The CSS General Meeting on Saturday, April 29, was sparsely attended, with a a few non-Board members who had clearly made a point of being there for the meeting and a number of members who happened to be there and so participated. There was good discussion, mostly about 'the Ranch', including one excellent suggestion to look for possible tax breaks based on land use - i.e. in Florida if one has a few cows on a property then it is considered agricultural land and either not taxed or only lightly taxed. That specific option is unlikely here, but something like it might pertain.
On Sunday Rob and Alan compiled the results of the CSS vote/survey. All of the dues-related measures passed (see April Flypaper). On the survey, the concensus was for 'owning' the Ranch, followed by paying fees to support it.
A total of $140,850 towards purchase of the Ranch was pledged by 28 members, with 5 of them pledging $10k-$20k individually.
CSS President Rob McKenzie feels this is not enough to pursue outright purchase (remember, $530,000 was paid for the Ranch) but could be enough for the 'development rights' option, which arose after the survey was sent out. This will be explored further.
Thanks very much to those who participated in Saturday's meeting and to those who responded to the survey. Special thanks to those who pledged cold hard cash to preserve our flying site. And again, thanks to CSS Vice-President Len Szafaryn and Owen Morse for going to all the trouble and outlay to give us the opportunity to work out our strategy as suburbia sprawls and encroaches.