Minutes of Stuart Lake Association Annual Picnic/Meeting
Sept. 18
President Roger Graves called the meeting to order after a wonderful potluck dinner, thanked Steve Line for the use of the picnic facilities, welcomed everyone and introduced new members.
Minutes from last year's meeting were read and unanimously approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer’s report was read and unanimously approved. Vicki noted that $100 was donated to the Sheriff’s Family Safety Day and $100 to the Calhoun Co. Environmental Camp. She asked that those who have not paid their family membership dues of $10.00 for the year, please do so after the meeting.
EHD (EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE)
EHD in white-tailed deer has hit our area very hard. Dead deer have been found floating in the lake, on shore and in the woods. This viral disease is transmitted by biting Midge flies and has left only a few live deer around Stuart Lake. The deer develop a high fever and can die in 3 to 7 days. The DNR has investigated and informed us there are no wildlife management tools or strategies available to prevent or control the disease. It does not affect humans or other animals and there is no risk in handling infected deer or being bitten by infected Midge flies. If the carcasses cannot be removed, they pose no danger to the lake or shoreline and will naturally be disposed of. The peak occurrences are in late summer and early fall and should end soon.
Roger has asked the City Manager to put a ban on hunting deer on city land (surrounding the lake) this year. He will give us an answer after their upcoming meeting.
(NOTE) We were contacted the next day and told the DNR and committee recommend that deer hunting on city land be done as usual and no ban will be imposed.
WEBSITE
Diane reminded everyone to refer to our website – www.StuartLakeMichigan.com -- for updated information and photos. Diane maintains the website at no cost to the association and Roger and Diane cover the cost of the Domain name.
OLD BUSINESS
BROOKS NATURE AREA
Vicki reported that construction on the Brooks Nature Area Overlook will begin in March of 2013. The funds collected for the project were not sufficient to cover the bids, therefore more fundraising must be done before the groundbreaking.
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.
CALHOUN CO. OUTDOOR FAMILY SAFETY DAY
Family Safety Day was held in March. It was unanimously approved to donate $100. 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 AND PARK CLEANUP
The Road Cleanup will be October 20. Meet at the Brooks Nature Area parking lot on 18-1/2 Mile Road at 9:00 a.m. Contact Jim Frohm 269-209-4734 or Marcine McCarthy 269-789-1004 for more information.
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 algae or 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
CALENDAR
The following calendar was unanimously approved: Spring Road and Park Cleanup April 27; Boat Parade July 4th; Annual Picnic Sept. 17; Fall Road and Park Cleanup October 19; and Sandhill Crane Count Oct. 30.
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; Brendon McCarthy, Vice President; and Joe Bonato, Director At-Large. Their terms expire in 2014.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Submitted by Diane Graves, Secretary
www.StuartLakeMichigan.com
Sept. 18
President Roger Graves called the meeting to order after a wonderful potluck dinner, thanked Steve Line for the use of the picnic facilities, welcomed everyone and introduced new members.
Minutes from last year's meeting were read and unanimously approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer’s report was read and unanimously approved. Vicki noted that $100 was donated to the Sheriff’s Family Safety Day and $100 to the Calhoun Co. Environmental Camp. She asked that those who have not paid their family membership dues of $10.00 for the year, please do so after the meeting.
EHD (EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE)
EHD in white-tailed deer has hit our area very hard. Dead deer have been found floating in the lake, on shore and in the woods. This viral disease is transmitted by biting Midge flies and has left only a few live deer around Stuart Lake. The deer develop a high fever and can die in 3 to 7 days. The DNR has investigated and informed us there are no wildlife management tools or strategies available to prevent or control the disease. It does not affect humans or other animals and there is no risk in handling infected deer or being bitten by infected Midge flies. If the carcasses cannot be removed, they pose no danger to the lake or shoreline and will naturally be disposed of. The peak occurrences are in late summer and early fall and should end soon.
Roger has asked the City Manager to put a ban on hunting deer on city land (surrounding the lake) this year. He will give us an answer after their upcoming meeting.
(NOTE) We were contacted the next day and told the DNR and committee recommend that deer hunting on city land be done as usual and no ban will be imposed.
WEBSITE
Diane reminded everyone to refer to our website – www.StuartLakeMichigan.com -- for updated information and photos. Diane maintains the website at no cost to the association and Roger and Diane cover the cost of the Domain name.
OLD BUSINESS
BROOKS NATURE AREA
Vicki reported that construction on the Brooks Nature Area Overlook will begin in March of 2013. The funds collected for the project were not sufficient to cover the bids, therefore more fundraising must be done before the groundbreaking.
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.
CALHOUN CO. OUTDOOR FAMILY SAFETY DAY
Family Safety Day was held in March. It was unanimously approved to donate $100. 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 AND PARK CLEANUP
The Road Cleanup will be October 20. Meet at the Brooks Nature Area parking lot on 18-1/2 Mile Road at 9:00 a.m. Contact Jim Frohm 269-209-4734 or Marcine McCarthy 269-789-1004 for more information.
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 algae or 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
CALENDAR
The following calendar was unanimously approved: Spring Road and Park Cleanup April 27; Boat Parade July 4th; Annual Picnic Sept. 17; Fall Road and Park Cleanup October 19; and Sandhill Crane Count Oct. 30.
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; Brendon McCarthy, Vice President; and Joe Bonato, Director At-Large. Their terms expire in 2014.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Submitted by Diane Graves, Secretary
www.StuartLakeMichigan.com
