On March 17, 2020 the Kingman Area User Association (KAUA) received official notification as posted on the www.kingmanradio.com website that the 2020 KAUA Annual Meeting scheduled for March 25, 2020 had been postponed till further notice. Further inquiry resulted for reasons of health concerns at the Bureau during the Covid-19 pandemic in progress. As a result, the process of business for the KAUA was interrupted as to approval of the 2019 minutes, committee reports for financial, technical, and roads. New business and 2020 inspections were not scheduled nor could be done with BLM representatives as required. No assessments were calculated from the absence of inspections nor were they sent out due to lack of guidance and/or precedence from the KAUA By-Laws document. Completed committee reports have either been prepared and posted or are pending for 2020.
2020 MINUTES as follows:
- Attendance/introductions: NONE
- Committee Reports: ALL REPORTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL JULY 29, 2021 ANNUAL MEETING Financial Report-Pending, Technical Report-Posted on this page, Road Committee Report-Posted on this page.
- Determination of standing members: PENDING till July 29, 2021.
- Old Business: PENDING till July 29, 2021.
- New Business: PENDING till July 29, 2021.
- Election of Officers: NONE; Standing KAUA Officers are listed on the www.kingmanradio.com website. Only two KAUA Officers ARE ACTIVE at this time. Positions need to be filled.
- Appointment of Committees: PENDING. Positions need to be filled.
- Comments from Members: Phone and email requests for additions to the KAUA 2021 Annual Meeting scheduled for July 29, 2021.
JULY 29, 2021 KAUA ANNUAL MEETING at the BLM Kingman Field Office 2755 Mission Blvd, Kingman AZ 96401 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
AGENDA (10:00 a.m.)
a. CALL TO ORDER
ALL VOTING MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO TAKE A SEAT AT THE MEETING TABLE – GUESTS MAY TAKE THE EXTRA SEATS OR USE THE CHAIRS ALONG THE MEETING ROOM WALLS. THIS MEETING IS LIKELY TO REQUIRE OFFICAL COUNTS OF VOTES ON VARIOUS ITEMS AND NEED TO BE ACCURATE per Article II Section 1 and Article IV Section 1.
b. SIGN-IN
ALL MEMBERS AND PARTICPAING NEED TO SIGN IN AND PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION. THERE WILL BE A FORM PROVIDED AND NEEDS TO BE FILLED OUT LEGIBLY AND INICATE IF THE CONTACT CAN BE POSTED ON THE KAUA WEBSITE.
c. READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST ANNUAL MEETING – Approval of 2019 KAUA Meeting minutes.
d. REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL COMMITTE – Pending for the July 29, 2021 meeting.
e. REPORT OF THE TECHNICAL COMMITTE – Posted below.
f. REPORT OF THE ROAD COMMITTEE – Posted below.
g. DETERMINATION OF STANDING MEMBERS – Pending for the July 29, 2021 meeting.
h. OLD BUSINESS – None lodged or beyond the 2019 KAUA Annual Meeting
i. NEW BUSINESS
PROPOSED CHANGE/MODIFY THE 2005 KAUA BY-LAWS:
- Entertainment for motion and possible action to apply 2019 Annual Transmitter Fees/Road Assessments to all site/lease holders due to no collections from 2020.
- Road conditions and contractor fees for damaged roads; additional comments and possible motion & action by KAUA membership.
- Oatman / Goldroad Crest RF high power emission restrictions ARTICAL IV Section 1, Item C paragraph 3) Goldroad Crest; Farron Eckelbarger/Steve Greely
- Snow removal clause – Article 1 Section 2.
- Schedule site inspections for Hualapai Mtn-Potato Patch (upper/lower), Black Mesa, Hayden Peak and Getz Peak (north/south)
- Schedule site inspections for Oatman Goldroad Crest (all sites)
j. ELECTION OF OFFICERS – ALL POSITIONS WILL NEED TO BE FILLED; Vice President position is vacant.
k. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTES – ALL POSITIONS NEED TO BE FILLED.
l. COMMENTS BY MEMBERS
m. ADJOURNMENT
KINGMAN AREA USERS ASSOCIATION 2020-2021 ROAD COMMITTEE REPORT
Ken McLaughlin – on behalf of KAUA Road Committee Chairman
July 25, 2021
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON RECORD:
Justin Brown, Wecom – Chairman
Ken McLaughlin, Wecom – Member
Farron Eckelbarger, Advanced Ministries – Member
This report spans from March 2019 to July 29, 2021. The Covid-19 interruption of KAUA business attributes to extended time between the last Road Committee Report.
HAYDEN PEAK
As a member of the Road Committee, my current position in the Wecom organization has given me the opportunity to observe the conditions frequently of the Hayden Peak and North/South Getz Peak roads. The adjacent upper & lower Potato Patch, Black Mesa and all other extensions have seen a slow and steady deterioration of conditions since December of 2018 when the last roadwork was done.
The lack of rainfall and slow snow melt of the past two years did not create rapid deterioration, difficult or extreme conditions until the recent thunderstorms in July of 2021. Prior to the onset of the monsoons, I toured a perspective contractor during the BLM construction window to conduct roadwork on December 4, 2020 with the BLM Biologist and Realty Specialist present on the Hualapai Mountain Roads, The contractor reviewed the KAUA road funds and subsequently did not provide a quote as requested or express further interest. The reason for this is likely the contractor would need much more funding than the KAUA would have available even under financially up to date conditions. In other words, under perfect financial conditions at the current rate of collections, the KAUA funds fall extremely short. Continued search for an interested contractor would follow.
June 16, 2021 the BLM Field Office and I organized a meeting with the Mohave County Supervisor of jurisdiction, Public Works Director, Road Department Supervisor, Risk Management Director, Flood Control with the BLM Field Manager present. I provided an information packet for Mohave County Supervisor Jean Bishop and conducted a 30 minute power point presentation to the group. (Briefing packed attached to Road Committee Report) Other than a pending assessment of the Hayden Peak road by a County Road Department supervisor, no action or further communications with Mohave County has taken place on this issue to date. Furthermore, it should not be anticipated that assistance is forthcoming or being considered by Mohave County at this time.
On June 30, 2021 a tour of the Hayden Peak road was given to a Phoenix based BLM Safety Manager who was reviewing an injury that took place in June with a BLM employee as it related to the condition of the road leading to the top of Hayden Peak.
At that time some anticipation may have been present and some further interest for the bureau to be involved in the issue or at least research other means to assist. To date no further reportable developments are taking place. It should not be misunderstood that the local BLM is not looking into a solution; BLM is concerned and paying attention to the situation. Given the funding is up to date for 2019 and sitting in the bank, there appears to be a wide disparity of the current cost to do business on the road from past to the present so far.
In the beginning of July 2021, the Mohave County Flood Control proceeded with a project to establish a BLM least and communication site at the top of Hayden Peak. As a result, their construction contractor conducted some road improvements to facilitate an excavator with a rock breaking attachment, loader and road improvement that would allow a pre-fabricated shelter to be dragged to their site. This resolved some critical problems on the upper Hayden Peak road, however, recent monsoon storms are rapidly returning the original problems and potentially making conditions worse than before their project began. It should be noted that the County’s contractor has tried to counter the monsoon damage, however, is not responsible to maintain the road following the completion of their project. In relation to this, the KAUA President has invited the contractor on this project to the Annual KAUA Meeting as an expert to answer any questions that members have.
GETZ PEAK (North & South)
The December 4th 2021 perspective contractor was given a tour of the road with BLM present but the result is the same as the Hayden Peak tour. The same outcome exists regarding the contractor with no further action or communications to date. The south Getz Peak is should mostly be manageable due to softer conditions and some small amount of available fill material along the road. The North Getz Peak switchbacks have not in the past received significant work as a result of the extreme steep rock angles. An improvement to that section will certainly require a major project and involve additional BLM involvement to approve it. There is no significant amount of fill material available leading to the north site. No work since 2018.
BLACK MESA
Road conditions are very poor for access by Mohave County Sheriff’s Office operations and fall under the same current challenges as the other adjacent Hayden Peak road. No work since 2018.
POTATO PATCH (upper & lower)
Still accessible using normal 4X4 vehicles but are subject to monsoon damage that can change the status depending on storm damage at any time. No work since 2018
OATMAN-GOLDROAD CREST
Is barely accessible via normal 4X4 vehicle. Heavy duty or large vehicles are now challenged due to slow but steady deterioration including high angle grade in some places. Monsoon storms can exacerbate this very quickly at any time. It is historically noted that one year (at or around 2005 a single monsoon storm destroyed the Oatman / Goldroad Crest road and needed extensive repair which fortunately occurred. The same scenario may not play out the way we want due to rising costs to repair. No work since 2015 when a separate contractor/leaseholder did some repairs un-related to KAUA business.
In summary, I believe there has come a point of contenting with the following:
- The Financial Report reflects the available funds for road repairs which are mostly up to date on 2019 collections. The Covid-19 interruption of the KAUA business left no guidance to properly assess via site inspections to collect for the year 2020. Under the current KAUA leadership, if such an assessment were to be sent out contrary to the By-Law document regarding this process, those who may object and not pay on time could be at risk of having their lease with BLM threatened without absolute justification.
- The last major improvement to the Hayden Road was done in 2014 when a BLM facility could not be serviced for a communication outage. Radio technicians and other contractors could not access the damaged and ice conditioned road to make repairs. There was no record that KAUA was asked to address this particular problem, however, the BLM did rent a bulldozer and made a major improvement to the upper road which lasted for years.
- Costs of repairs to the mountain roads so far have evidently risen since 2018 beyond the KAUA to match for repair of the entire road system to allow un-modified 4X4 vehicles to access some of the sites without risk of damage or becoming disabled. Even with a maximum assessment levied on all users paid up to 2021 by all members of KAUA, there are indicators that the users group would fall very short of affording the repairs; at least for Hayden Peak so far.
- The current staff of two KAUA Officers and two Committee members has no simple answer to this situation at this time. There are funds paid up to 2019 in the bank to perhaps conduct emergency repairs of a section(s) or washed out area. Those funds have been reserved for that very purpose.
The membership is asked to participate in looking for solutions AND further discussion will take place under NEW BUSINESS.
Ken McLaughlin-KAUA
President & Road Committee Member.
ATTACHED BREIFING TO MOHAVE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR OF JURISDICTION
COMMUNICATION SITES – RAOD ACCESS PROBLEMS – HUALAPAI MOUNTAIN
For over the past 20+ years a communication site users group consisting of BLM lease holders have managed to keep roads leading to radio tower/microwave facilities open and passable by raising funds to pay a private contractor to do road repairs needed after monsoon storms and winter snow melt.
The funding is raised annually as each leaseholder are required to pay following an annual road assessment. This process is done by the Kingman Area Users Association (KAUA), which all facility owners must maintain a “Good Standing” as part of the terms and conditions of their lease. The users group has managed to keep the roads open and repaired using private road construction contractors.
The cost imposed and recently the availability by these private road contractors have become difficult to the point that:
- The cost exceeds the funds KAUA has on hand, resulting KAUA cannot afford the amount they are asking for.
- The road repairs done by the usual implements (tractors & gammons) due to seasonal erosion cannot be sustained and require a higher more powerful form of implements or road equipment.
- The 2019 Covid pandemic has interrupted the KAUA process to raise what would be the usual amount of funds to continue as it has in the past, however, there is a significant amount of funds remaining in the KAUA bank account that could be used to reimburse an affordable and willing road repair organization.
- From the time the pandemic occurred, KAUA is been searching for a willing road contractor but has not been successful due to lack of availability and /or to significant escalation of costs now being quoted by them.
The last perspective private road contract in addition to having availability limitations expressed concerns about the majority of the costs would be consumed by moving a tracked implement (bulldozer or excavator) from the area of the Hualapai Mountain Park Ranger Station to the dirt road were work was needed due to damaging the pavement in the park. This has recently been proven to be lesser of a concern as a result of the FLAG FIRE that occurred in April 2021. (additional information and photos available on that concern)
During the FLAG FIRE Type 1 Fire Management Team’s effort to address concerns on the spread of this particular fire, a bulldozer was sent up to the top of the Hualapai Mountain passing all of the communication sites as an asset measure in the firefighting. It was hoped, even inquires were made to the incident command if this bulldozer would be used to make any improvements to the road even if they were limited. This question was purportedly asked by our own Mohave County Emergency Management which the question was answered in an encouraging manor.
As it turned out to the disappointment of those concerned, the bulldozer used in that fire did not drop it’s blade or have any positive effect for the road condition and returned to the area of the Ranger Station following de-escalation of the fire. Incidentally, the payment in the park suffered no concerning damage due to in part of it’s robust construction and thickness, therefore diminishing the concern of a tracked vehicle of proportionate size accessing the dirt road from the pavement in the park will cause damage.
Views and concerns between the Bureau of Land Management, Hualapai Mountain Park and the Kingman Area Users Association have merged in an effort to form a solution. It was thought that Mohave County having some interests/investments in some of the communication sites in addition to certain road repair resources may be able to help.
Such questions would be asked:
- Could Mohave County assist KAUA with some reimbursement in mind to conduct road repairs?
- Could Mohave County and KAUA form some temporary or sustained partnership on this issue?
- Does Mohave County have a future long term interest in the future of this road system (re: parks)?
- KAUA group holding a right of way on the access roads (BLM sections) to communication sites.
- Does not retain sole/exclusive access authority.
- May (but not required) conduct road repairs under the supervision of BLM. (wildlife protection)
- Collects road assessment as part of BLM TCL from KAUA members/leaseholders based on amount of transmitters in use formula.
The following are just some of the communication assets in place on Hualapai Mountain that provide services for the region. A fire or other disaster affecting electricity at the very least over a long period of time would certainly affect or even cripple the following services in the entire region. These entities are listed as the most critical and essential of public services.
ESSENTIAL REGIONAL SERVICES: POLICE / FIRE / EMS
- Mohave County Sheriff’s Department
- Mohave County Public Works / Road Department
- Mohave County Flood Control
- Department of Public Safety-State Troopers
- Federal Law Enforcement – Tribal operations
- State mutual aid systems (AIRS) State Fire
- Fire Alarm – main regional fire dispatch
- Several County Fire Districts
- American Medical Response – AMBULANCE
ESSENTIAL REGIONAL SERVICES: INFRASTRUCTURE – UTILITY
- Western Arizona Power Administration
- Mohave Electric Coop
- Unisource Electric Services
- Unisource Gas
- Transwestern Pipeline
- National Weather Service
- Other federal agencies; Boarder Patrol, FBI, DEA, FAA, Bureau of Land Management-FIRE/LE and National Guard.
ESSENTIAL REGIONAL SERVICES: PUBLIC INFORMATION-BROADCAST
- Multiple Public FM Radio broadcast stations.
- National Weather Service Broadcasts (Public)
- FAA and pilot services.
- Regional Microwave Carrier backhaul-Hospitals
- CELLULAR PHONE services; AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and others.
- MOHAVE COUNTY TV DISTRICT: Kingman, Golden Valley, So-Hi, Valle Vista, Truxton, Peach Springs, River Cities-Bullhead, Mohave Valley, Golden Shores & Lake Havasu City.
The present circumstances, pandemic, climate change as is relates to fire danger and the potential damage/destruction of the power lines and communication sites may be growing beyond the capability of the KAUA alone to manage 100% of the burden of maintaining a road accessible to all radio communication technicians. Some communication organizations have tried to adapt, but this is the exception. At the very least, the ability to deliver fuel for power generators is now gone. The time will come when emergency power will be a great concern during winter snow storm power outages and incidents like the FLAG FIRE. Most sites are equipped with emergency power generators; however, they will run out of fuel if there is a sustained commercial power outage.
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN CREEPING UP ON ALL OF US – NOW IS THE TIME TO ADDRESS IT.
WEATHER DAMAGE TO THE COMMUNICATION SITE ROADS IS A YEAR AROUND ISSUE
- KAUA funds have made “maintenance repairs” to sections of the roads.
- Repair construction and maintenance of road are two different types of projects.
- Last major road improvement (repair) was done by BLM/USFS in 2014 during winter access problems. (bulldozer) That was an emergency repair for an essential service. Details of this are unknown.
- Last maintenance in 2018 used $18K to have contractor grade road with skip loader & drag gammon
Last implement type used by private contractor for the sum of $18K in 2018.
Photo available upon request.
Opportunity missed to make any road repairs on FLAG FIRE on or about April 28, 2021 This bulldozer seen in the lower left (working for the Type I fire management team) traveled to the top of the mountain but did not drop the blade. The operator may or may not have been under certain restrictions; however, this was a bi
Photo available upon request.
KINGMAN AREA USERS ASSOCIATION
2020-2021 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Ken McLaughlin – on behalf of KAUA Road Committee Chairman
July 25, 2021
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON RECORD:
Ken McLaughlin, Wecom – Chairman
Jack Trahan, Wecom – Member
Duane Dunn, – Member
This report spans from March 2019 to July 29, 2021. The Covid-19 interruption of KAUA business attributes to extended time between the last Technical Committee Report.
HAYDEN PEAK
No annual inspections. Additional transmitters have been observed in the SBA upper communications site shelter in which there have been no additional or new Technical Data Sheets that have been sent to BLM or KAUA. Also a new right of way has been granted for Mohave County Flood Control and Technical Sheets are expected to be submitted to BLM – KAUA prior to any applicable transmitters going into service. The next inspection will be scheduled sometime after the July 29, 2021 Annual Meeting. There is at least one occasional interference problem with the Mohave County District-1 repeater that is being investigated by Wecom which just began. If the problem persists and is not easily resolved the effort to locate the cause will be escalated.
GETZ PEAK (north & south)
Additional transmitters are believed to have been installed and will be confirmed on the next site inspections.
BLACK MESA
No inspections have taken place for more than a year; however, it is believed there have been no known changes.
POTATO PATCH (upper & lower)
No inspections have taken place for more than a year; however, it is believed there have been no known changes.
OATMAN-GOLDROAD CREST
No inspections have taken place for more than a year; however, it is believed there have been no known changes.
The next inspections will be compared to existing records in order to update the transmitter records under BLM/KAUA.
Ken McLaughlin-KAUA
President & Technical Committee Member.
KINGMAN AREA USERS ASSOCIATION
TREASURER’S REPORT
As OF July 29, 2021
This report covers the period from March 20, 2019, through July 28, 2021. This is the period from the last annual meeting to the current meeting. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 2020 Annual Meeting was cancelled/postponed until further direction was provided. At this time, no assessment invoices have been issued for the 2020 year. In the 2019 KAUA Meeting, the road assessment for Hayden Peak road (Hualapai) was set at $13,000, the assessment for Goldroad Crest was set at $7,000, and the assessment for Getz Peak was set at $3,000. Not all members of the
association are current. Administration Funds were set for $400.00 for financial/treasury administration and $100-200 per inspector administration.
The following assessment fees were paid for 2019:
• Dues collected for Hayden Peak were $12,211.50 (still outstanding $788.47)
• Dues collected for Goldroad Crest were $6,999.81 (still outstanding $0.00)
• Dues collected for Getz Peak were $2,510.00 (still outstanding $490.00)
The following members have outstanding balances for 2019 ONLY:
• Advanced Ministries $789.33 (Hayden Peak)
• GovNet $490.00 (Get Peak)
Since the last meeting on March 20, 2019, significant progress was made in collecting outstanding road assessment fees
for prior years. 2018 has been completed and paid by all members. 2017 has one missing payments from Murphy
Broadcasting. Thank you to all who helped coordinate or put me in contact with the proper accounts payable team
member.
The road assessment for Hayden was calculated at $464.29 per Lease and $40.63 per Transmitter.
The road assessment for Goldroad Crest was calculated at $437.5 per Lease and $58.33 per Transmitter.
The road assessment for Getz Peak was calculated at $250.00 per Lease and $60.00 per Transmitter.
There was $0.00 spent on road expenditures for Hayden Peak, there was $0.00 spent on the road for Goldroad Crest, and $0.00 spent on the road for Getz Peak.
The ending balance in the Chase Bank account as of July 28, 2021 was $57,684.54.
Please see attached list of invoices that show open (2017-current). If our records are incorrect, please contact me so that the issues can be resolved.
Please see detail below.
Respectfully submitted,
Joey Bringhurst
KAUA Treasurer
KINGMAN AREA USERS ASSOCIATION
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR USE
July 28, 2021
HAYDEN PEAK: 2018 Account Balance $ 11,585.87 Previous Year(s) Dues received $ 7,812.27
2019 Account Balance
2019 Billed: $ 13,000.00
Outstanding: $ 788.47
Total 2019 Account Balance $ 12,211.53
2019 Funds for Hayden Peak $ 31,609.67
2019 Expenses $ (400.00)
Total Funds Available for Hayden Peak $ 31,209.67
GOLDROAD CREST:
2018 Account Balance $ 12,736.85
Previous Year(s) Dues received $ 2,863.42
2019 Account Balance
2019 Billed: $ 7,000.00
Outstanding: $ 0.19
Total 2019 Account Balance $ 6,999.81
2019 Funds for Goldroad Crest $ 22,600.08
2019 Expenses $ (200.00)
Total Funds Available for Goldroad Crest $ 22,400.08
GETZ PEAK:
2018 Account Balance $ 1,764.79
Previous Year(s) Dues received $ 0.00
2019 Account Balance
2019 Billed: $ 3,000.00
Outstanding: $ 490.00
Total 2019 Account Balance $ 2,510.00
2019 Funds for Getz Peak $ 4,274.79
2019 Expenses $ (200.00)
Total Funds Available for Getz Peak $ 4,074.79
PAST DUE AMOUNTS 2017-2019 HAYDEN PEAK
2019 Hayden Peak
User: Amt Due:
Advanced Ministries – Invoice 407 $ 789.33
PAST DUE AMOUNTS 2017-2019 GOLDROAD CREST
2019 Goldroad Crest
User: Amt Due: $
PAST DUE AMOUNTS 2017-2019 GETZ PEAK
2017 Getz Peak
User: – Amt Due:
Murphy Broadcasting – Invoice #475 $ 386.35
2019 Getz Peak
User: Amt Due:
GovNet – Invoice #530 $ 490.0