Friends of Crab Orchard Minutes of 08/07/08 Print

Friends of Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

                                                          Minutes of August 7, 2008

 

The meeting was called to order by Roy Frank at 6:40 pm. Members present: Clark and Rhoda Ashby, Colleen Bogard, Roy Frank, Ron Hamburg (briefly), Rose Howerton, Doc Schaede, Mike Brown, Dan Frisk, and Neil Vincent.

 

Minutes of the July meeting: approved after a motion by Doc, seconded by Clark.

 Treasurer’s Report: Clark asked about the $2400 that is restricted for the Lands newspaper. Neil said that the Forest Service will pay for the first printing and Friends will likely pay for the second one. The Treasurer’s report was accepted (Clark, Colleen).  

Old Business:

Web site: The site has not been updated. Is there a blockage in getting material to the webmaster and/or is it not being put on the site? Colleen will talk with Steve about whether there should be a committee to be liaison to the webmaster. Payment of the $30 monthly billing that started with July 2008 was tabled until the problem is resolved.

 Nominating Committee: Colleen, Doc and Roy will be the members of this committee. Bogard Point: The table has been moved back but possibly not yet fastened down. Replacing the gravel will be done at a later time. Credit card usage: Rose provided sales figures for before and after the machine was installed and concluded that having the capacity to handle a credit purchase probably is worthwhile. New Business:

National Environmental Education Foundation: A letter in response to our request for a grant does not sound encouraging.

John A. Logan College One Box Shot: an Oct. 11th fund raiser. Doc took that information.

 Hunting and Fishing Days on September 27th and 28th: Rose will send the $250 fee and the

 

application will be filled out later. Colleen will sign people up for 9 am - 1 pm and 1 pm - 4 or 5pm time slots on Saturday and Sunday to run our bookstore booth. Doc agreed to Saturday afternoon and Rose to Sunday afternoon and perhaps some time on Saturday. The Refuge will provide the carport and help with the set-up and carrying the merchandise to and from. The credit card machine will be available.

 Annual Meeting: October 2nd. Colleen will organize the refreshments (cookies and drinks). Committee Reports:

Merchandise: Colleen reported that a great deal of merchandise has been ordered for the fall. More orange hats still need to be ordered. Bicycle Trail: Roy has been mapping the route. Three small creeks need to be crossed. Bridges would cost about $175,000 each. He will suggest an alternative using culverts with gabions and a concrete cap. The route for a finger to the Visitors’ Center still needs to be determined and may require IDOT right-of-way permission.

            Neil attended the IDOT meeting on widening Route 13 to 6 lanes from Marion to Carterville. The bicycle trail proposed in connection with that project apparently would not have an effect on the F&W one.

 

Wetlands: Doc was not aware of any major work. Dan reported that they are concentrating on minor repairs to be completed before the waterfowl start arriving. Photo Contest: The date is not finalized. Karen’s leaving will mean some uncertainty in getting it organized. Refuge Report:

            Neil: The Youth Hunt will probably be September 6th.

 

  Duck stamp and sticker sales were about the same as last year. Sales of day passes are up.

 

            Newly-installed traffic counters are showing more cars going through the Refuge than had been estimated in the past.

 

            Dan: Personnel: A new maintenance supervisor is on board; 2 maintenance positions are still to be filled. Mike’s position is still vacant and combined with John Magera’s departure there is an opportunity to restructure how the Refuge is organized.

 

            A contractor will be working to repair/replace marina dock H-1 by the end of August.

            The design for the break wall is being finalized, the contract is out, work to start in the fall.

            Utilities problems have stalled work on the turn lanes in front of the VC.

            The pond at the VC will be drained for a year, the dam repaired and possibly be made accessible for fishing.

            There are Regional personnel changes with a new Regional Director and a new person for Dan’s immediate supervisor.

            Bids for the concessions for the 3 campgrounds will go out in 2-3 weeks.

            At this time there are no plans to have a concessionaire for the Crab Orchard Marina.

            Nine primitive camping sites are being developed at Devil’s Kitchen Lake.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:58 pm. Next meeting: September 4, 2008 at 6:30.

                                                                                              Submitted by Rhoda Ashby