Hidden Lake Property Owners Association

Posted February 27, 2010

Hello, everyone .......

Background:

As I hope you know, the Colfax County Coalition of Firewise Communities has won a grant for $300,000 to spread out across its communities to help POAs and property owners mitigate for wildfire by removing hazardous fuel. Its a 90/10 match --- this means that 90% of the cost will be paid with federal funds administered by the NM Forestry Service. The remaining 10% can be in like-kind, which means labor and expenses. We're fairly certain that like-kind need not be supplied solely by the property owner --- the community can ante up using chipper days, planning meetings, etc. The Contract between the governments and us New Mexicans will be with the CCCFC and the EMNRD/NMFS, and the priorities will be assigned a first come - first serve basis. Nearly half of the funds may already be bespoken, so quick action is required if you want to take advantage of this grant. We'll never see another 90/10 split again, so I urge you to consider it carefully.

Specific Actions that CCCFC will take on your behalf:

1. CCCFC has to hire a forester - the huge value here is in the upfront planning, the evaluation of contractors, and the supervision of the work over a two year time period.

2. CCCFC also has to hire the contractors. We currently foresee that this will be two types of vendor - machine based thinning, which is limited by terrain, and hand thinning, which is all boots-on-ground. Vendors will likely come from a NMFS recommendation list, will carry insurances, and will have required forestry training.

3. CCCFC handles the vendors and the money so that there is no additional hassle for the property owner. We reassure you that we will pay on an as-it-goes basis with a final percentage of payment withheld pending approval by our forester and CCCFC, (and by the property owner if present).

What's Required of You:

1. The number one thing to jump start the planning is to get your request for assistance in to Joe and me. This is a simple one page form - please send to Joe Stehling and cc: me. I attached both a Word 2008 format and a rich text format version.

2. To ensure your priority in the queue, you also have to complete a Practice Plan. This is a description of the work that you want done. It will be amended later when we have our forester on board, but you need to think through carefully what your needs are. It represents a commitment level for the process that assures the CCCFC you're on board. This form is also relatively simple(3 pages), especially compared to the grant submittal itself! I attached both a Word 2008 format and a rich text format version. We're in a big hurry for this one --- we need our RFAs and PPs together in three weeks for NMFS to verify our compliance. Without them, our operations may be delayed, and there is a short season for the work.

3. Later, when CCCFC has a general service agreement worked out with the NM Forestry Service, we'll ask each property owner to sign a contract with us. This is fundamental, because it allows CCCFC to put vendors onto your property.

4. If your boundaries and corners are not clearly marked, you may have to pay for corner point surveying. CCCFC does not want to become involved in any trespass actions between property owners, even tangentially. It may be possible to handle this with waivers from your neighbors instead of surveyors in the field.

Additional Things That Communities (PO Associations) Should Consider:

1. Most POAs hold easements around their subdivisions - and these easements can provide fuel and fire breaks to protect the entire development. POAs can contract with CCCFC just like a property owner can, and could discharge a greater responsibility to a community than just getting a scatter of lots thinned.

2. POAs could also engage their neighbors to get the other side of the fence cleared - maybe using the same vendors as CCCFC uses. None of the funds from our grant could go to help the neighbor, however.

What I Can Do Today To Help:

1. We can provide you with a filled out RFA - mine - as a go-by.

2. We can provide you with a couple of example Practice Plans. Reading through them will aid you in thinking about what you want, and in filling out your own PP.

Let me know also if there are any questions. We're very excited about the opportunities for our communities, and your help right now can get us on the road.

Thanks in advance for your immediate attention.

Scott Jones


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	Posted February 27, 2010 Hello, everyone ....... Background: As I hope you know, the Colfax County Coalition of Firewise Communities has won a grant for $300,000 to spread out across its communities to help POAs and property owners mitigate for wildfire by removing hazardous fuel. Its a 90/10 match --- this means that 90% of the cost will be paid with federal funds administered by the NM Forestry Service. The remaining 10% can be in like-kind, which means labor and expenses. We're fairly certain that like-kind need not be supplied solely by the property owner --- the community can ante up using chipper days, planning meetings, etc. The Contract between the governments and us New Mexicans will be with the CCCFC and the EMNRD/NMFS, and the priorities will be assigned a first come - first serve basis. Nearly half of the funds may already be bespoken, so quick action is required if you want to take advantage of this grant. We'll never see another 90/10 split again, so I urge you to consider it carefully. Specific Actions that CCCFC will take on your behalf: 1. CCCFC has to hire a forester - the huge value here is in the upfront planning, the evaluation of contractors, and the supervision of the work over a two year time period. 2. CCCFC also has to hire the contractors. We currently foresee that this will be two types of vendor - machine based thinning, which is limited by terrain, and hand thinning, which is all boots-on-ground. Vendors will likely come from a NMFS recommendation list, will carry insurances, and will have required forestry training. 3. CCCFC handles the vendors and the money so that there is no additional hassle for the property owner. We reassure you that we will pay on an as-it-goes basis with a final percentage of payment withheld pending approval by our forester and CCCFC, (and by the property owner if present). What's Required of You: 1. The number one thing to jump start the planning is to get your request for assistance in to Joe and me. This is a simple one page form - please send to Joe Stehling and cc: me. I attached both a Word 2008 format and a rich text format version. 2. To ensure your priority in the queue, you also have to complete a Practice Plan. This is a description of the work that you want done. It will be amended later when we have our forester on board, but you need to think through carefully what your needs are. It represents a commitment level for the process that assures the CCCFC you're on board. This form is also relatively simple(3 pages), especially compared to the grant submittal itself! I attached both a Word 2008 format and a rich text format version. We're in a big hurry for this one --- we need our RFAs and PPs together in three weeks for NMFS to verify our compliance. Without them, our operations may be delayed, and there is a short season for the work. 3. Later, when CCCFC has a general service agreement worked out with the NM Forestry Service, we'll ask each property owner to sign a contract with us. This is fundamental, because it allows CCCFC to put vendors onto your property. 4. If your boundaries and corners are not clearly marked, you may have to pay for corner point surveying. CCCFC does not want to become involved in any trespass actions between property owners, even tangentially. It may be possible to handle this with waivers from your neighbors instead of surveyors in the field. Additional Things That Communities (PO Associations) Should Consider: 1. Most POAs hold easements around their subdivisions - and these easements can provide fuel and fire breaks to protect the entire development. POAs can contract with CCCFC just like a property owner can, and could discharge a greater responsibility to a community than just getting a scatter of lots thinned. 2. POAs could also engage their neighbors to get the other side of the fence cleared - maybe using the same vendors as CCCFC uses. None of the funds from our grant could go to help the neighbor, however. What I Can Do Today To Help: 1. We can provide you with a filled out RFA - mine - as a go-by. 2. We can provide you with a couple of example Practice Plans. Reading through them will aid you in thinking about what you want, and in filling out your own PP. Let me know also if there are any questions. We're very excited about the opportunities for our communities, and your help right now can get us on the road. Thanks in advance for your immediate attention. Scott Jones