JLPOA Members Consider Proactive Stance Against Millfoil


Members of the Johnson Lake Property Owners Association are considering installing a system designed to monitor boats at the public landing, as a way to lessen the threat of Eurasian Millfoil. Click "read more" to see the minutes from the annual membership meeting held today.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Johnson Lake Property Owners Association
June 24, 2006

President, Bob Polkinghorn, called the meeting to order at 10:20 AM.  The meeting was held at the Webster Fire Hall again.

It was reported that a baby loon had been born on Wednesday, June 21—please watch out for it.

Bob introduced the board.  Besides Bob, Lois Hansen, Joan Golding, Bob Wagner, Dan Young and Fred Weber were present.  Corie Dacus and Linda Satorius were not.   The minutes from the last annual meeting are printed out and available on the back table.

Lois Hansen presented the Treasurer’s Report, copy attached.    Our newsletter is our biggest expense.  We have 76 paid members of approximately 110-112 home owners.

Our speaker was Dave Ferris from Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department.  It was a question and answer format.  

Bob Polkinghorn brought up the question as to why our clarity is getting worse.  Dave advised anyone using the lake for sport to stay out in the middle where it is deeper and there is less damage to the lake.  Props churn up the bottom, as do jet skis near shore.

Roy Hansen and Dan Young asked if all lakes were the same—no, they are individual.
Ours is a high middle lake—when you take out more aquatic plants you get more algae.  Aquatic plants in the water are like trees on the land.

Think about what you do—everything effects the lake—run off from hard surfaces, shoreline runoff.  A buffer zone helps filter the runoff and helps keep the lake clearer and cleaner.

Bob Woodbury asked if we could add plants—yes,  Native plants on the shoreline are a haven for 95% of all aquatic life at one time or another.

Carol Polkinghorn asked about grass clippings—no, they are too high in nitrogen, it is better to mulch them and leave them on your lawn.  They will act as a natural fertilizer.  NEVER use a fertilizer with phosphorus in it!  

Bob Wagner asked about dead limbs on pine trees.  They are plantation pine trees—planted too close together so they are fighting for light.

Fred Weber asked what is the cause of lake degradation—a combination of things as stated in all of the above, buffer zones, control water runoff most important.   Fred said that as owners, we are responsible for our own shorelines, but the lake belongs to all.

Paul Parrish pointed out that since we have such a nice boat access we get a lot more boat traffic.

Mark Lacek asked if we could regulate the time boating could be done on the lake.  Yes-but we would have to have the township okay.  We couldn’t regulate the boats coming in at the access that weren’t lake owners.

Dick Golding asked about the latest on milfoil.  Just Ham and Round lakes have it so far.  Ham has spent $25,000 so far.

Sandy Wick asked how Ham Lake got milfoil.  No one is sure, probably came from other boats—there was a semi public launch there and a couple of private ones.

Our next speaker was Eric Lindberg, of Environmental Sentry Protection Company.  He gave a demonstration on his automated monitoring system.,   It records boats as they leave our lake—capturing evidence of misuse.  There is a $600 set up fee, and  a $350 fee monthly.  His demonstration generated a lot of questions—Sandy Wick—could be get interns to monitor the access?  Paul Parrish said we need to deter people from bringing wrong stuff into the lake—we should lobby our legislature for a larger fine (it is only $140 now for having weeds on your boat).  Dick Lundborg asked if we could put up a large sign at the access stating Johnson Lake Rules—yes, but we need township approval.  He suggested that we all contribute $85 to $100  to  purchase the monitoring system and the sign.  We should inform the rest of the lake too.  Mark Lacek made a motion to implement the plan for the access up to $5,000.   Jerry Bowman seconded.

(Website editor's note: here's a link to Environmental Sentry's website. )

We will have to look into having to change the bylaws to raise the dues or create a special assessment article.

Dick Lundborg, Mark Lacek, Jerry Bowman, Bob Wagner and anyone else who is interested, formed a committee to look at discussing the pros and cons.  The meeting will be at Mark’s, tomorrow, Sunday, June 25 at 4 PM.  Eric Linberg will come and present a proposal.

The election of board members was next.  There were four vacancies.  John Okerstrom, Randy Wick both said they would run, Lois Hansen and Fred Weber reupped.

Sharon Okerstrom told about their sale on Fri,, June 30 and Sat., July  1.

A social gathering was proposed—from 4 to 6 PM, meet at the landing?  Bring your own beverage, the Association will furnish snacks.  August 5 was suggested as a date.

The meeting was adjourned at noon by Bob Polkinghorn, seconded by Ron Pearson.

Respectfully submitted,



Joan Golding, Secretary
---------------
Directors Meeting
June 24, 2006

A brief Directors Meeting to elect officers  was held following the Johnson Lake Annual Meeting.  In a attendance were Bob Polkinghorn, Lois Hansen, John Okerstrom, Dan Young, Joan Golding, and Fred Weber.  Absent were Randy Wick and Linda Satorius.

John Okerstom was elected President, Bob Polkinghorn was elected Vice-President, Lois Hansen was elected Treasurer and Dan Young, Secretary.

We should consider becoming a lake district to be eligible for more grants.

Dan and Bob will attend the meeting at Mark Lacek’s house tomorrow.

The next Board meeting will be July 22, 10 AM at John Okerstrom’s.


Respectfully submitted,



Joan Golding, Secretary


Posted: Sat - June 24, 2006 at 10:00 PM      

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