Lake Lemon Conservancy District

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Benton Township Senior Citizens Building

September 21, 2005

 

The September 21, 2005 meeting of the Lake Lemon Conservancy District was held at the Benton Township Senior Citizens Building and was called to order by Chairman Marty Mann at 6:15 p.m.

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Marty Mann, Rex Taylor, Dave Hobson, Bruce Cassal, Tom Kelly, Dennis Friesel and Larry Ritter.  ALSO PRESENT:  Bob Madden, Manager; Aunna Huber, Board Recorder; and LLCD Freeholders (see attached sign-up sheet).  ABSENT:  Rachel Atz

 

I.                   OPENING COMMENTS (Mann)

·        Mann thanked all freeholders for attending the meeting. 

 

II.                APPROVAL OF AUGUST 20, 2005 BOARD MEETING MINUTES (Mann)

 

TAYLOR MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 20, 2005 MINUTES.  KELLY SECONDED THE MOTION.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.

 

III.             TREASURER’S REPORT (Friesel)

A.  Current Budget Comments

·        The second tax installment check for 2002 payable 2003 taxes for $8,848 was received from Brown County.

·        $20,000 out of the $22,000 (2002 payable 2003 taxes) owed by Brown Co. has now been received.

·        Brown Co. 2003 payable 2004 taxes are anticipated in early 2006.

B.    Transfer of Funds

·        It is requested to transfer $2,839 from the Contingency Fund (Account 6620) to the Miscellaneous Supplies (Account 6140).  See attached.

 

FRIESEL MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF $2,839 FROM ACCOUNT 6620 TO ACCOUNT 6140.  RITTER SECONDED THE MOTION.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.

 

B.    Public Budget Meeting Minutes

·        The 2006 budget meeting was held in the LLCD office on August 31, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.  See attached.

·        There were no questions or comments from the public.

 

FRIESEL MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE 2006 BUDGET MEETING MINUTES.  KELLY SECONDED THE MOTION.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.

 

C.    2006 LLCD Proposed Budget

·        User fees pay for 50% of the budget and the remaining 50% is paid by taxes.

·        Taxes this year remain the same as last year.

·        There is an increase in park user fee revenue from last year because of the steady growth in park use.

·        2005 budget was $267,467.

·        Proposed 2006 budget is $293,794.

 

RESOLUTION:  THE 2006 LAKE LEMON CONSERVANCY DISTRICT BUDGET IS APPROVED AS WRITTEN.  ALL BOARD MEMBERS APPROVED AND SIGNED 2006 BUDGET RESOLUTION.

 

IV.              FREEHOLDER SRP COMMITTEE REPORT UPDATE (Mann and Weber)

A.    Dredging Information Piece

·        An informational piece explaining the dredging project and it’s history will be mailed out no later than September 30th.  See attached.

·        Dredging is expected to begin in late spring or early summer next year.

·        An excavator-type operation will be used to remove sediment.

·        There is no set priority of who gets dredged first at this time.

·        SRP Committee will make recommendations to the Board based on scientific parameters such as computer generated sedimentation volumes.

·        A schedule will be developed, but it may change over time.

·        Future SRP meetings will discuss prioritization and funding mechanisms for this program.

B.    Freeholder Survey

·        A survey will be sent along with the informational piece.  See attached.

·        The piece will help freeholders make informed decisions when filling out the survey.

·        It is approximately 11 questions long.

·        A space to include comments is available at the end of the survey.

·        It needs to be filled out and mailed back to the office in the envelope provided by October 12th.

·        This survey will be statistically valid and will be used to help form decisions regarding future policies for the SRP program.

 

KELLY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE SEDIMENT REMOVAL PROGRAM SURVEY AND INFORMATIONAL PIECE AS WRITTEN.  TAYLOR SECONDED.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.

 

V.                 DOCKING PLAN (Mann)

·        The location of the docking plan is the northeast shoreline of Lakewood Addition.

·        Freeholders in this area have developed a docking plan.  See attached.

·        One Freeholder in the area disagrees with the plan.  See attached.

·        The plan is workable.

·        Closure of the area to future docks is proposed in a letter from attorney R. Scott.  See attached.

·        Closure of an area means that no more docks can be placed in that particular area.

·        Sharing of docks already in place may be allowed.

·        The Board has full discretion over modifying this closure as needed.

 

MOTION BY KELLY TO APPROVE DOCKING PLAN AS DRAWN IN THE SEPTEMBER 21ST VERSION PRESENTED AT THE BOARD MEETING, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ALL AVAILABLE SPACE IS FILLED WITH DOCKS, AND THAT THE AREA NORTH OF THE MAINTENANCE PLATFORM TO THE CURRENT BOAT SHELTER IS CLOSED TO FURTHER DOCKS.  SECONDED BY HOBSON.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.

 

VI.              MANAGER’S REPORT (Madden)

A.    Discussion of 2006 Fireworks Show

·        Show could be improved upon from last year.

·        Additional funds could be spent to make it more impressive.

·        Ramsey Pyrotechnics has written a memo regarding possible changes to next year’s show.  See attached.

·        An extra $1,000 could be spent to make the show better.

·        A contract will need to be signed well before we know if donations will cover the cost of the show.

·        A solicitation letter will be sent out, similar to last year, to get donations to pay for the 2006 show.

B.    Boat Permit Non-Compliance Letter

·        A postcard was sent out in August to remind people to purchase their 2005 boat stickers.

·        An increase in permit sales was seen soon thereafter.

·        Three weeks have been spent checking boats for stickers.

·        Approximately 25 boats have been found without permits.

·        Indiana registration numbers have been taken down and will be used to find who the owners of these boats are.

·        These individuals will be sent a notice.  See attached.

·        The resolution stating this offense is a trespass will also be sent with this letter.  See attached.

·        Our attorney has given a legal opinion on this matter saying there are three basic options.  See attached.

o       File trespass charges.

o       File in small claims court.

o       Send letter and negotiate.

·        The letter will be sent, even though it is late in the boating season, to notify people that we are aware of the situation.

·        It may be too late to collect the 2005 permit fees, but people will be on notice for 2006.

 

MOTION BY MANN TO SEND OUT THE BOAT PERMIT NON-COMPLIANCE LETTER AS WRITTEN.  SECONDED BY CASSAL.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.

 

C.    Cylindro Update

·        There is a summary of cell counts and toxicity beginning on June 8th and running through September 6th.  See attached.

·        The algae are not producing toxins at a level that is of concern.

·        We are still waiting to receive toxicity results from the August 23rd to September 6th samples.

·        We would like to discuss with the Board of Health the issue of using our data as precedent so we don’t have to have a standing health advisory for the reservoir.

·        The algae blom had an effect on revenue.  See attached.           

o Boat stickers were down $588 from 2004.

o Park revenue was down $1,352 from 2004

o Total revenue lost to LLCD was about $1,900

o Additional costs for water testing.

·         D.  Public Records Discussion

·        Every document in the LLCD office is considered a public record.

·        This includes our freeholder list serve of approximately 200 email addresses.

·        Entrepreneurs see this as an opportunity to reach potential clients.

·        Freeholders on the list serve need to be aware that LLCD will have to give out their addresses to anyone who requests them.  See attached.

·        This will allow them to remove their names from our list before they would receive any unwanted emails.

·        The Board will review any requests for personal information before it is allowed to be given out.

 

MOTION BY MANN TO REQUIRE PUBLIC REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION REGARDING FREEHOLDERS TO BE PRESENTED IN WRITING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.  SECONDED BY KELLY.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.

 

D.     ZONING AMENDMENT

·        Freeholder J. Gates wishing to make an amendment regarding the zoning for his property on South Shore Drive.  See attached.

·        Currently, it is zoned for multiple units in the form of 9 apartments/condominiums.

·        He wishes to give up this multi-use zoning for 2 single-family homes.

·        This would lessen the potential density in the area.

 

MOTION BY MANN TO THE MONROE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THIS REZONING BY FREEHOLDER J. GATES FROM MULTI-FAMILY TO SINGLE-FAMILY UNITS.  SECONDED BY RITTER.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION APPROVED.

 

VII.     PUBLIC COMMENT (Mann)

·        The issue of increasing marina fees for next year needs to be reevaluated before any decisions are made.

·        The concern is fairness for everyone.

·        The fee structure and relationship with the marinas needs to be reviewed.

·        The issue will be deferred until more study is done.

 

V.                 NEW BUSINESS

·        The marina fee discussion will be continued at October’s Board Meeting.

 

KELLY MOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.  RITTER SECONDED THE MOTION.  ALL “AYES.”  MOTION CARRIED.  MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:35 P.M.

 

Meeting Minutes submitted by:

 

Aunna Huber

Board Recorder