HOME > Civic Groups > Pleasant Lake Association > Meeting Minutes 6-11-05

Pleasant Lake Association
Meeting Minutes June 11, 2005

Pleasant Lake Improvement Association General Membership Meeting  Sat. June 11, 2005

Officers present:   Chair Seday, Vice Chair Markstrom, Treasurer Ashwill, Sec. Peterson, Board members K Lundeen, J DiOrio, V Lundeen

Treasurer Report:   Checking  $3,752    Savings  $4,922        98 total members.

Water patrol met with Deputy Joel Mackereth  prior to the general meeting.  A review of last year's activities and new safety regulation were the primary focus.  The requirement for all children under 10 to wear life jackets may not have made it into the new booklet but it is still the law.  If you see anything that isn't right on or around the lake all citizens are encouraged to call the Wright Co Sheriff's office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Feasibility Study:   Jim DiOrio gave a brief history on the study request, lake water quality being our main concern.  He gave cost of water & sewer hook-up projections for all affected homes.  The recent survey results were shared showing an even split between those who want hook-up and those who do not.  The 89th Ave Township road project was discussed and is slated for this Fall.  Jim has tried to get the Township and City to meet on this matter without success.   Jim will be meeting with homeowners after the general meeting today to determine what course of action to take.

Rep Dean Urdahl shared related governmental future directions he feels the state will be addressing.   A toilet fee/tax may become reality during next years session.  Everyone in the state with a sewer(toilet) will pay $36 per year and this money will be used for the Clean Water Legacy Act program.  This Act will help clean-up polluted lakes & rivers.

Rep Urdahl will attempt to help anyone in our district with issues they have and cannot get resolved locally.

CRWD Manager Merle Anderson explained a new program that the Watershed District will be offering:   a foundation that donations may be given to for use on specific lakes.   There are tax advantages that go along with this giving and our lakes will  benefit.  The Watershed will take no money for administering  this program. He shared info pertaining to our lake and noted a trend in improved phosphorus levels. Our lake has a level of 20 per million which is the lowest it has ever been.  Levels of 1 to 40 indicate a healthy lake.  We have lakes in our area with counts of 100 and more.  Rainfall to sewer system improvements can be attributed to this trend. At present our clarity depth is on average 7.7 feet.  The CRWD's main focus is  to address health & water quality issues. The managers position on the CRWD for Wright Co will be filled this summer and if anyone is interested they should contact Commissioner Karla Heeter.

DNR & MnPCA monitoring program was explained by T Ashwill and Chair Sedey.  We have been selected as one of the 15 lakes in the state for this study.  Local volunteers will take weekly reading and transport samples to the PCA office. Group watched a brief video pertaining to what volunteers will be gathering.

Weeds:   Vice Chair Markstrom explained how the milfoil search turned out last fall.   Individual homeowners can treat the lake in front of their homes but must secure permits from the DNR.  Curley leaf pond weeds appear to be plentiful and can be treated.  It is not possible for the entire lake to be treated for any weed due to restrictions however individuals may treat their own waterfront.

A complaint over neglected property will be forwarded to the Township board.

Hwy 24 culvert will need volunteers to keep it open and flowing in high water periods.   The culvert is now set for the proper elevation according to MnDot and CRWD.

We are looking for an editor for a lake newsletter.   Publications may be as often as the volunteer(s) wish.

Water patrol for the lake is always looking for help and if you wish to volunteer please contact T. Ashwill.

The loon platform appears to be working.  This year the loons nested right next to it.  We will try move it deeper into the reeds. 

Volunteers are needed to serve on the Board.  We will add new members at our Aug 20th meeting and picnic.

The abundance of snails was discussed and while they can be killed with copper phosphate (DNR permit required) it was the general feelings of the group that the cleaning they do for the lake is beneficial.