Secretary minutes for the September '08 meeting will be available at Spring meeting. Meetings will be recorded and written.Treasurers report distributed.
Please contact Dave by email- dstang@cox.net
Local Business status:
Lake George Marina- closed , officially in Fed. 09’
Retreat- auction was held in Oct, property was sold to Steve Rhode and Jay Humbarger, out of Ft. Wayne.
They plan to reopen in March.
LARE Grant- Paul Schlatter has applied for a 2009 grant.
D & O Insurance – Dave Stang- As of Jan. 1, 2009 we are insured through Traveler’s Indsurance in Grand Rapids. It was difficult to get the insurance, multiple companies turned us down. Coverage $1,000,000 max insurance for a cost of approx. $1800.00 per yr.
Rent-Dave Stang- brought up discussion about the possibility of paying the Conservancy for use of their building. Discussion tabled until next meeting. A couple of people brought up the fact that we had never had to pay to use the Kinderhook Township bldg and that the 2 entities (Conservancy and LGCA) should be kept separate, while others thought that it would be a good idea to help cover bldg. costs.
Corporation Status- Dave Stang- LGCA is once again an Active Corp. Cost was $90 to file the forms. This provides a shield from legal issues for us as individuals.. Official terms: we are a Non-Profit Domestic Corporation in Indiana.
DAM- Dave Stang- Many reports are available on our website concerning this subject. DNR says they have spent $93,000 on studies and surveys of our DAM. LGCA last paid to have a survey done in 2004. Lake Preservation Act of 1947 very important. Our Dam is rated high hazard due to the 4 houses and toll road that is downstream. DNR is coming at the end of April or beginning of May to do a walk around Dam inspection and will hold a meeting at the Conservancy bldg. to explain their position with the Director of DNR Ron McCaren. He has said the Lake Preservation Act will explain how money for the Dam maintenance will be handled.
Discussion took place about other area lakes and their Dams.
Dam Classification – Bill Schlatter – there are 3 possible classificiations. Low, Medium and High Hazard. The Army Core of Engineers are the ones to assign classifications and the state must comply. We are High Hazard, the same rating as the Hoover Dam.
Dam Funding- Dave Stang- there are 2 possible ways to fund our Dam costs. 1) volunteer funding group. 2) establish a taxation district and have an annual assesment on the property tax. There are 410 members of LGCA and 520 cottage owners.
Steuben County put in the current road over the Dam in 1985-1986
Volunteer Committees were established to prepare information to be ready in April for the DNR meeting.