Rick Hines called the meeting to order at 10:05 am at the dig site.

The following board members were in attendance:

Wayne Burnett, Rick Hines, Ron Lather, Ed Simmons, Kathy Sumner, Carl Wagner

The following members were also in attendance:

Greg Buckley, Bill Copeland, Terry DeFraties, Chad Hines, Dave McCool,

LaDawna Simmons, Richard Thompson

Access policy:

Access committee chairperson, Eddie Simmons, asked the board to define "mapped passage" as it relates to where work trips should be allowed to travel through the cave. Consensus of the board is that the definition of "mapped passage" as it relates to access policy shall be defined as currently mapped passage for which CCC possesses a map, including the Hoffman Map, Convention Hall Map, & Paradise Passage Map.

The primary initial focus for work trips into the cave will be for preparation of the shaft for installation of the ladder. This will include the landing area & vicinity, and will include trash haul out from the landing area vicinity.

The board discussed whether access policy should assume trip leaders & all work team members be vertically qualified. The consensus of the board is that since a ladder & ladder belay system will be available, it will not be necessary for every member of the work trip team to be vertically qualified.  Nor should access policy mandate that everyone on the work trip team use the ladder if they are qualified in single rope technique and feel more confident relying on their own personal descending & ascending systems, self rescue, & rigging and/or rig checking capabilities. However, if there are doubts, the trip leader will "make the call".

The access committee will be provided with an updated list of all people who have signed waivers so they can insure trip leaders do not allow access to anyone who has not signed a waiver.

Mapping Survey:

The approved $2,500 purchase of survey equipment has been made (a few items are backordered). The survey will proceed as survey team members are trained & qualified. Ron Lather reported that the Tulsa Regional Oklahoma Grotto has approved a $200-$500 donation to CCC earmarked for survey equipment.

Entrance Building Design:

The board accepted the following design plan submitted by Dave McCool and Rick Hines

The existing 8-foot diameter steel tank will be cut off at ground level. A concrete pad will be poured that will captivate the base of a 16' tall x 16' diameter silo section. The concrete pad will be reinforced and will extend over the 8' pipe. Airtight hatches will be located in the concrete over the shaft and the existing ladder. Estimated cost of 6 cubic yards of concrete for the slab is $600. Most of the other items needed for this construction are already on site except for the hatches & locks. Richard Thompson volunteered to work on hatch design. Dave McCool provided 8-foot diameter steel spools that will be broken down and used to reinforce the concrete slab over the 8-foot steel tank.

Ladder & Ladder Belay Design

The board discussed several options for ladder materials & construction design including: aluminum extension ladders, aluminum single ladder, fiberglass/aluminum ladder, or an aluminum or stainless steel ladder manufactured on site.

Various ladder belay methods were discussed including the use of rope, galvanized cable, aluminum T, ladder rail, & aluminum pipe. There was further discussion on whether climbers would use their own personally owned belay device in combination with a rope belay line, or use a custom made or commercial belay devices which would be permanent fixtures to the ladder belay design.

Of the various belay systems discussed the group tended to prefer a "pipe lock" device that would slide over a continuous pipe attached to or part of the ladder. Preferably the belay device will be free running in both direction and only lock in case of a fall. Climbers on the ladder will attach the ladder belay to their personally owned harnesses.

Richard Thompson showed the attendees a prototype of a ladder support bracket he had made. The bracket helped us visualize the loading and adjustment features that will need to be designed into the ladder support. Various members suggested alterations to the overall bracket design.

The board directed Rick Hines to proceed with plans for a safe aluminum ladder mounted on standoff brackets anchored with stainless steel anchor bolts. Rick and Richard will continue to refine the design and will start procuring hardware.

The estimated cost for the ladder & ladder belay system is $2,250.

Ceiling under the shaft:

Rick reported that Paul Worsey and John Bowles recommends that the ceiling under the shaft be bolted to strengthen it and prevent future delaminations. This practice is standard in mining operations. The board is in favor of following this recommendation.

Safety/Rescue Pre-plan Issues:

The rescue committee recommends the budget include an in-cave communication system ("com" lines run to phones at strategic points). Also recommended are standard cave first aid bash kits suitable for this particular cave. Some type of easy to use winch is recommended to raise a patient packaged in a litter or a patient who does not need a litter but is unable to climb. The rescue committee will choose & acquire permission for a cave to be used for the NCRC Cave Rescue Orientation Weekend scheduled for September 14-15, 2002 at the Mid County Fire Station, 148 N. Hwy 5, Camdenton, MO. The orientation is recommended for recreational cavers and emergency response personnel.

All CCC members, especially those who will be leading trips & those who are willing & capable of helping with a lengthy, strenuous cave rescue are encouraged to attend & give the local authorities a good sampling of the caliber of caver they can rely on in the event of a real cave rescue.

The information & registration form for the Cave Rescue Orientation Weekend will be posted immediately to the CCC website.

Cave Radio:

Rick Hines suggested that the type of cave radio capable of transmitting conversation thru solid rock could be useful to any potential rescue efforts as well as be useful to the ongoing mapping survey. The board agreed with this observation. The approximate cost of a pair of such radios is $800.

Schoolhouse Restoration:

The estimated cost for schoolhouse restoration is $10,000. Other priorities for out limited funds will force a delay in the restoration effort. Bill Copeland, Fundraising Chairman, reported that he is actively pursuing donations of building materials for the schoolhouse restoration.

MVOR Wrap Up:

The electricity to the MVOR site has been disconnected. However, trash & other items still need to be hauled away. (Ron Lather & Peddgie Heinz completed this task Sunday morning). The approximate cost of restoring the site is still $500, however the landowner has not yet given us a final figure.

Above Ground Dig Site Cleanup:

The explosive storage box (extremely heavy) needs to be hauled away.

CCC Documentation:

Chad Hines has agreed to officially document the CCC project in book format.

Landowner Relations:

The board discussed whether we should provide the landowner with a list of scheduled trips instead of making contact before each & every trip. The possibility of making a "box" for the trip leader to leave a note for the landowner before entering the cave was also discussed. The board agreed that both of these suggestions make sense.

Membership Database & Policy:

Rick Hines will help the membership committee repair or recreate the membership database. Kathy Sumner, Secretary, will expand the membership policy outline to standard format.

Proposed new positions:

The board discussed the possibility of updating the bylaws to include a "biology position" & a geology position".

Minutes recorded by Kathy Sumner