Long & Crooked Lakes Association Board of Directors Meeting, April 4, 2017

 

Present

Ken Bachofer, President

Dan Torgersen, Secretary/Treasurer

Bob Payne:  Environmental Director

Greg Koenigs, Immediate Past President

Dave Weeres, Lake Management Plan Director

Dick Nohner, Director at Large

 

 

Absent

Judie Manea-Baker, Vice-President

 

 

1.       The meeting was called to order by Ken at 6:35 pm.

 

2.       The February 3, 2017 Meeting Minutes were approved.

 

3.       The Treasurer’s Report showed a balance of $4,706.91.

a.       Expenditures since the February meeting were annual renewal of the PO Box, Domain Name renewal for the LCLA Website and payment to Justin Westrup for trapping of 2 beaver.

 

4.       Trapping update.

a.       A beaver taken on 2/15 and another on 3/30.  New dam thwarted.

 

 

Beaver

Muskrat

Total $

2016

6

42

$450

2017

2

0

$80

 

 

5.       AIS update from Bob, Ken and Dick.  What was learned at the March 25 Stearns County COLA (Coalition of Lake Associations) AIS Meeting.

a.       DNR paying particular attention to Starry Stonewart.

b.       DNR wants to chemically treat 2,500 square feet around public accesses

c.       There is a law requiring equipment such as docks, boat lifts, rafts, etc, to be left out of the water 21 days before putting it in a new body of water.  Stearns County will give a reward of $200 if the equipment is left out of the water for 31 days.  This will be put on the LCLA website.

 

6.       Should we join Stearns County COLA for $60 per year?

a.       Agreed that it would be valuable since it gives us access to other lake associations and to the Minnesota COLA.

b.       Unanimously approved.  Ken will make contact and enroll LCLA.

 

7.       Should we arrange training for access inspection volunteers?

a.       Ken will contact Stearns County COLA and see if anyone is conducting training.

 

8.       Newsletter

a.       Reviewed draft created by Ken.  Members of the board make some editorial suggestions.

b.       Ken will send out updated copy for final review and approval.

 

9.       Growing LCA Membership

a.       The Newsletter will be hand distributed by board members as a way to personally encourage lake residents to participate in LCLA.

b.       Board members will determine amongst themselves who will visit which residents.

 

10.   Clearwater River Watershed District (CRWD) High Water/No-wake flag memo provided by Jerry Finch

a.       CRWD issued a memo with recommendations on “High Water No-wake Notification”.

b.       Dan to contact Stearns and Wright to see if

                                                               i.      they have enacted ordinances

                                                             ii.      are the ordinances the same in all lakes or do they vary lake-by-lake

                                                           iii.      what is the water level at which no-wake is enacted

                                                           iv.      what is the water level at which no-wake is rescinded

                                                             v.      is the distance from shore 100 or 300 feet

 

11.   Using chemicals in lake for weeds

a.       A resident wanted to chemically treat weeds around their dock.

b.       The DNR does not allow any chemical treatment of Long or Crooked Lakes since they are environmentally protected lakes.

 

12.   Dredging channel between lakes discussion

a.       Dave Weeres raised the question of possible dredging of the channel. 

b.       He had previous discussions with the DNR and found that it may be permissible.

c.       Dave will do further research to determine what the DNR requires, the time frame for obtaining a permit, contractors that could do it and the estimated cost to dredge and dispose of dredged material.

 

13.   Status of mowing by township at the lagoon narrows

a.       Ken had a conversation with Jerry Finch.  Jerry told Ken they will mow less.

 

14.   Non-profit status follow-up from February 2017 meeting

a.       Bob had missed Susan McGuire to ask her if other lake associations have a 501(c)(7)? Maybe 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(3).  Bob will try again to make contact

b.       Dan talked to Gordon Hansmeier and found that applications for any of the non-profit designations are expensive.  501(c)(3) is the most costly.

c.       There is no benefit to LCLA at this point in time.  That may change if dues must be raised significantly to battle AIS.

 

15.   AIS Signage

a.       Jerry Finch suggested that AIS signs be placed along Eaglewood Road telling incoming that we are an AIS free lake and please inspect your boat and trailer BEFORE launching.  The signs would be duplicated at the landing.

b.       LCLA would pay for the signs, but the township would pay for the posts and putting them up.

c.       Ideas for what the signs (3 or 4 signs, like a Burma Shave sign) would say should be sent to Ken.

d.       Board members were reminded that when there are more than 3 vehicles parked at the landing, the Sherriff should be called.

 

16.   Adjourned at 8:52 pm.

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Dan Torgersen

Secretary/Treasurer of Long and Crooked Lakes Association

 

 

 

 1 CRWD Advisory Committee No-Wake Notification Recommendation December 2016

 

 Clearwater River Watershed District Advisory Committee High Water No-Wake Notification Assistance for Lake Associations

Purpose

The Clearwater River Watershed District (CRWD) Advisory Committee recommends that Lake Associations in the District be provided support, up to a $300 one-time per lake expense, to help notify those using the lake when a high water no-wake situation exists.

Background

High water no-wake ordinances, initiated by Lake Association request, are available in Stearns and Wright County. Lake Associations monitor lake levels and inform officials when “high water” (defined by ordinance for the lake) exists for three consecutive days. The County is responsible for enforcement.

Lake Associations who do not elect to establish an ordinance with their county(ies) may also monitor lake levels. They can have a standard operating procedure that determines when high water is reached with recommended no-wake practices (e.g. complete no-wake, 100 ft no-wake from shore, 300 ft no-wake from shore). Compliance is voluntary.

Either situation requires notification for those using the lake. The CRWD Advisory Committee is recommending that CRWD support lakes in the notification process. This includes a standard red flag to be flown from an existing flag poles and standard signage to be placed at appropriate lake accesses/key locations.

Roles and Responsibilities Lake Association

 

 Monitor/report lake levels with DNR gauge.

Determine no-wake levels and practices. No-wake practices are usually a:

o Total no-wake or,

o 100 foot no-wake from shore or,

o 300 foot no-wake from shore.

 Decide to engage in county no-wake ordinance (recommended).

 Maintain a No-Wake Standard Operating Procedure which:

o determines high-water level and no-wake provisions;

o identifies contact person for no-wake decisions;

o outlines communication process.

 Request CRWD to provide flags and signage up to one-time $300 expenditure.

 Install no-wake flags and signage at approved sites.

o Recommended when high water level has been sustained or exceeded for 3 consecutive days.

 Remove no-wake flags and signage when lake levels drop.

o Recommended when high water has been below the designated level for 3 consecutive days.

 

CRWD

 

Support to establish DNR lake level gauge.

 Provide, upon request of Lake Association, a one-time provision of up to $300 for:

o red flags to indicate high water;

o signage, specific to the lake no-wake requirements, for the no-wake situation.

 Provide, upon request of Lake Association, a current mailing list based on existing CRWD records.

 


Other Details Field Code ChangedField Code ChangedField Code Changed

Comment [C4]: Should this program be run past the MNDNR and counties for comment?

 

Comment [C5]: To be determined by the lake association and approved by the appropriate authority

Comment [C6]: This requires additional staff time to achieve, which is a precious commodity. It is not likely the CRWD Board will allocate such time, so I recommend this be changed to lake association responsibility (unless the committee wants to have the CRWD take this responsibility on).

Also, the counties may be willing to post such signage.

Comment [C7]: I think the committee was also looking to standardize the signage as well, including where to purchase signs

The Lake Association should base their no-wake decisions on actual lake level readings. A lake-level gauge is available from the DNR (Roger Stradel This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). To memorialize lake levels, the Lake Association should provide yearly reporting to the DNR ( Sandy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

Red flags, to be provided by CRWD, that indicate high-water should be consistent in size and red in color.

o Red, 3’ x 5’ flags are available at a reasonable cost from World Flags Direct. http://www.worldflagsdirect.com/solidcolor1.html

o Flags would be flown on Lake Association determined sites on an existing flag pole, always below the American flag.

 Signs for accesses/key locations, to be provided by CRWD, would be managed by the CRWD staff.

o Signs should be a consistent color and format. Specific lake information, along with CRWD mention/logo, would include the specifics of the lake’s no-wake requirements (e.g. complete no-wake, 100ft no-wake, 300 ft no-wake).

§ If the Lake Association has a county no-wake ordinance in effect, the ordinance could be mentioned on the signage.

o The Lake Association will secure permission and be responsible for the installation and remove of signs.

§ Signs cannot usually be posted at a DNR access. The Lake Association should, in advance, secure permission for the placement of signage from county, city, township and private accesses.

§ Sings located along key roadways to/from lakes must be approved by both the roadway authority (state, county, township) and the landowner (if applicable)

Recommendation is that lakes consider up to 10 flags and up to 3 access signs; associations should determine amount needed.