Board of Directors Meeting Minutes May 20, 2021
May 20, 2021 – 7:00 p.m. Via Zoom – Courtesy of Terry Daulton
7:01 PM- Call to Order: Randy Schubert, President
Present: Randy Schubert, President; Jeff Malison, Vice-President; Tom Mowbray, Treasurer; Todd Jirous, Secretary; Directors: Diane O’Krongly, Jean Burns, Jim Kohl, Mike Hittle and guest Randy Payne
Absent: Directors: Ed Hryciuk
Minutes: Meetings Minutes for December 17, 2020 were distributed via email prior to the meeting. Minutes were approved with one edit to remove “Jim Moore” from the absent list. Please update and remove the Draft watermark and send a clean copy to Jeff Malison to post.
Treasurer’s Report: Tom Mowbray presented the treasurer’s report; we have a balance of $17,359.97…with five checks yet to deposit, totaling $165.00 . The report was approved as presented.
Correspondence on how does the PO Box work? Mail and checks go to the PO box…outside of the renewal time of year, 90% are ads and junk mail. This time of year, the mail is picked up every two to four weeks.
Membership: Currently we don’t have a Chair for Membership, but Tom M. has been tracking membership. At our last meeting we reported 177 members, currently we have 185 active members.
Discussion was had, and agreed to print an additional 50 copies of the newsletter for Board Members and Directors to distribute to friends and neighbors as a speaking tool to help solicit new members.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Water Level: Tom Mowbray reported in Ed’s absence. Current water level is 1571.60 and discharge is 404 cfs at 55.8 degrees. Excel energy has met all conditions of the MOU. The MOU for Rest Lake has been extended for an additional year or two years.
Have we heard anything on Water Level Projections? Nothing at this time.
Tom M. is going to be working with Jim on water levels and water level charting. Tom has the history, and we just need to get it into presentable charts
Fish Management Committee: Jim sent out a recap ahead of the meeting to summarize the fishery. On a historical average, this year was a higher spearing harvest and within the declaration. 4,382 Walleyes and 0 muskies on TFF, 303 Walleyes and 5 muskies on Trude Lake.
- Walleye populations are continuing to trend downward.
- In the next five years, based on trends in Northern Wisconsin and Canada, we will likely see more restrictive limits.
- Estimated walleye population in 1975; 125,000. Today; 35,000.
- The Minocqua Chain being closed to Walleye has put greater pressure on the Flowage.
Water Quality Report: Todd Jirous reported that we’re back on track for sampling this year. All seven sampling locations are staffed with volunteers. Looking forward to a more normal year in 2021.
Invasive Species Committee: Diane is confirming CLP dates for pulling on Rice Lake; June 1st through 8th or 11th.
- Expressing concern on signage at Lake of the Falls and warning of Invasive Species. Signage, is that something that we can do or impact? Is it the County’s responsibility, or is it Tara and Eric in Forestry. What is the barrier to getting good signage? Apparently, they don’t like to be questioned.
- Signage at the Landings and taking a more Pro-Active approach is imperative. Creating signage that is more Visual and Dynamic will go a long way in our efforts.
- Would like to get some kind of plan started….do we start with Beth, Zack and Heather? Is the Iron County Lakes and Rivers still active? What is the economic impact/or could be?
- Diane is going to send an email to start the process at the end of next week.
- Rice Lake is suffering the Result of “Inaction” in dealing with CLP.
- Terry, Randy and Diane to circle back and write an email to the DNR and appropriate parties
- Randy reported that Rice Lake has a grant for $127,000 to pull plants, and folks can sign up as contractors at $15.00 per hour.
- Pike Lake and Lake of the Falls have early detection plans
- Zach is looking for volunteers to pull CPL on June 2, 3, 4 and 5th on the Turtle River
- Rice Lake is a great Cautionary Tale that needs to be told
- Zach is considering using beetles on PL in the thickest areas….those with 50 plants or more, and are generally in sections 6, 7a and 7b.
Communication and Education Committee: Working on the newsletter now- due June 4th. Doing a 25th anniversary edition looking back and looking forward at what we could encounter…such as Invasives
Web Page: Scott does a nice job for us. Facebook now has 1,200 followers. Sue is always looking for material. Could we do a call for membership on Facebook. Within a mile of the Flowage you can be a “Regular Member”. Those that are further than a mile and support our mission can be “Special Members”….the difference being that special members cannot vote or be on the Board.
Recruitment: Idea to develop a membership committee. Tom M. has developed a couple page list of what he does. Need to divide out the Treasurer duties from the membership committee. The Treasurer duties take about an hour a month outside of the renewal season. The membership piece is what really takes time to keep updated. One of our major challenges is to replace Tom and his knowledge/experience from the last 18-19 years.
- Becky J. a possibility? Diane O. has a lead as well that she will reach out to.
Stakeholders Meeting: Friends Group- Terry, Tom, John B. and Diane at the meeting. The follow-up from Diane is that John B. recommended to NOT move the Friends Group forward due to the limited volunteer base to draw on.
New Business:
- Annual Meeting- Would like to do the meeting in person and in an Outdoor venue…was well received by the group
- Looking at the calendar, June 26th would be the first choice, and June 19th as the second choice.
- Jeff is going to talk to Erv at The Pines and see if we can get the Beer Garden…Tom M. will reach out to the Sherman Town Hall if The Pines falls through.
- 1st choice for a speaker is Zach; although it would be good to allow Beth some time as well.
- Once we know the date, Randy will reach out to Beth, and Diane will reach out to Zach.
Board Members and Directors:
Jim K., Jeff M., Randy S. and Jean B. will be returning.
We are in need of:
- replacing 2- 2year Director Openings (Hittle and Hrycuik)
- replacing 1-1 year Director Opening (OKrongly)- Randy P will step up here
- replacing 1-2 year Treasurer position (Mowbray)
Todd to reach out to Jack Peterson on Dam Road to assess interest in being a Director.
- Discussion on continuing meetings as Zoom, or combination of in person. Makes it a lot easier to attract Board Members and Directors when you don’t have to attend in person.
- Jean B.- Should we do a survey before the Master Planning starts, that way we have information to bring to the party.
- This year for the annual meeting we should have a cake, and perhaps do a drawing next year to encourage folks to come for the meeting.
Adjourned 9:21
Respectfully submitted
Todd Jirous
Secretary