This month’s meeting was a Town Hall which kicked off with an update from Dick Orr of Beaver Creek Telephone Cooperative. He shared that an additional 400 residents are now eligible for increased internet speeds of 50 or 100 Mbps. They also offer a “wifi tuneup” which includes a visit to your residence to ensure you’re getting the best service for your location. The annual BCT meeting is July 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Grange.

Next was Sam Leininger from the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District. He reiterated that CSWCD is not a regulatory entity, but rather they exist to support resident’s needs and concerns for the ground they manage. They help landowners control 12 of the most invasive plants at no cost. Tansy is the most frequent call they get, as it’s toxic to livestock. Now is a good time to remove it while the ground is soft and it’s still in rosette stage, and they will help control free of charge for larger issues. Another is Scotch broom and CSWCD has a tool residents can borrow free of charge to remove it. Gorse is on their radar — there’s an old infestation in Beavercreek and it’s one to keep an eye out for. In addition to free tools, CSWCD has other equipment available to rent for a fee including a no-till seed drill, manure spreader, box scraper, water wagon, cover crop seed drill, and more. Contact Eann Raines for info at (503) 210-6005.

Sam suggests residents do walkthroughs of their land at this time of year to know what’s there. If you’re concerned about specific plants, bag up as much as you can (roots, stems, flowers) and bring it to their office on Molalla Avenue for identification. He discussed different sprays people utilize and what to consider, e.g. certain sprays remain active in manure and can persist in compost and crops. Sam said not to kill blackberries between mid-April to mid-July, as it is the primary nesting season for birds who use it as habitat – or at minimum to do a survey and make sure there are no nesting birds before removal.

Residents asked if they offered advice on organic compliant weed control and they do; how to manage English ivy and knotweed; about cinnabar moths; about licensing for herbicides; and more. With regard to neighboring properties that aren’t managing invasives, Sam said the best remedy is talking to your neighbor. “We’re all tied to each other with property lines. We have to abide by property lines but the weeds don’t. It’s in our best interest to work together.”

Katie Wilson, County Liaison, Committee for Citizen Involvement, shared full results from the 2018 Community Involvement survey (available as a handout at the meeting). They’re using the results to improve their reach and create programs that are as inclusive as possible. She discussed recent changes to the County’s insurance policy so it could offer optional liability for CPOs including protection for board members from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), as well coverage for meeting space rental. Katie also mentioned vacancies on a number of boards — the Fair board, Parks board, Development Disabilities Council and more at web3.clackamas.us/abc/abc.jsp. Also, the County’s Long-Range Planning Work Program Overview is now online.

Board chair Tammy Stevens said Katie has been a great resource for the Hamlet as she communicates with the board so the board can communicate with residents. She will be attending the Town Hall meetings each quarter to share new insights. If residents have questions for Katie, please join future meetings or email info@beavercreek.org.

For public comments, it was shared that the Beavercreek Saloon is going to partner with the Hamlet board to take responsibility for Stars in the Park event in August. The board shared that there are Hamlet button-up shirts for sale for $30 at every meeting ($35 if you buy outside of a meeting). One land use application was discussed for the commercial buildings being built on Rifle Way across from Beavercreek Saloon.

For the transportation update, Christine Kosinski shared that the next hearing for the Park Place Concept Plan is May 14, 5:30-7:00pm at Oregon City City Hall, which will include testimony from Dr. Scott Burns, PSU geology professor, who will discuss the impact of development on unstable soils and landslide areas. The board remains vigilant about what’s happening in Oregon City because it affects us as it relates to transportation, utilities and more.

The board noted that Hamlet elections would be held in October 2018 for four positions. Residents who are interested should notify info@beavercreek.org by September. On a related note, Hamlet bylaws have been revised to match current County codes which includes how officers are elected. Historically a person would be elected into a specific board position (such as secretary or chair), but the bylaws have been amended so people are elected to the board itself and then the board members determine the position.

A couple final notes that were shared: the motor home mentioned in the last meeting was removed from Beavercreek Road; and the Beavercreek Grange is seeking updated storage as its current storage solution is falling apart. Ideas welcome. The next meeting is May 23 and will feature Josh Jacobson from Vector Control to talk about pests and how to manage.

The Hamlet of Beavercreek is here to protect and preserve the rural culture of the area, and serves to help all residents. Monthly meetings are the best place to share feedback and learn how to get involved. Join us at 7:00 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the Beavercreek Grange.