Board of Directors Meeting Minutes April 10, 2025

TURTLE FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE – TRUDE LAKE
PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
April 10, 2025­ – 7:00 p.m.  Via Zoom – Courtesy of Terry Daulton

7:09 PM- Call to Order:  Randy Schubert, President

Present:  Randy Schubert, President; Randy Payne, Vice President; Roger Nelson, Treasurer; Todd Jirous, Secretary; Directors:  Jeff Wilson, Terry Daulton and Karl Gustavsons

Guest:  Bob Kovar from Manitowish Waters, Mary Jung from Onieda County and John Richter from Plum Lake near Sayner

We did self-introductions until Randy joined and called the meeting to order at 7:09

The meeting minutes for 1/15/2025 were presented, and Roger noted a correction to the date and location of our Annual Meeting. A motion was made to accept the minutes with the corrections; the motion was seconded, and all were in favor.

Roger Nelson- Treasurer’s report: Very little activity in the first quarter, but Roger did report on the two notable expenses.

Terry D. reported on the Wake Boat survey.

  • 125 participants engaged in the On-line survey, and 10 returned paper surveys.
  • 94% of surveys were in favor of regulating wake boats, and the overwhelming majority to prohibit wake boats all together
  • Terry is looking to summarize the Wake Boat Survey results in the Spring/Summer newsletter
  • Question to Bob Kovar- Was there a survey done with the Plum Lake Owners? Reply:  There was no survey done, but there were several meetings held to get a pulse ahead of the Town meeting, and it was a 3 to 1 ratio In Favor of regulating Wake Boats
  • Should we invite other Lakes Associations, especially as it involves two Town Boards?
  • There have been several threats against Town Boards, but it won’t hold up in Court, so just let them be mad and let them talk

Randy S.- being that we have overwhelming support from the Owners, it would be great, Terry and Karl, to provide that feedback in our upcoming newsletter.

Roger N.- do we need to do more communication? Such as an email back to the members, and perhaps post the results to the Lake Association site?

Presentation by John and Mary

  • First Ordinance was started in 2009 in Presque Isle, and that ordinance is now in place.
  • John and Mary have been running all over the state making presentations and providing information on Wake Boats in order to help Lake Associations get organized

Background:

  • Boats can be 21-26 feet long, with 300 to 600 horsepower
  • Shaft drive is downward at 15 degrees, causing the bow to lift, and the driver can never see over the bow
  • Wave power is 6 to 12 times that of a ski boat
  • The motor and boat create a huge underwater energy
  • Damages/Destroy’s nests near shore (Loon and Panfish for example)
  • Lake User conflicts due to wave height for canoes and fishemen
  • Shoreline erosion
  • Sediments are deposited on plants in water depths of 17 feet or more

Studies have shown:

  • The transportation of Invasives from the Ballast Bags used in a Wake Boat are likely, even when effort is made to completely empty them.
  • The only way to insure that Invasives are not moved is through cleaning your boat with hot water and a solution, for which we have no cleaning stations of this type available at landings Wisconsin.
  • Invasives that have been transported via Wake Boats are the Spiny Water flea, Quagga Mussels and Starry Stonewart

The Process:

  • Industry Arguments
    • Public Trust Doctrine
    • Will complain to sue the Town Board- no one has done that yet
  • Biggest Risk? Make Certain to follow the Open Meeting Rules
  • DON’T Wait for the State to Act on it!
  • There is a coalition proposing 700 feet from shore, and a minimum of 30 feet deep.
  • Many will say that it’s not enforceable…These ordinances have been shown to be “Self Enforcing”. As well as being enforced by the County Sheriff’s Office, by Establishing a Boat Patrol, or through Town Board Enforcement.
  • Those that are “Pro-wake boat”, will tend to say only the Boating Industry science is correct. That they are just like a fishing boat with a Live Well…but live wells are easily accessible and easy to clean, as opposed to flushing a ballast system in a boat that cannot be fully drained.

Mary talked about the Process and what that might look like for the TFF:

  • Nearly all towns use a standard template for their ordinances
  • The Ordinance doesn’t “Ban the Boat”, it requires that the boat NOT use the ballast or wake shaper.
  • Mary displayed the “Simple Template” and strongly recommended that we use the template which will keep the ordinance to about 200 words

Next Steps?

  • Have the Towns engaged?
  • Are Residents engaged? (Not just supportive)
  • Thoughts on our approach…just TFF? Or do we engage other lakes in the Towns of Mercer and Sherman?
  • What about the other Lake Associations- can we get them all together for this presentation?
  • Perhaps a three pronged approach?
    • Town Boards- get a feel for where they are at
    • Organize sessions with other Lake Associations
    • Take Action at the Town Level. We could have a huge impact if we can get the other Lake Associations on board and on the same page

How do we move forward?

  • Randy P. to connect with other Lake Associations ( Lake of the Falls, Rice Lake, Pike Lake, etc.)
  • Roger N. to connect Tom Mobray
  • Jeff Wilson to connect with Heather Palmquist and other lake associations
  • Jeff Wilson- to connect with Eric Snow- Town Chair
  • John R.- to put together another presentation with will be more specific to our area and the TFF
  • Randy S.- to huddle again in a couple weeks to keep it moving forward

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm

Respectfully Submitted,
Todd Jirous
Secretary