BLID Quarterly Board Meeting Minutes

February 19, 2020

7:00 pm, White Bear Lake City Hall

Call to Order at 7:20 PM. 

Members present Dale Bacon, Terry Huntrods, Steve Laliberte, Ryan Hoops, Jorge Vega, and Deb Vernon

1.      Approval of Agenda

Motion (Huntrods / Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

2.    Approval of Minutes

Motion (Bacon / Huntrods) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

3.    Treasurer’s Report

Budget needs to be amended since we no longer have a harvester. Cost for harvesting is $2650 for a 10 hour day plus $1000 for setup and launch.  Expect it to take 3 to 5 days.

4.      Status Reports

a.)   VLAWMO

Successful bid for filter on Otter and 4^th, hoping for approval soon and done this summer. Goal is to reduce the phosphorous going into the lake.  Cloisters is starting on a 5 year plan to improve the lake front.

b.)   Harvester update

Harvester was sold for $2000.  Signed a contract with Lakes Aquatic Weed Removal. Dale will apply for 2020 permit.

            c) Aerator update

Had to replace the aerator.  Ryan will have the old one rebuilt.

5.      Action Items

a.)    Secretary position

            Jeff Klosner has moved.  Jorge Vega offered to fill the position until the next annual meeting.

b.)    Calendar review.  Calendar for 2020 was reviewed

6.      Discussion

a.)    Samatha Crosby started the meeting with the proposed change to zoning.  Biggest change is to encourage residents not to use retaining walls or riprap or terraced landscape. This is only for new projects.  Setback from lake is 75’. Preferred method is to use natural landscape.

b.)    Goose Lake is going to do ALM treatment.  They also want to try to get the city to get a harvester.

c.)    Dale recommended we spot treat with a chemical to stop the spread of the milfoil.  He also things we should try not to cut those areas.  Dale will talk to DNR about this.

d.)    Dawn Tanner, Program Development Coordinator, from VLAWMO would like to talk at the annual meeting.  Terry will talk with her.

7.      Adjourn at 7:58

Motion: (Huntrods /Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried

Next meeting is April 15, 2020

BLID Board Meeting Minutes

June 19, 2019

8:00 pm, White Bear Lake City Hall

Call to Order at 8:03 PM. 

Members present Dale Bacon, Steve Laliberte, Ryan Hoops, Jeff Klosner and Deb Vernon

1.      Approval of Agenda

Motion (Hoops / Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

2.    Approval of Minutes

Motion (Bacon / Hoops) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

3.      Action Items

A)     Election of officer

Chair Steve Lailberte

Vice Chair Ryan Hoops

Treasurer Terry Huntrods

Secretary Jeff Klosner

At large Dale Bacon

B)     Determination of Bank and Paper

We will continue using White Bear Press and Lake Area Bank

4.      Adjourn at 8:15

Motion: (Hoops /Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried

Next meeting is Aug 21, 2019

BLID Quarterly Board Meeting scheduled for tonight has been CANCELED.  It is rescheduled for 2/27/19.

BLID Quarterly Board Meeting Agenda

February 20, 2019

7:00 pm

White Bear Lake City Hall Council Chambers

1.      Approval of Agenda

2.      Approval of Minutes

3.      Treasurer’s Report

4.      Status Reports

a)     VLAWMO update  

b)     Harvester update

c)      Aerator update

d)     Water Gremlin update

5.      Action Items

a)      Otter Lake Rd improvement

6.      Discussion

7.      Adjourn

Next Board Meeting 04-17-19

Next Quarterly Board Meeting 5-5-19

Board Meeting Minutes

Aug 15, 2018

7:00 pm, White Bear Lake City Hall

Call to Order at 7:05 PM. 

Members present Jim Grisim, Dale Bacon, Terry Huntrods, Steve Laliberte, Ryan Hoops, Dick Gillister and Deb Vernon

1.      Approval of Agenda

Motion (Hoops/Grisim) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

2.    Approval of Minutes

Motion (Huntrods/Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

3.    Treasurer’s Report

Terry has yet to meet with Tom so no report document.

Paid the insurance, received money from the city.

a)      Bank signature form

Steve had the, Resolution of Lodge, Association or Other Similar Organization, form from the Bank.  The officers signed the form. Gave Terry Huntrods the power to, Open any deposit or share accounts in the name of the association.  Gave the other four officers the power to, Endorse checks and orders for the payment of money or otherwise withdraw or transfer funds on deposit with this Financial Institution.

Steve would like himself, Dale and Terry to meet with Don Rambow to talk about the budget, reviewing the books and the Number of units assessed.

4.      Status Reports

VLAWMO

            Sign Post Project

                        Jim will do grant.  VLAWMO will pay 75% of the cost. Post will go in by the                           bench on North Birch Lake and by 4^th and Otter

            Filter at 4th and Otter

The survey is done. Land has to be transferred to VLAWMO. They are designing the filter.  Jim doubted it would be done this year.

5.      Action Items

a)      State of Lake

Weeds are bad

Several days before Aspen is done the board is going to do a drive around the lake to check the status of the cutting.

b)     2018 Weed surveys

McComas did an hour look at the lake.  Don’t think there is any value in having anything else done this year.

c)      Budget hearing

Will be schedule in Oct after the budget is submitted to city.

d)     Annual Report

Is due out by Oct 20^th.  Steve has a draft.  Will finalize by email.

e)      Update on harvester

Dick G updated the board.  Pump needed to be replaced, new blades.  Entrance conveyor belt had to be shortened.  There are some parts that are rusting.  Dick things it should be covered when it is being stored and it should be greased.

Guy running it seems knowledgeable and wants to do a good job.  He is cutting at 4’. 

Recommended that a checklist be created about what needs to be checked and add to a SOP.

6.      Discussion

A)     Goals for 2018-2019

Path around the lake

Muskrats

Stocking of lake

# of meetings

              Quarterly and Annual and how many more

VLAWMO partnership

Filter at 4^th and Otter Lake

Invasive species

Member Survey

Formation of Committees

History of Birch Lake

Communication and Newsletter

B)     Conference

Dale is going to an Invasive species conference

7.       Adjourn at 8:25

Motion: (Grisim /Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried

Next meeting is the Quarterly Meeting Nov 7, 2018

Board Meeting Minutes

July 25, 2018

7:00 pm, White Bear Lake City Hall

Call to Order at 7:05 PM. 

Members present Jim Grisim, Dale Bacon, Terry Huntrods, Steve Laliberte and Deb Vernon

1.      Approval of Agenda

Motion (Grisim/Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

2.    Approval of Minutes

Motion (Grisim/Bacon) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

3.    Treasurer’s Report

No activity to report

4.      Status Reports

VLAWMO

            Jim attended the Goose Lake meeting. Goose Lake has one of the highest nutrient levels. They are trying to decide if they should use spent lime or alum.  Going to try to try spent lime on Oak Knoll.  If that works they will use it on Goose Lake.  Will not know if this is effect for a year.

            Nic from VLAWMO asked about doing picture posts. Jim said there was positive feedback at the annual meeting.  Considering doing several locations: by the bench, 4^th and Otter Lake Rd and on the bridge on White Bear Parkway.

            Dale is going to talk to VLAWMO about fixing erosion by the bench on North Birch Lake.

5.      Action Items

Harvesting

        Dick G has been working on refurbishing the harvester.  Matt from Aspen is willing to help. Dick is hoping to be done by Friday.

        Agreement with Aspen needs to be clarified.  Need a checklist for making sure the harvester is in working order so we do not have this problem in the future.  Steve will work with Dick G to develop the checklist.

Steve will check with Aspen on when they will be able to cut once the harvester is working.

Elections

        Fred was the chair the first year, Jim was the next 5 years and now Dale has done it 5 years.

        Dale thinks people should change positions.

Chair Steve Laliberte

Vice Chair Jim Grisim

Secretary Ryan Hoops

Treasurer Terry Huntrods

At Large Dale Bacon

The bank for the next year is Lake Area Bank

Paper is the WBL press

6.        Adjourn at 8:05

Motion: (Grisim /Huntrods) Move to approve.  Motion carried

Next meeting is the Quarterly Meeting Aug 15, 2018

Quarterly Board Meeting Minutes

5-16-2018

7:00 pm, White Bear Lake City Hall

Call to order at 7PM.  Members present Dale Bacon, Steve Laliberte, Jim Grisim, Tom Merritt, Ryan Hoops, Deb Vernon and Bill Gebhart

1.      Approval of Agenda

Motion: (Grisim /Hoops) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

2.    Approval of Minutes

Motion: (Merritt/Grisim) Move to approve.  Motion carried.

3.    Treasurer’s Report

    No activity to report.

4.      Status Reports

1.      VLAWMO

a.      2017 Annual Report and Summary are out.  Jim will bring to annual meeting for members to look over.  They have a new mascot.

b.      Filtration project is waiting for BWSR approval.

c.       Ramsey County conservation district has been disbanded.

d.      Band on watering was in the news.  Seems judge, DNR and legislators are having some discussions. Bottom line restriction seems to be the same as current restrictions.

2.      Action Items

1.      Weed harvesting Bid Review and vendor selection

a.      Two bids were received.  Premier Lake Harvesting was too expensive so Aspen will be doing it again.

b.      Dale is going to look into getting a GPS system so there is better information on what was cut.  The other option is to mark off the area that we want cut with buoys.

c.       Jim is working on the permit.  Hoping to cut 6-15 to 6-30.

Dale thinks there is more milfoil in the lake.  Weeds are about six inches below the surface.  Need to contact Steve McComas at Blue Water Science. 

Harvesting vs Chemical

Costs run about $700 an acre and only treat 15%

2.      Lake Clean-up day May 19^th 10-12 and boat launch open 1-3

a.      Ryan will take charge. Jim will drop off the materials.  Should get some treats for the volunteers.

b.      Keys for launch

Jim, Ryan, maybe Steve and home owner Jeff.

3.       Annual Meeting

a.      Need 10 members to have a Quorum of 15%

b.      Written notice will be mailed out by June 10.

c.    Press release has to be in the last week of May paper in Community Events section.

d.      Agenda items that have to be done at the annual meeting:

                                                                                                           i.      Elections

                                                                                                         ii.      Approval of budget

                                                                                                       iii.      Approval of projects of more than $5000

4.        Adjourn 7:50

   Motion Hoops/ Merritt. Motion carried.

Next Meeting

Annual Meeting June 20, 2018

Minutes 2/21/18

Board Meeting Minutes

February 21, 2018

7:00 pm, White Bear Lake City Hall

Call to order at 7:04 PM Members present were: Dale Bacon, Steve Laliberte, Jim Grisim, Tom Merritt, Ryan Hoops, Deb Vernon, Terry Huntrod and Nick Voss from VLAWMO

1.      Approval of Agenda

Motion: (Grisim/Merritt) Move to approve agenda.  Motion carried.

2.    Approval of Minutes

Motion: (Grisim/Merritt) Move to approve Nov 1, 2017 minutes.  Motion carried.

3.    Treasurer’s Report

Motion: (Hoops/Grism) Move to approve Treasurer Report.  Motion carried.

We have received the first portion of the tax levy.

4.      Status Reports

Admin

        2 annual reports were returned because no one is currently living at those addresses.

        Deb researched when the terms of office started.  Tom Merritt term is up in July.

        Standard operating procedures

                    SOP should be presented to the board for review. 

                         Done are Aerator use and permit application, how to develop the action calendar, How to do the Annual Report, Minutes, Notice of Meetings.

                         Need to do Position Responsibility (each office is to do theirs), Treasure duties (Tom is working on that), Spring lake clean up (Jim is working on it), Weed Harvesting Permit, Contract requirements (Steve and Jim), Lake access.

Aerator System

        Is functioning

        We received a bill from the paper.  The bill was paid in advanced.  Steve will give Deb the bill.  

VLAWMO

        Nick Voss VLAWMO Education and Outreach Coordinator

(651-204-6070 nick.voss@vlawmo.org )

Nick talked about doing Picture Posts around the lake. A citizen science project to study environmental changes over time. Members would take photos of the lake and upload to a website.  

He also talked about doing Adopt a Drain.  Nick will let Dale know where the drains are located around the lake. 

Steve and Dale will look at doing this and present the proposal to the board at the next meeting

      Phosphorus removal project

Location is 4^th and Otter lake Road.  The hope is this will be installed by the end of the year.  When this is done it will have a drain that needs to be cleaned monthly.  (Adopt a drain)

                 Annual Report

2017 Water Monitoring Report is out.  See VLAWMO website.  (www.VLAWMO.org/news )

The automated storm sampler on 4^th and Otter Lake Rd showed very high nutrient level during storms.  Birch Lake is still below the State standards. The Phosphorus removal project should help to improve this.   Lake is at a B+ grade. 

5.      Action Items

Annual lake clean-up day

Jim will take the lead and work on putting it in a SOP.  Katie Piehl sent an email to board about getting scouts to help out.

 2018 Weed Harvesting Program

Steve and Jim will work on SOPs for doing a permit for harvesting and a contract for harvesting.  Permit is good until September when it is approved by DNR.  DNR does not approve it until weeds show that they need to be harvested. They will talk to DNR about getting permit early since we seem to always need to cut.  They will also try to figure out a better way to have the weeds cut (mark the lake with buoys?).  They will report to the board at the next meeting.

 Annual meeting

Meeting is June 20^th. 

Treasurer term is up – Tom is considering retiring from that position. 

Dale will ask Nick from VLAWMO to come and talk about Phosphorus removal project, picture posts and adopt a drain.

Terry Hunstrod is interested in helping out on the board.

Deb Vernon would be interested in taking over the treasurer spot if Tom decides to retire.

6.      Communication

        Website

For now we will use email, Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/  and Blog (http://Birchlake-id.blogspot.com)

        Newsletter

          Dale and Tom are working on one for the Spring.

7.      General Discussion

Lake Vegetation survey was done in 2015.  Fish survey was done in 2014.

City wants to connect Hwy 96 path with S. Birch Lake (where the path in the grass already exists.)

Otter Lake Road will not be done until 2019 or 2020

Next Meeting will be April 25^th at 7 PM in Conference Room on 2nd floor (Not enough officers here in March)

8.      Adjourn at 8:50

Motion: (Grisim/Merritt) Move to Adjourn.  Motion carried.

Minutes done by Deb Vernon

Minutes 11/1/17

BLID Board of Directors Meeting

November 1, 2017

Call to order at 7:05 PM with the following members present:  Dale Bacon, Jim Grisim, Tom Merritt and Ryan Hoops, Deb Vernon

Approval of Agenda

Motion: (Grisim/Merritt) Move to approve agenda.  Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes

Motion: (Grisim/Bacon) Move to approve the September 20, 2017 minutes.  Motion carried.

Reports

Treasurer’s Report

Motion: (Hoops/Bacon) Move to accept report.  Motion carried.

Updates

1.     Admin update

Organized files and upload electronic ones to Google drive

Updated Member list – still working on getting more emails

Created a 2018 action calendar

Created a SOP template and did a few

2.     VLAWMO

They are cleaning out Sucker Channel (It is off Hwy 96 past Cub)

Next month they are going to discuss the grant

3.     Ramsey County

GIS site has made a change to the South end of the lake

4.     White Bear Lake

       Hearing on the budget generated a lot of positive comments about BLID

5.     Aerator Operation

The permit was filed.  The aerator is working, the stakes are in.  Jim will check with Steve about doing the posting that is needed to turn it on.  Jim will move the extra pump into the new shed. 

Discussion

1.     Newsletter/website

Working on articles for the newsletter

Talked about hosting a website and decided for now Deb will post new stuff to blog and to Nextdoor lake front group.

2.     2018 harvesting

We can harvest 50%.  We will try to get the permit as soon as ice is out and weeds are up.

Adjourn

Motion: Move to Adjourn (Grism/Bacon) – Motion Carried.  Adjourned at 7:45 PM.

Next Meeting:  Wednesday February 21, 2018 7:00 PM. 

Minutes prepared by Deb Vernon