Long & Crooked Lakes Association Annual Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2019, 1:00 pm
1. The meeting was called to order by President Randy Thole at 2:03 on the Koenig/Steinkrause beach.
2. Introductions were made as follows:
a. Officers
i. President - Randy Thole until 2020 Annual Meeting
ii. Vice-President - Irene Wilcox until 2020 Annual Meeting
iii. Secretary/Treasurer - Dan Torgersen until 2019 Annual Meeting
b. Directors
i. Environmental Director, Jim Sorenson – appointed position
ii. Lake Management Director, David Weeres – appointed position
iii. At-large Director and Webmaster, Tara Zieglmeier – appointed position
iv. Immediate Past President - Ken Bachofer
c. The 36 adults (and 7 children) introduced themselves.
3. Secretary’s Report – Dan Torgersen
a. The October 20, 2018 Secretary’s Report (on website) was approved.
4. Treasurer’s Report as of June 23, 2019 (on the website) was approved.
5. Reports
a. Water Level – Dan Torgersen
i. DNR Data
1. 4/30/19; 3.36” above OWL
2. 5/24/19; 10.32” above OWL
3. 6/23/19; -3.15 below OWL (Dan Data)
4. Highest ever recorded; 21.60” above OWL (6/29/1983)
5. Lowest ever recorded; -18.96” below OWL (8/23/1989)
b. Water Clarity – Ken Bachofer. Ken has not measured water clarity in 2019 and is looking for someone to take over that responsibility. Sean Zieglmeier volunteered to take over that responsibility.
c. Aquatic Invasive Species – Jim Sorenson
i. 7 LCLA residents attended the AIS meeting given by the DNR.
ii. Reviewed AIS species and instructed attendees how to inspect watercraft and trailers.
iii. Instruction enabled attendees how to assist boaters how to inspect but did not give the attendees enforcement authority.
d. Loon – Ken Bachofer, Long Lake, Dan Torgersen, Crooked Lake
i. Ken: 1 pair of loons and one chick nesting in the same place as in the previous several years.
ii. Dan: 1 pair of loons with 1 baby nesting in the same place as in the previous several years.
e. Bass Slot Limit and Fish Census – David Weeres
i. Bass Slot limit (12” – 22”) is in perpetuity. It has increased the average length 1.9”. The catch rate is 50% in Crooked and 25% in Long (both lakes about 33%). This is higher than the average lake.
ii. Carp population is minimal.
iii. Although a few walleye show up in the fish census, these are transplants from people releasing fish caught in other lakes. Walleye were last stocked in 1979 and the DNR has no plans to stock Long or Crooked.
iv. The next electro-fish is not until 2021.
6. Board of Directors Update
a. Lake Management Plan – Dave Weeres
i. Good historical information and more detail about fish census. The plan can be accessed on the website.
b. Beaver and muskrat trapping – Randy Thole
i. LCLA contracts with Justin Westrup. Minimal activity has occurred recently (5 muskrat and 1 beaver (about 45 lbs.).
ii. If beavers are observed, contact Randy who will then contact Justin.
c. Application for “no-wake” zone through channel – Dan Torgersen
i. Accepted by DNR and Stearns County Board of Commissioners. Now in effect and enforceable.
ii. No-wake advisories were posted by the Stearns County Sheriff this spring because of high water. LCLA also posted advisories.
iii. Stearns County has no criteria as to when no-wake advisories are posted or taken down. Wright County varies by lake, but in general no-wake advisories are posted when the lake level is 6” above OWL and taken down when the lake level falls to 2” above OWL.
iv. At the 2015 Annual Meeting, LCLA adopted a no-wake advisory when the lake level was 10” above OWL and taken down when the lake level fell to 6”.
d. Presentation on Long and Crooked Lake history – Irene
i. The Spring Newsletter contained a brief summary of the Long and Crooked Lakes area. The Lake Management plan also contains some history.
7. New Business
a. Anne Ackerman encouraged people to look at the Stearns County Comprehensive Plan www.shapestearns.com and provide her any feedback. Additionally Anne noted that the bike trail will be extended from Clearwater to the Beaver Island trail and that trail would ultimately connect to the Lake Wobegon trail.
b. There was discussion of reinstating the 2nd outlet. Dave Weeres noted this has been tried 3 times. There is insufficient support.
8. Officer Elections
a. Secretary/Treasurer – currently Dan Torgersen. Will not seek re-election
b. Nominations were opened. Theresa Ferkinoff was nominated and she was willing to accept the position. There were no further nominations from the floor.
c. Theresa was unanimously elected as Secretary/Treasurer.
9. Questions from attendees
a. Potential liability with an inflatable was brought up.
b. This question will be addressed in an upcoming Board meeting.
10. Date of next Annual Meeting
a. It was suggested that annual meetings be held on the 4th Sunday of June to allow attendees to schedule far in advance. No decision was made.
b. It was also suggested that the annual meeting be held at Warner Lake Nature Center. No decision was made.
11. The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Dan Torgersen
