Meeting Minutes May 15, 2021

Revised

Squash Lake Association Meeting

May 15, 2021

Board Members Present: Tom Eggert, Kathy Tournour, Marj Mehring,  Dale Smith, Karen Isebrands Brown, Russ Tennessen, Jeff Paddock, Greg Nevinski plus Tom Johansen from the Lake District Board

Absent: Ann Kipper, Jackie Whitney

Meeting was called to order at 9:06am by Board President, Kathy Tournour

Opening Remarks

  1. Kathy reported that she is updating the website.
  2. Board members’ contact information has been updated.
  3. Minutes
  4. Motion by Greg and seconded by Tom to approve the minutes. Motion passed.
  5. Treasurer’s Report – Tom Eggert
    1. Website cost is $350.00 per year. $100.00 profit to be included in the budget.
    2. $15,000.00 was put into a Schwab account in late February or early March. Account is presently worth $15,500+.
    3. The SLA presentl;y carries 2 insurance policies.
      1. General Liability - $400.00 – more important when SLA had boat and divers. It was decided to drop this policy.
      2. Diectors Liability - $400.00 – directors can’t be sued individually.
    4. $1000.00 added to the budget for fisheries improvement.
    5. Education Committee budget changed to $1000.00.
    6. Greg questioned the amount of $1365.35 as an over budget on Membership Dues. It should -$1364.34 as an under budget entry.
    7. There was a motion by Greg to accept the treasurer’s report with the 1 correction noted in F above. Jeff   Motion passed.
  6. Lake District Update – Tom Johansen
    1. Newsletter was sent out.
    2. The 2 year DNR grant millfoil control was received again.
    3. The Time Meander Survey will be done this summer. SLA had previously voted to pay for this, with almost certainty that a grant would be received to pay most of the cost.
    4. The same 3 experienced divers are back this year. Diver pay was increased to $35 per hour. It is common for divers on other lakes to receive $40 – 45 per hour. Divers are happy with the new pay rate and enjoy working on Squash Lake.
    5. The lake District has incentives for new divers, but have not found any yet. It is inevitable that new divers will be needed at some point.
    6. The Lake District had a 3 hour meeting with Onterra. Much information was gained.
    7. The Lake District has a meeting next Tuesday to plan goals for next year. SLA will be asked to support 3 goals.
      1. Water monitoring near the highway.
      2. Improve fish habitat.
  • Education for shoreline restoration. This is the most important according to the DNR.
  1. Karen asked about the reduction of frogs, and should that be something to consider exploring. Jeff stated that he thought the DNR had a state monitoring program for frogs. The population is way down.
  2. The Lake District Survey produced a 61% return rate which is very good.
  3. 99% indicated millfoil eradication as the top priority, followed by fishing, shoreline erosion (wakeboats), and water levels / water quality.
  4. Squash Lake is still considered one of the best in the state for water quality and variety of plant species.
  5. Loon Bay update
    1. Onterra considers Loon Bay the most important area to the overall health of the lake.
    2. There is still interest in Loon Bay by the Lake District board.
  • Considering that a grant is almost certain, the cost would only be about 25%.
  1. SLA would have to redo the survey. If the SLA wants it on this year’s annual Lake District meeting, the petition would have to be to them by July 11.
  2. Tom Eggert suggested that we wait until we have firm figures on the cost. It was decided that Tom and Russ would contact the owner. The entire property is 29 acres.
  3. Greg asked how much of the lake benefits from Loon Bay. The whole lake benefits directly or indirectly.
  1. A question was asked about water level records. Tom Johansen said that Onterra did not have that information, and he didn’t know that anyone has kept records. Onterra did provide information on rainfall.

 

  1. CBCW Update.
    1. Jeff reported that we have again received the CBCW Grant. We have received $1000.00 as the initial payment.
    2. Last year we were short of hours and lost $589.00. The reason was because inspections did not start until June 20th because of Covid.
  2. Membership
    1. At present there are 21 paid memberships. Last year there were 76.
    2. Lots of people pay their dues at the annual meeting in June.
    3. Kathy suggested sending a mailing out about the annual meeting and reminding people about paying their dues.
    4. People need to have a paid membership before they can vote at the annual meeting.
  3. Committees
    1. Education
      1. There will be a zoom class on “landscaping with native plants” at 6:00pm on July 7. Brent Hanson will be instructing the hour class. A trip to Hanson’s Garden Village will follow from 7:30pm -8:00pm.
      2. Karen suggested sending a mailing to all property owners, not just SLA members.
  • The SLA will pay the $150.00 fee for the class. This is similar to the CPR and SUP classes.
  1. Kathy said she would do an e-mail if given the information.
  2. Tom Johansen suggested using a mail service for mass mailings. It takes a lot of time and probably would only add about $100.00 to the cost. Kathy will take care of it.
  3. Tom Eggert suggested charging the people and then giving them some plants. After some discussion, it was decided to ask Hanson’s if they would give a discount to the workshop participants.
  1. Fisheries Committee
    1. The Fisheries Committee had an in-person meeting on April 24th. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss fish sticks, fish cribs, and restoration of spawning areas.
    2. Fishsticks
      1. Fishsticks are simply placing a tree in the water from shore and anchoring it. This is done by or with the permission of the owner.
      2. There is grant money available for this purpose. The committee decided that most people are still not aware of this program and continued education is needed.

 

  • Fish Cribs
    1. Fish cribs are something the committee felt they could start doing right away. It was decided to make a prototype fish crib. Once this is completed, a workday may be scheduled to make multiple cribs. The DNR guidelines will be used in construction.
    2. The first crib will be constructed near the properties of Dale, Jeff, and Tom Fuss.
    3. Cribs are made of natural materials - logs, limbs, and brush. The only manmade material used are for fastening the crib together and securing the weighting material (usually cement blocks).
    4. Our divers have been asked to locate existing cribs and mark their location on a map. They also have been asked to recommend good spots to place future cribs
  1. Restoring Spawning areas.
    1. This project is much larger in scope and will need more research. There will also be more expense involved.
    2. This is a program of locating the areas to be restored. Then placing rocks of a certain size on the ice during the winter and have them sink into place as the ice goes out.
    3. The DNR, Mike Preul, Director Mole Lake Fisheries, and our Squash Lake diving crew will be our sources for information.
  2. Social committee
    1. The Annual Meeting
      1. The Annual meeting will be held on Saturday, June 26 at the Town Pump. Social Hour will be at 4:00pm and the meeting at 5:00pm.
      2. After some discussion, it was decided that having a “zoom option” would not be practical.
      3. Treasurer will collect dues.
    2. Boat Floatilla
      1. Last year’s Boat Flotilla was a success.
      2. After some discussion about dates, it was decided that this

years event would take place on Saturday, July 31 (raindate – Sunday, August 1).

  1. The Flotilla will assemble at 2:30pm between the big island and the shore to the west. The Flotilla will launch at 3:00pm going counter clockwise around the lake.
  2. There will be no theme, but participants are encouraged to decorate their boats.
  1. Other
    1. Nothing has been finalized on the donated bench. Costs are more than anticipated.
    2. There will be a welcome basket on display at the annual meeting. The SLA Board had previously approved a welcome basket program for new people on the lake.
    3. Linda has offered to put together a short summer newsletter. This is in addition to the regular newsletter which comes out 3 times per year. Deadline for the summer newsletter is June 1st.
    4. Karen is working on updating the sign on Bay Rd.
  2. Motion by Greg and seconded by Russ to adjourn. Motion passed.