Lake Washington Association Board Meeting September 4, 2012
Board Members Present:
| John Fink Ken Klehr Mike Wosmek Sandy Wosmek | Pat Hanson Cathy Klehr Bill Ooley Rick Johnson | Tom Hauer Steve Grotbo Rick Fernstrom Steve Ullom |
Board Members please let someone know if you are not able to attend.
Treasurer Report: Invasive Species Fund $43585.72 ; General Fund $60579.13
PAID MEMBERSHIPS: 217
1) Called meeting to order 7 PM – President Ken Klehr
2) Secretary’s August 14th Report – approved for publication with corrections.
3) Treasurer’s August Report – approved as submitted
4) Shoreline Captain Committee Update – Cathy sending out email to Shoreline Captains about the status in their area and our goal of getting 230+ memberships this year. We are slightly ahead of last years pace and hopefully will add more after latest newsletter goes out.
5) Cormorants & Pelicans Committee Report – Rick F. shared with Board the letter he sent to DNR Commissioner Landwehr in response to a letter we received last month. Rick pointed out this was a regional problem for all lakes and the cormorant problem is about more than just the walleye count. Rather we should be looking at all fish populations and the latest surveys would suggest a continued depletion of fish netted since the last two surveys. Rick recommended the following: DNR assign a select group to work with area lake associations, by meeting on a regular basis that would result in at minimum a quarterly report that defines conditions, actions and future plans. He will follow up with others regarding setting up of a meeting between all parties.
There is an article in the latest Dockside that talks about the out break of Newcastle Disease at Pigeon Lake and the resulting steps taken by the DNR to burn carcasses. There are reports of hundreds of carcasses being burnt, but no official number of birds affected has been issued by the DNR. The DNR has closed the islands on Pigeon Lake due to the outbreak. Rick reported there have been other outbreaks of Newcastle Disease at Pigeon Lake most recently in 2008. There are been reports of deaths to pelicans, cranes and other birds that are in the surrounding area.
Dassel Rod ‘n Gun Club reported on a recent fishing contest they had on the lake. They reported 11 species of fish were caught, zero walleyes were caught during this contest.
6) Membership Survey Committee Status – Work in progress.
7) Website Activity Level, Facebook, Emailing Newsletter – Steve Grotbo reported there were 58 website visits last month. There were 41 likes on Facebook with 37 clicking the link to the minutes for the Board meeting.
We will send out a mass email with the agenda to the October meeting to notify members about Nick Brown presentation on the latest vegetation surveys completed this year.
It was discussed and approved that the Board send out an email notice, of the agenda to each monthly meeting to our members. The Board approved getting email permission for the Oct. Board minutes so they can be posted on our website before February 2013.
8) LWIA Clean Up Day – Bill Ooley working on a specific clean up day.
9) Invasive Species Committee Update – Nick Brown, DNR Invasive Species, is scheduled to meet with the Board at the October meeting to review vegetation surveys completed in May and August 2012. Board asked to review July survey for next meeting.
Reviewed EWM treatments, it looks like 25 of 70 acres treated in 2012 did not take. These will be retreated by PLM next year. The 2011 treated areas outcome was judged to be very good. There was only one small patch of EWM found.
Ken K. put together a list of things to look at and consider when hiring a company for water testing and AIS treatments. There was a discussion about how we review and evaluate EWM areas that have been treated. At the present time we rely on PLM to take members around doing evaluations of how effective the treatments have been. There was some discussion about having another party being involved with assessment of treatments. We will be getting bids from assessment / treatment companies before deciding on how we will continue testing water quality and treating AIS in Lake Washington going forward.
10) Brainstorm Projects & Programs Conservation Legacy Grant
Kim Winter said she would do some calling and then put together a grant proposal to the 2013 Conservation Partners Legacy Grant program for an aerial photo of Lake Washington to see what problems there are with septic systems around the lake.
11) Household Hazardous Waste Collection for Meeker County residents is Saturday Sept. 15. Steve Grotbo will post on Lake Washington website and send e-mail to Lake Washington Association members with a link to the website.
12) Ken and Cathy Klehr will attend the Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on Oct. 29 thru the 31. Cost of $195 per person to be paid by LWIA. If any other board members want to attend they need to contact Ken.
13) Rick Fernstrom reported the fall newsletter template will be sent out to board members soon. Looking for new advertisers for the newsletter. Deadline for newsletter content is Oct. 9. A list of paid LWIA members will be added to the newsletter. Newsletters will be mailed the first week of November.
14) Kim Winter announced the Dassel Rod & Gun Club Fish Fry is Sept. 14.
John Fink made a motion to adjourn meeting, seconded by Kim Winter.
Next and last Board Meeting for 2012 is Tuesday, October 2nd 2012 @ 7 PM Dassel Rod & Gun Club.