other things.

Here are the topics and tentative assignments chosen by volunteers, in no particular order:

(Open) Introduction to Conservation Easements
(Open) Legalities and tax benefits of Conservation Easements
(Sue) With the Allen's permission and blessing, an article praising their dedication and describing the process (without the travail) of establishing the conservation easement. Possibly compare the outcome with what happened to the other property next door, or what could have happened to theirs (if we don't want to be too judgmental).
(Jim) Economic benefits of open space preservation to developers and individual land owners.
(Keith) Wildlife corridors, biological importance, economic aspects, multi-use, etc.
(Norris) Forest Service/U.S policy and practice with respect to land exchanges and sales. How exchanges work, with case histories. Bring in the Camp Grace/ Tattyee deal.
(Open) Land Trusts in Arizona. Statistics, examples of large and small trusts, case histories of some large and small projects. If done right, hopefully find out if we have some major angels out there somewhere.
(Open) Landowner organizations in Arizona and elsewhere. Case histories, e.g. Malpais group.
(Open) Protecting and/or rehabilitating riparian habitat. (Crosswhite story?).
(Keith) Heritage fund projects: AZG&F, State Parks Natural Areas, State Parks Urban Parks Programs. Examples of good things accomplished.
(Sue) State Land: Referendum plan, and Growing Smarter, other state supported programs??
(Norris) After Tejido reports: our take on the recommendations and overall process.
(Open) Woodland Park: a major, thoughtful editorial and (possibly) call to arms.
(Open) Some personal stories from one of you about experiences in our parks or on our trails that show the non-economic value of what we are trying to do. Maybe this should be the first article, as an introduction to the more practical stuff to follow, I don't know.

Jim adjourned the meeting at 9:05 PM.

Minutes submitted by Lynn Krigbaum, secretary