Long & Crooked Lakes Association Meeting Minutes
June 29, 2014
1. The meeting was Called to Order by Greg Koenigs at 4:28 pm
2. Those present introduced themselves.
3. Dan Torgersen noted that the 2013 Secretary’s Report was posted on the website.
4. Treasurer’s Report - Dan Torgersen
a. The balance as of 6/21/13 was $3969.96. Dues collected were $460.00 and expenditures were $73.52 leaving a closing balance on 6/21/2014 of $4,356.44.
b. Dues are again $20 per household. Torgersen appealed to everyone to pay the dues since the number of households paying dues has decreased each of the past five years.
c. A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made, seconded and passed.
5. Plum Creek Watershed Report – Jerry Finch
a. The MPCA has listed the Plum Creek Watershed as having impaired water because of the high level of E Coli.
b. The Plum Creek Neighborhood Network was formed in May with the purpose of determining actions that could be taken to lower E Coli thereby removing the watershed from the impaired list.
c. The group has the support of the State and County for technical assistance and help in obtaining funding. Currently, Lynden Township is funding the cost of monitoring.
d. A series of education meetings were held in April and May regarding monitoring, E Coli levels and possible contributors to E Coli in the water.
e. The next meeting will be held on June 30 at Lynden Town Hall at 7:00 pm with the purpose of creating a Mission Statement, determining monitoring locations, and formulating strategies to lower the level of E Coli.
f. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend.
6. Township update –Anne Ackerman
a. The township is starting to see more activity (permits, requests for variances) because the economy is improving.
b. There is an enforceable ordinance for only 3 vehicles at the public access. The LCLA paid for the sign and the township’s maintenance person put it up.
c. In 2013 a culvert was put in (the speed bump culvert) at a cost of about $7,500. It has equalized water levels between the lake and the pond across Eaglewood Road.
d. To put in another culvert (see New Business), the cost would probably be around $7,500.
7. Environmental Reports
a. Water Level
i. The Overall High Water Level is 975.5 feet.
ii. From the DNR website, the highest level in 2014 was 976.6 and the current level is 976.3 feet.
iii. LCLA has no defined level at which the No Wake sign is posted at the landing. The method currently employed is to survey the LCLA Board when a request is made to post the No Wake sign or to take it down. If the majority of the Board agrees, the sign is either put up or taken down.
iv. Note that the No Wake sign is a request only. There is no ordinance that requires compliance with the No Wake sign.
v. Also noted that the DNR has granted to Townships the authority to grant a No Wake Ordinance.
vi. A motion was made by Anne Ackerman and seconded by Mary Wood that the Board contact the DNR hydrologist and have her/him determine the lake level at which a No Wake sign should be posted. The DNR would also provide a method whereby a real-time reading of the lake level can be made. Motion Passed.
vii. When the above information from the DNR is known, the LCLA would again meet to determine if the Township would be requested to enact an ordinance and make the No Wake enforceable.
b. Water Clarity – Greg Koenigs
i. Ken Bachofer tests water clarity but could not be at today’s meeting.
ii. Ken reported that water clarity is about 10 feet. This is slightly less than the average water clarity over the past several years. There are too many variables to really know why. This can vary from year to year and by month.
c. Aquatic Invasive Species (milfoil, zebra mussels) – Bob Payne
i. We do not have zebra mussels in the lakes
ii. We do have milfoil but not Eurasian milfoil.
d. Muskrat & Beaver – Greg Koenigs
i. There are no beaver on Long Lake and one on Crooked Lake.
ii. About 60 muskrats were trapped the past fall and winter and the current population seem less now.
e. Loons – Ed Meyer
i. Each lake has a pair of loons.
ii. Neither lake has any babies.
f. Fish and Slot Limit
i. The Slot Limit started about 10 years ago with a Slot on Bass and Northern.
ii. In 2011 the Slot on Northern was eliminated.
iii. In 2015 the Slot on Bass expires. If we want to keep it, we can renew for 10 years or renew in perpetuity.
8. Presidents Update – Greg Koenigs
a. LCLA continues to get requests to join Lake Coalitions. There is no benefit in doing so.
b. The LCLA Board has put in place Executive Committee approval process for expenditures of more than $50.00.
c. The Board looked at putting in a second culvert (see New Business). At present, the Board has no opinion (i.e. it neither endorses nor opposes the project).
9. New Business
a. A motion was made, seconded and passed that the 4th of July Boat Parade be held. Flyers will be distributed.
b. Doug Kantor asked if the website was used and is it of value to members. Members affirmed that it was. Doug will look into creating a Facebook page for LCLA.
c. New (Repaired/Replaced) Culvert – Dave Weeres
i. Gave a history of lake outlets since 1961.
ii. The outlet in the lagoon is defunct and Dave proposed working with the DNR to repair/replace it. Anticipated cost about $8,000.
iii. Dave has researched this and preliminarily determined that grant money is probably available.
iv. Creation of another outlet would manage water flow better and we would not see as rapid an increase in lake level after a rain and would see the lake level return to the desired lake level more rapidly. It would also decrease the stagnation in the lagoon.
v. He proposed that a team be formed with him as team leader. Bob Payne and Ken Bachofer agreed to be team members.
vi. The team would contact the DNR hydrologist to review the project and determine what the lake level should be. This could be in conjunction with the lake level determination noted in 7.a.vi.
vii. A Straw Ballot was taken of persons present and there was about 80% support of the project.
viii. Once this information is available, LCLA would meet to vote on whether to proceed or not.
10. Officer Elections
a. Bob Payne, current Vice President, resigned to take the position of Environmental Director (currently an open position).
b. Vice President. Judie Manea was nominated for Vice President and was elected.
c. The composition of the Officers and Board of LCLA for 2014-2015 is
i. President – Greg Koenigs
ii. Vice President – Judie Manea
iii. Secretary/Treasurer - Dan Torgersen
iv. Immediate Past President – Jim Sorenson
v. Appointed Board Members
1. Webmaster - Doug Kantor
2. Environmental Director – Bob Payne
3. Lake Management Plan Director - Brian Nickolauson
11. Adjournment at 7:32 pm.
Submitted by:
Dan Torgersen
Secretary/Treasurer
