[0:05] Today finally a nice day in the mountains, huh? Nice morning. Cool

[0:09] today. Cool. It's about time. We uh

[0:15] » No, you're right. That's a good point. All right. Let me know when it's 9:02.

[0:21] Of course, we're all here, so we can get started at 9:00.

[0:25] Okay.

[0:30] Okay. How do I end up here?

[0:39] Let's see.

[0:52] Okay. Okay.

[1:04] Don't forget to put your mics on, please.

[1:08] » What?

[1:18] That one's That one's on. Look at him turn them on

[1:22] » here. If I got one in my face, you get one in your face.

[1:31] » I forgot to bring that. >> It's 9:00.

[1:34] » 9:00. Okay. So, I think we'll get started on time. We're all here. Um so,

[1:38] good morning everybody and welcome to the Tad Country's monthly tree board

[1:43] meeting. And today is Tuesday, September the 8th, um 2026. Welcome everybody.

[1:49] We're missing two members who uh let me know they could not come. Uh

[1:53] Commissioner Blake and Ashley Manson not able to attend. All right. So, uh can we

[1:59] just have a moment of silence, please?

[2:09] Okay. Thank you. All right. Everybody have a chance to read the minutes? say

[2:12] pretty extensive. Um, Elizabeth, you did the minutes, right?

[2:16] » Yes. >> Are these done by AI and then you redo

[2:19] it? Is how it's done? >> These were I just went down the agenda.

[2:25] Typically, we get an AI summary. This particular AI summary didn't work out

[2:30] quite well. >> Okay. Wow.

[2:31] » Whatever. >> Well, thank you. It's a lot of work. I

[2:33] was the uh secretary of my synagogue and it's a it's a it's a lot of work to uh

[2:39] put them down into a summary. So, thank you. Anybody have any questions? The

[2:43] additions, deletions.

[2:47] » Okay. And then a motion to approve the minutes.

[2:50] » So move. >> Okay.

[2:51] » Second. >> Okay. Any discussion?

[2:55] No discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I.

[2:57] » I. Opposed. Okay. Minutes from July 14th uh are approved. Of course, we did not

[3:04] have an August meeting. Uh we did not have a quorum. So we're September.

[3:09] Okay. uh old business. Um I'm going to skip the number one, come back to that

[3:15] chestnut project. I've been told that the property that we all looked at on

[3:19] Virginia between Virginia and Montre assembly drive has been cleared and

[3:23] seated. I'm going to assume that was done by our town Barry. I spoke with

[3:28] Beggy Peggy and she has now gotten back to me if this is a good time of year now

[3:32] to go ahead and plant these chestnuts. So maybe next I've called her having she

[3:37] could be away. She travels a lot. So maybe um I'll get in touch with you and

[3:42] if she decides to get them done between now and the next meeting, I'll let you

[3:46] guys know and you can come over and watch her put them in the ground. And

[3:51] she's going to do the um the the area. And I think there's a number of other

[3:55] spots around town that we asked that she put some chestnut I guess they're called

[4:00] saplings. Uh and she said she would do that. Am I correct? Yeah. So that's

[4:04] where that chestnut project is. It's still moving forward that we haven't got

[4:09] it done yet. Okay. All right. So then the hemlock project, of course, that's

[4:16] an ongoing project of the tree board. I think uh Ashley's not coming, but she's

[4:21] got some program correct uh posted somewhere in town about the hemlocks. Is

[4:27] that correct, Elizabeth? >> Yeah, the uh Montre Presbyterian Church

[4:31] does a Wednesday speaker series and on I have to look at the um anyway there's

[4:38] a poster up about it, right? I believe it's November 18th. Um Ashley and uh

[4:45] George I mean Ashley and Joe Standard are doing

[4:50] uh saving the hemlocks presented by Joe and Ashley. November 18th at 3:45 is

[4:57] social uh minute and then four is the program.

[5:00] » Okay. I'm sure we hear a lot more between that. We'll have two board

[5:03] meetings before then. So we hear more about that. Okay.

[5:07] All right. Um, I don't think we ever really got a chance to talk about our

[5:11] tree board cottagers participation because it happened after our July

[5:16] meeting and then of course we did not have an August meeting. So I was there

[5:20] and I think most of us were there. It really was very successful. We had a

[5:25] very nice presentation, a lot of interest actually. We we hand out a lot

[5:30] of uh information >> and um we actually got a few people who

[5:34] would like to volunteer to become board members which kind of brings me to the

[5:39] one point that George and um Tyler you're much saying you have to but your

[5:44] terms expire on the 31st of January of 2027. It's still months away. If you

[5:51] want to renew just let me know. if you don't let me know and then I'll get in

[5:54] touch with these gentlemen who are Joe Griffith and Richard.

[5:59] » Point of order. >> Yes.

[6:01] » Uh my term as chair of land care expires and the new chair for next year will be

[6:08] Bill um >> Tucker.

[6:12] » Tucker. >> No,

[6:17] it's only a name, folks. >> It's only a name. Anyway, you'll have a

[6:22] new appointee from Landare. >> Oh, okay. Is that how it works? That

[6:25] Land Care position is automatically in the tree board. Oh, okay. Oh, okay.

[6:30] » Land care and commissioner are both >> So, that's really not an open seat is

[6:34] what you're telling me. >> Yeah.

[6:36] » No. >> Okay.

[6:37] » They're not appointed by the town council. They're

[6:39] » auto. That's one of their duties. >> Okay. Learn something every day. Okay.

[6:44] Well, >> and for for what it's worth, my term

[6:46] also expires in January of 27th. >> Does it?

[6:49] » Yep. I don't Okay. >> What's on the website?

[6:52] » I think it's >> We can verify with

[6:54] » Let's verify because I had the 28th. >> It may be that they did that to spread

[7:00] out the >> Yeah, I had January.

[7:03] I had Ash's at 13128 and yours is 13128 and Elizabeth yours

[7:09] was 13128. Mine's 13128. So

[7:14] » anyway, we can check with >> We can check. Okay. All right. We'll

[7:17] check. That's not a problem. >> Okay. So, um,

[7:22] then, uh, and Tyler, you'll you'll think about it. If you want to stay on, you'll

[7:26] let me know. We got months to go there. But I think I will get in touch with

[7:30] these two gentlemen, Joe Griffith and Richard. Is it Debbolt?

[7:35] Uh, who showed interest at the uh, >> who?

[7:39] » I I may have wrote him down wrong. Ei

[7:44] showed interest when they came to and wanted to see if they can get on the

[7:47] treeboard. >> Oh, good. So yeah. Okay.

[7:51] » Ed, my replacement would be Bill Neely. William Neely.

[7:54] » Oh, okay. >> Okay, great.

[7:57] » All right. Is that 13127? >> Yes.

[8:02] » Yeah. >> Okay. February 1st. Okay. For February

[8:05] meeting. Okay. Fine. >> All right. So, that's

[8:09] all right. So, oh, uh, anybody wanted to talk about it was I the first time I

[8:14] ever been to a cottagers meeting, I was amazed how organized it was, how many

[8:20] people showed up, how informative it was. It really was really a wonderful

[8:25] event. Anybody >> and people really come looking for

[8:28] information. I think they really went from table to table to table

[8:32] » picking up information. The more Yeah. So, it was really terrific. Uh so one

[8:36] somebody can educate me that is a cottagers meeting which means that's the

[8:39] town or is that how does that >> cottagers is an independent organization

[8:44] within Montre that's existed since pre it predates the town existing it used to

[8:51] be mechanism by which >> the the cottagers did things for the

[8:56] valley but then the town started but the cottagers still remain

[8:59] » and it was also anformational meeting for the cottagers to find out what's

[9:03] going on in the valley and with with EMRA and other various organizations.

[9:09] Um

[9:13] » I know we pay dues. >> Yeah. And it's

[9:16] » and it's minimal. Very minimal. >> Yeah. Well, and it's it's um what

[9:20] happened is during after co it went to one meeting instead of two. There used

[9:25] to be two. July was informational. August was the business meeting when we

[9:31] elected officers. But now it's all in one.

[9:35] » What exactly and I say this humbly. What is the purpose of the cottagers meeting?

[9:41] » Cottagers is basically the Montre equivalent of a homeowners association.

[9:46] » Oh >> yeah, that's the way I think of it.

[9:50] » Like a HOA but

[9:54] information >> they have any author they have any

[9:57] authority? >> Huh?

[9:58] » Do they have any authority? Like an HOA has authority? No,

[10:02] » no authority. >> Set up for the barbecue, set up for the

[10:06] light, set up for >> stuff throughout MA

[10:11] » in town. >> So back in the back in the '9s

[10:17] um when the what is now called the Jane Hole Wilderness, it was a piece of land

[10:22] that was coming up for sale. So, Cottagers actually raised a large sum of

[10:27] money in a very short amount of time to buy that piece of property which is now

[10:32] almost transferred from Cottagers to >> MRA. I think they're still waiting for

[10:38] some insurance things or something. Anyway,

[10:42] they there's still so there was a cottagers wilderness

[10:46] subcommittee. Um, Cottagers also acts as a what is it?

[10:51] a nonprofit organization. So, Stone Bridges, for example, their fundraising

[10:57] that's happening where people want to donate to a taxexempt entity, it flows

[11:03] through Cottagers. I think the money it gives it a way to to collect the money

[11:09] in the bucket. >> Whereas Stone Bridges is also

[11:13] » um Cottagers organizes little things around the valley. They have a they have

[11:18] a website. They send out a newsletter. >> They do. They're a way for people to try

[11:23] to connect within the valley, but somehow in my mind, it's it's a

[11:27] predating when the town existed and but but that functions never it's always

[11:33] remained kind of outside of town, >> right,

[11:36] » itself. >> And it's a way for not for non-resident

[11:39] members to find out what's going on in the town. And when cuz that's one of the

[11:45] reasons the meeting is so well filled is that you have a lot of non-residents who

[11:50] are there who are seasonal >> who are there at the meeting.

[11:53] » Do you have to be a property owner to be a cottage?

[11:55] » A lot of them are property owners. Yeah. You do not have you do not have to live

[11:59] full-time in Montre to be a member of Cottagers. You do not have to own

[12:03] property. You have to All you have to do is pay $25.

[12:07] » Oh, okay. >> And show an interest.

[12:09] » Oh, >> I guess I don't even know.

[12:11] » Okay. Interesting. >> So you don't even buff have to be

[12:14] Scottish to be a member of the Scottish society. So yeah.

[12:18] » Okay. Well, it was well attended. We like I said, we handed out a lot of

[12:22] information on tree board. We definitely had a presence there. So thank you.

[12:26] » So it's an excellent >> you guys I know you guys put a lot of

[12:28] work into >> and Elizabeth did a lot of good work on

[12:30] getting new >> Yeah.

[12:33] » um information boards and stuff. So >> Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you.

[12:37] » I did a new information board. You had you guys had flyers. It was a team team

[12:40] effort. >> Good. Okay.

[12:42] » Team effort. >> All right. So, uh, the Swanoa Valley

[12:48] Wild grant

[12:50] » the the grant. I guess Ashley's not going to be able to speak to that today.

[12:53] I guess that money is still being held waiting for us to finalize the Flat

[12:58] Creek project. Is that what we decided that we're going to let them put the

[13:02] money into that project? I think that's how it up.

[13:06] » Yes. The money was uh what is it? North County Wildlife

[13:11] Federation. I guess that's where it came from.

[13:13] » Okay. >> They had earmarked that money to go to

[13:16] the Flat Creek Crossing project, which is still proceeding on this side of the

[13:21] creek. However, the large $600,000 grant, I think, is in a state of flux

[13:27] right now. Um, and so, um,

[13:32] » and so I we do need to follow up with Swan Wild and the folks that are running

[13:37] that Flat Creek crossing to see how we can,

[13:39] » right, >> use that $10,000 towards trees, which

[13:43] could still be possible, I guess, in the land that's that's in the with the work

[13:47] that's being done. But I'll let George. >> Yeah, George, you have some comment you

[13:51] want to make. >> Well, the $600,000 grant is dead. Um the

[13:58] uh tree planting will probably begin to happen

[14:03] late October >> into November, which is a better time

[14:07] around here to plant trees. Um I think the money has actually been delivered

[14:14] and is in our account, but I not 100% sure of that. I know we're counting on

[14:19] it. The >> $10,000. Yeah, we've received it.

[14:22] » I think so. >> Okay, we'll find out. Okay.

[14:26] because I >> I don't deal with the money side of that

[14:29] project.

[14:33] » Smart. >> Okay. I just want to make sure that if

[14:35] we haven't received it that we don't lose it since the other project seems to

[14:38] be delayed somewhat, but we could use it somewhere around the town. And we did

[14:43] get >> We're hoping to have the first part of

[14:46] the trail open this fall. >> Oh, nice. Okay.

[14:51] Very nice. Okay. All right. That's a That's a pretty good update. Okay, good.

[14:56] Um, all right. So, let's now get into more of the um

[15:02] » Okay, wait a minute. So, that was >> the online Mont tree management guide.

[15:07] Okay. Um, and I don't know if that goes along with

[15:11] the procedure or not. What do you think, Elizabeth?

[15:13] » Yeah. So kind of starting from the the back end

[15:20] of things or this the finer side of things, we are supposed to operate like

[15:24] all public appointed boards in North Carolina or the United States under

[15:30] rules of procedure. Those rules procedure are how we we work. And then

[15:37] there's the the ordinance which is part of the town regulations.

[15:43] It's the law about what people can and cannot do. And then what's in the

[15:48] ordinance determines the content of the tree management guide. And so kind of

[15:54] starting from the lowest point like let's be sure we know how we're

[15:58] operating the rules and then we can take on the ordinance and then we can take on

[16:03] the tree management guide. So starting with the rules of procedure, we had a

[16:07] very I gave out a few copies. It's all in black and white. That's what we

[16:12] currently are supposed to operate under. Okay. This is based on this cute little

[16:18] green book which came from the North Carolina School of Government.

[16:22] » When was this published? >> This book was published I don't know.

[16:27] It's a nice 1998. >> Oh, okay.

[16:30] » This book is now has now been taken out of print. It has been superseded

[16:37] by this prettier book that's not that same color. Anyway,

[16:41] so I got a copy of this from the school of government and this is the suggested

[16:45] procedural rules for local appointed boards were appointed. So luckily when

[16:49] you buy a copy of this, you get and it's it's long because it has like that much

[16:56] of this page is footnotes about why this rule is phrased the way it is. So my

[17:01] proposal is that when you get this, you get an electronic copy of this book or

[17:07] of the meaty part of the book. So, I downloaded a copy and this one that has

[17:12] red outlining, I basically tried to edit this new book

[17:18] to work for our tree board because there's some optional stuff in it. Yeah.

[17:22] And so, I propose that we just use what the North Carolina School of Government

[17:27] proposes for rules of procedure with edits to account for us as our rules of

[17:33] procedure because we note that this was published

[17:38] in

[17:41] 2020. >> So the book, the new book, the 2020 book

[17:46] doesn't really talk about treeboard specifically. No, this

[17:49] » talks about boards in general. And then we adopt it to fit our ordinance of

[17:53] treeboard and then further the procedure of the tree board.

[17:58] » Yeah. >> To fit the ordinance of the Montre.

[17:59] Okay, I got it. >> Yeah. So this this is just any kind of

[18:02] board. It could be a board about nursing or healthcare or whatever. So,

[18:06] » and basically that's what we did with the

[18:10] very first rules of procedure that we're changing and these have been updated

[18:15] thank goodness because I mean a lot of things weren't addressed when we

[18:19] organized. One of them was coming you know attending a meeting online

[18:23] electronic >> attendance and this sort of thing.

[18:27] » I think you if you have read through them you will realize we don't follow

[18:32] every single rule. I don't think any board in Montre truly does, but they are

[18:38] there for those times when there may be a group that says the sky

[18:44] is blue and trees should be orange >> and then the tree board can say I'm

[18:49] sorry, you know, and this is that's that lets us know how to how to really act

[18:56] and keep keep our faces clean, >> right?

[18:59] » Yeah. So that we don't get >> right

[19:02] » slammed. It was explained to me that when the rules of procedure were I guess

[19:06] the ones from 2016 Yeah. 18 there was some little turmoil in this town at that

[19:11] time and everything got overdone. Is that correct?

[19:14] » Well, I don't think it was overdone. I personally I think it it's a protection.

[19:20] » Okay. It's a protection for any of the boards in Montre and I think about every

[19:25] board pretty much fle moves it around a little bit to take care of how their

[19:31] business needs to be dealt with. >> Right. Right. Okay.

[19:33] » So, I'm sorry Mason isn't here to to address that. I just know that's how we

[19:39] approached it initially because of the of the turmoil. Yeah. So,

[19:44] Elizabeth, what we have in front of us, we have the rules of procedure from 206

[19:50] amended in 2018. >> Yeah. I wasn't sure how to do the

[19:53] header. So, I just kind of I probably should

[19:56] » what you did. >> Yeah.

[19:57] » But then >> because cuz basically it's it's such a

[19:59] total thing. It's not really amended, it's totally revised. So, whenever we

[20:03] adopt it, it'll get a revision date. >> Yeah. So,

[20:06] » and that's um that's what Angie told me to do when we did the revision.

[20:12] » Okay. Okay. So, so we have the one that has the red on it and the one that has

[20:15] just the black and white. >> What are the difference between these

[20:18] two documents? >> Black and white is is the original. This

[20:21] this is 2018. This is the 2018 version. >> I got it.

[20:25] » It was the should be the 2019 version. >> It It's not on. There's no 2019. Oh, the

[20:30] the tree guide is 2019. This is 20 The rules were 2018. 2018, I'm sorry.

[20:36] » All right. So the black and white only that's your original and then with the

[20:39] red >> your proposed changes

[20:42] » technically technically this black and white one is what we operate under right

[20:48] now because we've never changed it. >> So this is

[20:51] » never totally followed. We never totally followed it either, but that's So then

[20:55] this the one with the red is what I'm proposing because it's based on

[21:00] » this new book which supposedly takes into account changes in law which I

[21:06] would never track down to find out what they were.

[21:08] » Okay. Got it. And now >> and I think I

[21:10] » Okay. So >> I I once again I will thank Elizabeth

[21:14] for going >> Oh, tremendous. Yeah, we sat

[21:16] » government to get all of that. Yeah, >> we sat a little bit at your kitchen

[21:21] table and I remember we did some of this but I

[21:24] » Well, yeah, if we sat and tried to edit this

[21:27] » because I didn't know at the time that >> that these rules had been have become

[21:33] obsolete. So anyway, >> probably the important thing in this the

[21:38] the colorized one, the new ones that proposed

[21:42] » one is under Yeah, there's a couple of things in rule under rule nine.

[21:50] » It basically >> says I think it's rule nine.

[21:54] » Oh, it rule eight. Sorry, rule eight. Basically, it doesn't set a date and

[22:02] time for our meetings or frequency. It basically says that in January when we

[22:07] organize, we will set a calendar for the rest of the year and then it gets

[22:12] published with the town and wherever. Okay.

[22:14] » And so I like that better because for example right now our rules say we meet

[22:20] on a I don't know a Thursday or something and the fourth the fourth

[22:24] Tuesday and we meet on the second Tuesday and we were supposed to be

[22:27] meeting at whatever time and we don't you know we changed it.

[22:31] » So this means that we don't have to change these rules. If

[22:35] » supposing next year there's two people who don't work and three people who work

[22:40] and they decide they want to meet at 7:00 on a Sunday night. That's fine. We

[22:44] don't have to change the rules. >> Right. Because you've kept it general.

[22:47] » Yeah. Because it's general. It just says it will be established and it will be

[22:50] published. >> Understand.

[22:52] » Which I like better. >> Right. Right. Do these have to be

[22:54] adopted by the town commissioners? >> No. If you look at the very either at

[22:59] the very end of either the old one or the new one. It says amendments. The

[23:03] rules may be amended at any regular meeting.

[23:07] » It matters what's in the current one because that's what it lets us do it. It

[23:10] says that we can we can amend it as as a board as long as it's a generally

[23:16] consistent with town charter general law principles or whatever.

[23:20] » So twothirds of the board has to approve it. So under our current rules,

[23:25] twothirds of the board >> can approve to change it. And that's

[23:29] what I'll double check that that's what it says. Yeah. Well, actually now the

[23:34] new law, the new version just says a majority of the boards.

[23:38] » What number are you on? number 34. So look at the very end.

[23:42] » Yeah. Okay. >> So the new one changes it to a majority

[23:45] instead of twothirds. I given that we're a small board,

[23:48] » right? >> The difference in a majority and two/3

[23:50] is >> probably one.

[23:52] » Does it even exist? >> Right. Exactly.

[23:55] » Well, >> majority is is

[23:57] » majority would be a half. You need three out of five.

[24:02] » Yeah. >> Votes for a majority. And you'd need

[24:06] three out of five for >> You would need four. You would need

[24:08] four. Four. >> Yeah. Four because two three out of five

[24:11] is 60. >> Okay.

[24:13] » And you said 2/3 is 67. >> Yeah. So this just says majority, you

[24:17] know, it's >> it can just be a simple majority. I

[24:20] think a simple majority because this is >> 2/3 is a little different. So

[24:25] » yeah. >> So it that reduces down a little bit.

[24:29] » So that would but no, we have the authority to do it if we'd like

[24:35] just going with some edited version of the new one.

[24:38] If someone else could at least read through them and then I will I can pass

[24:43] these by either Angie or Savannah. I think it would be Savannah and just say

[24:49] Savannah, we want to change our rules of procedure. Here's our redlinined version

[24:54] of, you know, here's how we got to these new ones. Do you have any issues? And

[25:00] meanwhile, since and then be sure that Mason's aware of it and that Mason's

[25:04] read through it since he's both our council rep and a lawyer, right?

[25:09] » So, he would read it with two different eyes. So, if the two of them are okay,

[25:13] then I would say at the next meeting, >> we just go with something like this. I

[25:17] don't know that any of y'all have really read through this redline version. So,

[25:22] » that would also be a task for y'all to >> Do you have any issues with what's Yeah.

[25:27] » Um >> in this new version? No, I I'm I'll look

[25:30] through it. I thought I was going to have a chance to.

[25:33] » So, we'll put this on the agenda for the um October meeting for final approval.

[25:36] Is that >> Yeah, for approval

[25:38] » and maybe send any questions to you beforehand so you can prepare.

[25:42] » Uh is there anything in this new version that we should be doing that we aren't

[25:46] doing? Because I mean it's, you know, we're pretty loose here.

[25:50] » Secretary, >> you're supposed to have a secretary.

[25:53] Well, it it actually in here it says that you have to elect a chair and a

[25:59] vice chair. It doesn't say that you have to elect a secretary, but you need a

[26:03] secretary. So, if you we want, we can add that at the first meeting, we'll

[26:07] also elect a secretary. >> There are probably a few things we

[26:10] probably could really learn from this that we should be doing that we're not

[26:13] other than some of the real particular legal ease things.

[26:17] » The make us a better board. >> Yeah. The only thing that I know is that

[26:21] in for small boards the this book recommends that you do not require

[26:27] seconds on motions because effectively if one person makes a motion that's

[26:32] already 20% of the board who supports that particular idea that's one out of

[26:38] five >> and that actually has been that you'll

[26:41] find that also in the other book that's pretty much we do not need to have a

[26:45] second. Elizabeth, could I ask you to maybe

[26:49] take out of this document maybe half a dozen things that we should really be

[26:53] doing as a tree board that we're not doing? I mean,

[26:58] » one I guess as chair, vice chair second. I didn't know you didn't have to second.

[27:02] I mean, maybe other than just we adopted maybe there are some things that really

[27:06] could help us operate better. >> I I will look I think

[27:10] » or anybody can go through it, not just Elizabeth. And maybe there's a number of

[27:13] things here we could adopt. be aware of more than there's 35 rules here and

[27:19] maybe there's a couple we need to start paying attention to that we don't I

[27:22] don't know >> I think we we generally operate pretty

[27:27] informally as a board in terms of >> the chair doesn't have to recognize

[27:32] every speaker the the discussion can be a little looser I think we're a friendly

[27:37] group and so I like the way we operate personally

[27:42] » yeah administratively we're Okay. Other than the chair, vice chair, no seconds.

[27:47] The secretary sounds like it's more of a volunteer appointed position.

[27:50] » These originally were were assisted by the um it was then this um town

[27:56] administrator >> who was who was helping with the

[28:00] interpretation of the state law. Yeah. >> Okay.

[28:03] » So that the original ones were were not just done because we just sat here and

[28:08] found them online. Right. It was we we had town help

[28:14] the official. >> Okay.

[28:16] » Yeah. >> All right. We'll read I'll read through

[28:19] it. Any suggestions? Senator Elizabeth, you'll come then. We'll

[28:22] » do y'all wanted me to change it so that we elect a chair, a vice chair, and a

[28:27] secretary because it's easy just to put in there that you elect comma comma

[28:30] comma. >> Yeah.

[28:32] » Okay. I'll add secretary. >> I I I think it's important that we have

[28:38] one. That's just me personally speaking. >> I would prefer having a secretary who's

[28:42] assigned that. >> I would find it difficult to take care

[28:46] take care of also doing the minutes, >> right?

[28:49] » Yeah. You you can work with the secretary to get it

[28:52] » to make sure everything's included. >> Yeah.

[28:55] » But a second eye on it is always a good thing.

[28:58] » Does it talk about how many members should be on a tree board or is that

[29:01] arbitrary? >> That is in the town ordinance.

[29:04] » Oh, it is. Okay. >> Yeah. The number of members. So this is

[29:07] how we the the ordinance really structures our authority and how we're

[29:13] set up and what we're supposed to do. >> Yeah.

[29:17] » So the land care that is a set position, correct?

[29:20] » Oh yeah, it's a se separate >> se but that's an automatic position

[29:25] right >> ordinance chair of landare

[29:29] » automatically sits on tree board. >> Voting or non- voting? I forget.

[29:32] » Voting voting. The chair of landare is a voting.

[29:34] » What about the town commissioner seat? voting member

[29:36] » voting member and it's in the or whoever the whoever the commissioner is for the

[29:41] environment is the rep town board representative to the tree board

[29:47] » so basically there's five open seats >> there are five appointed there are three

[29:51] open seats >> there's five appointed seats

[29:53] » five one two three four and nally would be five George position doesn't count

[29:58] and yeah and u sorry my number >> do we feel five yeah we added Open C.

[30:06] » That's an ordinance. That's an ordinance.

[30:07] » We were just That's an ordinance. >> Okay. Got you.

[30:09] » So, it used to be that the tree board was three and then when Ashley and I

[30:16] came on when you started, you asked for more.

[30:18] » That's right. >> And the council approved two additional.

[30:21] So, now we're five. >> Couldn't do with three.

[30:25] Okay. All right. >> Personally, I think any bigger at this

[30:28] stage in the game. >> As long as people show up, we're good.

[30:30] » Yeah. Oh, >> does it talk about missed meetings from

[30:34] at large members? >> I mean, I haven't read through and I

[30:37] will somebody misses some if an atlarge person misses more than so many meetings

[30:42] whether excused or unexcused that they should drop off. Does it mention that at

[30:45] all? >> No, that would not be a I don't know if

[30:49] I don't know where that kind of information would go. And

[30:53] » I know that there are some organizations that that will say and I can't remember

[30:57] if town council is one of them or not to be honest.

[31:00] » Well, I'm talking about the board, the tree board or the board of adjustment

[31:04] that I also sit on. Yeah. >> That if somebody doesn't show up and

[31:07] doesn't tell us they're not coming, they just don't show. That's a problem for

[31:11] quorum purposes and voting purposes. >> Yeah.

[31:13] » So, >> you the your board of adjustments has a

[31:17] similar rules of procedure that you operate under. We're lucky because we

[31:21] have an attorney that shows up. >> Yeah.

[31:22] » No, but you still have something like this that says what kind of motions and

[31:26] all you can and cannot do. And that board probably needs to operate more

[31:31] closely to what is currently. >> I'm going to check it out because I'm

[31:33] the chair. Okay. >> That because that's a more contentious.

[31:38] » There's more what? Quasi. Yeah. >> Legislative judicial. I don't know the

[31:42] right word. >> That's the right word.

[31:43] » You you you do more than we do. Yeah. In that sense. Well, how do people feel

[31:48] about attendance at these meetings in terms of you're an atlarge person?

[31:53] » I think if you're an atlarge person, since we will have something in here

[31:58] where you can participate online.

[32:02] » Yeah. Which count >> that there's no excuse.

[32:05] » You know that unless you're, >> you know, an excuse except except for my

[32:11] excuse this past year with Ron being so sick,

[32:13] » right? and or if you're physically sick and you cannot participate. But I think

[32:19] um just every week whether somebody in every month of oh well I just forgot you

[32:24] know I think uh-uh that's >> part of your responsibility is to be

[32:30] here. >> Yeah

[32:30] » or well I had something more important to do. No, your responsibility is to be

[32:35] here which is why you accepted the the appointment. So I hear what I think what

[32:39] I hear you saying is if that happens it's up to the chair to maybe speak to

[32:43] that member and say maybe this isn't for you and leave it like that.

[32:46] » Yeah. Exactly. >> All right. Fine.

[32:47] » Okay. And here down at on the very first page where it has rule number three

[32:52] electronic board members. It's kind of the one of the new things like an

[32:56] » this was a choice that you could make. >> Yeah.

[32:59] » Um because you can see where I read lined out the bracketed described

[33:03] circumstances where you may attend and whatever. And I just wrote that a person

[33:07] who's not physically present may participate by electronic means and will

[33:12] count as present for quorum and may vote on motions.

[33:16] » We don't have we can change that. We can say that they will not count as present

[33:19] and they may not vote or >> whatever. But given the modern way

[33:24] electronic meetings work, I see no problem with people voting on from

[33:28] » what does from Zoom deal? >> Not worry about it. Oh, no. I I Yeah,

[33:37] you got >> Does it talk at all? I mean, I haven't

[33:39] read through it and I will, I promise you, but does it talk about um

[33:44] » public input? >> Yes, there are public comment periods

[33:48] and there's a thing about whether we can take suggestions from the public on

[33:52] changing our agenda and then we do or do not have to accept those. And

[33:58] » okay, >> you know, if we have a special meeting,

[34:00] we can set how long >> we can say everybody gets one minute to

[34:04] talk or five minutes to talk. >> Okay. It's all in this document. We'll

[34:08] be through it. Okay. >> It kind Yeah. So, why don't we read

[34:10] through it and then y'all send me ideas or questions or thoughts and we just I

[34:15] think you need to look through it. >> Yeah.

[34:17] » And then we can decide. But >> I think there's some things which we

[34:20] could discuss >> and then I'll I'm going to leave this

[34:24] book with the town. And so if somebody wants to like know the why's and

[34:28] wherefors and >> how much we deleted out it's in here.

[34:33] » Thank you. >> Um the bracketed information in this red

[34:38] document is where they offer suggestions or you know you like these rule apply to

[34:43] the meetings of bracket name of city county you know. So it's it's where you

[34:48] can edit you know they're saying you need to change this.

[34:51] » So >> do we need to take a look at the

[34:53] ordinance or not? Is that our job or >> I Yes, we I think for the ordinance I

[34:59] think we should technically I guess the planning and

[35:03] zoning commission is the people who rewrite ordinances. But since the tree

[35:07] ordinance applies to our board, I would say that we should go through it,

[35:12] » offer suggestions, >> offer suggestions on what could be

[35:15] changed or be improved >> through that. Yeah.

[35:18] » And then it's got a whole process because ordinances have to be approved

[35:22] by town council. And so that's >> okay.

[35:25] » That is not as lowhanging fruit as I thought this was.

[35:28] » Yeah. >> And that's online, I think, isn't it?

[35:30] Treeboard ordinance. >> The ordinance is all town ordinances are

[35:34] on the town site. >> All right. I'll put

[35:36] » um the rules of procedure for planning and zoning are on the town site.

[35:40] » If you if you want or for board of adjustments,

[35:44] » um our should be on, but they're not. >> Oh, okay.

[35:47] » I don't think or they weren't as easily findable.

[35:50] » Okay. Um, so anyway, read through it, see what you think, and just

[35:55] » thank you so much. >> Continue to the next meeting.

[35:57] » Thank you so much for all the hard work. I know how much work went into it. So,

[36:01] thank you. >> Um, on the tree management guide, now

[36:05] that's also online. Am I correct? On the uh Okay.

[36:09] » Yes. >> And that's maybe that's a whole another

[36:10] project. >> Yes. Because the the contents of the

[36:15] tree management guide are determined by what's in the ordinance.

[36:19] » Okay. And so I would say we should look at the ordinance first and then decide

[36:24] what goes in our tree management guide. In general, let me just finish this one

[36:29] thought in >> I think that there's the I'm not going

[36:33] to have the right name. The National Association of Arborists, the urban the

[36:37] North Carolina urban planting commission. I think they have detailed

[36:41] procedures about how and when to do plantings in different environments and

[36:46] how to care for trees. And I don't think we need to download all that and make it

[36:51] into our own guide that we just refer to people like that that that we recommend

[36:56] the town follow these type of guidances so that then when they change over time

[37:02] we are always updated. So I I would simplify what's in our tree management

[37:08] guide a little bit more than what's there now. But and I know you worked on

[37:13] the first one. >> Yeah. Um, and I think a lot has changed

[37:18] over the years, and I think anything that gets changed in the management

[37:23] guide, we definitely should run by our public works people. Okay.

[37:27] » And then by uh Mason and and Savannah. >> Yeah.

[37:32] » And to make sure everything's copacetic. But basically in a tree management

[37:38] guide, the board who is creating the guide,

[37:43] it there's no set rule for what goes in. >> I understand.

[37:47] » Yeah. Um, so it was like it it's like, okay, well, here's ideas for all sorts

[37:52] of things from Arbor Day and from all sorts of people, but you have to do it

[37:57] for your community. Mhm. >> And what we did was use

[38:04] um was take a look at the guide for Lake Lure

[38:09] » that they did and said, "Oh, okay. Well, that's a good thing." No, we don't need

[38:13] to do that. But there were some good just basic things in it

[38:17] » that um helped us and that's why I think it's important people know the

[38:22] ordinance. >> It's important that they know the board

[38:25] should definitely know the rules of procedure, right? Um, but there are

[38:30] people who need guidance as to what you can put in here. We've got help. A tree

[38:36] has fallen. What do I do? >> You know, which we should have the flood

[38:40] thing in there too after Helen. People don't pick it up. You can't cure

[38:47] stupid. And it's, you know, it's like, okay, but it's here. So, we, you say,

[38:54] here it is. >> Right. Right. You point to it. You have

[38:56] a responsibility as the citizen to know this or to know who to call. Anyway,

[39:01] » there's When's the last time that was put together? The tree management guide,

[39:05] » pardon me. >> When was the last time that was actually

[39:08] put together? The tree management guide. >> The last time it was it was updated in

[39:14] 2019. >> Okay. And I think that was one of the

[39:17] things that we chose to include in it were the results of um

[39:25] inventory that we were doing. It was when

[39:30] to be able to determine what trees what condition are the trees in.

[39:35] » A lot of them needed to come down, which I think we've been doing. And uh that

[39:41] really helped the town uh public works people. Um

[39:47] and so that kind of that kind of thing. Yeah.

[39:51] » Yeah. It sounds like a fun project actually as I listen to it the tree

[39:56] management guy to get into it really go through it. We make it specific to

[39:59] Montre then we have to run it by like you said the commissioners and the

[40:02] public works. But we can come up with the ideas and they can say yeah no

[40:06] » yes or no. But it sounds like a really fun to take charge.

[40:09] » Well, I would point on that. >> No, but I mean I I think as a board

[40:13] that'd be a really a fun project for us to get into other than, you know, rules

[40:17] and procedure. >> I know a lot of people prefer to go

[40:19] online for all their information, but I am one of those people. I have trouble

[40:24] reading online all the time. It really bothers my eyes. Okay. So I think it's

[40:29] important that we have some sort of vehicle for people who need to have it

[40:35] or prefer to have it a hard copy can obtain one.

[40:39] » Yeah. Okay. I'm going to I have interest in that.

[40:43] » Yeah. >> Kind of

[40:44] » and allies if you want to I mean the tree ordinance

[40:49] is an appendix in the tree management guide right now.

[40:53] » Yeah. If if somebody wants to start working on the other chapters of the

[40:56] tree management guide, go for it. I just >> Andrew, you were part of the original,

[41:02] weren't you part of the 2019 effort? >> Yeah.

[41:05] » Okay. Okay. >> I was part of the 18 and 19 effort.

[41:09] Yeah. >> Okay. Because

[41:10] » I think we've got some good stuff in it. I think it's interesting the history of

[41:14] » Yeah. I think of the trees and why in Montre do we want to take care of them

[41:19] and >> right,

[41:20] » you know. >> Yeah. I I you know, one of my goals or

[41:24] what I'd like to see us do is get a little more public, the tree board to

[41:27] get more public with our residents, >> you know, and uh I don't know if the

[41:31] tree management guy would be a vehicle to do that or have a public hearing

[41:35] about it or something like that. >> Um um

[41:38] » I just see it as a real vehicle to be more public with what the tree board

[41:42] does. >> Yeah.

[41:44] because we do a lot of good things and um

[41:49] » and I yeah >> and I think people are interested you

[41:52] know >> it's yeah I would have to look I have

[41:55] thought about it from that point of view >> but I think yeah but the rules of

[41:58] procedure they are what they are but the management guide is interesting stuff

[42:02] » well and I think it's it's a good guide for people to say well why did you guys

[42:06] do that you know it's like well what if I disagree with the town that tells me I

[42:11] need to have that tree cut down that's on my property, right?

[42:14] » Well, there covers in here in the ordinance and in the

[42:18] » you know, we do have there's somewhere out there a little bit of judicatory

[42:24] action that needs to be taken. Okay? >> It's never been challenged, but most

[42:28] people when said, you know, well, that's d that tree branch could fall, you know,

[42:34] out in the line of traffic, block the road off, etc., etc., and so, you know,

[42:39] you really should take it down. A lot of people have never argued that point. So,

[42:45] » okay. >> As I understand, unless something has

[42:48] happened since, >> right?

[42:50] » Okay. >> All right. Um, between now the next

[42:53] meeting, I will um I'm going to look to the management guy, maybe get some

[42:57] printed copies of it >> for the board something pages long.

[43:02] » How many? >> 100 like Yeah, that's amazing. It's a

[43:06] 100 pages long. Well, that it's got a dgenda and it's got maps in it from when

[43:10] we did the uh >> wow

[43:12] » the in you know the inventories and stuff. So I think that's

[43:19] that could be a link that could be put to it said well you want to see what was

[43:23] done in this year >> and uh you know so you can do that.

[43:29] » Okay. All right.

[43:33] Any other any other new business old business that I didn't list that

[43:36] somebody wants to talk about? Okay. All right. New business. Um, let's

[43:43] skip down just a couple things. George, why don't you just uh give us a little

[43:47] landare update if there is one? Land care. Any thing that we need to know as

[43:52] a tree board? >> Not that I'm aware of. Okay. I know um

[43:58] » fall is a quiet time of year. >> Fish studies are ongoing. Uh the

[44:04] the new um between the bridges is ongoing. The bridge project is ongoing.

[44:10] Um the trail project is ongoing.

[44:15] Everything's moving. >> Beautiful. Okay, great.

[44:18] » Um I have a question because I saw it on Facebook last night because I was

[44:23] perusing Facebook. Swanoa Valley Wild with with North Carolina Wildlife

[44:28] Federation on Friday, September 18th is doing a biiob blitz along Flat Creek and

[44:35] Montre from 1:30 to 4. Work together to identify plants, amphibians, reptiles,

[44:41] etc., etc. Is Lancare involved in that one? It's

[44:45] » first I've heard of it. >> It says this effort is part of the Flat

[44:48] Creek 2040 project. So, I guess Bill Seamans helped arrange for this.

[44:54] understanding, engaging with Flat Creek, its watershed researchers, community

[44:58] members, officials, and educators register here with and it's registering

[45:02] with North Carolina wildlife. >> Chris, he's part of an ongoing group

[45:06] that's been happening for years. So, >> yeah. So, I guess wildlife, it might be

[45:11] something that I signed up so I can give you some feedback, but I don't know.

[45:16] They're identifying plants, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, and all things

[45:20] wild. So then I think it would be a good way to work with them to put in about

[45:27] are you in a flood plane because we know that somebody tried to take care of the

[45:31] flood issue on Flat Creek without getting the legal input and they were

[45:37] definitely in violation of the federal law.

[45:41] Yeah. So I think um you know I think if there's some way we can have a presence

[45:47] there or also work on the 17th the MA wilderness day

[45:54] apparently we people need to know. >> I don't know anything about that either

[45:59] except seeing it here. So, George, I just I did a screenshot of the this

[46:05] Swanoa Valley Wild Bioblitz and I just texted you this screenshot. So, if you

[46:10] want to send if somebody on Land Care's interested in or wants to know about it,

[46:14] they can go figure out how to sign up probably

[46:18] » or I can try to send a better link if somebody really wants to sign up. But

[46:21] anyway, it looked interesting. I signed up because maybe if they're identifying

[46:25] trees and tree health, then that would >> tie back to this inventory that somehow

[46:30] got done in 200 something something. We were able to do it with grants from

[46:40] North Carolina tree North Carolina forestry service and uh interns led the

[46:48] » Yeah. >> led it. We had a lot of volunteer help.

[46:51] » Yeah. They it's it's in that tree guide. It was it's an inventory of I don't know

[46:56] hundreds of trees along Flat Creek with their diameter and species and

[47:00] » scientific name assembly drive because it had to be in the public rights. Yeah.

[47:07] And Flat Creek is not in >> Okay.

[47:09] » public rights rights away. >> Oh, it's not?

[47:12] » Yeah. I think it's >> green space.

[47:16] » It's a federal issue. Yeah. >> Oh. Hm.

[47:20] » Cuz it's it's definitely a it's definitely a flood plane around Flip

[47:24] Flat Creek declared by the >> Yeah.

[47:30] » So, getting back to the the 18th. Yeah. >> Blitz on September 18th. I don't know.

[47:35] I'll I I signed up. I don't know how to identify a lot of stuff, but

[47:40] » I got I naturalist. I can take photos. >> There you go.

[47:43] » There you go. I don't know. I know a red bud. I you know I don't know what I

[47:49] don't know what we're doing anyway. I'm labor.

[47:52] » I'll take notes. >> But you look intelligent. So that's the

[47:55] important. There we go. >> So we talked somebody we just mentioned

[47:59] the MRA Wilderness Day October 17th. So that's something we probably need to be

[48:03] aware of and part of maybe. >> Yeah. So with the um I'm like I'm I'm

[48:10] channeling my inner George and Ann and everybody in this room. the manager of

[48:15] the Montre store. Um anyway, she and and the assistant that runs the good

[48:21] steward, I had talked to them once before. They're re MRA is redoing their

[48:26] fall wilderness day, which was a day that MRA talked about, you know, it's

[48:31] like their stewardship of their 2500 acres or maybe now with Jane Hold even

[48:37] more of all their wilderness that they help, you know, supervise which is in

[48:42] the valley. So anyway, they do this wilderness day and I just said, "Hey,

[48:45] can the treeboard come do something at the same event, right?"

[48:48] » And so I can continue to coordinate with them and take some flyers and our little

[48:53] poster, >> but you know, it is come MRA is the

[48:56] sponsor and it's for the things they do. I'm sure Jason will be there. So our

[49:01] treasure tree walk and so it's it's just a time that they're doing a community

[49:05] event. >> It's a community event.

[49:07] » Yeah, MRA. It's a public event and I'm sure they're promoting the things they

[49:10] sell in their stores and and maybe the trail maintenance.

[49:14] » Is Tanner in charge of that? What do you know?

[49:16] » Probably Tanner's probably somehow overseeing the whole wilderness day.

[49:20] » Yeah. >> But the stores are participating and I

[49:22] just asked if we could be there and they said yes. It's a time when the community

[49:27] is invited to come to something. >> Yes.

[49:31] » Kind of like the coners. >> I think if the tree board says, "Hey,

[49:35] everybody come to X to see us." We're not going to get a lot of participation.

[49:39] If MRA says come to this part of it, then we're part of it. We'll get our

[49:44] word out. >> What day of the week is the 17th?

[49:46] » It's a Saturday. >> Do you know the hours or

[49:48] » I know nothing about it except it's last time I think it was in the afternoon. Do

[49:52] y'all remember? They did one last year. >> Okay. Well, we should be part of it. I

[49:57] mean, >> so it may just be static information. We

[50:00] have a meeting before then on the 13th, but we should

[50:04] do I have to call someone or one of us have to let them know we'd like to be

[50:07] part of it. >> Yeah, they already they reached out and

[50:09] asked me if I wanted to and I said tenatively yes. So I'll I'll go back to

[50:12] them and I'll add to it and then anybody else interested

[50:16] » any questions about that? That's >> so it's a much

[50:21] » I don't know if Lankier will I mean yeah I

[50:24] » unfortunately my alternative lifestyle has me out of town both those dates

[50:29] that'll >> right so

[50:31] » okay >> okay well that sounds like a fun

[50:35] » and we'll see we have to come up with some materials is it you have like a

[50:38] booth a table is that the idea >> I'm going to talk to them I was thinking

[50:42] we could have a table and we would rerun exactly what we did for the cottagers

[50:46] with the flyers and Well, it's >> board and a place to sign up if you want

[50:51] to come help us. >> Yeah. And a place to donate

[50:53] » the flood plane information really was picked up a lot at the cottagers

[50:57] meeting. >> Okay. All right.

[50:59] » Which surprised me. >> Okay.

[51:01] » Yeah. >> All right. You'll get the information to

[51:03] me. I'll get it off to the board and we'll um we'll be part of it

[51:08] » for sure. Okay. Great. Okay. Um, so the the the top two, the post office

[51:16] project and the fall project. Um, you know, I don't know if it's too much for

[51:20] this board. Uh, but I was thinking we should do something in the community as

[51:25] a tree board project separate from just being part of someone else's project.

[51:31] I'm open to ideas. I mean, um, we don't have to

[51:39] » what that project is. I don't know, but I think we we should do something as a

[51:43] tree board as a separate project for the benefit of the Montre residents.

[51:49] » If if the chestnut planting actually happens. Yes.

[51:53] » I think last the last time there was a chestnut planting. It was like a little

[51:57] event kind of thing. I don't know. We could you could either

[52:02] » try to invite people to the planting or >> you could somehow do something like in

[52:08] the open comments for the town council meeting because those get video

[52:11] broadcast. Yeah. You know the the the either the 5:30 session and like the

[52:16] stone bridges people had some information. I I think people actually

[52:21] listen in >> remotely andor they listen after the

[52:24] fact >> to those council meetings. So that might

[52:27] be we could plug up our chestnut planting as an example and

[52:32] » some lemonade cookies and come see the chestnut trees. I don't know

[52:35] » what I'll do. I'll get a a yay or a nay from Peggy next day or two and if she

[52:39] says yes then that'll be maybe that'll be the project. I as you know we had a

[52:43] couple articles in the weekly Montre minute. you

[52:46] » that Tom that I submitted and he did publish them which was great and he said

[52:50] Eddie just send them to me and I will get them in on a weekly basis so we have

[52:54] some visibility there if we want >> but we'll use the chestnut as maybe step

[52:58] one if she says yes that'll be our project with a little announcement a

[53:02] little get together a little education handouts and that'll be it and uh

[53:07] » I did talk to um um Jordan is that his name the guy at the post office he

[53:12] doesn't want any big boards he doesn't mind us putting

[53:16] someformational sheets on the tables, you know, when you walk in. He does not

[53:20] want big boards in the post office. >> Okay.

[53:24] » Okay. >> So, um but yes, we can put something on

[53:29] those desks where we all throw our mail away.

[53:32] » So, um

[53:36] that's okay. All right. So, all right. Will you I'll check with Peggy and then

[53:39] get back to you guys and uh see what else we can come up with. But I think

[53:44] it's important that we make a little more of a um public uh effort towards

[53:49] the Montre residents as a tree board independent of wilderness day or

[53:54] cottagers meetings or any of those things. I think that's important. Okay.

[53:58] One of them I do think is the treasure tree effort which as you see

[54:03] residential. The last time we did it we basically were all in the town

[54:07] rightaways with a couple exceptions and you bought a tree for your property and

[54:12] » but I think of the 14 we did I think 11 or 12 were on rightways

[54:17] » but it's one we and we have money in the bank as I reported to the last meeting.

[54:22] Uh we were able to buy that sign I think that you got for the cottages meeting

[54:26] through those funds we raised. So I think the town would the residents would

[54:31] we get a lot of calls and I can get that into the military minute with Tom. If

[54:36] somebody thinks they have a treasure tree the Swanoa Valley people will come

[54:40] out and they will identify it not me. Okay. And yeah there's a treasure tree

[54:44] and people love having plaques I think in Montre on their property. Hasn't

[54:50] there been an interest people asking, well, how do I nominate a tree?

[54:54] » Yes, we got those and there is a way to do it. Um, there's an actual

[54:59] » I don't think we know how to do that. >> Yeah, I think we should I think we

[55:02] should um and I can do that with Tom gets there is a form they have to fill

[55:06] in. >> Yeah,

[55:06] » I think the form should come to the here to the Montre and then we can forward

[55:11] off because or else we'll lose control. Then we'll forward it off to the Swanoa

[55:14] Valley people to do the inspection. If if you want it to be a partial

[55:20] fundraiser for the tree board, then that's the way you have to do it because

[55:24] otherwise you just go directly on their site

[55:28] » and there's a little e form or whatever. I think it's all some data fill form

[55:32] online and you submit and it costs $35. >> Yes.

[55:37] » And then if you want some other thing on it, it costs $50.

[55:40] » Correct. That's right. >> And then but I think Ann, you mentioned

[55:43] that somehow we got something about Montre on the plaque too. Therefore, the

[55:47] cost went from 35 to 50 to 100 or something.

[55:51] » So, if we want to skim money off, it has to come through us. Otherwise, people

[55:55] are just going to go straight there and do it.

[55:57] » Now, the way it worked last time is the people, and I know you did because you

[56:02] wrote a check to the town of Montre for $100.

[56:05] » And then what happened is the the Swan Noa Valley people build us just for the

[56:09] plaques as an invoice. And then the town paid them for the invoices, which I

[56:14] think was $50 per plaque. Okay. >> And then we got 100 from you and we kept

[56:19] the 50. >> Yeah.

[56:21] » There was >> that was it. I forget I forget now the

[56:24] whole breakdown of it. >> It was really simple. It was very

[56:26] simple. Yeah. >> Yeah. So I think I'm going to talk to

[56:29] Tom maybe what this week >> does that work for you guys? I'm going

[56:32] to try to get if any resident wants to nominate a tree.

[56:37] » Yeah. >> Yeah. Here's how you contact I'll work

[56:39] it out with the office. >> And I think the extra money was because

[56:43] we wanted to dedicate our tree. We wanted to make a specific dedic

[56:48] dedication, >> right?

[56:50] » Rather than just a treasure. >> Correct. That's right. It was $100. That

[56:54] that price was set by us. >> Yeah.

[56:56] » They only wanted their 50 for the cost of the plaque.

[56:59] » They didn't care what other than that. They didn't care.

[57:01] » Yeah. >> I think 100's a fair number. Don't you

[57:04] think? >> Yeah.

[57:05] » Yeah. I mean, it cost 50. >> An extra $50.

[57:10] » If you don't want >> We actually got a lot of calls somebody.

[57:12] It's only 50 bucks. So, you know, >> we did

[57:15] » you didn't want to commemorate it to somebody.

[57:17] » Yeah. Right. I Every tree that we sold last year had it some type of

[57:20] dedication. Yours was your father. >> Yeah. My parents.

[57:25] » Yeah. I mean I mean I know a few of them.

[57:28] So, okay. So, I think that with the board's okay, I'm going to uh make that

[57:33] connection maybe with the announcement this week in the U Montre minute. Any

[57:37] resident who wants to nominate a tree for

[57:40] » Yeah. a treasure tree and it's contact the office or I'll speak to them.

[57:45] » And I would say don't forget that the Presbyterian Heritage Center has worked

[57:51] on a a history tour thing also through >> they have their things up where they

[57:56] » and they're waiting for the I don't know where the sign what where what's holding

[58:00] up the signs but they're they've gotten approval I understand for the signage.

[58:06] So >> that's to be determined, right?

[58:08] » Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Good. So, and I think, you know,

[58:12] we need to pull them in and you get maps and stuff up there, too. Once we

[58:17] » get to that point. Sure. And we still have maps for the original 14, correct,

[58:21] Elizabeth? That you've been maintaining. >> The treasure tree maps. It's on our

[58:25] treeboard website, right? Plus, I think there's some copies floating around. The

[58:28] in used to give them out. I don't know if they still I haven't checked.

[58:31] » We still have them. >> They have the PDF. They can print more

[58:34] copies at the end if they want. Heritage Center has them

[58:37] » and if you check to be sure there's still copies out or something. So,

[58:40] » I'll double check. And it's it's I I just think it's important because

[58:44] especially with the um road scholars, uh a lot of those people

[58:51] like to pick up information and you know, then you can take the treasure

[58:57] tree walk. >> Yeah.

[58:58] » On your own, you know, walk around say, "Oh, okay."

[59:02] » I've seen people do it. They give it out at this um office here

[59:07] » during the summertime. The treasure tree map is people do pick it up when they

[59:10] come into town when they man the uh >> whatever that's called the gate house.

[59:15] Okay. >> Yeah.

[59:16] » Okay. Uh the green works outreach. I think Elizabeth, you sent me this.

[59:22] Um I think I that probably goes back to our

[59:26] April event that um I think um Katie Putnham's already reached out to Ashley

[59:32] and myself about helping with the next Arbor Day and I she may have reached out

[59:37] to you too. I don't know. Anyway, Kathy Putnham, she's agreed to do the next

[59:43] » plant sale or labor landare festival and arbor day celebration. Yeah,

[59:48] » as as the awkward name goes. And so I this was a thing that once we get a date

[59:54] set with that committee, then I can reach out to Greenworks and say, "Hey,

[1:00:00] can we get some trees again?" >> Okay.

[1:00:02] » For next year. >> That's April.

[1:00:04] » Yeah. It' be next April. >> Yeah.

[1:00:06] » But what we really want are understory trees. Last year, what they had was a

[1:00:11] whole lot of oaks, which people did take and and we managed to give them all

[1:00:16] away. But what people really want are the understory trees. We have a lot of

[1:00:21] big oaks and elms and tulip poppplers here in the valley.

[1:00:25] » Not to say that we couldn't add some more that are slightly more native than

[1:00:29] what we have, but the demand's really red buds, service berries. Uh

[1:00:34] » so some advanced >> Yeah. dog woods, that kind of thing. I

[1:00:38] George, do you have any? >> No, that's true.

[1:00:40] » That's what we ran into last year. >> So what you're saying

[1:00:43] » were hard to give away. >> They were hard. They were

[1:00:46] Don't you want an oak to go with that red bud?

[1:00:49] » The red buds went in five minutes, I think.

[1:00:50] » I remember that. Yeah, >> the oaks lasted until 2 o'clock.

[1:00:53] » That's down the road. Okay. All right. >> The mighty oak.

[1:00:57] » I was not planning on being there till 2 o'clock with trees, but anyway, I was

[1:01:01] okay. So, anyway, just trying to get things that people actually want.

[1:01:05] » Okay. >> You know, and if we only get 30, that's

[1:01:08] fine. You know, they're free trees. >> Okay. But that's down the road. But it's

[1:01:12] good. Advanced planning is good. But if we tell them now, then they can

[1:01:16] » because they have they have a lot of people asking for sure they do.

[1:01:20] » So we just need to get in the queue in the right spot.

[1:01:23] » Okay. Um so that's all the new business that I had listed. The other thing I

[1:01:27] would add though, we do have some money still. Uh the tree board, if anybody has

[1:01:32] any ideas how to want to spend it on new literature, handouts, we have money.

[1:01:37] » Okay. >> About $400.

[1:01:38] » Okay. >> And if there's some new pieces of

[1:01:40] information we want to produce, We can. We have the money to do that.

[1:01:47] » And that's what the banner >> The banner got paid for. Yeah. Yeah. The

[1:01:51] banner. >> Nice banner.

[1:01:52] » Yeah. Yeah. Very nice. >> Where's the banner?

[1:01:55] » Yeah, it is currently in my basement. >> Okay, great. We know where it is. It

[1:01:58] didn't get block away. Okay, great. Okay, good.

[1:02:01] » Along with the box of stuff >> and maybe we can use some handouts for

[1:02:04] this Montre uh wilderness day if we think we need some new literature or

[1:02:08] something. Yeah. >> About the tree board itself. Maybe one

[1:02:11] sheet. Okay. All right. Anybody have any other new

[1:02:15] business? >> Okay. All right. All right. We'll skip

[1:02:19] over public works because he didn't make it today and commissioner is not here.

[1:02:24] So, Tyler, anything going on in the inventory world?

[1:02:28] » I have heard from I heard when it's going to be working on the

[1:02:36] graveyard born area clearing the dead tree down. But I don't know

[1:02:44] when that's actually going to be. I thought it was going to be done a couple

[1:02:48] weeks ago when they had the big machine to do the stuff, but no one else bring

[1:02:53] the stuff though. I don't know exactly when it's exactly all going to happen.

[1:03:02] » There's there's a big dead hemlock partway up assembly

[1:03:08] on the west side, not the Flat Creek side. You see it when you're driving

[1:03:11] down assembly. You see the big trunk. I don't know if that's a town tree or a

[1:03:16] resident tree >> on that side of the walkway.

[1:03:20] » Yeah, that I don't know. I just see the trunk. You know what do you call the

[1:03:25] stand or whatever the >> it's it's a big old I'm pretty sure it's

[1:03:29] a himmlock that died. You'll see it. >> But if it's on private land, then that's

[1:03:35] one that Barry >> Yeah. Yeah,

[1:03:36] » like in the ordinance, Barry can go to the people and say, "Hey, you need to

[1:03:39] remove this cuz if it falls, >> it's going to take out power lines or

[1:03:43] whatever." You know, it'll go across Assembly Drive.

[1:03:46] » But then that's where it comes to thing. Why am I going to pay?

[1:03:51] » No. No. Not that he have it cut as a homeowner. Then if it falls and hit the

[1:03:56] power line, the power line people have to take care of it.

[1:04:00] » Yeah. Not going there. So to them to have no power for two hours and to pay

[1:04:07] $1,000 or whatever to have it taken down. That's the way people are going to

[1:04:13] look at it >> unless it's going to hit the house then

[1:04:17] they'll say okay. But anything else they're just going to let it be.

[1:04:22] » Okay. >> So my question just as a resident like

[1:04:26] Flat Creek's got a lot of limbs going across the tree. that he's just going to

[1:04:31] leave them. That that's called nature. The ones that have just fallen into the

[1:04:35] creek from the storm. >> Well,

[1:04:37] » and we're going to have storms come in and out.

[1:04:40] » I mean, that just is that I mean I'm I'm just saying that that's nature and we

[1:04:44] just leave it and it and I'm just curious.

[1:04:49] » That's somewhat debatable. Um, from my perspective,

[1:04:55] uh, I've been spending a lot of time trying to renovate the wildflower

[1:04:59] garden, which most that I've discovered that there are many people in Montre

[1:05:05] don't even know exists. >> Where? Tell me, where is wildflower

[1:05:08] garden? There's another one. >> It is on the east side of the list.

[1:05:12] » It's on the other side of the colum. >> It's on the other side of the

[1:05:15] columbarium and straight and goes up the named path. Some people call it

[1:05:21] Elizabeth's path. Some call it the gate path and it goes on goes on up that

[1:05:27] direction. Probably it peters out toward the pump station that's up there. Um

[1:05:34] » is that a private a personal project of yours or is that part of a land care?

[1:05:39] » It's part of the green space. >> The green. Okay. But um

[1:05:45] part of the arrangement I have with Barry and and um

[1:05:51] what's her name down here? Um I Savannah. I don't get my feet wet

[1:05:58] because theoretically it's against the law to get your feet

[1:06:02] wet. >> So I've been removing stuff and putting

[1:06:06] it in a place where Barry's crew can get to it and make it disappear. make what

[1:06:11] disappear? >> The dead the dead material. Oh, okay.

[1:06:14] The dead material. Okay. The storm damage.

[1:06:18] » So, >> is the wildflower garden still there now

[1:06:21] as he speak? >> Uh half of it still there.

[1:06:25] » Half of it gone. >> Yes.

[1:06:27] » Um >> half is still there.

[1:06:29] » Lower the lower half is gone, >> but the upper level is gone. There's

[1:06:35] about a three and a half to five foot grade

[1:06:40] change between normal water and the upland. Uh that that side of the bank

[1:06:46] didn't get cut out too badly >> whereas the memorial garden side got

[1:06:51] really ripped out.

[1:06:56] » Interesting. Wow. I didn't know that. >> Anyway, it's just part of my playground.

[1:07:01] » Okay. Interesting. Okay. I appreciate how much you play on

[1:07:06] the playground. >> Yeah, that's beautiful.

[1:07:08] » Hours and hours and hours. So, the the there was going to be a core of engineer

[1:07:14] project that was going to go somewhat up flat creek, but I they haven't shown up.

[1:07:20] It's been discussed in council meeting. I think I don't think they're going to

[1:07:24] get up here. So I think the the major blockages to culverts and such Barry has

[1:07:32] taken care of or they took care of immediately after the storm. Otherwise,

[1:07:36] there's just trees and stuff across the creek that I personally don't think I

[1:07:41] think it's going to be nature. >> Nature. Okay, fine. And now that we're

[1:07:45] out of an emergency situation, the rules about dealing with that stuff come under

[1:07:51] the massive flood plane flood flat creek water condition type stuff.

[1:07:57] » So this is just a point of information. I know it seems like some of the creek

[1:08:00] is not as deep as it used to be. >> Oh lord. Yeah.

[1:08:03] » Is that correct? >> Oh yeah.

[1:08:04] » So that means it would flood easier as we have a heavier rain or

[1:08:08] » No, actually it won't. It'll the flood plane is what's gotten wider. Okay.

[1:08:14] » Uh and so the water that normal flow of water is spread over a larger distance.

[1:08:19] So when you spread it over a larger distance, you

[1:08:23] » decrease its depth. >> Okay.

[1:08:25] » Which is why it looks so funky right now. It looks like the water is just

[1:08:29] kind of trickling along. But it's normal flow.

[1:08:32] » Normal. Oh, normal flow. Just a wider area.

[1:08:35] » The flood plane is just stretched out so much.

[1:08:39] So the flood plane goes up to and how does it generally it goes from the

[1:08:45] obviously the creek does it go on to like Assembly Drive the flood plane or

[1:08:49] » probably does theoretically >> the government your government not mine

[1:08:56] the government draws flood planes with a black magic marker.

[1:09:03] For instance, >> when I bought my house in Rock Hill,

[1:09:08] according to the flood plane map, it was in the flood plane. And the insurance

[1:09:13] company questioned it. My house in Rock Hill was 30 feet above mean flow of the

[1:09:21] creek. 30 feet >> above

[1:09:25] » above mean flow. And it was in a flood plane.

[1:09:28] » Right? >> Come on now, folks. That ain't very

[1:09:31] reasonable. Now, this isn't Nepal. This is Rock Hill, South Carolina.

[1:09:35] » Right. Okay. >> I mean,

[1:09:39] anyway, the insurance company agreed that Yeah. You know what? I don't think

[1:09:43] we need to worry about flood insurance. >> Right.

[1:09:46] » Right. >> So, that's what they did here. When they

[1:09:50] when they redid the flood plane, they followed the what happened after

[1:09:55] » Helen, >> which kind of makes sense.

[1:10:02] interesting >> reasonably. I don't believe it's going

[1:10:04] to happen again, but you never can tell. >> At least not in our lifetime.

[1:10:08] » And in the way weather conditions are going right now, there is I don't know a

[1:10:14] credible weather source that is confident in what's going on in weather

[1:10:20] prediction right now. Right. >> Okay.

[1:10:25] » And here's Hawaii having its first hurricane.

[1:10:28] » All right. Any other announcements? from the board. Okay,

[1:10:32] » we've got a lot of work to do. Okay. All right. Next meeting is Tuesday, October

[1:10:38] 13th at 9 a.m. No further business. Motion to adjourn.

[1:10:45] » So move. >> Okay. Thank second

[1:10:48] » because we don't need one, but it seems we are adjourned. Thank you. Oh, okay.

[1:10:53] So, a lot of followup here today and it's all good stuff. Thank you.

Tree Board 9/8/26

Transcript