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

Quarterly Board Meeting Agenda

November 7, 2018

7:00 pm, White Bear Lake City Hall

1.      Approval of Agenda

2.    Approval of Minutes

3.    Treasurer’s Report

4.      Status Reports

a.      VLAWMO

Sign Post project

5.      Action Items - Working Session Prepare Annual Report

a)      Review and approve 2019 calendar

b)     Harvester Maintenance and repair – need a new roller

c)      Aerator

6.      Discussion

a.      Improvement to the Boat Launch

7.        Adjourn 

Next Quarterly meeting

February 20, 2019

Birch Lake Improvement District

2018 Annual Report

Birch Lake is a shallow suburban lake with an area of 123 acres and a maximum depth of 6 to 8 feet.  It is considered to be one of the healthiest lakes within the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO).  Concerns over maintaining the quality of the lake led lake property owners to petition the City of White Bear Lake to form the Birch Lake Improvement District (BLID) in 2006.

A board of directors elected by improvement district members governs the Birch lake Improvement District.  Current board members are: Dale Bacon at large, Ryan Hoops, secretary; Steve Laliberte, chair, Terry Huntrods, treasurer and Jim Grisim, vice chair.  The board is responsible for implementing the Birch lake Sustainable Lake management plan.  These responsibilities include carrying out scientific studies on lake water quality, maintenance of recreational utilization of the lake and communication to the membership regarding threats to lake quality.

During 2018, the following activities were carried out by BLID:

The annual cleanup day was held on May 5, 2018.  Eight residents participated.  City public works provided pickup of the trash bags.

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

During winter months, BLID operates an aeration system to prevent complete fish kills from oxygen depletion.  This year the permit to operate the aerator required specialized training in the operation of an aeration system.

We contracted with Blue Water Science to conduct a weed survey prior to harvesting.

BLID conducted weed harvesting during August.  Fifty-three acres were cut.  The weed harvester was reconditioned improving cutting bars, cables, and controls.

The twelfth annual BLID meeting was held on June 20, 2018.  Nineteen of the 62 parcels in the district were represented.  The 2019 operating budget of $21,587 was approved by the membership for submittal to the White Bear Lake City Council.  Terry Huntrods was elected to a 3-year term.   The next annual meeting is June 19, 2019.

In 2019 the BLID will continue to maintain the lake through harvesting and aerator operation.  We will stock the lake.  We will participate in the VLAMO filtration project on 4^th and Otter Lake Rd. 

Submitted for the BLID board by Stephen Laliberte, Chair

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