Boundary County Translator District

Regular Meeting—Board of Directors

 

March 17, 2009

Chairman Mike Listman called the regular meeting of the Boundary County Translator District Board of Directors to order at 10:00 a.m.      

 

1.     Roll Call Present:

a.       Board Members:

Barry Coleman                         Michael Listman

Owen Plato                              Allen Gemmrig

Carl Hendricks                         Anthony Compton

 

Also Present:

Deborah Youngwirth                Mike Ladely

 

 

 

2.     Minutes of Previous Meeting

Barry Coleman motioned to approve the minutes from the previous meeting with the addition to 2 – Minutes of Previous Meeting – to replace “eligible” with “ineligible” and to include addition to 4 (f) of “Down payment is to be made only, with total paid upon receipt of snowmobile.”  Anthony Compton seconded, motion carried.

 

3.     Treasurer’s Report

a.       Mike Listman requested a change be made to the postage expense reflected for the bulk mailing on the notice to users. The other half of the expense needs to be reflected as advertising.

b.      Allen Gemmrig motioned to approve treasurer’s report as presented, Owen Plato seconded, motion carried.

c.       Accounts Receivable – The office will check to make sure a check was received from Gary Garrett according to the agreement made and send an email out to all board members.

 

 

4.     Old Business:

a.       Schedule of Digital Switchover – Allen Gemmrig motioned and Owen Plato seconded to switch over the remaining channels to digital at the July 21^st meeting on Black Mountain.  Barry Coleman motioned to approve purchase of 6 converter boxes totaling $13,000, Anthony Compton seconded, motion carried.

b.      DTV Demonstration – Radio Shack is doing a DTV demonstration at the Armory from 1pm – 3pm on March 21, 2009.

c.       Owen at KBFI – date is still pending for Owen to do the radio interview regarding the DTV changeover.

d.      Review of current tax exemptions – tabled to next month’s meeting.

e.       Budget Planning – tabled to next month’s meeting.

f.        NTA Convention – Allen Gemmrig will be attending the meeting in Denver.  Airline and Hotel will be covered by the Translator.

 

 

5.     Maintenance Report                                                                       

1.      Signal loss over the weekend (3/14 – 3/15) – Mike Listman was losing channels like crazy.  Station 91.9 was also lost for a while.

2.      97.3 has not been licensed since 2000.  John Bartnett said to shut it down immediately.  John said we may be able to get it reinstated.  Mike Ladely will work with John Bartnett to get this going.

3.      Snowmobile was ordered and the vendor would like $1,000 down.

4.      Channel 32 through Copper Creek is having some problems.  It is working currently, but Mike Ladely needs to do more research on the issue.

5.      Mike Listman is getting lots of people complaining to Radio Shack with problems with switch over.  All the complaints vary from not receiving a signal to needing a new antennae, etc.

6.      This summer we will have to get vendor quotes on new tower changes being required.  Possibly there may be money available through grants or government funding?  Allen Gemmrig will inquire when attending the NTA meeting in May.

   

6.     New Business:

a.       Board Member Reisgnation & Replacement (New meeting time for Allen) – Allen Gemmrig asked that the meeting times be changed due to a conflicting schedule with his new job.  He requested Friday afternoons between 3 and 4pm on the second or third Friday of the month.  The office will check with the City of Bonners Ferry on the availability of the Visitor’s Center on those days.  Mike Ladely expressed a possibility of not being able to be in attendance as his schedule does not have him working on Fridays.  He will inquire with Eric Lederhos and see what they can do.

b.      Mike Listman updated the board on the Stimulus dollars that may be made available through grant funding for fiber to be provided to more homes in Bonner and Boundary County.  Panhandle Area Council may be providing funding for assistance with this project and are working with the two counties Economic Development Councils to make this project come to fruition.  Mike Listman will keep the board updated as new information is available.

c.       Studio BFI is interested in providing some local content broadcasting.  Allen Gemmrig will look into the possibilities of this.

d.      Board Member Terms – Barry Coleman brought it to the attention of the board that both his and Mike Listman’s terms were set to expire.  Allen Gemmrig motioned to recommend to the commissioners that Barry Coleman’s and Mike Listman’s terms be renewed.  Anthony Compton seconded, motion carried.  Allen Gemmrig motioned to re-appoint Mike Listman as Chairman of the board, Carl Hendricks seconded, motion carried.

 

7.     Tax Waiver Applications:

a.       None.

 

8.     Emergency Response Committee Report:

1.       Border Patrol – table top and functional exercise planned – all local entities will be involved.

2.      Proposed new emergency plan has been posted on the website.

 

 

Anthony Compton motioned to adjourn the meeting, Owen Plato seconded, motion carried.

     

 

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 4:00 P.M.  @ Bonners Ferry Visitors Center.