JORDAN LAKE ASSOCIATION
Minutes -- General Membership Meeting
May 27, 2005
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Cary, Steve Schuiling, Bill Walker, Mike Reed, Dave Creuger, Tom Sinke, Gary Calkins
ABSENT: Don Acker, Norm Klein, Katy Estes
Mike Cary called to order.
Steve Schuiling read minutes of the last meeting.
TREASURERS REPORT: read by Mike Carey in Katy Estes absence. $824.63 general fund; $345 contributions towards legal fund.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Katy Estes not present. Mike Cary will contact her for an updated list of members who have paid their 2005 dues to date.
KATY ESTES: has resigned as Treasurer and the Board discussed who would take her position. Mike Reed was nominated and all voted for him.
MEMBERSHIP DUES: Continue to be $10.00 per household. Dues are from 6/05 - 6/06 and a reminder to all that have not paid to date will go in the upcoming June Jordan Lake Newsletter. Gary Calkins brought up that if there is not a good response from people, the Board and members of JLA need to advocate for them to join. He also suggested to e-mail those members that their memberships are due. It was also suggested for cost-saving purposes to e-mail the newsletter to all those on line vs. the mailing/printing costs. Also, to encourage via newsletter to include e-mail address with their dues so they can be kept up to date on news of the JLA. The Board also discussed through e-mails to update membership lists, sort them by districts , financial reports etc.
BOAT PARADE/ SUMMER SPLASH: Date is August 6, 2005. Bill Walker volunteered to find out theme of Boat competition and time of Parade. Discussion was on what the role of JLA was re Summer Splash and discussed printing up flyers for encouraging all to participate, etc. Bill Walker reported Rich Heffron will provide trophies for winners again this year.
JORDAN LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD: Bill Walker went over minutes from their last meeting. This is the last year of the 5 year plan re weed control. The Board hired a consultant, Tony Groves, to look at all of the data re weed control to assess the effects that Tupper Lake may have on Jordan Lake. Currently 16,000 acres drain into Jordan, 12,000 hitting Tupper Lake first. Does Tupper Lake benefit us or make flowage worse? Dr. Liton from GVSU will be assessing the data also and hopefully give new direction vs. weed control only. A meeting is scheduled for June 16th at 7.p.m. at the Odessa Township Hall.
LITTLE THORNAPPLE DRAIN BOARD: Bill Walker reports the next meeting is scheduled for 6/23/05. Location is undecided to date and Bill will be contacting Board members as soon as he finds out where. At this meeting the study done by the Spicer Group (who also did the repair of the dam in 1999] on the Little Thornapple road crossings throughout the Barry to the Kent County line will be presented. The studies were financed by the Barry County Road Commission. Currently there is a need to replace crossings at Charlton Park and Jordan Roads with Brown Road to follow. The study is now done regarding rate of flow thru the culverts and they will report their long term plans. Bill Walker would like a couple of Board members to represent JLA at this meeting. They expect a lot of downstream farmers will be attending also. Date and location will be published in the Lakewood, Ionia and Hastings papers. Much discussion followed re the flow of rivers; input included from members in attendance of meeting. Doug Stowell reported in 1958 they dredged Jordan Lake and the Little Thornapple River all the way down. They put the dam in that same year.
JORDAN LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD: At this time, the monies in Jordan Lake Improvement Board can only be used for weed control. Mike Cary made a proposal to use some of the monies from the Board as follows; a 1 year tax collection ($60,000) be offered to the Barry County Road Commission to take Brown Road culvert out and put in a span type bridge. A bridge can do all sorts of improvement on the lake; opening and improving the Brown Road culvert would be beneficial to all. Discussion followed re this as if they fix Brown Road, then Wellman Road would get overflow etc. Reaction to the proposal was to take it to the Little Thornapple River Drain Board. If they agree, come back to the Jordan Lake Improvement Board for approval. This is the proper order. At this point, the Jordan Lake Improvement Board cannot go forward with any more assessments. It is important to discuss the weed control assessments at these meetings and to encourage all to attend. Re Brown Road, Bill Walker advised all to contact the Barry County Representative for the Barry County Commissioners. Dr. Michael Callton; (w) 517-852-9046 or 517-852-2070 and to talk of concerns and need for action on Brown Road. Steve Schuiling reported on the proposals to improve Jordan lake and they are hoping to get good feedback and input from the meetings. The proposals are: 1) aeration 2) alum 3) creating natural reefs 4) weed control 5) release of natural bacteria 6) use of funds for Brown Road bridge improvement. Times and date of the hearings will be sent to all via U.S. Mail and published in the Lakewood , Ionia and Hastings Newspapers.
DAM ISSUES: Mike Cary presented handouts to all re the legal issues re flooding at Jordan Lake. Much discussion took place from Board members and those in attendance of the meeting. The issues discussed were: 1) concern of all members being included on the lawsuit; 2) concern if Commissioners would counter sue. Mike Cary reminded all that Jordan Lake Dam was built with an assessment of the property owners and has been maintained by the same method. A major reconstruction was done in 1999 and each front and back lot owner paid special assessments for 3 years - getting no funds from the state, county or township. He also reported the Court order of 1958 does not specifically state that the dam gates cannot be adjusted on an interim basis. All that has been asked in the lawsuit is for the Drain Commissioners to operate the dam in a manner that will allow drainage to maintain the court mandated level of 811.0'. All the Drain Commissioners have offered to date is during the 2005 Season ONLY to raise a minimum of 4 gates when the lake level reaches 811.33' and to lower the gates only when level returns to 811.0'. Mike reported they have also offered to lower the lake to the 810.0' winter level periodically. Questions re what that meant, i.e. how many want the winter level in the summer? Since the Drain Commissioners continue to fall back on the 1958 Court Order to defend their inaction, the courts may have to stipulate their operational procedures. No written procedures have been documented to date. It is the opinion of the Drain commissioners that the Court Order states they can only adjust the dam two times per year. The 1958 court order actually states that they shall develop procedures for the dam. Mike inquired of the Drain Commissioners if a couple of lake residents could assist in dam adjustment, but they would not agree to anything. Question was raised should they be unavailable when levels are rising, who to contact and reply was the Road Commission would then step in as has happened in the past. Dave Creuger proposed to lower have the lake level to 809.0' - 808.0' in winter. He reported other states do this. The Board then discussed the problems of lowering the lake to this level.
Steve Schuiling discussed JLA being on the lawsuit. It puts him in an awkward position being on both boards. It was voted on at the 2004 summer meeting for support of lawsuit and definition of ‘support’ was then discussed. He made clear he doesn’t want to be a plaintiff on the lawsuit, stating the vote wasn’t done correctly, and wants this to be on record that this was not his interpretation of the vote. He expressed much concern and wanted to make clear his issues re the lawsuit.
Bill Walker reported that he is on the Jordan Lake Improvement Board with the Drain Commissioners, Tom Doyle and John Bush, and that they disagree with the interim adjustment numbers.
He agreed it was good for all to discuss concerns of lawsuit. Doug Stowell, member in attendance, reported he spoke to Drain Commissioners a number of times and they made assurances that this/that will be done and they never come through. For five years they have talked like that with no results. Norma Nyman reported same frustrations with call and promises made by them with no follow through.
Bill Walker discussed having a meeting where Tim Tromp could come and meet with both boards and the Drain Commissioners as a arbitrator to pull sides together. No agreement was made on this suggestion.
Mike Cary’s handouts included dates and times of correspondence with the drain commissioners and attorneys.
BOATING REGULATIONS: Discussion re handout with boating ‘basic elements and rules’. Requested by Dave Creuger to include "Boats not under power; i.e. sailboats, kayaks, paddle boats, always have the right of way." Also discussed was putting a size limit of boats on the lake. This is not a Lake Association decision unfortunately. Steve Schuiling inquired how to step up patrols. Many felt the sheriffs were out more last year than years prior, but the problem was that they just warn people versus citing them.
NEW BUSINESS: Mike Cary reported need to change the by-laws. Much discussion re if someone wants to serve longer and no one else shows interest, should they be allowed to? Steve Schuiling, a fan of term limits, stated that others need to step up. Bill Walker stated a concern if no one serves. At this point, few wish to be on Board. Gary Calkins suggested giving a person on the board the option to stay if he/she wants to if no other lake members are interested. Steve Schuiling opposed.
Several amendments were proposed to the bylaws. The following amendments were discussed and passed.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS
Section 1. An Annual meeting of the Association shall be held by July 31st each year. The meeting to be held on the day set by the Board of Directors at the previous Annual Meeting or other designated date, and due notice given.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or when requested by any two members of the Board. Members will be notified of such meetings by due notice.
Section 3. A quorum of the Association shall be not less than 10% of the entire membership. Voting members shall register on the provided sign-in sheet prior to any regular or special meeting. The Secretary will verify the eligible members.
ARTICLE VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 7. No board member shall serve more than two consecutive terms. Should there be no candidates standing for election to represent a position on the Board of Directors for a district, the prohibition of this section against serving more than two consecutive terms shall be waived.
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The Bylaws may be amended at any regular or properly called special meeting of the membership by a 2/3 majority vote of the total Association membership as defined in Article III attending such meeting. Absentee ballots and proxy ballots shall be considered valid for the purpose of voting to amend the Bylaws if presented prior to or at the meeting or within 30 days.
ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS: Discussion of board members was held due to Don Acker resigning and Bill Walker term-limited.
NEW BOARD:
District 1. Claire Twitchell (replacing Bill Walker) and Mike Reed
District 2. Steve Schuiling (needs another volunteer for representative)
District 3. Tom Sinke and Katy Estes
District 4. Norm Klein (to be contacted for re-election) and Mike Cary
District 5. Gary Calkins and Dave Creuger
JLA WEBSITE:
Mike Reed reported the Association Web site is becoming very active.. Members are voicing concerns re weed control; questions re lawsuit; surveys, etc. It is a primary means to communicate and he encourages all to be interactive.
Web Site: www.lakeo.org/jla/
Meeting adjourned.
Submitted: Steve Schuiling, Secretary
Marge Loughrin/Cary, Recording Secretary