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Myakka Valley Ranches Improvement Association Board Meeting Minutes  May 14, 2012  at Myakka State Park Conference Center 
Monthly Meeting Notice permanently posted on guardhouse 

Deb Houston, President, called the meeting to  order at 7:05 PM and declared a quorum.

Board Members present:  Deb Houston, President, Bob Chenard, Vice President, Jim Holthaus, Treasurer, Chris Thomas, Gary James, Dan McKillop, Larry Brotherton, Andy Behn, Jackie Vizzi, Vivian Zabik.
Board Members absent:  Ryan Jekowski (Chris Thomas stated with apologies)
Deb Houston went over Robert's Rules stating the 3 minutes per item on all questions.  Code of Conduct was presented to all Board members present. 

MINUTES:
Minutes from April 16, 2012 were presented to Board just prior to May meeting.  Deb asked for a motion to table approval of April 16, 2012 minutes until June meeting.  Jackie made a motion to table approval of April 16, 2012 minutes.  Vivian seconded.  Motion passed on unanimous vote.

FINANCE:
Deb asked for a motion to approve the March Financials. Vivian made a motion to approve March Financials.  Jackie seconded.  Motion passed on unanimous vote. 

Jim, Treasurer, stated that the April Financials are not ready as our statements do not come out until after our monthly Board meetings.  Expenditures will only be on the operational side until the Reserve budget is approved by membership.  Andy suggested that each check item be identified.  Jim will notify the bookkeeper. 
Bob made a motion to table April financials.  Larry seconded it.  Motion passed on unanimous vote. 

SECRETARY:
Deb stated that no one had volunteered for Secretary position.  Chris Thomas offered to take the Secretary position.  Deb made a motion that Chris Thomas take Secretary position.  Dan seconded it  Motion passed on unanimous vote.   Dan McKillop volunteered to help Chris.

LEGAL:
John Corcoran, legal committee chair, reported that there is a hearing scheduled for May 31st regarding Motion for Protective Order and Amended Motion to dismiss.
Motion for Partial Summary Judgment hearing on May 23, 2012, rescheduled until July 13, 2012 due to the plaintiffs’ attorney being unavailable. 
The two suggested motions by Dan McKillop were presented to our attorneys.  The attorney's opinion was that the association is already entitled to the award of it's attorney's fees and costs.   

RESERVES VOTE:
Andy Behn stated he had not yet met with both Chris and Harold Joslin, committee members, regarding notification of membership, proxy, agenda, etc. Bob Chenard made a motion to table until June meeting.  Larry seconded it.  Motion passed on unanimous vote. 
Dan suggested perhaps we explain road work plan on website.  Lynn Reid, editor of T n T, suggested putting information in Trails n Tales.

COMMPLIANCE COMMITTEE:
Jackie made a motion to have a compliance committee.  Jim seconded.  Committee members would be Bob Chenard, Vivian Zabik, and Bill Still.  It would be a task oriented committee and bring the facts back to the Board.  Motion passed on unanimous vote. 
Lot 169:  Deb stated that they did not pick up certified letter.  Suggestion that another letter be sent asking them to come to the June meeting to explain the issue of the ATV track.  
Lot 223:  Follow up on October, 2011 Board meeting motion to get a further opinion from our legal counsel.  
Lot 154:  Need to set a date to move the fence.  
  
INSURANCE:  
Jim stated that we must have a separate policy for covering Directors being sued by other Directors.  He is still looking for coverage for that policy but we are still covered by our same insurance company regarding our regular policy.
TERM CONTRACTS:
Larry stated he had received a bid from Hackney.  Gary stated he had submitted bids as well.  Larry will speak with David Hodgkinson, Road committee chair.

Vivian made a motion that Gary give a work/order to Andy to mow the common areas.  Deb seconded it. Gary James abstained.  All others voted yes.  Motion passed.

DISASTER: 
Vivian made a motion to reimburse Greg Schoonover, radio commander, for a radio license (approximately $85.00).  Seconded by Jim.  Motion passed by a unanimous vote. 

SADDLE TRAIL:
Jackie presented a report by the Trail committee regarding their position on the saddle trail mowing. The committee asked the Bylaw committee to review the procedure for saddle trail mowing. 
Jackie made a motion to continue with the present blanket procedure of saddle trail mowing - from time to time.  Jim seconded.  Jackie, Vivian, Deb, and Jim voted yes.  Bob abstained  (new and not have enough information), Dan abstained,  Gary, Chris, Larry and Andy voted no.  Motion did not pass.
Resident questioned the Board on the fact that there was never a written legal answer regarding Saddle Trail mowing contract.  Vivian stated that question was supposed to be asked by Keith Bradley and Cynthia Pepper at an April 6th, 2011 meeting with our legal counsel.  Board will follow up.
Question about the pink ribbons hanging around the Valley.  Compliance committee will look into it.   
Chris requested the Board look into replacing the original Franz saddle trail.  Linda Ferry, previous Board member, stated that the deeded saddle trail is in the ditch and no longer in existence.    
Jim made a motion to table the motion of maintenance of saddle trail mowing until June meeting.  Bob seconded.  Motion passed by a unanimous vote.

RESIDENT’S QUESTIONS:
Chris Thomas stated that our park, is an environmental hazard (Lot 94) and
all the concrete milling is leaching into the creek and Upper Lake Myakka.  He would like it removed or something in writing that we are allowed to stockpile milled asphalt.
Chris  made a motion to remove the dirt in the park.  Larry  seconded.  Chris stated that it is all asphalt milling. Chris stated that Superior (company working for the State on route 72) has brought in 2 probably 6 more loads of that there.  (no documentation)
Several residents stated that if Superior dumped illegally in our park then they should be responsible for removing it. 
Lengthy discussion ensued and several residents stated it was stockpiled for the repair of the bridge in case of another wash out. Another resident stated that Kelly Pluta, Sarasota County, was aware of the stockpile, as of last year.  Chris stated that this was established by Richard Johnson.  Keith Bradley, resident, stated that there is still the question who authorized Richard Johnson to dump the stuff there. Several residents questioned the personal accusations being made and suggested that the road committee and Superior be contacted to gather facts.  Compliance committee will address this issue.
Questions regarding whether it is a capital expenditure or operational will be addressed by finance committee as it may need a membership vote.   
  
Dan suggested that the Board table it and perhaps call a special meeting to give Chris time to find out costs. 
Chris amended his motion to have the dirt removed if he can do it for free, if not, he will get bids on the cost to have it removed.  Jim abstained (believes it to be capital expenditure, therefore membership vote), Vivian, no, all others yes.  Motion passed.

Trudi Lawrenz, resident,  turned in the (1999) printer and has asked that someone else do the estoppels for the Valley.  Jim will ask Rebecca Stokes, bookkeeper, to take the responsibility of estoppels moving forward. Andy Behn took (1999) printer home for Chris, Secretary. 

Several residents suggested Road committee members attend our Board meetings.  
Jackie made a motion to adjourn. Jim seconded.  Meeting adjourned 10:15PM