Minutes of Stuart
Lake Association Annual Meeting
April 14, 2010 – Bruce Rapp’s barn
Present: 26 members
President Roger Graves called the meeting to order after dinner and thanked Bruce Rapp for his hospitality and offering his barn for our meeting. It was suggested that we give Bruce a $50.00 donation. Unanimously approved.
MINUTES
Minutes from April 14, 2009 meeting were read and unanimously approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer’s report was read and unanimously approved. Vicki reminded everyone that the 2010 membership is due. If you have not paid your family membership of $10.00 for 2010, she will collect dues after the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
BROOKS NATURE AREA
David Fhaner asked that we again combine our annual spring road cleanup with work in the Brooks Nature Area. The dates will be April 16 & 17, 2010 from 9:00-12:00 and they need wheelbarrows, rakes and pitchforks to move wood chips onto the trails.
He thanked Dar Gwin for the work mowing and planting.
May 8 will be the Brooks Nature Area Open House which includes hikes, new trails and refreshments.
The CRP requires the native grasses be burned off each year and that began with the first field April 10, 2010.
David requested funds to put a picnic table in the woods by the lake. It will be secured with a chain and include a plaque with Stuart Lake Association’s name on it. Also, the boy scouts will be erecting sign enclosures for the park. Roger mentioned we would like to put a bench from the Stuart Lake Association in memory of the Ariss’s somewhere in the park. David and Ben Lark will choose the location.
David was authorized to spend up to $500 for the materials. Unanimously approved.
SANDHILL CRANE COUNT
Steve Sayers reported that 550 cranes were counted in October and an annual report was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using the official crane count forms for the Sandhill Crane migration count for the State of Michigan.
WATER QUALITY TESTING
Chuck Connelly agreed to do the water quality testing for the year 2010. Enrollment for the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program remains open until May 15, 2010. It was decided unanimously that the Stuart Lake Association will pay for the testing and Diane and Roger volunteered to assist in the tests. The Secchi Disk Transparency is $35.00 and the Summer Total Phosphorus is $20.00. If there are additional charges, SLA will pay up to $150 additional. Unanimously approved.
CALHOUN CO. OUTDOOR FAMILY SAFETY DAY
Family Safety Day was held in March. It was unanimously approved to donate $100 for the year 2011. Steve Sayers will contact Vicki for a check before next March. The proceeds from the event go to the Doc Boelter Outdoor Youth Safety Education Endowment Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL DAY CAMP & EDUCATION
It was voted unanimously to donate $100 to the Calhoun County Environmental Day Camp. The mission of the environmental Camp is to enrich each child’s summer by exploring our natural world. Children gain hands-on experience while connecting to the environment.
ROAD CLEANUP
The Road Cleanups will be April 17 and October 23 in 2010. Meet on 18-1/2 Mile Road at 9:00 a.m. Contact Jim Frohm 269-781-4871 or Marcine McCarthy 269-789-1004 for more information.
DAM
Concern was expressed about the maintenance of the dam since the properties on both sides of the creek are for sale. Options discussed were: move the dam to a new location; create an easement from the road; or simply gain permission from the new owners to access the dam. Since the last option seems the most reasonable, we will obtain permission when the properties sell.
FERTILIZERS
Diane reminded everyone that no one near the lake should ever use fertilizers with Phosphorus. She noted that the city of Battle Creek passed an ordinance banning the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus and there is talk of a county-wide ban. Stuart Lake does not currently have a serious weed problem but they are noticeably increasing each year. Phosphorus promotes algae and weed growth and removal of invasive weeds is very costly.
NEW BUSINESS
PAAWM
Lori Feldpausch and the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan (PAAWM) will be painting at the Brooks Nature area and around Stuart Lake April 24. They are an active group that paints conservancy land and nature areas. For information contact Lori Feldpausch.
ADOPT-A-PARK
The city of Marshall has instituted an Adopt-A-Park program, that allows groups to adopt a specific park and assume responsibility for reducing litter, enhancing the environment, and maintaining the landscape. It was voted unanimously to sign up to adopt the Brooks Nature Area park.
FEMA FLOOD PLAIN MAPS
New maps go into effect in about a year and everyone near a river or lake will be considered in a flood plain. The only way that can be changed is to have a new survey done. They were not able to supply us with the lake level number, or base flood elevation (BFE) that needs to be compared to your house level. When you get that you can have a survey done.
CALENDAR
The following calendar for 2010 was unanimously approved: Spring Road and Park Cleanup April 17; Boat Parade July 4th; Annual Picnic Sept. 21; Fall Road and Park Cleanup October 23; and Sandhill Crane Count Oct. 30.
FOURTH OF JULY BOAT PARADE
It was suggested that a boat parade on July 4 would be fun. The time will be 7:00 p.m. – after all the skiing and tubing are done.
MEMBERSHIP
Discussion was held regarding the loss of membership. Everyone is asked to encourage new members to join. The two meetings we have are social events with great food and good friends. The dues are only $10 per family per year.
ELECTIONS
According to our bylaws, the terms of President, Vice President and one Director at Large expires in even-numbered years. Nominations were taken and the following were re-elected: Roger Graves, President; Fred Kay, Vice President; and Jo Bonato, Director At-Large. Their terms expire in 2012.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Annual Picnic.
Submitted by Diane Graves
www.StuartLakeMichigan.com
April 14, 2010 – Bruce Rapp’s barn
Present: 26 members
President Roger Graves called the meeting to order after dinner and thanked Bruce Rapp for his hospitality and offering his barn for our meeting. It was suggested that we give Bruce a $50.00 donation. Unanimously approved.
MINUTES
Minutes from April 14, 2009 meeting were read and unanimously approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer’s report was read and unanimously approved. Vicki reminded everyone that the 2010 membership is due. If you have not paid your family membership of $10.00 for 2010, she will collect dues after the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
BROOKS NATURE AREA
David Fhaner asked that we again combine our annual spring road cleanup with work in the Brooks Nature Area. The dates will be April 16 & 17, 2010 from 9:00-12:00 and they need wheelbarrows, rakes and pitchforks to move wood chips onto the trails.
He thanked Dar Gwin for the work mowing and planting.
May 8 will be the Brooks Nature Area Open House which includes hikes, new trails and refreshments.
The CRP requires the native grasses be burned off each year and that began with the first field April 10, 2010.
David requested funds to put a picnic table in the woods by the lake. It will be secured with a chain and include a plaque with Stuart Lake Association’s name on it. Also, the boy scouts will be erecting sign enclosures for the park. Roger mentioned we would like to put a bench from the Stuart Lake Association in memory of the Ariss’s somewhere in the park. David and Ben Lark will choose the location.
David was authorized to spend up to $500 for the materials. Unanimously approved.
SANDHILL CRANE COUNT
Steve Sayers reported that 550 cranes were counted in October and an annual report was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using the official crane count forms for the Sandhill Crane migration count for the State of Michigan.
WATER QUALITY TESTING
Chuck Connelly agreed to do the water quality testing for the year 2010. Enrollment for the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program remains open until May 15, 2010. It was decided unanimously that the Stuart Lake Association will pay for the testing and Diane and Roger volunteered to assist in the tests. The Secchi Disk Transparency is $35.00 and the Summer Total Phosphorus is $20.00. If there are additional charges, SLA will pay up to $150 additional. Unanimously approved.
CALHOUN CO. OUTDOOR FAMILY SAFETY DAY
Family Safety Day was held in March. It was unanimously approved to donate $100 for the year 2011. Steve Sayers will contact Vicki for a check before next March. The proceeds from the event go to the Doc Boelter Outdoor Youth Safety Education Endowment Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL DAY CAMP & EDUCATION
It was voted unanimously to donate $100 to the Calhoun County Environmental Day Camp. The mission of the environmental Camp is to enrich each child’s summer by exploring our natural world. Children gain hands-on experience while connecting to the environment.
ROAD CLEANUP
The Road Cleanups will be April 17 and October 23 in 2010. Meet on 18-1/2 Mile Road at 9:00 a.m. Contact Jim Frohm 269-781-4871 or Marcine McCarthy 269-789-1004 for more information.
DAM
Concern was expressed about the maintenance of the dam since the properties on both sides of the creek are for sale. Options discussed were: move the dam to a new location; create an easement from the road; or simply gain permission from the new owners to access the dam. Since the last option seems the most reasonable, we will obtain permission when the properties sell.
FERTILIZERS
Diane reminded everyone that no one near the lake should ever use fertilizers with Phosphorus. She noted that the city of Battle Creek passed an ordinance banning the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus and there is talk of a county-wide ban. Stuart Lake does not currently have a serious weed problem but they are noticeably increasing each year. Phosphorus promotes algae and weed growth and removal of invasive weeds is very costly.
NEW BUSINESS
PAAWM
Lori Feldpausch and the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan (PAAWM) will be painting at the Brooks Nature area and around Stuart Lake April 24. They are an active group that paints conservancy land and nature areas. For information contact Lori Feldpausch.
ADOPT-A-PARK
The city of Marshall has instituted an Adopt-A-Park program, that allows groups to adopt a specific park and assume responsibility for reducing litter, enhancing the environment, and maintaining the landscape. It was voted unanimously to sign up to adopt the Brooks Nature Area park.
FEMA FLOOD PLAIN MAPS
New maps go into effect in about a year and everyone near a river or lake will be considered in a flood plain. The only way that can be changed is to have a new survey done. They were not able to supply us with the lake level number, or base flood elevation (BFE) that needs to be compared to your house level. When you get that you can have a survey done.
CALENDAR
The following calendar for 2010 was unanimously approved: Spring Road and Park Cleanup April 17; Boat Parade July 4th; Annual Picnic Sept. 21; Fall Road and Park Cleanup October 23; and Sandhill Crane Count Oct. 30.
FOURTH OF JULY BOAT PARADE
It was suggested that a boat parade on July 4 would be fun. The time will be 7:00 p.m. – after all the skiing and tubing are done.
MEMBERSHIP
Discussion was held regarding the loss of membership. Everyone is asked to encourage new members to join. The two meetings we have are social events with great food and good friends. The dues are only $10 per family per year.
ELECTIONS
According to our bylaws, the terms of President, Vice President and one Director at Large expires in even-numbered years. Nominations were taken and the following were re-elected: Roger Graves, President; Fred Kay, Vice President; and Jo Bonato, Director At-Large. Their terms expire in 2012.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Annual Picnic.
Submitted by Diane Graves
www.StuartLakeMichigan.com
