Long & Crooked Lakes Association Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, September 29, 2015
Present
Ken Bachofer, President
Dan Torgersen, Secretary/Treasurer
Doug Kantor, Webmaster
Bob Payne: Environmental Director
Dave Weeres, Lake Management Plan Director
Greg Koenigs, Immediate Past President
Absent:
Judie Manea-Baker, Vice-President
1. The meeting was called to order by Ken at 6:05 pm.
2. The Board welcomed Dave Weeres as the Lake Management Plan Director, replacing Brian Nickolauson.
3. Bass Slot Limit update
a. The DNR is hosting a Public Meeting on October 15, 2015 at the Lynden Town Hall.
b. A letter to Joe Stewig of the DNR was signed by all members present (copy attached). (After the meeting, Torgersen went to Judie and she also signed the letter).
c. The letter was sent via email to Joe Stewig on September 30 and the original was mailed to Joe.
d. At the meeting, Bob will ask the DNR if they would be willing to stock the lake with Walleyes. The last time this was done was 1979.
e. The next full DNR survey of fish will be in summer 2016.
4. Beaver dam at the outlet and trapping
a. We have contacted a new trapper, Justin Westrup.
b. The DNR declined to issue an out-of-season trapping permit and wants to wait until trapping season begins on October 24.
c. After the beaver is trapping at the lake outlet, we will need to destroy the dam so water is free-flowing.
5. Stearns County Lake Associations AIS Workshop
a. Stearns County is conducting an AIS Workshop at ROCORI District Education Facility, 527 Main Street, Cold Spring, on October 6, 2015 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
b. The main purpose of the workshop is to inform the local lake associations on what funds are available to prevent aquatic invasive species and how to receive those funds. Other topics will be the Stearns County AIS Rapid Response Plan and information on how AIS can spread.
c. Bob, Ken and Dave plan on attending the meeting.
6. Muskrat Trapping
a. The muskrats are coming back. Dave will asked Justin if he will trap the muskrats and ask him what he will charge.
b. After the meeting Dave contacted Justin and he said he would not be interested unless there was a “bounty” paid. Dave responded that we would wait until next year and see if the pelt price increased and there was no need for a bounty.
7. Directors Poll – should the access remain “public”
a. There is a procedure whereby a public access can be made private. The Board was asked if this is something that should be pursued.
b. The opinion was that the access should remain public. Were it to be made private, we would no longer have DNR assistance in activities like fish surveys or stocking.
8. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 15 pm.
Submitted by Dan Torgersen