LIA Minutes | Lake Improvement Association

2008 Events

Thursday February 28 – 6:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
– Central Services Building, Celina – Joint Board meeting
and Virtual Farm Tour, popcorn and beverages provided

Tuesday March 25 – 7 p.m.
– Fort Recovery Village Hall – Advisory Board Meeting,
discuss OEPA 319 grant opportunity in Wabash HUC

Friday April 11 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Baker’s Woods –
Qualified Data Collector (QDC) Training

Saturday April 26 – 9 a.m.
– East and west banks – Lake Clean-up, sponsored by State Park

Thursday April 24 – 4 p.m.
– Central Services Building, Celina – Joint Board Meeting

Thursday May 22 – 4 p.m.
– Central Services Building, Celina – Joint Board Meeting

Thursday June 26 – 10 a.m.
– start at Fort Recovery Village Hall –
Advisory Board Meeting, QDC demonstration, agriculture oriented

Saturday June 28 – 10 a.m.
– Celina Northshore Park – QDC demonstration, lake oriented

June 28 to July 20 – anytime – anywhere in the watershed
– QDC’s participate in Great North American Secchi Dip-in

Friday July 11 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
– Harbor Point 4-H Camp – Conservation Camp

Tuesday July 22 – 7 to 9 p.m.
– Harbor Point 4-H Camp – Joint Board meeting if needed, “Education Stations”

Friday August 8 to Thursday August 14
– Mercer County Fair – plan to have display and activity on kids day

Thursday August 28 – 4 p.m.
– Central Services Building – Joint Board meeting

Friday August 29 – all day
– Grand Lake St. Marys – Educational Canoe Float

Friday September 5 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (times may vary)
– northern Darke, southern Mercer or northeastern Shelby County
– Nutrient Management Field Day, in conjunction with Loramie Valley Alliance
and Stillwater River Watershed

Thursday September 25 – 9:30 a.m. (or earlier)
– Central Services Building, Celina – Advisory Board Meeting (with breakfast? If sponsored.)

Friday October 17 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
– location tba – QDC Fall Training, if needed

Thursday October 23 – 4 p.m.
– Central Services Building, Celina – Joint Board meeting

After Harvest – Tuesday and Wednesday
– Indiana – Bus Tour with Farm Bureau – plan to visit Chicago Board of Trade,
large dairy and maybe Reynoldsburg, IN

Thursday November 20 – 4 p.m.
– Central Services Building, Celina – Joint Board meeting

Thursday December 18 – 9:30 a.m (or earlier?)
– Chickasaw Fire Department – Advisory Board meeting (with breakfast if sponsored?)

All members are encouraged to attend meetings and share ideas and suggestions.

Together we can make a difference!

Lake Improvement Association Minutes

3-01-08

Brian Miller, assistant park manager, reports that the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance Action Plan has been approved, and with a few minor changes, is finally ready for implementation. If you have a soil sampling kit from last year’s soil seminar and haven’t yet turned it in, please do so now. The results can impact the lake significantly.

Dave Meyer reports the $500 grant from the state has been received to help cover costs of the Kids Fishing Derby on Wednesday, MAY 14. After the May 3 meeting, we need your help repairing poles from last year, getting them ready for this event. Needing new poles for this year, Dave approached Doug Eshelman, owner of Windy Point Sports Shop, who generously donated 36 new poles for the kids. Thanks Doug!! An L.I.A. member who lives in Chicago donated $225 for memorial trees at the state park, $75 toward plaques for trees, and $50 toward fishing poles for the special kids. Thanks Jackie!!

Bob Nuding, Mercer County Commissioner, says bids have gone out for the Menchofer Woods project. A parcel of land on north rt. 127 has recently been acquired for a sewer/chemical project to be maintained by the county.

Craig Morton, Park Manager, puts lake level at 11-12” above pool – at the top of the notch. Dredging last year netted 100,871 cubic yards of dredge material. The Adopt-A-Shoreline program will be repeated this year, with more volunteers needed to make up for more state budget cuts. LAKE CLEANUP DAY - APRIL 26 – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon – East Bank, West Bank & Windy Point. Bring friends and help clean up the shoreline from the effects of winter. Drinks will be provided; gloves and trash bags will be provided by the state – if you have a boat available and will use it from the water picking up debris, that would be a huge help.

Several L.I.A. members attended the “Virtual Farm Tour “on February 28 presented by Laura Walker, Watershed Coordinator. It was very interesting – city slickers enjoyed it while learning a lot. So much, in fact, that she will present it at our APRIL 5 L.IA. Meeting – 10:00 at the Celina Moose. FREE POPCORN & SODA FOR ALL!!

Tom Rampe announced two programs in place that will help the problem of excess nutrients entering the lake - one where farmers can secure loans to buy equipment; the other, low-interest loans to replace failing septic systems. Brian Miller commented on the recent federal farm bill $1 million from the state for Mercer & Auglaize counties. A meeting was held recently with 33 local producers attending to learn how they can use buffer strips in fields to help prevent runoff into the lake. About half of them completed applications for a share of the funding.

Kip Wright, Community Development Services, who writes grant requests, spoke on the many favorable comments he has received from Columbus regarding the good example the Franklin Township trustees have set for the rest of the state – among their projects is the acquisition of more than 200 acres for bicycle/walking trails, wetlands, etc. – a lot near Club Island is being considered for a dock to be used for public access to these trails from the lake.

Bob King of the Coldwater Kiwanis Club –as state administrator for action clubs (there are 22 clubs in Ohio with 65 members in our 2-county area), offers volunteer help for our projects and others around the lake where needed. In the past, they delivered ice, water, etc. for workers at Lake Festival Days.

BULLETIN: Our own President Bill Ringo was just awarded the Citizen of the Year Award by the Celina Chamber of Commerce at their annual awards banquet. Congratulations Bill - your time, dedication and hard work to enhance Grand Lake and other state resources for your fellow Buckeyes is greatly appreciated!!

IMPORTANT DATES:

April 5th - Next L.I.A. Meeting – 10:00 a.m. Celina Moose
April 11 – Baker’s Woods – Water Monitoring Class - 9:30 a.m.
April 26 – 9:30 a.m. – Lake CleanUp Day – East Bank, West Bank, Windy Point areas
May 14 – Kids Fishing Derby – East Bank Shelter House
August 9 – Bar Stool Open Putt-Putt Tournament