Monday, July 25, 2011   Koller Library

Karen Dixon, President, called the meeting of the MWLA Board to order at 12:00 noon.

Members present:  Karen Dixon, Marilyn Gabert, Tom Joseph, Greg Holt, Barry Hopkins, Fred Theisen, Merry Perkins, Jim Reichert, Tom Kramer, Bob Becker, Bob Stowers

Members absent:   Jim Banovetz, Eleanor Butler,

Guests:  Ted Ritter (Vilas County AIS Coordinator), John Hanson (MW Town Chair), Charlie Spencer ( BJ Town Chair), Anne Kretschmann (Discovery Center), Tim Hoyman from Onterra, and Quita Sheehan (Vilas County Lake Conservation Specialist)

Approval of Agenda

Motion made by Tom K., second by Jim R. to accept the agenda as presented.  Motion passed.

Approval of Minutes

Motion made by Merry, second by Barry to accept the minutes of the July 11, 2011 meeting.  Motion passed.

Committee Reports:

Water Ecology and Safety

The guests were at our meeting today to discuss the Rest Lake Management grant and possible future grants.  Tim Hoyman from Onterra had a 30 page proposal for the Lake Management Plan on Rest Lake with special attention to Papoose Bay.  The proposal contained the grant application, project resolution, explanation sheet from the State Lab of Hygiene, and a detailed cost breakdown.  The DNR covers 67% of the cost, the rest is covered by in-kind hours and money.  The project also adds some Clean Boats Clean Water inspection, some AIS time and Purple Loosestrife bio-control.  Starting October 1, 2011, the project will then last thru September 2013.

Tim then handed out a map with five proposed phases for a management plan for the whole chain. Phase 1a is Rest Lake, Phase 1b would hopefully be applied for this February and would be for Island Lake and potentially Spider Lake.  There was also discussion on possible herbicide treatment for the Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) on Island Lake and in the Spider/Island Lake channel.  Some money may be available from an Early Detection Rapid Response grant from the DNR.  The chemical treatment of AIS is roughly $1,000 an acre.  We will need to get a lot of money from someplace to help with this expense.  John Hanson will look into next year’s Town budget to see if there isn’t room for more AIS support money as this will be an ongoing process to keep our lakes clean and free of AIS for all locals and visitors alike.  Karen will get a letter to Charlie Spencer so he can approach the Boulder Junction Town Board for possible monetary support since some of the CLP on Island Lake is in Boulder Junction.

Motion was made by Tom J. and seconded by Barry to approve the grant application for a Lake Management Plan for Rest Lake. Motion passed. Tim Hoyman will send in the application by the deadline of August 1, 2011.

Public Communications:

Karen will start work on getting membership renewal reminders together for those who have yet to renew their membership.  When ready, she will ask for help with stuffing envelopes.

Community Outreach:

Our Annual Meeting went very well this year and Karen handed out a detailed sheet of income and expenses for the event.  We’d like to move the meeting back to the last week in July.  Karen will check with Sue Patterson to see if we can lock in that Saturday, (July 28?).

Government:

Town Board meeting from 7-12-2011:  two urinals were replaced at the Little Star beach, Liz Uihlein will have the black top redone at the Fire Co. and the Koller Library, discussion on getting more docks at Koller Park, white arrow signs will cost $20 for 3 signs, the sidewalk at the Town Hall had heat tubes installed in it, the sign at the dump is gone and Larry may now just charge a little more money for out of town users.

Next regular Town Board meeting is August 9.  Next Special Town Board is August 23 at 6:00 p.m. to consider Tom Baer’s re-zoning requests.

Administrative:

Robert Stowers agreed to be nominated for a 2-year term on the board. He was elected at the Annual Meeting on July 23.

Correspondence:

7-12-11 sent thank you letter and $250 to Fire Dept. for help with trout pond

7-15-11 sent letter and $880 to Leif Williams at NLES to fund 2011-12 water ecology field trips

7-15-11 received request from Rita Mazur for donation to Relay for Life

7-15-11 received request from Camp Jorn for donation to their Sponsorship Program and letter of rationale

7-15-11 received invitation from the Discovery Center to attend a special dinner presentation

7-14-11 received letter from Victor Johnson re: boating safety issues on Manitowish Lake

7-16-11 received DNR notice of Rita Mazur’s request for placement of rip rap on shoreline

7-20-11 sent thank you card to Robert Lackas for $20 donation to fish crib project

Old Business:

MCDF had a change in the operating agreement (not the operating orders – see minutes from our last meeting).  Motion by Merry, second by Bob B to accept the change in the operating agreement of MCDF, LLC.  Motion passed.

By-law amendments – Karen went over the new changes.  Motion by Tom J., second by Merry to amend the by-laws as presented. Motion passed.

New Business:

Relay for Life – Motion by Barry, second by Jim R. to give $150 to Relay for Life Cancer fundraiser in support of Rita Mazur who allows us to use her dock and bathroom facilities at Blue Bayou for our free pontoon rides during Colorama. Motion passed.

NLDC membership – Motion by Bob B., second by Greg to continue as Voyageur members ($1,000) at North Lakeland Discovery Center. Motion passed.

Camp Jorn – Motion by Bob B., second by Tom K. to support Camp Jorn in the amount of $500.  The money will support lake programs, CBCW, safe boating, shoreline cleanup, Discovery Center programming, and AIS education.  We will also get the MWLA name and logo on the placemat at Camp Jorn’s annual pancake breakfast fund-raiser. Motion passed.

Next meeting:

The MWLA will meet on Monday, August 22 at 9:30 a.m., at the library. 

Motion by Fred second by Merry to adjourn the meeting at 2:15 p.m. Motion passed.

 Respectfully submitted,

Marilyn Gabert, Secretary