Boundary County Translator District

Regular Meeting—Board of Directors

 

February 12, 2008

Chairman Greg Garrison called the regular meeting of the Boundary County Translator District Board of Directors to order at 10:05 a.m. 

 

1.     Roll Call Present:

a.       Board Members:

Barry Coleman                         Michael Listman

Greg Garrison                           Sherrie Hendricks

Carl Hendricks

 

Also Present:

Mike Ladely                             Deborah Youngwirth

Gary Garrett

 

2.     Minutes of Previous Meeting

Barry Coleman moved the minutes be approved with change made to state under Old Business, item (b) 91.9 was turned off, not 92.1.  Mike Listman seconded, motion carried.

 

3.     Treasurer’s Report

The Board reviewed the treasurer’s report; Barry Coleman moved to accept the treasurer’s report as presented, Mike Listman seconded, motion carried.

 

Debbie Youngwirth will get a new signature card to bring to next month’s meeting as the names listed on the account are or will no longer be current board members.

 

4.     Old Business:

a.       Grant for Digital Transition – Greg Garrison completed the paperwork for this grant.  We won’t know for over a year what will be received if anything.

b.      Converter Boxes – the boxes are becoming available now.  Coupons will be mailed out soon from the Federal Government.  The website to get a coupon is www.dtv2009.gov .  A telephone number is available to call if no computer is accessible.  Mike Listman will find the phone number to make available for people.    

 

5.     Maintenance Report                                                                       

a.       Lots of interference on Black Mountain Tower this last month.  Nick Johnson has been up to the mountain twice this month and Mike Ladely has been up once this month.

b.      Channel 91.9 – Mike Ladely spoke with John Barnett regarding a replacement channel for 91.9.  They spoke with George Verace who stated that before applying for a replacement channel that we need to contact KPBX to test for interference.  Mike Ladely contacted KPBX and was not able to reach the same person as before when other problems were occurring and no new contact name would be given.  Mike Ladely recommends writing a letter to KPBX stating that we do not show interference problems so until such time testing can be completed.  The amateur radio was also experiencing some interference problems that diminished substantially when 91.9 was turned off.  Mike Ladely will contact Barry Coleman prior to turning the station back on so that Barry can monitor for any changes in interference.  Barry Coleman motion to turn 91.9 back on and send a letter to Spokane Public Radio stating that until such time complaints are received and those people can be contacted to determine the cause of the interference the station will remain on.  Seconded by Carl Hendricks, motion carried.  In addition, until the minimum standards is approved and put in place, Barry Coleman motioned to put into place a log of who has accessed the tower and what work they performed or equipment installed while there.  This log will be maintained by Mike Ladely at E.L. Automation to be completed as persons check out the key.  Seconded by Carl Hendricks, motion carried.   

c.       Mike Ladely has put together a log-in sheet for having people sign in prior to going up to Black Mountain and in addition, they will have to have a key.  Mike Ladely also presented a listing of Minimum Standards to be required by all persons going up to Black Mountain.  This item will be tabled to next month’s meeting with items to be discussed be the minimum standards, minimum number to go up and minimum number and standards to go up the tower.

d.      Mike Ladely will look into updating the food and emergency supplies that are on the mountain in case of someone being snowed in there.  Mike Ladely also recommends getting a small microwave to be placed there in substitute of the hot plate that is currently being used.  The hot plate has potential to be left on and cause a fire.  The approval of the purchase of the above supplies will be tabled to a future meeting closer to spring.

e.       Mike Ladely made a couple of trips to Copper Creek tower to work on the amplifier and to charge the generator due to lack of sunlight and snow on the solar power reflectors, causing lack of power.

f.        Mike Ladely completed the paperwork on the grants with minimal problems. 

   

6.     New Business:

a.       Gary Garrett – North Idaho.Net – problems with interference issues on Black Mountain.  Gary has historically had problems with the Black Mountain tower site.  He has determined that he has a receiver problem on the equipment.  Gary was able to get up to the mountain to make the necessary changes to the amplifier he has installed there.  The next day he was told by Mike Ladely that he had to leave the mountain and he was not able to complete the changes to the amplifier.  This apparently caused some problems with interference, but he was unable to do the appropriate testing.  He was able to complete the changes on a later date at which time Gary Gage began having problems.  Both Gage and Garrett have made some changes to equipment since that time and up to the time of this meeting, Garrett was unable to do last minute testing to determine if things are working correctly.  Gage has sent out an email to his customers stating the blame for interference is Garrett, but Garrett feels there are problems on both sides that need to be resolved.  He is currently working with Steve at Meadowcreek Computers (Gage’s employee) to resolve the issues.  Currently there seems to be no problems, however Mike Ladely recommends sending both Gary Garrett and Gary Gage a letter stating that both parties need to work to resolve the problems or both parties will be turned off if interference continues.  In addition, future issues need to be addressed with the board as a whole at scheduled meeting dates, and emergency meetings can be held at board discretion to resolve issues as well.  Barry Coleman motioned to approve, Carl Hendricks seconded, motion carried.  Mike Ladely also recommends that in the spring, the Amateur Radio, and both internet providers go up to Black Mountain to do the necessary testing to clean up some of the issues we have been experiencing this year. 

b.      Mike Ladely would like approval to purchase a converter box to do some testing.  Barry Coleman motioned to approve the purchase of a converter box, seconded by Carl Hendricks, motion carried. 

c.       Greg Garrison’s term is coming to an end.  He would like to move on to other things and would not like to continue on with a new term.  Anthony Compton called the office and expressed some interest in attending a meeting as a potential new board member.  Carl and Sherrie Hendricks recommended Mike Woodward as a potential new board member.  Sherrie Hendricks will contact Mike Woodward and Debbie Youngwirth will contact Anthony Compton.

 

 

 

 

7.     Tax Waiver Applications:

a.       None. 

 

8.     Emergency Response Committee Report:

a.       Some concern on potential flooding.  No additional updates at this time.

 

   10.  Adjournment:

Barry Coleman moved and Carl Hendricks seconded, the meeting adjourn, motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 12:05.

 

 

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 10:00 A.M.  @ Bonners Ferry Visitors Center.