TURTLE LAKE IMPROVEMENT AND PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION (TLA)
President Rob Kaye opened the meeting. The minutes of the September meeting were approved as corrected. Judy Jaeger's Treasurer's Report was accepted:
Beginning Balance $4,709.77
Expenses $10.00
Receipts $75. 00
Balance on hand as of 10/31/01$4,774. 77
Membership - Pat Carroll reported that new resident/member packets have been prepared. Informational fliers about exotics are ready for spring distribution.
By-laws - We will do a final review of the proposed by-laws, and then send draft copies out with a newsletter prior to the Annual Meeting. Mary Baas noted that there is to be a booth at the March WAL meeting where Association By-laws and Incorporation documentation can be reviewed to determine whether the TLA is eligible to apply for grants. We would like to take advantage of this.
Eurasian Water Milfoil (EM): The Richmond Town Board has allocated $1600 for Spring '02 spraying and additional lake protection signs. Dick Gronert is finding it a challenge to get return calls from Marine Biochemists to set a date; he will continue to follow-up. Cheryl Mitacek is working with Snug Harbor to ensure that all boats are out of the channel at the time of spraying. We will need to give boat owners at least 3 weeks notice to move boats on specified date. Mary Baas moved that TLA funds be added if necessary to cover the cost for spraying. The motion passed.
Dick and Elaine volunteered at the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) convention in Madison last weekend. They had an opportunity to hear and meet experts in the field of limnology. Exotics continue to enter WI lakes through many sources including bait buckets, ballast from other countries, etc. Elaine has found milfoil in areas of the lake other than the Channel and Rosenbush sites that have the greatest amounts. She discussed pros and cons of pulling plants with field experts and recommends that we pull plants in these areas. We may need a permit and native aquatic plant replanting if large amounts of milfoil need to be pulled. One idea is to pull on a weekday and barricade that section of the channel to prevent plants from floating into the main lake. When red blossoms are seen at the tops of the milfoil plants, they should be pulled.
Neighborhood Watch - It does not appear that Richmond Township has had an opportunity yet to replace the 10 bad signs.
Property - There are 40 acres of wetlands on the market at the rear of the Grossman property. Pat Carroll reported that the DNR still has interest. Darren Franzen volunteered to draft a letter to let the DNR know that the TLA would welcome their purchase of the property so that the wetland area is conserved.
2002 WI Assoc. of Lakes (WAL) Convention- Suggestions were made about handling of expenses - pay for a specified number of people, allocate a certain $ amount and divide among those interested in attending…Rob recommended that we inform TLA members of the WAL Convention and ask them to contact him prior to a specified date if they are interested in attending. We can then decide how much money should be used to cover individual's expenses and how the funds will be disbursed. Rob suggested that those in attendance try to attend different sessions and then share info gathered among all TLA members.
Walworth County Lake Association - Rob has attended two meetings since our last meeting. Their mission is to promote welfare of lakes by spreading information and working with the County to promote lake interests. They are sending questionnaires to all 38 County lakes to get more lakes involved. Their next meeting is 2-2-02 with a presentation by DNR wardens.
Water Testing - Elaine is now testing oxygen levels in the lake and must take temperatures at different lake levels. Darren Franzen moved that the TLA purchase a good depth thermometer to ensure accurate data if one is not supplied by the DNR. The motion carried.
Newsletter - Rob Kaye will send a newsletter in the next couple of weeks. Info included will be meeting dates, WAL Convention information, county lake organization, thank you for rock volunteers, etc.
Lake Classification: Darren Franzen distributed informational handouts.
The next meeting will be Saturday, February 9th, 10:00 am at Gronert's. The president adjourned the meeting.
Mary Baas, Secretary