TNC Meeting

[Jeff HAMILTON]

Hello team!

 

I’m glad to be getting reacquainted. We will be holding a committee meeting on Tuesday November 28th via zoom at 7:30. This will allow us to touch base and tie up some loose ends.

 

Is someone able to set up a zoom link for the meeting?

 

Thank you,

 

Jeff

[Jim Vallem]

Sounds good.

I can give a stewards' report.

I would also like a vote to authorize the stewards to spend up to $3000 on burns, plants, seeds, supplies, etc. by the end of our fiscal year (the end of next August, I believe).  We did this same thing at the beginning of 2022 and have still not spent the full $3000 we authorized then (we have not gotten in any burns by our burn contractor due to not having good conditions when they were available and school was not in session).  I am hoping we can get these burns in the oak/hickory woods and the low area west of the pond in the next year.  Pre-authorizing these funds made it easier for us to conduct our work without needing a vote every time we need to do something.

Jim Vallem
734-358-0336

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[Emily Eisbruch]

Jeff,

Sounds good.

We can use this Zoom

Topic: Thurston Nature Center
Time: Nov 28, 2023 7:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89465500159?pwd=b0VSWnBsalJkY3NZL3IxZXhZYVB4dz09

Meeting ID: 894 6550 0159
Passcode: 879210

Thanks

- Emily 

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[Hannah Smith]

Hi All, 

I will not be able to attend this meeting due to a prior commitment, but one item I'd like to add to the agenda is the recent land clearing on OHAC property behind 2277 Georgetown (photos attached). I won't go into the full history in this email, but this continues to be an issue with OHAC's neighbors despite numerous requests that they cease and desist over the past few years. 

The OHAC Board discussed this at our monthly meeting last night and are wondering if the land stewards have any suggestions on next steps. Would creating a natural barrier of trees or bushes at our property line be appropriate here and within the TNCC's policies? Open to other ideas as well...OHAC would be willing to dedicate funding to this project (within reason of course) if the TNCC wants to make a proposal. 

Thanks,

Hannah Smith

OHAC President

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thurstonpond/CADoJtuy_1B1ezmOdqB620sKB6F7D5L8Oxcre%2BN14%3DXwTnkbDMA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Jim Vallem]

Since they continue to have everything cut indiscriminately despite being told multiple times to stop, I'm not sure something else that can be cut down is going to help.

We tried adding trees on the NE side of the pond where other neighbors have cleared on school property, and those were removed within a year.

Other than a privacy fence topped with razor wire, or a lawsuit (the school declined), I don't know what would help.

Jim

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thurstonpond/A3070CEE-773F-4602-B5D1-93583A38E6C8%40ohacpool.org.

[Elizabeth Morehead]

Hannah,

The area which you're speaking to is on OHAC property so the TNC Committee and AAPS would have no legal authority there. A temporary fence, even the orange snow fencing commonly up this time of year may help establish a boundary while being extremely visible. Signs establishing boundaries. OHAC is private property so you would be able to rightly mark out your property line along Georgetown and Bluett within the Nature Center area. It would be up to the powers that be within OHAC to determine what steps you are willing to do beyond trying to replant. This (fencing and signs) could be an Eagle Scout project I think. 

The discussion on natural area vs Park-like has always been a heated one. While I don't believe a lawsuit was ever presented to the district over the property owner on Bluett we have sent them letters with Thurstons principal knowledge and consent trying to be friendly and educational. To my knowledge nothing further was done legally speaking. 

The delicate balance of the various property owners, destruction of property, protected wetlands could become quite nasty business. The perpetrator would have to be caught in the act, with appropriate documentation and evidence. Otherwise they could always say it wasn't them. Many believe they are helping, keeping the invasive buckthorn at bay, among other things, trail maintenance. Some of these homeowners have always had a view of the pond, as original or second homeowners when there was nothing but open grass. 

Ultimately, AAPS has full legal rights and authority over it's portion of the nature center property while OHAC does for theirs. The TNC Committee cannot legally do anything. 

Elizabeth Morehead

Former TNC chair 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thurstonpond/b10f9492-5685-4f9a-b2e9-f48e3ca9aeb0%40aol.com.

[Hannah Smith]

Hi All, 

Thanks for your responses. OHAC is not considering legal action at this time, but we'd like to coordinate with the TNCC on replanting the area this Spring and (most importantly) protect that replanting effort. We would definitely support an Eagle Scout project if that's a possibility, or we have a volunteer pool we can pull from. I'd like to establish a plan with TNCC's input, as our land stewards, this winter so that we can budget for the project appropriately. Happy to set up a separate meeting for this issue in the next few months to discuss in person if that would be helpful.

OHAC's Vice-President, Amy Creten, is planning to attend the Nov 28 meeting in my absence and can expand on this topic further.

Best,

Hannah

[Jim Vallem]

I am reasonably certain that anything that gets planted without further discussion with those homeowners will just get cut down.  So maybe a negotiation with the homeowners would work:  You won't put up a fence and/or large evergreen screen on the property line, if they stop their cutting.  But if they cut again, you will go through with the barrier to their precious view.  Without a written agreement that lays out consequences, I think they will just blow you off like they have done before (and cut down anything you plant).

OHAC would probably need a vote to put up a screen ahead of that discussion, so they know you are serious.

An alternative:  Get them to agree to have their contractor only cut (and treat the stumps with glyphosate) the buckthorn and honeysuckle, which is the tallest stuff blocking their view.  That would benefit everyone.

Jim Vallem
734-358-0336

[Praveena_jr]

Sometime ago I recall a conversation with the then Thurston Principal to add stake markers around the property indicating the divide. We can do a email and social campaign to let folks know what the markers are for, the planting projects and get our community behind protecting the land. 

Is this something we can entertain again? I know other homeowners on the aaps side have been tearing out plants to improve their view and adding non native flower beds  

Thank you,

Praveena J Ramaswami

-sent from my beloved phone-

On Nov 17, 2023, at 10:40 AM, 'Jim Vallem' via Thurston Nature Center Committee & friends e-mail group <thurst...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Michael Tucker]

I agree with Praveena. Markers would be a good next step. I also think that  property markers should state that "removal of plants and animals is prohibited".  A contact for questions may also be a good idea.

Tuck

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thurstonpond/93DD6E6B-8B48-4B9F-AEB5-786E168A2B62%40yahoo.com.

[Praveena_jr]

If the group is interested

I can get quotes and a mock design for a marker. The city has been putting these up in parks. 

Thank you,

Praveena J Ramaswami

-sent from my beloved phone-

On Nov 17, 2023, at 3:01 PM, Michael Tucker <mpbt...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thurstonpond/CABptYhxUFKFUKPsd%2BcwJNO-6sXdeF24mBZK5mDz0NYZkvBVS%2Bg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Elizabeth Morehead]

If it's an interest, a suggestion I would have is putting the legal property owner names on the signs as well. So something like: Entering Thurston Nature Center, property of AAPS. And signs along OHAC property line to have their name on their signs. 

It's a good suggestion and I Don't recall why we didn't pursue it. Perhaps that was just before COVID? Thanks for bringing it back up Praveena. 

Elizabeth Morehead 

[Praveena_jr]

Agree— we should add the property owners

Yes the pandemic stopped that convo

Let me get a quote and get back to the group. We can also use these stakes to string tape where new planting are done. We can then do a social media blast to make sure people know what is going on and they can help us protect the land. 

Thank you,

Praveena J Ramaswami

-sent from my beloved phone-

On Nov 17, 2023, at 4:35 PM, Elizabeth Morehead <elizabeth....@gmail.com> wrote:



[Jim Vallem]

Sounds like a reasonable first step.  Not that the homeowners there will necessarily care (they know where the property line is), but perhaps the company that they hire will see the markers and decide not to do the clearing.  Having a contact like pres...@ohacpools.org and ch...@thurstonnaturecenter.info on the marker would help so they know how to confirm whether or not they are doing something they shouldn't be.

Jim Vallem
734-358-0336