Minutes

East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation

Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, May 16, 2016 @7:00 PM

Board Members Present: Bill Maas, Gus Tallman, Bob Kelley, Mike Maffin, Joel Farley, Terry Wilts, Wendell Riley, Vern Schoeneman, and Bev Schumann

Board Members Absent: Bonnie Simonson, Jim Blum and Steve Richards

Guests present: Pam Jordan, Sue Reiter, John Wills, and Ron and Rayna Grothe

The meeting was called to order at 7:01 by President Bill Maas at the Orleans City Hall Council Chambers.

Adoption of Agenda

It was moved by Vern Schoeneman and seconded by Bob Kelley to adopt the agenda with flexibility. Motion passed.

Approval of Minutes

Moved by Terry Wilts and seconded by Wendell Riley to approve the April 18, 2016 regular board meeting minutes. Motion passed.

Treasurer’ Report

The treasurer’s report showed an overall balance of $32,225.06 as of May 16, 2016. It was moved by Gus Tallman and seconded by Terry Wilts to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion passed.

Old Business

Report on drainage RFP in Spirit Lake/County Drainage

Pam Jordan reported that the supervisors had approved a proposal with Beck Engineering for a study of drainage in this area. The cost of the study is $18500.00 and is to be divided evenly between the county and city of Spirit Lake. The study, which will take approximately 90 days, is to be completed by Aug. 10th. The study involves 416 acres located north and west of Francis Sites, about half being in Dickinson County and the other half in the city of Spirit Lake. This study will look at watershed areas and identify locations where clean water practices can be put into place. After the study is completed, there will be communication with clean water experts and land owners to put together some cost estimates which hopefully can be partially funded through clean water grants. Pam informed the EOLIC board that they would be contacted at the 50% planning stages for additional suggestions. The actual construction to correct this problem is at least a year away.

Membership Report

No report

Refund of Donations

Bill is working through the list of people who made donations for the chemical treatment of Curley Leaf Pondweed. People are either requesting that the check be destroyed or suggesting that the money be left in a special account for future use if the board identifies other possible solutions.

Lake Level Policy by Dickinson County Emergency Management

The need to have a law or policy in place in case of high water levels has been a concern of EOLIC for a number of years. Upon investigation they have leaned that Law 571 has been identified as the proper place to edit the policy on lake level speed limit. However, any changes to these rules must be approved by the Governor’s office after they provide information on how the change will/could impact jobs and new development in Iowa. If the Governor approves moving forward as a result of this information, then the process of amending the law could begin. However, it takes 2 years to accomplish this rule change.

Curly Leaf Pondweed Progress

Bill Maas has been in contact with Tom Kulhman but the weeds have grown too tall for hoeing. The murky water conditions earlier this spring made it impossible to identify a spot for the experimental hoeing process. Board members reported seeing an abundance of the weed but in some instances in different locations then previous years.

Miscellaneous

New Business

Letter to Mark Fodness

Bill Maas shared a letter that he had drafted to Mark and Sandra Fodness about their efforts to control the outflow of silt from their property that is adjacent to the drainage which flows directly into East Lake Okoboji on 252nd Avenue. It was moved by Mike Maffin and seconded by Terry Wilts to approved this letter. Motion passed.

NRCS Status and Replacement

John Wills reported that they have requested permission to replace Jim Sholly.

Radio Blurbs about Protective Associations

Bill Maas has consented to do an interview with the local radio association about the protective associations working together as result of the Memorandum of Understanding that has been adopted by all the associations.

Boater Maps

It was moved by Mike Maffin and seconded by Bob Kelley to print an additional 5000 copies of the East Okoboji Lake Boater Map at a cost of $1157.00. The DNR will contribute $500 to the cost. Motion passed.

Miscellaneous

A donation of $2500.00 from Walleye Weekend is being donated to the EOLIC.

John Wills will be organizing a meeting of protective associations leaders in July. He is hoping to meet four times a year.

Other issues, announcements, group sharing, etc

Next Regular Meeting is scheduled for June 20, 2016 at 7:00 PM at Orleans City Hall

Adjournment

It was moved by Vern Schoeneman and seconded by Wendell Riley to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 PM. Motion passed.

Minutes submitted by Bev Schumann, Secretary