Approved Minutes

East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation

Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, May 20, 2019 @ 7:00 PM

Board Members Present:  Bill Maas, Joel Farley, Terry Wilts, Vern Schoeneman, Jim Blum, Mike Maffin, Steve Richards, Wendell Riley, Bob Kelley and Chuck Augustine.

Board Members Absent: Lois Clark, John Salewske.

Guest present: Pam Jordan

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Bill Maas at the Orleans City Hall Council Chambers.

Adoption of Agenda

It was moved by Blum and seconded by Augustine to adopt the agenda with flexibility.  Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes

Moved by Blum and seconded by Augustine to approve the April 15, 2019 regular Board meeting minutes. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Farley reported an account balance of $66,812.39. Wilts inquiry from April regarding Board of Directors and Officers insurance resulted in finding out the board is not covered but no response from Bank Midwest as of yet.  Kelley moved with second by Schoeneman to accept treasurer’s report.  Motion carried.

Membership Report

Secretary Wilts reported the 2019 Membership and dues mailer was sent May 13, 2019 to 1901 properties in and around East Lake Okoboji, Upper Gar, Minnewashta and Lower Gar. List also included dock installers, hoist and crane barge operators and marinas.

57 responses in the first trip to the mailbox for a $3525.00 total. Very early in the process but also very encouraging results. Total cost of postage, printing and list procurement was $1793.18 for a per mailer price of 94 cents each.

Old Business

Curlyleaf Pondweed 2019 Aquatic Management Plan

Wilts reported over 8 miles of pondweed infested shoreline was successfully systemically treated on April 26. Mechanical harvesting has yet to begin due to plant not being topped out everywhere yet. Additionally, a 15-acre block where growth was the densest north of the 9 & 71 bridge on East Lake Okoboji was treated as well and will be enlarged with the mechanical harvester when time allows. This was done to eliminate some of the mass that threatened a fish kill due to low dissolved oxygen levels in 2018. Water testing results post treatment have not been received as of tonight.

Lake Water Levels Meeting

The meeting scheduled for Wednesday May 22, 2019 has been postponed to a later date and time. EOLIC continues to discuss and monitor but took no board action until such time as there is a firm proposal for the Lower Gar outlet.

28th St. Drainage Project

Dickinson County Supervisor Pam Jordan reported that a presentation for a $100,000 grant for this project from the Okoboji Foundation took place earlier in May and expect June results. Several projects vying for a limited amount of funds.  Also, application made to the Dickinson County Community Endowment Fund for $10,000.00 was made. Funding continues to be sought; nothing will occur until all funding is in place.

New Business

Scientific Gauges

Request has been made by Lakeside Labs Ex. Dir. Mary Skopec for the EOLIC to be a participant in funding scientific gauges set up in 4 spots around the lake, Big Spirit, East, West and the 71 bridge.  The gauges in use currently are from the USGS and are very expensive.  Lakeside Labs has been in contact with the University of Iowa Flood Center for a package that would be more affordably priced. Informational only at this point, no board action taken.

Blue Water Festival

Festival on August 10, 2019. Show of hands for volunteers to work EOLIC booth resulted in one response. Donation to festival discussed but no board action taken.

Walleye Weekend disbursement

President Maas was awarded a check for $5328.13 for the EOLIC portion of the proceeds of Walleye Weekend.  Our thanks to the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber, Blain Andera,  his staff Kiley and Cari, and all the fisherman that made the walleye opener such a success.

Other issues, announcements, group sharing, etc.

Annual Meeting Saturday, August 3, 2019, Dickinson County Nature Center, 9:00 am Speaker TBD

Drone negotiation Tuesday, May 21.

Next regular meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2019 at 7:00 PM at Orleans City Hall.

Adjournment

It was moved by Kelley and seconded by Augustine to adjourn the meeting at 8:46 PM.  Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by Terry Wilts, Secretary