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Call to order at 7:04PM with the following board members
were present: Dale Bacon, Ryan Hoops,
Tom Merritt, Steve Laliberte, and Jim Grisim.
A total of 22 members were in attendance constituting a
quorum.
Motion (Grisim/Merritt)
Move to approve agenda. Motion carried.
Motion (Hoops/Grisim)
Move to approve the minutes of 2013 Annual Meeting. Motion carried.
Treasurer Report:
Merritt presented the Treasurer
Report and proposed budget.
Motion
(Krueser/Bacon) Move to approve the Treasurers Report. Motion carried.
Year In Review:
Bacon reported on state of the BLID.
Water level is at a record high. There is an 8 inch depth of the outflow to
the overflow wet land in Rotary Park.
There was a partial fish kill.
The cold winter with early ice and heavy snow plus the wet
spring has slowed the weed growth.
Wildlife is booming.
The loons are back, swans are present along with herons.
BLID attended the review of the Memory Care building
planning and suggested improvements of set back from water level, native
plants, and light covers.
Board members presented at the shallow lakes conference and
the Conservation Minnesota waters conference. The BLID has paid to be a member
of Conservation MN.
The BLID is certified as a Lake Service Provider, a requirement
for moving and renting the harvester.
The annual lake cleanup day was held the first Saturday in
May. It was a success but we need more member participation for the clean up to
be more successful.
Published the newsletter quarterly.
Blue Water Science completed the lake plant survey in 2013. Birch Lake continues to be a very clear and
relatively clean metro lake. There is a healthy balance of plant life. There is an abundance of Fern Pond Weed.
Fish stocking was completed in early 2013. One Thousand bass
and several hundred crappies.
The harvester has been rented to Aspen for use on Goose
Lake. This will generate revenue and
assist a neighbor, Otter Ski Team.
2014-15 Plans
Plan to increase the use of electronic communications for
ease of communication and to reduce postal and copy costs to BLID members .
Aquatic plant management will continue with low-level weed
cutting to maintain a balance between having healthy plant existence, allow for
navigation on the water, with trying to minimize floating algae.
Initiate and complete the invasive species of buckthorn,
removal project.
Complete another lake sediment testing program for the
continued monitoring the sediment content of our lake.
Continue the water testing/monitoring program on conjunction
with VLAWMO and the DNR. Vlamo now increased their allocation for lake
restoration, rain garden, or erosion control funds. They will now contribute up to 75% of the
cost up to $2,000.
Motion: (Krueser /Auger) Move to conduct a fish
survey right away this year (at the same time as when the last one was done) to
measure the severity of the fish kill. Motion
carried.
2015 Budget Review:
Motion:
(Merritt/ Krueser ) Move to amend the
proposed budget to increase the Special Project line item from $2,500 to $4,000
to include $1,500 for fish stocking next spring. This will be taken from the reserve and not
change the levy. Motion carried.
Motion:
(Kueser/Grism) Approve the 2015 budget.
Motion carried.
Election:
There are two position open
for board members. Bacon and Hoops seek
to be re-elected.
Motion
(Krueser/Grism) to elect the board members.
Motion carried.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn (Hoops, Grisim) Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:38 PM
Minutes prepared by Steve Laliberte
