Cheboygan Long Lake Association
October 3rd 2013  (7:00 – 8:00 pm)
Board Meeting Minutes

Attendees:
Dave Warriner
Ken Larsen
Barbara Hall
Dee Slunick
Jeff Sherman
Greg Kennedy
Jim Currie
Dave (need last name)

Tony Groves – Progressive AE

Not in Attendance:
Fabian LaVigne
Ken Pletcher

Meeting Location:
Dave Warriner home

Meeting Discussion:

Meeting called to order at 7:00pm  by Dave Warriner

Dave indicated he was in contact with representatives from the DNR through the Cheboygan, Gaylord, and Lansing offices. The DNR suggested calling the biologists at Progressive AE who have done extensive weed control work at Houghton Lake

Dave contacted Tony Groves from Progressive AE and arranged to have Tony address the group at the October 3rd board meeting

Tony indicated he has approximately 30 years’ experience as a biologist working with the water resources group and exotic species at Progressive AE

Progressive AE is a company who facilitates projects to control invasive species and have worked on 100+ lakes in Michigan. The facilitation includes setting up a project plan, budget, obtaining permits, township board interfaces, legal advice, as well as assisting in contracting the appropriate companies to be engaged to implement the herbicides.

If herbicides /chemicals are used he indicated that there is no impact to fishing, a 24 hour swimming restriction, and a 2-14 day irrigation restriction/recommendation at the time of the introduction of the chemicals into the lake. Progressive AE would also coordinate the posting of the appropriate notifications of the use of the chemicals.

Tony indicated that Progressive AE does not directly implement the herbicides but would work with the association for competitively bidding the process to companies who do as well as manage the relationship with the subcontractors.

Tony indicated that there would be an initial assessment done to determine the number of acres that are infested as well as a review of other plant species and lake contours. They will mark, via GPS, the location of the invasive weed beds and monitor going forward.

Tony indicated that all of the planning and initial engagement of Progressive AE would need to start asap in the spring of 2014 in order to prepare the appropriate filings for permits from the DEQ,  state agencies and to establish the foundation for the township special assessment. As a result, he indicated that the use of herbicides would not be possible til 2015

Tony indicated that most lake associations establish a 5 year plan.

Tony indicated that the initial cost for the 2014 startup assessment would be approximately $8,000-$9,000.00. The Progressive AE  fee to manage and coordinate this 5 year project would be rolled into the special assessment after the first year. Tony indicated other lake associations usually assess 1 share per lakefront ownership (regardless of the frontage) and half a share per lake access parcels. The question was asked about Camp Walden and he indicated that usually they negotiate a multiple share assessment for groups similar to the camp

To address the cost question Tony indicated that  a lake with approximately 100 acres of infestation at a cost of $500.00 per acre would run about $50,000 per year. It was noted that in the “out years” (years 4, and 5 of the 5 year plan) would probably run at a reduced cost level. This example was purely a simple example for purposes of the evening’s discussion.

At the end of the discussions and questions the representatives from the Cheboygan Long Lake Association discussed moving forward so that the lake association could be in a position to have one of the initial hearings at the first 2014 annual meeting. All agreed that having a professionally managed and long term plan in place made sense.

Motion to Proceed

A motion was presented (who?) and seconded (who?) to vote on engaging Progressive AE to move forward with the assessment in the spring of 2014.

It was recognized that two board members (Fabian Lavinge, Ken Pletcher) would need to be contacted and vote on the decision to engage Progressive AE outside of this meeting.

It was a unanimous decision to approve and proceed by those in attendance (indicated earlier in these minutes.

Dave Warriner will follow up with obtaining the votes from the two members not in attendance.

Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm