Board of Directors Meeting Minutes January 15, 2025
TURTLE FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE – TRUDE LAKE
PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
6:02 PM- Call to Order: Randy Schubert, President
Present: Randy Schubert, President; Randy Payne, Vice President; Roger Nelson, Treasurer; Todd Jirous, Secretary; Directors: Jeff Wilson, Jim Kohl, Terry Daulton, Millard Johnson and Karl Gustavson.
The meeting minutes for 5/21/2024 and 10/21/2024 were presented. A motion was made by Terry Daulton to accept the minutes with one correction to the name Casey Baye; the motion was seconded, and all were in favor.
Roger Nelson and the 2024 Treasurer’s report: Dues totaled $5,000, Expenses totaled $6,975 (Included Special Fund). Fund Balance is $24,265
2025 Budget- propose eliminating the “Special Fund”, which is currently supported by 30 of the 200 members, and to raise the dues from $25 to $35.
Roger made a motion to increase the dues from $25 to $35, and consolidate the Special Fund into the General Fund. The motion was seconded, and All voted unanimously in favor.
Membership Committee: Roger Nelson
Roger reported that we now have 200 members, 55 of them are new in 2024…53 of them appear to be the result of the special invite.
There was conversation on maybe we should send a copy of the “Driftwood” to the 300 or so neighbors that aren’t currently members. A copy of the Driftwood is around $3 per copy to print and mail…can we do something more economically? Terry and the Communication Team are going to look at doing a Post Card to the 300 neighbors.
Water Level Committee: Millard Johnson
We have four members on the committee now and are adding two more new members
Currently looking at taking a different approach with Excel, and Millard went on to explain some of the possibilities
Millard is also looking at the Excel Foundation and how that can work with “Invasives”. Millard would like to have a separate meeting with Excel Energy, before working with the DNR and Excel.
Our next committee meeting is February 17th, from 10am until noon at the Mercer Library/Community Center
Fish Management Committee: Jim Kohl
Fishing during the Christmas timeframe, has some very good Walleye and Crappie reports.
It’s rather quiet this time of year for the fisheries committee. There is very little snow on the Flowage, so there is very little traffic out on the ice.
After the unusual 2024 Spring weather, the Walleye Young of the Year (YOY) came in over the 10 year average.
Water Quality Committee: Todd Jirous
Currently, two of the seven sampling locations are open. Todd will reach out to Roger, off line, and get a list of those members that expressed interest in being involved in water quality.
Invasive Species: Randy Payne
A course intercept survey was completed in the Quiet Area in 2024, with an eye toward EWM (Eurasian Water Milfoil). A water level study was completed in four locations on the TFF to see if water level influences invasives, and it was determined that it does not impact us.
Most EWS is in 6-9 feet of water, and would be very hard to fight via a draw down and freeze during the winter.
Education Committee: Terry D
Troy T has really taken off and has lots of great ideas…watch for more to come.
New Business:
Wake Boats
Millard raised the issue of Wake Boats and the State Wide Regulations that are being proposed for 700’ from the shoreline and minimum of 30’ deep in order to run them.
Randy S. is going to forward an article on Wake Boats to the Board.
There are a lot of communities that are banning Wake Boats; such as Boulder Junction, Winchester and Presque Isle.
Should we create a sub-committee to take a closer look at Wake Boats and figure out what to do?
We have two Townships involved on the Flowage; Mercer and Sherman.
Are there other Lakes in Iron county that are addressing Wake Boats?
Should we be surveying our Membership first?
Millard- can we put together a small group to investigate and report back on a recommended course of action. Karl G. would like to be part of that exploratory committee.
>Do the Survey First
>Have to think carefully about how we message this
>Would it be good to ask the town boards for their thoughts on Wake Boats? “Test the Water”
>Millard, Karl and Roger volunteered to be on the sub-committee
Randy S.- 100th Anniversary of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in 2026. Randy is going to check with the Chamber of Commerce to see if anything is being planned.
Annual meeting is set for June 21, 2025 at the Community Center
Meeting adjourned at 7:56 pm
Respectfully submitted
Todd Jirous
Secretary