LIA Membership Meeting Minutes
10 a.m. October 4, 2014
Celina Moose
Present: Trustees Jeff Vossler, Seth Brigham, Brian Morris, Sgt. At Arms Dave Eyink, Treasurers Ted and Diane Bertke. Absent due to prior obligations: Tim Lovett, Mark Piening, Stan Wilker, Eric Morris, Tom Rampe.
Jeff Vossler called the meeting to order at 10 a.m.
Pledge of allegiance.
Ted Bertke provided the Treasurer’s report.
Jeff Vossler discussed the restoration of aeration systems for Grand Lake St. Marys. He said they won’t be deployed yet this year but should be ready for 2015. He said the restoration was part of the LIA’s effort to provide lake aeration, aligned with the group’s linear channel aeration sponsorship program.
Jeff Vossler expressed appreciation for the Kids’ Fishing Derby volunteers and said the event was a success despite poor weather.
Jeff Vossler announced that Guardian of the Lake nominations are welcome, and the 2014 Guardian will be announced in November. He also announced that LIA executive board elections will be held in December; anyone wishing to run should have their name submitted by the November meeting, at which time nominations will be closed. Spots eligible for election are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant At Arms, and three Trustee positions.
Jeff Vossler announced that ZombieFest was a success with more than 180 people in attendance. He remarked that organizer Eric Morris did a great job.
Brian Morris offered a report on the LIA Flag Football tournament, requesting volunteers and stating that Buffalo Wild Wings in St. Marys would be donating a portion of any food orders taken during the after party to the LIA.
Milt Miller gave the Lake Restoration Commission report and showed photos of the Prairie Creek Treatment Train Expansion Project, which adds 40 acres adjacent to the existing installation and doubles its capacity to clean water. He said a sledding hill with a parking lot would be added to the installation, and the LRC would be inviting an Eagle Scout to build an observation deck at the top of the hill. He encouraged the public to visit the treatment train. He also remarked that the Coldwater Creek Treatment Train project will be going into the design phase within a few weeks and a grant application has been made to place a treatment train on Beaver Creek.
Brian Miller offered an update on the lake, stating that the lake level was one inch above pool and last month it was 2.5 inches above pool. He said the youth waterfowl hunting season had begun. He gave an overview of the Halloween campout and the Fall Fest, which was a successful event at the campgrounds, as well as the Grand Lake Marathon, which attracted more than 1,800 people. He also remarked on the Kids’ Fishing Derby, stating it was a touching day, and thanked Stan Wilker and Kara Birt for organizing the event.
Other state park updates from Brian Miller:
- Buoys have been pulled for the year. If you have an adopt-a-buoy, pull it out; if you need a new buoy or chain weight, let the park office know.
- Upcoming park improvements include expanding and resurfacing the parking lot near the Boat Club
- Adding rip rap to Windy Point Road
- Removing more Ash Trees; if you need wood you will be able to come cut it and take it
- West Bank Road is closed from the spillway south to the condos; completion date is Memorial Day 2015
- Work is being done on the 2015 Governor’s Cup Regatta and Lake Fest behind the scenes
- It’s time to winterize boats; ethanol is a huge issue, check safety equipment, fire extinguishers, life jackets, off-season sales, etc.
Brian Miller was asked about the geese on the lake’s beaches; he said they are looking at ways to keep the geese from leaving undesirable material on the beaches next year
Tom Grabow gave a dredging update, stating that there are seven weeks left in the program but it could last longer if the weather permits. In 2014 the dredges have removed 171,000 cubic yards of silt to-date. Telephone poles will be driven in on the west side of the oil derrick the following week, and stump removal is scheduled for the end of the month.
Fances Spring offered an update from the Dept. of Soil and Water, stating that Heidelberg’s Laura Johnson gave Ag Solutions an overview of the lake’s water quality monitoring stations.
Regarding nutrient management plans, Springer said the distressed watershed had 156 producers with plans but dropped down to 149 due to businesses closing, selling livestock, or producers who didn’t meet the rules. She said cover crops looked really good this year. Staff are monitoring manure applications and have not received any complaints in the watershed this month. Some complaints were received outside the watershed but none discharged into waters of the state. She said the single court case involving nutrient management plans has delayed sentencing until late October or early November. She was asked if P levels from the Heidelberg report had come down, and stated it’s too early to tell if there is any trend and two to three rounds will be needed to discern differences on a farm-to-farm level.
Jeff Vossler stated that the LIA sponsored an Eagle Scout who put up a nice observation deck on the Gilliland property around the lake; a dedication will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 11, 2014.
The 50/50 drawing was held with a $32 prize.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:43 a.m.
Respectfully submitted by Brian Morris, Trustee.