Minutes of the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council

Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Hall

January 27, 2005

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM. Those present introduced themselves:

Steve Butsko	LongFibre Co.	Dennis Nelson	Izaak Walton League
Jim Buxton	Landowner	Maggie Peyton	UNWC Coordinator
Lauren Jacobsen	Landowner	Tim Couch	Fishhawk Lake
Nick Berg	Landowner	Dan Mclain	Col. SWCD
Bill Langmaid	Landowner	Alan Kelso	ODF-Jewell Unit
Kevin Werst	Clatsop Cty Road Dept.	Don Epling	Landowner
Byron Rickert	Weyerhaeuser	Troy Horton	Fishhawk Lake, NWRT
Beth Lambert	OSU Extension	Marc Auerbach	Landowner
Bob DuPuis	Landowner

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

Jim gave the Treasurer’s report, passed around a fiscal report and noted that the bank balance was sufficient to fulfill current tasks and responsibilities. Maggie reported on her activities and made announcements. She passed out the “Upper Nehalem Year in Review,” an article that was published in a recent “Vernonia Independent” issue. She talked about the grants that have been reviewed by OWEB from the October cycle, explaining that within the list of grants that pass review they are ranked by the review teams to indicate which would be funded during the current low budget. East Humbug was rated 4^th of 15 capitol expenditures, Cedar Creek 12^th, and Bear Creek 13^th. A continuation of the juvenile habitat assessment was rated 4^th of 4 non-capital expenditures. The Rock Creek assessment grant did not pass technical review and will be re-worked for the next cycle. Lauren reported on activities of the Steering Committee, which had met just prior to the main meeting, noting that a personnel review was completed, as well as a self-evaluation of the committee.

Dennis Nelson then announced that nominations were open for election of officers. The existing board was re-nominated and elected to hold their current positions. (Dennis Nelson – chair, Lauren Jacobsen – vice-chair, Jim Buxton – treasurer, Bill Langmaid – secretary)

It was noted that there was room for interested people to serve on the steering committee, Steve Butsko wanted to remain on the committee. Marc Auerbach indicated interest and was nominated and appointed. Alan Kelso also indicated interest, and was provisionally appointed pending approval of his organization.

Maggie Peyton then introduced Beth Lambert, a OSU Extension agent from Tillamook, to lead the group through a process of self-evaluation for effectiveness and function. This process is mandated by OWEB to ensure that the councils throughout the state operate at certain standards of self-accountability. Beth introduced the group to the process of self-evaluation, selected groupings for more focused discussion, and then monitored each discussion. These small groups talked until 8:30 when Beth reconvened the larger process to identify issues and actions that the council decided need improvement. Among the action items noted were :