Annual LID Meeting Minutes Draft 8-18-2020
Annual Meeting Minutes
Lake Pulaski Improvement District
August 18th, 2020, 7:00pm
Griffing Park
212 Central Ave., Buffalo, MN, 55313
| Present : | Jon Tank | Jill Murphy |
| Bill Jundt | Brooke Cebulla | |
| Dave Tauscher |
AGENDA:
- Welcome to the 2020 Annual Lake Pulaski LID Meeting
- Introduction
- Call meeting to order
- Approval of the minutes from the 2019 annual meeting
- Wright County Water Patrol Introduction
- Riprap and Shoreline alterations
- Boat Inspections/Staffing
- Lake Weed Update
- Current Lake Level Update
- Solar Bee Mixer for Pulaski Ponds Update
- Financial Update & Budget
- New Business
- Voting Rules & LID Election
Jon Tank welcomed everyone to the 2020 annual meeting.
Jon Tank introduced everyone on the LID Board. Jon Tank also recognized Sergeants Brian Johnson and Drew Scherber from the Wright County Water Patrol for attending. Jon also thanked City of Buffalo Council Member Steve Downer, and Jameson Wakefield, with the City of Buffalo Planning Commission for attending tonight.
The meeting was called to order by Jon Tank.
Jon Tank asked the attendees to read through the minutes from 2019. Jon Tank made a motion to approve the minutes from the 2019 annual meeting, Dave Tauscher seconded, minutes approved.
Wright County Water Patrol:
Sergeant Brian Johnson has been running the boat/water division and is in the process of turning it over to Sergeant Drew Scherber. Both spoke to the homeowners in attendance as to enforcement and education on Wright County lakes. They have a number of watercrafts in their fleet that are used to patrol and enforce violators. Their biggest challenge this summer was an increase of 30-50% of watercrafts on all lakes in Wright County. Most of their complaints are regarding Jet Skis/Wave runners not following the rules. The Wright County Water Patrol is doing their absolute best to call in a timely manner. Even if they cannot get out on the lake physically to catch perpetrators, they are also waiting on shore to ticket violators. One major piece of advice they gave homeowners, was to take photos or videos whenever possible to be turned over to them. If you do not wish to be identified when calling in a violation, you may make a confidential or anonymous report as well.
The phone number to report violations is: 763-682-1162. As always, if there is any type of emergency situation on the water, call 911.
Shoreline Alterations – Riprap/Sand:
Due to current COVID regulations, James Bedell, Area Hydrologist with the DNR, could not attend the meeting to review and educate homeowners regarding riprap/sand use and shoreline alterations. He shared this information prior to the meeting with the LID board. If anyone has further questions for James, he is more than happy to be contacted personally. His phone number is 320-223-7850 and his email address is [email protected].
- Demonstrated need is required. The way to find out if they have met demonstrated need is to check with the Area Hydrologist via pictures or a site visit.
- Rip rap must be loosely laid. The rock must not be uniform in size nor should it be flat topped.
- Rip rap is not necessarily the best solution for erosion control and should be used as a last resort. Always check with Wright County SWCD to see if there is a less impactful method. A majority of the time erosion is due to upland management i.e. turf grass being established and mowed to the water’s edge.
- Sand must be placed in a stable location so as to not migrate away or be absorbed by mucky sediment.
- You can place sand down twice the first time is the initial creation, the second would be if more sand is needed to obtain the same conditions as were created during the initial construction. After that a public water work permit is required.
- Sand cannot be placed over emergent or floating leaf vegetation.
- No barriers should be placed below the sand such as filter fabric.
- Placing sand is placing fill in the lake which reduces flood water mitigation capacity.
Boat Inspections/Staffing:
Jon Tank discussed happenings at Griffin Park Boat Landing.
Staffing will take place from dusk until dawn from 5/9/20 through 9/30/20.
This year once again there were level one inspectors on site. This means that these inspectors can check everything on the exterior and interior of the boat, including boarding the boat and inspecting inside. If the boat or watercraft will not agree to an inspection, the inspectors have the right to refuse them from entering the lake and/or calling the sheriff. These inspectors are hired and trained by Lee Ryan from The City of Buffalo. The LID is extremely thankful for all their hard work and dedication to protecting Lake Pulaski from invasive species with boats and watercrafts entering the lake. Jon Tank thanked the inspectors, Bruce, Tracy, Emily, Ethan, and Troy on behalf of the LID and homeowners.
This summer a boat was discovered with multiple zebra mussels attached to the vessel. This was caught by one of the inspectors and refused entrance to Lake Pulaski.
Money budgeted in 2020 for staffing at the landing included, $10,000 paid by The City of Buffalo. $10,000 paid by the Lake Pulaski homeowners. This same amount is budgeted for 2021.
A summary of watercraft inspections are as follows:
Total boats: 4,343 inspected vs. 3,094 from 2019 (39% increase)
From Buffalo: 2,137 vs. 1,433 from 2019
% Out of Town: 50.79% from out of town (2,206 boats)
Arrive with plug in: 20 arrived with plugs in
Total finds: 179 with plants
Lake Weed Update:
Dave Tauscher presented the lake weed update. The PLID contracted again this year with PLM Lake and Land Management Corporation to perform the treatment. The PLID board used the recommendation of PLIM for the plot areas to be treated. The treatment of 4.2 acres was completed on July 22nd, 2020, at a cost of $30,214.27. Grant funding received from Wright County totaling $2,150.00 for 2020 was to treat milfoil only, recommended by PLM.
Solar Bee Mixer for Pulaski Ponds:
Bill Jundt gave an update on the status of the Solar Bee Mixer.
Medora Corporation who supplied the Solar Bee was on site last 7/18/2020 to confirm the unit is indeed operating properly. Much of the green stuff you see on the pond surface is duck weed, not algae. There is some algae as well which can still be expected. The mixer will not eliminate all algae from the pond. The purpose of the mixer it to prevent the pond from going into an anaerobic state which releases phosphorous from the pond bottom into the water – not necessarily anything that can be seen visually. The pond will still be green and smelly at times as it is performing the intended use of treating stormwater prior to discharge into Lake Pulaski. The lake has already seen improvement in clarity since the Solar Bee mixer has been placed.
Current Lake Level/Clarity:
The Secchi Disk Read (water clarity) are as follows:
2016: 21’6”
2017: 17’ 9”
2018: 19’ 3”
2019: 11’ 6”
2020: 20’ 6”
DNR Rules for when pumps can be turned on:
1)We cannot pump if Lake Pulaski is below 966.0
2)We cannot pump if Buffalo exceeds 915.5 and Buffalo must have outward flow to Crow River.
Current Lake Pulaski lake level as of 8/18/20: 965.29. As of 8/7/20 Buffalo Lake was: 913.62. Bill Jundt does a reading of Lake Pulaski every single day and records it.
Bill Jundt gave an update on pumps. One pump went down due to two/three power outages in the area over April/May. Olson Electric pulled the pump out to service. The LID got a quote from them to repair the damaged parts. The brand name parts are very expensive, and replacing the pump is even more expensive. Currently the pump is in Monticello at Olson Electric so they can continually try and find off-brand parts to repair the pump. There are still two pumps currently working. With off brand replacements parts the cost will be $21,095.00. A new pump costs roughly between $40-47,000.00.
Financial Update & Budget:
Bill Jundt explained the costs of repairing one of the pumps that was down as discussed earlier in the meeting.
Jon Tank discussed with attendees about possible compensation for board members. The LID is a government entity and many/most are compensated. The LID board did research to see how much other government entities and LID board members are compensated. Jon talked about how much time and attention it demands for board members to accomplish what it takes to keep Lake Pulaski thriving and protected. He also discussed how this would be an incentive for new board members in the future to keep the LID a success. All board members would receive the same compensation.
Jon Tank discussed the Lake Pulaski website has been compromised and was down for a week. A temporary fix was made, but will require programming by year end, which is estimated to cost roughly $3,000 to get it fixed.
Jill Murphy, LID Treasurer, worked very closely with accountant Jon archer from Schlenner Wenner & Co. Due to the fact Jon Archer could not attend because of COVID regulations, Jill gave a re-cap of 2019 and reviewed line by line the budget for 2020, along with a proposed upcoming budget for 2021.
- 2019 is now closed:
- Revenue of $93,854.15
- Expenses of $89,521.43
- Ending balance of $200,701.22 ($60,000 marked for potential AIS infestation so net balance is $140,701.22)
- 2020 January-June:
- Revenue of $56,851.60
- Expenses of $14,271.54
- Balance as of 6/30/20 $243,281.28 ($80,000 marked for potential AIS infestation so net balance of $163,281.28)
- PLID is projecting an additional $85,250 in expenses for 2020 which reduces the balance to roughly $158,031.28. In November the LID has $56,000 of projected property tax income which puts the 2020 ending balance roughly at $214,031.28.
2021 Budget Projection:
Expenses of $92,025 + $20,000 (proposed potential AIS infestation) totaling $112,025 for 2020. FYI – 2019 approved budget was $109,525.
Pump repair in the amount of $21,095 will be paid for from the current PLID fund and is not included in the 2021 proposed budget.
Jon Tank made a motion to approve the budget for 2021, Clare Koch seconded, motion passed.
New Business:
There was no new business.
VOTING:
2020 Voting: Only one vote will be cast per Lake Pulaski Improvement District household, even if there are multiple owners for that particular household. Votes will be counted by two non-LID board members.
Two LID members terms expire this year, Jon Tank and Jill Murphy.
Jon Tank asked for any nominations on the floor twice. Jon Tank made a motion for nominations to be closed on the floor. Allan Malerich seconded, motion passed.
Both current board members Jon Tank and Jill Murphy were uncontested in the election and will both serve another 3-year term.
Jon Tank made a motion to end the meeting at 8:11pm. Dave Tauscher seconded; motion passed. Meeting adjourned.