Committee holds off meetings until fall

The Bigfork Steering Committee has opted to postpone meetings until October, when it will discuss its future in more detail.

Due to a lack of participation and action, the group agreed to hold off meetings until October, when it's bylaws call for officer elections. At that time, further discussions on the committee itself will take place as well as possible changes to the bylaws. The drop in interest was made apparent partially by the fact that vice-chairman Jim Losee, who was not present at the meeting, submitted a letter of resignation saying he had "lost interest" in the committee.

"Pat [Wagner] and I have been hashing out if we shouldn't go into hibernation for awhile," Chair Craig Wagner said to the BSC on Thursday.

Members suggested quarterly meetings in case some topic or issue came up. The steering committee had been highly active in prior years due to its involvement in the update of the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan. That was completed and approved last summer and it will be another four years before the plan needs to be reviewed and revised again.

"The BSC used to meet every week," member Sue Hanson said. "There was an issue going on then. You will have people interested if you have an issue."

Members raised concerns about dealing with expenses if the BSC was to go into a hibernation period until an issue arose.

"We are prepared to stand alone," Leslie Budewitz said of the North Lake County Planning Committee she chairs. "My only concern, I'll be blunt, is I want the money."

Expenses will occur like printing and mailing costs for which resources will be needed. BSC currently has about $192 in the bank.

Treasurer Steve Zobaro said money would probably need to be budgeted and allocated for the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee as well as any other committees that may need it.

"We should probably have some communication about that," he said. Some reserve should also be left in the account for any future dealings of the BSC, he said.

Decisions on a budget were also deferred to the October meeting when committees would have better estimates of cost and an insurance refund BSC may receive would be known.

One of the bylaw changes that will need to be made will be regarding officers and voting members. Currently, to be a voting member, individuals have to attend seven meetings in a year or three consecutive meetings.

Members also said it would be important to keep the committee's website active. The site, www.bigforksteering.org, also hosts information and minutes for BLUAC, North Lake County Planning and the Bigfork Stormwater Advisory Committee.