The sixth annual membership meeting of the BLID was held in the White Bear Lake City Hall on June 15, 2011 with Chair Jim Grisim presiding. The meeting was called to order at 7:04 P.M. with 14 residents representing 13 of the 62 units in the BLID present and constituting a quorum as specified in Article 5, Section 3 of the BLID Rules of Governance. All notices or the meeting required by Article 5, Section 2 of the Rules of Governance had been complied with. A copy of the persons in attendance is attached.
Motion by Rod Kreuser, seconded by Ron Auger, to approve the tentative agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Ryan Hoops, seconded by Rod Kreuser, to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2010 annual membership meeting. Motion carried.
The attached treasurer’s report was approved.
Chair Grisim presented a summary of the past year’s activities and future plans. The Star Lakes and Rivers organization awarded Star Lake status to Birch Lake at a ceremony on April 9. Along with the “Star Lake” designation, a $2,400 grant was awarded. A sign will be provided showing the new status; additional signs can be ordered if desired.
No harvesting could be carried out because of the low lake level. As an alternative, Lake Management Inc. applied herbicide to two areas of the lake with less than 50% kill, 80% being considered acceptable. Further treatment with copper salts improved percentage of kill slightly. At no cost to the BLID, Lake Management has agreed to conduct treatments with a different herbicide and to test a limited shoreline area.
Attempts to persuade the City of White Bear Lake to create a lakeshore walking path along Otter Lake Road are proceeding slowly. There are serious engineering problems involved, and projected cost will be calculated. It was suggested that the path be designated a “Nature Trail” to ease engineering requirements. It was also suggested that the BLID alert the White Bear Press to the problem and perhaps pledge some money to help generate interest.
The pump motor for the aerator was replaced, with the old pump being kept as a spare
The DNR has inquired as to the cost of power to operate the aerator.
Bremer Bank has agreed to install shades on their shoreline lights before next nesting season.
The City of White Bear Lake is working on a speed bump plan in conjunction with improvements to North Birch Lake Boulevard
Dale Bacon attended the Minnesota Waters conference this spring. The focus was on invasive species. VLAWMO will conduct an Invasive Species workshop on June 25.
Annual spring cleanup was held on May 5, led by Vice Chair Ryan Hoops. Chair Grisim extended thanks to all participants. Super America again provided coffee and donuts.
Phase 2 of the shoreline restoration project will begin after July 1. Undesired vegetation, including poison ivy and invasive grasses, will be killed off this year, with replanting scheduled for next spring. So, this fall it will look pretty brown until the replanting in the spring of 2012.
As part of its commitment to the Birch Lake Sustainable Management Plan (SLMP), the BLID board has approved partnering with VLAWMO to have a fish survey conducted and a follow-up nutrient lake sediment test performed. The fish survey will provide an indication of the health of the lake. The MN DNR, which usually conducts fish surveys, has indicated that, because of the small number of anglers who fish on the lake, our lake would have very low priority. We hope to hire Steve McComas, of Blue Water Science, to conduct the fish survey some time this summer.
Motion by Steve LaLiberte, seconded by Mary Dee Auger, to stock the lake with fish this summer. The Board had previously approved stocking next spring, as recommended by Rademacher Ponds, the company from which we purchase the fish. The motion was approved on a very close vote.
Several years ago the BLID purchased an easement from a previous property owner for the right to launch and remove our harvester. The question of liability resulting from the steel cable was raised. Motion by Fred Downing, seconded by Rod Kreuser, to install signs on the cable stating that this is private property and that permission to cross it must be obtained from the current property owner. (It was stated that the only public access to the lake is at the corner of North Birch Lake Boulevard-4th Street and Otter Lake Road, but it was subsequently learned that while the City of White Bear Lake maintains a dock at that site, it is not technically a public access.) Motion carried.
Since incumbents Ryan Hoops and Dale Bacon were the only candidates for the Board, motion by Dick Brink, seconded by Dick Gillitzer, to close nominations and declare Hoops and Bacon elected. Motion carried.
Motion by Dale Bacon, seconded by Rod Kreuser, to approve the attached budget for 2012. Motion carried.
Secretary Dick Brink announced the following meeting dates:
Quarterly Board meetings: September 15, 2011; November 3, 2011; February 16, 2012; June 7, 2012.
Annual Membership Meeting: June 20, 2012
The minimum lake depth to operate the harvester is 24 inches. Recent rains may have filled the lake to that depth.
Lake residents will be surveyed to determine areas of interest. Volunteers to take the survey form door-to-door are sought.
Ron Auger expressed thanks to the BLID Board for their work of the past year.
Meeting adjourned at 9:02 P.M.
Richard E. Brink
Secretary
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