Lake Development Corporation Minutes
6/02/08
LDC President Jim Dabbelt called the June 2, 2008, meeting to order at 4 pm. Also in attendance were Owen Hall, Kent Hinton, Frank Murray, Greg Schumm, Matt Schwieterman, Doug Temple, Terry Wissman, Laura Walker, Max Gilpin, Brian Miller, Craig Morton, Matt Haen, Kelly Kill & Donna Grube.
Max Gilpin moved to approve the May meeting minutes as e-mailed to the membership, Craig Morton provided a second, motion carried.
Milt Miller was not in attendance but did call and said the treasury balance remains the same as last month--$10,601.
Craig Morton provided the following lake report:
Lake Level(Approx. 10” above normal pool.)
Dredge.
- Floating suction dredges are out and in place and working. Pump-A-Little is at Windy Point West and St. Marys is at Barnes Creek.
- Next jobs will be Southmore Shores East and Schells Channel.
- Need to get back to Uppenkamp DMRA on Behm’s Rd. to continue tear down and renovate old Kittle Rd. DMRA in cooperation with Franklin Twp. and Div. of Wildlife.
- The dredge program has good funding to finish this fiscal year and start the next year. However some of this funding did not arrive until just recently.
Lake Safety
- Water Taxi service to started Memorial Day weekend. Grand Lake Express. 26’ Bayliner deck boat, good condition and passed WC safety check and practical test. They will also have a second boat for private tours.
- Swim Safe. Read the talking points.
- Beach testing. Three beaches tested very safe with low bacteria levels for Mem. Day weekend.
Park
- Director Logan and Rep. Zehringer were at Northwood golf course. Friday May 23 to talk to the Grand Lake Consortium group about lake levels. The Director held the line and continued to say no drawdown or lake level management.
- Dog Park. Dozer work started this past week. Met with two fence contractors and should decide on contractor Tuesday. Volunteer group will be having a work party on June 7th to pick rocks, trim brush and clean the area. The dog park will be approx. 3.5 acres of fenced in doggie fun area.
- Dock fees. Were due on May 1.
- Water trail? St. Marys River?
- Docks. We have 18 state docks left. SMBC, Freys, and Schells areas. $300 for the season. Price at a Kentucky Army Corp/Forest Service 5,600 acre lake is $1,845.00 per year.
- Tree program. 8 trees planted on Arbor Day, April 25. 5 at the West Bank and 1 at SMBC and 2 at East Bank. Thanks to Jackie Vossler and SMBC and LIA.
- West Bank boathouse. Shinn Bros. got the bid for the excavation, seawall and dock installation . This will be a three bay boat house that will house one park boat, one WC boat and the Sheriff’s boat. The park will be constructing the rest of the boat house once the dock and seawall are finished. Construction should start in June. Will give us better response time for rescues on the west end of the lake.
- Memorial Day weekend attendance was good and statewide Ohio State Parks camping is up by approx. 6%. We are hearing that other states around Ohio are down in camp attendance. Ohio State Parks are doing everything possible to maintain good customer service and maintain our customer base and revenue source.
Greg Schumm, Brian Miller, Laura Walker and Donna Grube spoke about the plans and preparations for the upcoming LDC Legislative Day on the Lake. Miller went over the planned agenda and said the ODNR Director and four chiefs will be attending. He said that the lunch price was a bit of an issue concerning ethics guidelines. Greg said he has worked with Bella’s to bring the price down to $16. Miller said that should be acceptable under the law, but it will be up to the individual attendee if they wish to pay. We will have receipts on hand if that occurs. Laura and Donna showed the group the notebooks that will be put together for the event. The cover has a picture of silt washing into the lake after a rain. Attendees will also receive a pen/highlighter combo that has the theme on it—Partnership for Success. They told about what all will be included in the binder including a welcome letter from President Dabbelt, the OEPA TMDL report, a calendar and the assignments from the watershed action plan. Members were asked to arrive around 8:30 to 8:45 if possible in case any last minute help is needed.
Auglaize County Wildlife Officer Matt Haen talked about the spring fishing season. He did not think it was a very good crappie season, although he was encouraged with the number of smaller crappie being caught—he said that meant there was a good hatch last year. He said the bass and catfish were doing well. Haen said both eagles’ nests have hatched eaglets, but they don’t know how many are in each. He added that it will soon be goose banding time at the lake.
Brian Miller reminded the board of South Shore Sportsman Club Annual Kids Fishing Derby, June 7, 2008, Windy Point State Park. Registration begins at 8:30, Fishing from 10-1, Bait & Lunch provided. Every kid gets a door prize.The boy and girl who catch the most fish in the following age categories wins a bicycle: 3-6 7-10 11-15, must be between the ages of 3-15 to fish.
With no further business to come before the board, at 4:40 pm Terry Wissman moved the meeting be adjourned, a second was provided by Matt Schwieterman, motion carried.
The next LDC board meeting is scheduled for July 7, 2008, 4pm in the CVB conference room.
