Lake Lemon Conservancy District

SRP Freeholder Committee Meeting Minutes

Benton Township Senior Citizens Building

March 8, 2006

The March 8, 2006 meeting of the SRP Freeholder Committee was held at the Benton Township Senior Citizens Building and was called to order by Bob Madden at 5:45 pm.

Committee Members present: William Weber, Larry Polley, Mark Moser, Gene Niednagel, Hank Berman, Mike Sonneborn, Jim Scrimager, Roger Watkins, and Boyd Sturdevant. Also present: Marty Mann, LLCD Chairman; Dave Hobson, LLCD Vice-Chairman; Dennis Friesel, LLCD Treasurer; Bob Madden, Manager; Aunna Huber, Board Recorder; and Rachel Atz, CBU Representative. Absent: Dave Keller, Ed Roehling, Rob Casserotti, Mike Grady, and Gail Tala.

I. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER

· Dave Hobson, District VII, was elected as LLCD’s Vice-Chairman and replaces Larry Ritter on the Committee.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION BY POLLEY TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 14, 2005 MINUTES AS WRITTEN. SECONDED BY SONNEBORN. ALL “AYES.” MOTION CARRIED.

III. DISCUSSION OF DREDGING SERVICE AREAS

· Nathan Eaton, Image Matters, Inc. has created a service area map. See attached.

· There are three categories of service areas:

o Dock access (100 series): areas with less than 4 ft of water depth, around dock areas

o Boating safety (200 series): areas with less than 5 ft of water, in middle of lake

o Boating channels (300 series): typically channels with less than 5 ft of water

· A map will be put on LLCD’s website showing service areas. Freeholders won’t be able to manipulate data, but can view service area, surface acres, and sediment volumes.

IV. DISCUSSION OF DREDGING FINANCIAL OPTIONS

· LLCD received a $100,000 grant from DNR in 2005, and has applied for an additional $100,000 grant for 2006.

· LLCD will fund $80,000 out of its budget. Total dredging budget will be $180,000 for 2006.

· LLCD anticipates a third $100,000 grant from DNR in 2007.

· In 2008, there will be no more grant money available and LLCD will need to raise money to fund the dredging initiative.

· Dennis Friesel presented three options to fund sediment removal:

o Special benefits tax

§ Benefits

· All freeholders pay proportional to property assessed value

· Simple process

· County assesses and collects taxes

· LLCD has lien on property if payment isn’t received

· There are no additional costs to LLCD

§ Drawbacks

· All freeholders pay proportional to their property value regardless of dredging benefits received

o Exceptional benefits tax

§ Benefits

· All freeholders benefiting are assessed for dredging

· LLCD has lien on property if payment isn’t received

§ Drawbacks

· Many legal steps are required

· Legal fees will be over $10,000

· Board publishes assessment roll

· Large time commitment

· Must hire board of appraisers

o Maintenance and operation works of improvement fees

§ Benefits

· Board can set own rules of assessment (can levy flat fee to all freeholders)

· Any assessment amount can be determined

§ Drawbacks

· No enforcement authority

· No protection from freeholder law suits

· Laws on this are not clear

· Circuit Court would have to create tax

· Legal fees will be over $10,000

· These funding options need to be considered for 2008. Please refer to Attorney Parker’s legal opinion.

V. NEXT MEETING

· The next SRP meeting will be held at the Benton Township Senior Citizens Building at 5:30 p.m. on April 12, 2006.

MOTION BY SONNEBORN TO ADJOURN AT 7:05 P.M. SECONDED BY MOSER. ALL “AYES.” MOTION CARRIED.

Meeting Minutes submitted by:

Aunna Huber