Scare Canyon Ranch Association

June 2006

Agenda for June 15, 2006 SCRA Board Meeting, Weber County Library

Two representatives from Cache County, Mr. Larry Brunson & Mr. George Daines will present the intent of county roads being designated on private property within Scare Canyon Ranch.

Mr. Larry Brunson was the only attendee from Cache County. Mr. Daines had other business to attend to.
Mr. Brunson is the Cache County Surveyor who wanted to let us know that Cache County wants to pursue opening some of our SCRA roads to forest lands. In the 1800’s there were public access roads thru Keller/Olsen land. If a road is used for 10 years, it is deemed a “public road”. He stated they did not want all the roads in Scare Canyon, just some of them to access public lands. He would like to survey all the existing roads in Scare Canyon and get all the history available that goes with each road, he will enter legal descriptions and then make recommendations to a “public road access” committee about what roads should be opened to the public.
Mr. Brunson also said this would help if there were any type of emergency – we would have a way out of the canyon through Olsen’s, etc.
Larry believes Cache County will get public access through Olsen’s and Scare Canyon. He has his own point of view and deals with history of roads.
Ken Love asked why Cache County wants to do this now that the “public” lands are going to be sold to private parties – why do they need public access through Scare Canyon.
Bonnie Love asked about the roads. Was Cache County going to maintain or do we just keep maintaining ourselves for the public too? Larry said the county can decide whether they want to maintain public roads or not.
Derek Hunwick addressed the board member’s and Larry and asked if we can sit down and discuss as a board and make our own recommendations. Larry thought it would be good to have one or two board members along with Jim Spencer and Ray Gibbons to form a committee, get Scare Canyon road information/history and then GPS all the roads. Kerry Dykster made a motion to put Monte Matue and Ron Hill on the committee with Jim and Ray. The motion was seconded by Jim Hicks. None opposed.
Jim Spencer said he has no objection about identifying our roads and GPSing their locations.
Larry Brunson stated that because he is the Cache County Surveyor and registered in the State of Utah, he does not have to ask permission of private property owner’s to survey. He can go anywhere without their permission. He also said that he would not survey our properties in Scare Canyon unless he was invited.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Review May minutes

May minutes were approved as read

2. Decide on wording of the hunt permits

#1 was changed to read: This permit only provides access to a PAID member’s property
#’s 2, 3 and 4 are unchanged from draft
#5 Drive motorized vehicles ONLY on existing roads except to retrieve tagged game
#6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are unchanged
There will be a “note” added at the bottom that says “please respect private property”
A motion was made by Ron Hill to make the recommended changes; it was seconded by Jim Hicks; none opposed

3. Monte…..status of gravel

Monte graded from Ant Flat again after all the rain. The road is ready for gravel – however he is now getting the gravel from Grant Johnson – at the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon – it will be cheaper and they will deliver.

4. Cal……latest on fire plan

Cal was out of town for 2 weeks so no update on fire plan

5. Members identify what needs to be done during 22 Jul workday/picnic

Monte says a group needs to help dig a drain on Cottonwood
Bonnie asked Cal Pack if the 2 fire safety men from Cache County would be there to document what was being done – he said he would check
Ken Love said that on the weekend of June 3-4 he and Bonnie Love worked for over 2 hours with chainsaw, clippers, etc to clear fallen trees, limbs from the main road.
Keep working on cell phone reception points and GPS readings

NEW BUSINESS

1. Water readings to Bonnie for recording

Bonnie bought a ledger for the board so readings for the springs could be recorded. Ray Gibbons brought his readings and so did Derek Hunwick. Ken Love recorded his readings and their’s in the ledger.

2. Main gate lock was shot….replaced by Jim Hicks

Jim Hicks showed us the lock and told us he replaced it. The family of person suspected of doing the damage does not want the association involved – they will take care of situation within their own family.

3. Property access to lots located within SCRA

This issue is to discuss land-locked property and existing road access. Monte Matue brought this forward because Jim Hicks asked him to build his own road on his own property to get to his cabin. Monte took exception to this and went to Cache County for information.
Monte brought up road access issue concerning Board Meeting guests, property owner’s Robert and Evelyn Elston. Monte brought an old photograph showing what looked like an existing road on Jim Hicks property that goes to Elston’s. Mr. And Mrs. Elston want to use Jim’s road and continue it to their property so they can build a cabin up on the hill. Jim said he’s had that property for 28 years and the road has never gone to their property.
Monte felt the board should look at the existing roads and address the problem because the Elston’s are spending thousands of dollars building a road on the lower part of their property. Monte has researched this information and has depositions regarding the issues.
Jim Hicks stated that he will not deny access to Monte Matue on the existing road.

4. Posting your private property

Doug Stewart says everyone in Scare Canyon is automatically a member of the association and should not post their property.
Doug stated in Utah you can hunt all year round, therefore no property should be posted.
Derek Hunwick stated that Doug’s point of view was a matter of contention that would have to be addressed by by-law change suggestions. Currently, the by-laws state “hunt only” during the “hunt season”.

5. Cache County Sheriff to patrol during hunt

Kerry Dykster got the name of the Cache County Deputy Sheriff who works up in the Scare Canyon area.
Kerry hopes he can address some of the “trespass” issues. The deputy’s name is Chad Hess. Kerry will contact him for more information and also about patrolling during the hunt.

Ron Hill made a motion to adjourn at 8:35pm. It was seconded by Jim Hicks.

Board Member’s Present:

Derek Hunwick

Ken Love

Monte Matue

Jim Hicks

Cal Pack

Kerry Dykster

Ron Hill

Joel Thomson

Bonnie Love

Board Member’s Absent:

Bill Shurtleff (Excused)

Mary Lou Heslop (Excused)

Tony Fox (Unexcused)

Guests:

Ray Gibbons

Jim Spencer

Evelyn Elston

Robert Elston

Larry Brunson, Cache County Surveyor

larry.brunson@cachecounty.org