Tuesday March 24, 2009
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Rt. 40 Firehouse
7:00 – 8:15 pm: Ben Pfohl, State Forester, gave a slide presentation outlining the attack of the native bark beetle throughout Colorado. The primary devastation is from Mountain Pine Beetles and Pine Engraver (Ips) Beetles. 80-year-old lodgepole pines, warmer, dryer weather create conditions where these pests are thriving in our area. Mr. Pfohl showed Colorado maps showing the gradual progression of these pests toward Floyd Hill since 1997. In 2007 the pine epidemic jumped the Rockies Continental Divide. Since 1996, bark beetle has affected 2 million acres in Colorado. 400,000 more acres in the state are expected to be attacked this year. 38,000 acres in Clear Creek County show the disease.
Mountain Pine Beetle have a 1-year life cycle. In July-September they fly to new trees. The female sends out pheromones to attract males then lay eggs in galleries under the bark of primarily lodgepole pines. The larvae feed on the tree and create an antifreeze-type substance in the Fall and go into hibernation. In the Spring, the larvae continue feeding and evolve into pupae in the late summer who fly to another tree and continue the cycle. Typically, these beetles attack the trunk of the tree only.
Comparatively, the Ips beetle takes flight in April and has 2-3 life cycles per year. Their destruction to predominantly lodgepole, ponderosa, and spruce is slower and starts at the top of trees and affects the trunk and large branches. These pests seem to be attracted to freshly cut wood. Typically, pines 6” - 8” in diameter are targets of the Ips beetle, but they can attack trunks as small as 1”.
The Forest Service predicts all mature lodgepole pine in the Floyd Hill area will die from the bark beetles in the next 2-4 years, regardless of actions to thin or spray trees. This winter’s drought will only weaken the pines further. Spraying select trees with carbaryl (trade name Sevin) or perrmethrin (trade name Astro or Dragnet)can protect them if spraying occurs every year. The sprays create a barrier so that beetles cannot get through the bark. Generally, these chemicals bond to the soil so that they do not enter the water supply. If pets and children are kept inside during spraying, no widespread ill effects on their health has been noted. The use of pheromones has not proved effective in high epidemic areas. Major efforts need to be placed on removing dead trees to reduce fire danger. Felling and chipping dead trees may attract more IPS beetles, but the danger of fires or trees blowing down on power lines/roads/trails overrides this threat.
Planting seedlings will speed the natural reforestation process. Lodgepole pine are recommended for planting since they are native to our area, even though dwarf mistletoe in our area threatens to suffocate them. Realizing that most pines have predators, diversifying the species planted will keep whole hillsides from being devastated by future epidemics. To view maps of the impending pine beetle infestation of our area, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/resources/fhm/aerialsurvey/ or contact Ben Pfohl at 303-279-9757 with questions.
Business Meeting:
Call to Order:
President, Josh Lewis, called the FHAPOA Business Meeting to order at 8:20 pm.
Minutes from January 22, 2008 meeting: (as posted at www.FloydHill.org)
The meeting was postponed because the Fire Station was locked. A slate of 2009 officers was nominated.
Treasurer’s Report: (See full report attached by Treasurer, Holly Gangell)
Balance 9/25/08 $9,282.02
Deposits (84 paid members to date) + $2,930.00
Debits (dues mailing) - $189.68
Balance 9/25/08 $12,013.34
Committee Reports:
Road Committee: Report by Pat Aiello
The Road Committee met with all 3 County Commissioners and representatives of the Road Department on Wednesday October 1st The Road Department is adding a staff member to help Tim Allen and John Sanchez with road maintenance. In January, Selby Meyers and County Roads and Bridge staff drove the roads in Floyd Hill to examine safety and maintenance issues our Committee had outlined. Mr. Meyers responded with a 3-page letter that will be posted on the FHAPOA web site. The Committee will urge Meyers, Allen, and Sanchez to personally inspect Floyd Hill roads with Committee members guiding them, once snows melt in late April. A meeting with the County Commissioners, County Roads Department, and Floyd Hill residents will be scheduled in May to formulate specific action plans and timetables. Our objective is to have specific projects and timeframes for their completion defined for inclusion in the County’s 2010 budget (August). This meeting will be advertised to all Floyd Hill residents so that the urgency of our ongoing road safety and maintenance concerns is understood and acted upon by the County. To give input on road issues, contact Pat Aiello at lilpat07@gmail.com.
Playground Committee: Report by Matt Robie
Matt, Director of the County Recreational District, and Nick Ragain have actively promoted the creation of a playground located in Elmgreen Park near the High School at the bottom of Floyd Hill. A grant of $48,000 was received from Great Outdoors Colorado lottery proceeds for a 2,700 sq ft playground with slides, tunnels, swings, and climbing features, located southeast of the existing pavilion. Handicapped accessible, landscaped walking paths, and expanded parking will be part of the project. Both the County and the Recreation District will each contribute $10,000 toward the park. In addition, $25,000 of gifts and pledges of labor were promised by local residents totaling a $93,000 budget for creating the new playground. An RFP is being sent out to choose a playground contractor/installer. A public planning meeting will be scheduled in May. Groundbreaking is to begin in June with a playground opening projected for August. Look on the FHAPOA website for future meetings and descriptions of the proposed equipment, style, and functionality of the playground.
Neighborhood Roadway Safety Committee: Report by Kris Lee
The Committee’s goal is “0 deaths and 0 injuries”. A “BE AWARE, DRIVE WITH CARE” sign was permanently mounted at the intersection of Beaver Brook and Hyland Drive as a reminder to all motorists to drive safely and courteously on Floyd Hill roads. Kris brought 9” x 12” decals ($5) to be placed on garbage dumpsters and displayed at the roadside every garbage pick-up day, and large yard signs ($10) are for displaying the “Be Aware, Drive with Care” safety message at locations throughout the development. Contact Kris at kriskinzli@yahoo.com to purchase signs or for more information on keeping our roads safe. Kris is forming a relationship with the Sheriff’s Department, with “Drive Smart” Evergreen/Conifer, and with the Clear Creek High School to share ideas. The Committee will identify dangerous areas such as the “Y” intersection where Ponderosa meets Aspen Drive. A stop sign will be considered where Saddleback branches off of Hyland Drive near the Barely Tawl Daycare Center. Kris will also contact the Canyon Courier and the Courant to promote reasonable speeds on Floyd Hill roads. Linda Berteau asked if the faded Neighborhood Watch signs could be replaced and training for the Neighborhood Watch program be resurrected. The Committee will look into this.
Emergency Notification Committee: Report by Linda Berteau
Mike Chevarria practiced the area emergency notification system, Voice Shot, when he left each Floyd Hill resident a telephone message reminding them of today’s bimonthly FHAPOA business meeting. Contact Linda Berteau at 303-679-3025 if you did not get a voice shot telephone message to remind you of today’s Association meeting. If you have not updated and returned your resident’s emergency information with your dues this year, please do so. This information (name, address, phone numbers, pets, emergency equipment, and credentials) helps us react quickly in case of an emergency. To register cell phones with Jefferson County so that cell phones will automatically be called in case of an emergency in our area go to www.your911.net.
Development Committee: Report by Mike Chevarria The next County Sub-Regional Master Development Plan meeting will be held on April 1st at the U.S. Rt. 40 Fire Station. The plan consultant, Norris Design, will review their findings to date. To give your input on how you would like to see development at the base of Floyd Hill evolve, contact Mike Chevarria at vicepresident@floydhill.org or call him at 303-670-6528. Four scenarios outlined by Norris Design can be viewed on the FHAPOA web site.
Water Response Committee: Jim White
No report.
Activities Committee: Report by Linda Berteau
Anne White is looking for committee members to help plan a potluck picnic to celebrate the August grand opening of the Elmgreen Park playground. Saddleback and Beaver Brook residents will also be invited to this event.
Old Business:
Order forms were passed out to those wanting to purchase bare root or potted TREE OR SHRUB SEEDLINGS through the Golden 4-H. Orders must be placed by March 27th. Ponderosa pine, Scotch pine, and Rocky Mountain junipers are currently sold out. Representatives from Floyd Hill will pick up seedling orders at the Jefferson County Fair Grounds and deliver them to FHAPOA members who ordered them on Saturday, April 18th. The survival rate (50%-65%) of potted trees to replace trees killed by the Mountain Pine Beetle has been considerably better than that for bare root trees.
A list of volunteers to participate in the Floyd Hill SPRING LITTER PICK-UP program was distributed. While each homeowner is responsible for discarding any litter on their own property, residents are encouraged to pick up litter by the roadsides as they are out walking their pets or stretching their legs. Volunteers will be picking up litter on designated roads throughout the months of April and May. The Student Council and Honor Society at Clear Creek High School is again being contacted to pick up litter along Beaver Brook Drive and U.S. Rt. 40.
The June CHIPPER WEEKEND is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th. Josh Lewis is taking names of volunteers who will staff a rented industrial-sized chipper and pick up piles of slash piles along roads on these days. The cost to Association members is $20 regardless of the size of the pile. Non-members can participate for $40. “Hot” beetle-infested trees will have priority. Residents are expected to help chip their own slash wood. Contact Josh if you would like to be included in this spring’s chipper route. lewisj@patenergy.com or call 303-898-6991. Additional chipping is planned for September.
The Annual area GARAGE SALE is being organized by Linda Seavey of Saddleback for either Saturday June 20 or 27th. The Kleinwachters have been contacted to see if they will again allow the garage sale to be staged on the flat area to the west of the Park and Ride on the northwest corner of Beaver Brook and Hyland. Anyone can have a booth. There is no cost for selling items. Those interested in having a booth are to contact Linda Seavey at lseavey@qwest.net or call 303-567-4363. The Homeowners Association will have an information booth at the garage sale to disseminate information on area issues. Those not wanting to staff a booth all morning can have items sold at the Association’s booth for a 20% commission. The Association will arrange to deliver any unsold, unwanted merchandise to a local charity.
Ballots for election of the 2009 Floyd Hill Area Homeowners’ Association officers will be mailed to all Association members in April. The proposed slate of officers is as follows:
Josh Lewis President
Keith Briggs Vice President
Holly Gangell Treasurer
Kris (Kinzli) Lee Secretary
Closure and Next Meeting:
Door prize winners were drawn and the following gifts were given:
Kris Lee Gift certificate to El Rancho restaurant
Patty Hughes Gift certificate to Fiesta Jalisco restaurant
Chip Rich Golf glove and cap
Joyce Chevarria Gift card to Trinity Irish Pub
Marlynn LaGreca Gift card to Nick and Willie’s Pizza
Paul Berteau Coffee mug
Rebecca Briggs Ice tea maker
Steve Lane Hibachi barbeque
The next FHAPOA meeting will be scheduled for Thursday, May 21st at 7:00 pm at the Fire Station on U.S. Rt. 40. We thank all 39 attendees to tonight’s meeting and urge them to return for our May meeting.
Paul Berteau motioned to close the meeting and Chip Rich seconded the motion. Josh Lewis adjourned the business meeting at 9:30 pm. (Note: Meetings generally end at 9:00 pm).
Respectfully submitted,
Linda G. Berteau,
FHAPOA Secretary
In attendance:
Pat Aiello Marlynn LaGreca
Joe Aldridge (Beaver Brook) Steve Lane
Tanya Argo Kris Lee
Linda and Paul Berteau Josh Lewis
Rebecca and Keith Briggs Siegfried Manke
Linda Browning Ray Muller
Mary Cain Carlene O’Brien
Joyce and Mike Chevarria Larry Patterson
Marianne Flugel Ben Pfohl (State of Colorado Forester)
Holly Gangell Matt Robie (Clear Creek Metro Recreation District)
Pete Helseth Chip Rich
Patty and Dan Hughes Kathy and William Schreuder
Barb and Tom Ivan Tanya and Chris Striebich
Tamara and Dave Kempa Kim Steele
Houston, Mario, Sondra?
39 in attendance