VLAWMO spring workshops

Here is a link to VLAWMO's upcoming Spring workshop. Open to anyone interested.

BLID Quarterly Meeting February 6, 2014

Call to order at 7:00 pm with the following members present:  Dale Bacon, Ryan Hoops, Tom Merritt, Jim Grisim and Steve Laliberte.

Motion (Hoops/Laliberte) Move to approve agenda.  Motion carried.

Motion (Hoops/Merritt) Move to approve the minutes of November 11, 2013.  Motion carried.

Treasurers Report: 

The procedure to receive the city levy is to request a check 3 days in advance.

Reviewed Contract for Aerator Power:

Draft contract was reviewed and revised.  Steve will seek input from the city attorney.

Reviewed Buckthorn Removal Program:

Dale will continue to work with the White Bear City engineer Mark Birch to advance the plan.

Adjournment

Motion (Grisim/Hoops) Move to adjourn.  Motion Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00pm. 

Upcoming meeting

Board meeting April 24, 2014.

BLID Quarterly Meeting November 7, 2013

Call to order at 7:00 pm with the following members present:  Dale Bacon, Ryan Hoops, Tom Merritt, Jim Grisim and Steve Laliberte.

Motion (Hoops/Laliberte) Move to approve agenda.  Motion carried.

Motion (Hoops/Merritt) Move to approve the minutes of September 19, 2013.  Motion carried.

Treasurers Report: 

Levy deposit was low.  Tom to review with the city.  

Motion to approve report (Hoops / Bacon), Motion carried.

Levy Hearing

City approved the levy and had several glowing comments about the BLID.

Harvester:

The new track in ordered and received.  The repairs will be completed next week. 

Aerator Status   

It is in an operating.  We need to get the new permit.  Ryan will work with Jim Grisim.

Motion to contract with Nick Phiel to provide power for the aerator in the amount of $150 per year.  (Hoops, Bacon) Motion carried.

Steve will draft a contract and run it by the city attorney.

Newsletter

Julie Yoho will be the keeper of the communication list.  Send changes to her.

Reviewed requirements for next study.

Buckthorn Control:

City will provide replacement trees when the buckthorn is removed.  City uses Garlon 4.  We can identify where it exists, then inform homeowners, and potentially hire a contractor to apply herbicide.  Dale will outline a plan.

Other Items

USGS survey will happen on White Bear Lake. 

Adjournment

Motion (Grisim/Hoops) Move to adjourn.  Motion Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 7:48pm. 

Upcoming meeting

Board meeting February 6, 2014

BLID Quarterly Board Meeting September 19, 2013

Call to order at 7:00 pm with the following members present:  Dale Bacon, Ryan Hoops, Tom Merritt, and Steve Laliberte.  Jim Grisim arrived at 7:22pm.

Motion (Hoops/Merritt) Move to approve agenda.  Motion carried.

Motion (Hoops/Merritt) Move to approve the minutes of August 28, 2013.  Motion carried.

Treasurers Report: 

A new profit and loss statement was presented by Tom Merritt. We now have a balance sheet.  We will begin tracking the levy shortfall.

Motion to approve report (Grisim / Bacon), Motion carried.

Harvester:

Harvester is out of the lake. 

Motion (Merritt/Grisim) To move ahead with the harvester repair, contract with Aspen for in October/November, not to exceed $3000.00.  Motion carried.

Motion (Tom / Jim ) Order the track needed for the harvester, not to exceed $4,000.00.

Motion carried.

Aquatic Plant Survey:

Reviewed requirements for next study.

Levy Meeting and Annual Report:

Reviewed the annual report.    Dale will move ahead on creating the package.

Other Items

New resident welcome packet – good idea.   Pave the path from the sidewalk to Birch Lake Blvd S.  Dale will contact Mark Birch, city administrator.

Adjournment

Motion (Grisim/Hoops) Move to adjourn.  Motion Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:07pm. 

Upcoming meeting

City Council Levy meeting – October 22, 2013

Board meeting November 7, 2013

BLID 2013 Annual Report

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Birch Lake Improvement District

2013 Annual Report

Birch Lake is a shallow, suburban lake with an area of 123 acres.  It is considered to be one of the healthiest lakes within the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO).   Concerns over maintaining this quality led lake property owners to petition the City of White Bear Lake to form the Birch Lake Improvement District (BLID) in 2006.  The following is a report of BLID activities during 2012 – 2013.

The Sustainable Lake Management Plan (SLMP) developed in conjunction with VLAWMO and Blue Water Science, continues to be used by the BLID board as a strategic planning tool.   It is invaluable in maintaining a long term focus on lake quality issues.  All actions of the board relate to specific sections of this plan. 

2013 was a banner year for Birch Lake.  Spring rains and cooler than normal temperatures resulted in near record water levels.  The lake continues to be very clear with limited nuisance vegetation.   Wild life, especially the eagles, continues to flourish and to be enjoyed by the numerous residents and visitors who walk the lake path on a daily basis.  The lake walk has been made much safer by Ramsey County’s construction of a rumble strip along the Otter Lake walkway.  The north shore restoration area is also flourishing with the first planting yielding some dramatic blooms.  The restoration site bench, located on the new concrete pad supplied by the Public Works Department, is a much used stopping point for lake walkers.   In addition, new home construction and the influx of younger resident members point to the continued health of this historic area of White Bear Lake.

During 2012-2013 the following activites were carried out by the BLID board:

1.     Annual lake clean up occurred on May 4, 2013.  16 residents participated.

2.    BLID members continue to participate in VLAWMO Citizen’s Water Monitoring Program.   This involves taking biweekly lake water samples and making secchi disk and lake level readings.

3.    BLID continues to operate an aerator during the winter months.  This helps to maintain sufficient dissolved oxygen in the lake water to prevent fish kills.

4.     As a follow up to the 2011 fish survey, 1000 crappies were stocked in the lake.  The fish survey was a critical component of the SLMP to maintain the health of Birch Lake.  Because of this and previous restocking programs, the lake is beginning to be known for its trophy catches!

5.    The harvester was operated over a two week period in August to remove nuisance vegetation.  Approximately 15 loads of vegetation were removed to the county compost site.

6.    In order to enhance communication to district members, the newsletter publication was changed to quarterly schedule and offered an electronic format.

7.    Blue Water Science conducted an aquatic plant survey in early September, 2013. This is a follow up to the 2007 survey and also a part of the SLMP. The results will be an indication of the extent of the Eurasian milfoil problem.

8.    In conjunction with the City of White Bear Lake Finance Department, a financial review was conducted on BLID finances.  No areas of concern were identified.

9.    A capital reserve fund was established to cover equipment replacement.

10.BLID provided comments to the Variance Board on the impact of the Lande property development.  Recommendations were made to increase native plant usage in landscaping, reduce impervious surfaces, limit wetland damage during construction and to limit off shore visibility of over head lighting.

11. The board has discussed the invasive species problem and how it relates to        Birch Lake.  There will be a heavy emphasis on this issue in future board communications.

12.   Following the annual meeting, Board elections were held. Dale Bacon was elected to Chairman; Ryan Hoops, Vice Chair; Tom Merritt, Treasurer; and Steve Laliberte, Secretary.  Jim Grisim, member at large.

The seventh annual BLID meeting was held on June 19, 2013 in the White Bear Lake City Hall, with Chairman Dale Bacon presiding.  The annual meeting was attended by 16 persons representing 15 of the 62 units.

Jim Grisim and Steve Laliberte were elected for 3 year terms.  Steve replaces Rod Kreuser who chose not to run for another term.

After a review of current year activities and plans, the following budget was approved by the membership.  A per property levy of $155 was approved.

Approved Birch Lake Improvement District Budget
	For January 1 - December 31, 2014
FIXED COSTS			$       4,300.00
	Aerator
	NSP
	Administration
	Admi. Secretary
	BLID Insurance
	Lake Imp. / Blue Water
	Easement Payment
	Trailer License
	Truck & Trailer Insurance
WEED CONTROL			$       8,460.00
	Harvester Repairs
	Harvester Fuel
	Harvester Permit
	Subcontractor to harvest weeds
	Truck Rental
	Trailer repair
Miscellaneous
Special Projects			$       1,000.00
Fish Stocking
TOTAL 2014 BUDGET			$ 13,760.00
CASH RESERVE USED			$4,260.00
TOTAL LEVY AMOUNT			$   9,500.00
PER PROPERTY			$      155.00

The dates of the required scheduled quarterly Board meetings for 2013-2014 are as follows:

    November 7, 2013

    February 6, 2014

    June 5, 2014

   September 18, 2014

   November 6, 2014

The 2014 annual BLID meeting date will be Wednesday, June 18, 2014.

Submitted by the Birch Lake Improvement District Board

Dale Bacon,Chairman