Minutes - August 19, 2010
RLUAC MINUTES
SPORTS USA, FORT BRAGG
AUGUST 19, 2010
Voting Members Present: John Blanton (Chair), Sampson County; John H. Jackson, Spring Lake; Rora Kellis, Vass; Doris Luther (Secretary), Hope Mills; Robert McLaughlin, Wagram; and Jean Powell, Hoke County.
Voting Members Absent: James Armstrong, Richmond County; Bob Bell, Laurinburg; Sharyl Carter, Whispering Pines; Bob Davis, Scotland County; Michelle Frizzell, Robeson County; Joseph Jeffries, Harnett County; Billy King, Cumberland County; Robert Massey, Fayetteville; Bart Nuchols, Southern Pines; Nick Picerno, Moore County; Theresa Thompson, Lillington; Andrew Wilkison, Pinehurst; Mike Wood, Raeford; and Bill Zell, Aberdeen.
Non-Voting Members Present: Randy Beeman, Hope Mills; Perry Benton, Pope AFB; Pete Campbell, US Fish and Wildlife Service; Ethel Clark, Spring Lake; Jim Dougherty, Executive Director RLUAC; Glen Prillaman, Fort Bragg; and Susan Pulsipher, Environmental Division.
Guests Present: Andrew Barksdale, Fayetteville Observer; Jim Caldwell, Mid-Carolina Council of Governments; Sharyl Carter, Whispering Pines; Landon Chandler, Harnett County; Joseph Edwards, DPW; Ryan Elting, The Nature Conservancy; Conrad Garrison, Hoke County; Erich Hoffman, Fort Bragg; Grace Lawrence, BRAC RTF; Mark Locklear, Harnett County; Julia Love, Directorate of Public Works; Joel Strickland, Mid-Carolina RPO; and Omega Weeks, Pope AFB; Tami Wohlrab Smale, Mid-Carolina Council of Governments.
I. CALL TO ORDER
John A. Blanton, Chairman, called the meeting to order.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM May 20, 2010 MEETING – John H. Jackson made a motion to approve the minutes and Jean Powell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
III. PRESENTATION: “Land Protection Efforts of the North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Partnership” – Ryan Elting, The Nature Conservancy – Ryan reported that the Sandhills Conservation Partnership plans to conduct a two day event on Friday and Saturday, September 10th and 11th at Weymouth Woods State Park to celebrate its 10th anniversary. He reported that during the ten years of the partnership's existence over ten thousand acres of land have been permanently preserved in North Carolina's Sandhills Region. The preservation of the land has not only assisted with the early recovery of the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpeckers, but has also protected the boundaries of the region's military installations from incompatible urban development.
ACTION: Information
IV. PRESENTATION: “Current Status of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker Recovery Efforts” – Pete Campbell, US Fish and Wildlife Service – Pete reported that in a relatively short period of time, the Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) population in North Carolina Sandhills Region has been successfully recovered. This was due largely to the cooperation of all the NC Sandhills Conservation Partnership members -- including Fort Bragg, The Nature Conservancy, the Sandhills Area Land Trust, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Even though the population was determined "recovered" several years ago, efforts are continuing to build upon the successes. To date, the numbers of RCW's are continuing to increase in the region, and much of the protected lands have been restored to their natural configuration. Pete cautioned the group to recognize that the job of protecting the Longleaf Ecosystem will never be completed. Vigilance will always be necessary to balance the needs of the military, the expanding local population, and the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem.
ACTION: Information
V. BUSINESS ITEMS – Jim Dougherty
Financial Report – Jim reported that RLUAC had $0 in receipts and $4,908.21 in expenses for June 2010 – leaving a cash balance of $24,877.32 as of June 30, 2010. RLUAC had $8000.00 in receipts and $2,706.46 in expenses in July 2010 – leaving a cash balance of $30,970.86. John H. Jackson made a motion to approve the financial report, while Rora Kellis seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION: Approved
VIII. Adjourn
There being no further business John Blanton entertained a motion to adjourn. John H. Jackson made a motion to adjourn; Jean Powell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.
