PIKE TRAILS RANCHES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
PTRIA – PO BOX 45 – GUFFEY, CO 80820
May 31, 2006
Spring has arrived in Pike Trails Ranches! It’s been a very dry year, especially since last fall. Snowfall was pretty scarce during the winter months, and our volunteers who plow were only out a few times. For you out-of-staters, the entire front range has been fighting wildfires since February, and that includes SPCFPD, although ours were small. Outdoor “burn-bans” are in effect and posted over all our jurisdiction, so be sure to observe the “no open fire” rules. The upper pond (where we stock most of our fish) is down almost 7 feet from the outlet pipe (more on that later). The good news is that in the “high country” along the Continental Divide just west of here, there was record snowfall, so the Ski Resorts had a banner year, and our rivers and reservoirs should fill up quite nicely. We did get some welcome moisture in early April, but it hardly made a dent in our water table. Thanks to everyone who plowed snow this past season….we rely on you to keep our private roads clear.
As usual, the landowner name and address for this NEWSLETTER is based on Park Co. Assessor’s data, so if it is not correct, please notify them. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to put a note on your dues notice when you pay, so we can update our records right away.
2005 ANNUAL MEETING
The 2005 Annual Meeting was held August 28, 2005 at Fire Station #3 on County Road 88 near Cougar Lane . Thirty Seven members attended, including 4 officers. Mark your calendars for this year….it’s Sunday, August 27th, 2006, the weekend before Labor Day.
As this was an election year, the following members were elected to a two year term:
President — Bernie Mann
3rd Vice President — Ann Erickson
1st Vice President — Craig Miller
Sec’y/Treasurer — Mary Maxson
2nd Vice President – Larry LePage
Several resolutions were passed by the members present. One, pertaining to PTRIA dues, is being implemented in this years dues request. Dues will remain at $100 per year for landowners with a single parcel and a driveway entering on PTRIA private roads, and $25 per year for landowners with a single parcel with a driveway entering on public roads (CR 88 and Hwy 9). The change applies to landowners with more than one parcel as follows: Each additional vacant parcel will be assessed at $25/parcel and each additional parcel with a structure on it that is or could be occupied will be assessed at $100/parcel.
In addition, the membership unanimously voted to amend our PTRIA bylaws to include the statement “No discharge of firearms is permitted on Pike Trails Ranches private roads and out-lots”.
FISH/PONDS
Chine Trout Farms in Boulder delivered our fish on May 24th last year. We stocked about 300 (200 lbs.)1 I — 14 inch Rainbows at a cost of $795 (including $115 delivery charge). I ordered fish for this year again from Cline’s, which were delivered 5/16/06. However, due to a delivery error, Chine’s put Duke Davis’ 75 lbs of fish in our ponds, so we got all 275 lbs, 1/2 of which was put in the upper pond, the other 1/2 in the lower pond. As I said earlier, the upper pond where we usually put most of the fish is very low, with no inflow of water whatsoever. The lower pond seems to be getting an adequate supply of new water, so I am working with Jon Klima regarding the possibilities of installing a solar pump to transfer water from the lower pond to the upper pond. Last month, Jon, Larry LePage, Tim Gartland and I “borrowed” a couple of fire trucks and pumped about 12,000 gallons of water our of the lower pond into the upper pond to assess the recovery rate of the lower pond to see if a permanent solar pump is feasible. It looks like we could easily pump 2-3 gallons per minute during the daylight hours for a period of 5 or 6 months without affecting the lower pond whatsoever! Jon is working on this.
At our Annual Meeting last year, it was suggested that I remind everyone that the fish in the ponds are for dues paying Pike Trails homeowners and their guests only (no license is required), and that we should be considerate in the catching of fish in other words, “catch & release” is encouraged so that everyone can enjoy this activity, but it’s OK to keep a few for supper!
PTRIA ROADS
The PTRIA grader is running good….I had a little problem with the brake master cylinder last year and had to buy a new one after the rebuild kit I ordered did not work. I bought some new edges (Doug Mayotte and his son delivered them from Denver ), so we’re ready for another season or two! I filled up our 300 gallon fuel tank
last summer, but had to pay $2.29 a gallon. I guess looking at the cost of fuel now, that was a bargain! I did put some money back into our treasury for some grading I did over in Beaver Springs.
Someone ran over the PTRIA bulletin board again in December or early January (it wasn’t the grader this time), so I brought it home and repaired it again. It was obviously caused by someone coming down Deer Lane who couldn’t/didn’t stop. This time, I had to buy new treated posts and some other materials to fix it, plus, the ground was too frozen to dig holes until April, so it’s back up now. If this happens to any of you, please let me know… at least I’ll know you care.
Ranch roads stayed in pretty good shape….a few washboards and a couple of mud-puddles, but overall, nothing major. We spread 32 loads of % road base (approx. 538 tons) last year in late May and June, plus a few loads on private driveways for which we were reimbursed. We’ll start having gravel hauled in again this year as soon as some of the dues money starts rolling in, putting most of it in areas of highest traffic.
And once again, I’d like to remind everyone, especially the “newcomers” to Pike Trails, that PTRIA owns the private roads within Pike Trails Ranches. This 17 miles of deeded roads include 30 feet on each side of the center of the roads. So if you’re putting in a new driveway or fence, keep that in mind. We don’t want to create an erosion problem when new driveways are put in without the necessary culverts, which are the landowners responsibility. Please let me know of any special needs on ranch roads near your property…we’ll do our best to take care of them.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
We were saddened by the death of long time resident Margaret Rennie in August, and also former resident Richard Peters in August. You may recall, Richard spent many, many hours helping build Fire Station#3 back in 1999, and was very active in our homeowners association. And Margaret was always a staunch supporter of PTRIA activities.
Rich & Ella Groth sold their home to Seth Stahiman and moved to Washington state. New landowners include Robert Ritchie on Deer Lane, Kenneth and Leslie Thomas, also on Deer Lane, Craig and Diane White on E. Hawk Lane , and Kelly Keys on Antelope Lane . We welcome all you folks to Pike Trails Ranches. Please don’t hesitate to call me or any Board member, as well as your neighbors to get acquainted….none of us bite (as far as I know)! Several other parcels changed hands, some of which were purchased by existing landowners.
TREASURERS REPORT
The summary is shown below–details are available upon request to Mary Maxson, and also at our annual meeting in August.
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(Note – we still need to buy another $5,000 CD which we cashed out to purchase the grader.)
ANNUAL DUES
As I mentioned earlier, annual dues are still $ 100/$25, except for property owners that own more than one parcel.
2006 ANNUAL MEETING
Did I mention that our Annual Meeting is August 27th, 2006?
Remember….., this is your meeting!!! It will be held at 2:00 PM in the Fire Station on Co Rd 88 near Cougar Lane (SPCFPD Station#3). As usual, I’ll put up reminder notices near all the mailboxes in Pike Trails. And I’m sure some folks will bring coffee, pop, and munchies.
See you in August,
Bernie Mann President
Pike Trails Ranches Improvement Assoc.
(719) 479-2253