RLAA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes                                             July 28, 2005

Host: Tom Dechmann  (8683 Glacier Lane)

Time: 7:30 pm

Directors Present:

Chuck Berger                        George Schneider                 Wade Quale                          Steve Cady                            Eric Lind

Tom Dechmann                    Jami Stromberg                     Rich Von Lehe                      Mark Mitchell

9 of 15 Directors present at the meeting constitutes a quorum.

Agenda

Member Intro:  Everyone did a quick intro on who they were and where they live.

Algae Update: Latest status of events and perceptions on what has occurred

Chronology of events

June 18 - Algae identified as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and treatment recommended by consultant Jim Storland. (Steve McComas visited the lake the same week; reports oxygen levels low at 4.7 ml)

June 20 - Jim Storland reports his on-site visit on 6/18 confirmed treatment is necessary. Suggested Lake Restoration to perform the work.

June 21 - Requested quotes from Lake Restoration and Midwest Aquacare; Board unanimously voted to pursue treatment.

June 23 - July 2 - Obtained lakeshore owner signatures from 52 out of 85 possible (31 not home and 3 refused to sign), reaching the 51% necessary for DNR approval.

July 5 - Directors voted to accept bid from Lake Restoration for complete lake treatment (including north Elm Creek) at 10.6 lbs/acre for cost of $5,470.

July 6 - Sent confirmation to Kevin Kretsch at LR to accept proposal. He will request permit from DNR to applications may be done.

July 13 - DNR approved permit - LR to do application #1 of 3 on Monday, July 18. Dosages must be scaled back due to shallowness of the lake and low oxygen levels.

July 18 - LR did application #1 for 25% dosage on the southern half of the lake

July 25 - LR did application #2 for 50% dosage on the northern half of the lake (3rd and final application to be applied on August 1st at 25% dosage on southern half of lake).

Next Steps

Insure bill is for 50% of the cost, since dosages were reduced significantly (Steve Cady will take this up with LR after the final treatment is applied next week).

Feedback on the results so far - obvious?

Consensus was there has been rapid improvement, although there are still some areas where algae is pooled up (ramp bay, Tristan Bay, etc.). See what happens after the final treatment is done next week.

No complaints have been heard by any residents during/since the treatment started.

Need to determine better way to get signatures from residents in a more timely fashion in the future. Could this be something done in advance the next time we need sign-off? Are the signatures we have now good for other treatments in 2005 if necessary?

Fishing activity hasn't seemed to change since the treatment began

Is this something we want to do again this summer if conditions warrant it? Will have to wait and see based on this treatment results and need to apply again. DNR has authorized a permit that enables us to do up to 3 separate treatments if necessary.

Lake Management Plan update

Spawning Bed Checks #1 and #2 completed

Jim Storland wasn't able to come out for 3rd & final check due to algae visibility problem. His final summary will refer to just 2 visits instead of 3 (cost reduction?)

Aquatic Plant Management Surveys #1 and #2 completed

We need to insure that the results get back to the DNR, especially all references showing almost no signs of Curlyleaf Pondweed since the last drawdown had been conducted. This is the key ingredient the DNR will be relying on for agreeing that drawdowns can be done in the future.

What is next? Nutrient analysis?

Steve McComas (City consultant) does a limited version of nutrient testing in his current monthly checks of each Maple Grove lake. We should be getting the City to utilize their flow monitor equipment (which they apparently haven't used yet) on the lakes to measure incoming water flow and content.

Steve also has a "new technique" for addressing high nutrient levels that he's tried on lakes smaller lakes than Rice Lake. He'd like to test this next year on Rice Lake. We don't have any other details from Steve at this point.

Storm Drain study?

This may be a part of Steve's "new technique" that he mentioned. May warrant a separate conversation with him at a point in the near future.

Drawdown Plans

Requirements to fulfill request (Ken Ashfeld checking with DNR to find out requirements)

George waiting for reply form Ashfeld on what's required based on City's understanding

Lakeshore owner approval?

George to check with Karen Jaeger to see if she thinks City Council needs to OK or if they are comfortable with last year's signatures

DNR approval?

Chuck suspected this may not be necessary as long as we aerate the lake in the winter to keep the oxygen level sufficient.

George to follow up with local DNR Fisheries contact (Daryl Ellison) and see what he needs.

City Council approval?

Budget

What is left in the kitty?

$15,000 as of June

$3,000 to be spent on 2 Lake Management plans; $1,500 of that to be reimbursed by LQC

$5,000 to be spent on Algae Treatment

Remaining left as of August should be about $13,500

Special Assessments for Algae treatment?

No, not this year. But let's consider increasing the dues to offset the recent costs we've encountered and potential future costs:

Annual winter aerator maintenance (new motors; new shaft; wiring)

Annual winter aerator electrical costs (+$200 per year)

Additional Lake Management Plan activities

Increase dues for next year?

Board discussed what our current needs are and realized that our savings have been declining each of the past 5 years, with this year being the lowest so far

All other local lake associations in the area charge a significantly higher amount than RLAA

Steve Cady made a motion to increase dues from $60 to $100 for Lakeshore Owner and $40 to $50 for Lakeview Owner

Eric Lind seconded the motion; Motion passed unanimously by all 9 voting members present

Increase in dues will take effect at next RLAA Annual Meeting in Spring 2006

Set up Sub-Committees for:

It was decided to wait until the specific needs come up for these committees before organizing them. We should also invite non-Board members to be on the committees.

Weed Control

Fish Habitat

Water Quality

Storm drain monitoring

Other

Miscellaneous

Newsletter - Jami Stromberg asked if we could produce a newsletter to send out to all eligible for RLAA. The website may not satisfy the need to reach everyone, plus having something physically delivered may be a better tool to get our information out.

Steve Cady said this had been done in the past and maybe we should do it again

Anyone from the Board interested in being on a team to set up a newsletter, contact George Schneider

George Schneider

Jami Stromberg

Buoy marking Stonehedge Island - Tom Dechmann reported he ran aground in his deckboat on the island recently. It shorted out his motor and he had to rewire to get it started again. He asked if we could place the white marker buoy on the island for the remainder of this boating season.

Directors favored this request and the buoy will be placed back on Stonehedge Island as soon as possible. George is holding the buoy and will place it out there on Friday (7/29) to mark the area.

Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 9:10