Bills
Lake Association
Meeting Minutes
June 26, 2010
Association President Dan Coby was attending his granddaughter’s graduation, so Holly Sosnowski called the meeting to order at 10:08am, after pulling everyone’s attention away from the beautiful produce and baked goods being put out for sale by the Millers.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Holly began our meeting by thanking Jerry Gerloski for once again providing a new flag for the season.
No new members were in attendance (or if there were any, they declined to make themselves known).
Holly officially welcomed Mary and Samuel Miller and their daughters (Carolyn, Katie and Kathy), and thanked them for holding Market Day once again at our Association Grounds. As was noted at the May meeting, if you are interested in buying produce from the Millers, you can visit their Country Garden farm on Ransom Rd., just about 2 miles up on M-82 on your way to Fremont from downtown Newaygo. Directions are also on the Bills Lake website. If you want to make sure to have a basket ready for pick up, or have specific bakery or canned goods you would like to reserve/order, you are welcome to call the Millers at 231-652-6795.
Minutes of the May 2010 meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s report was presented by our Treasurer, Jerry Elenbaas. Her reported a balance of $639.49 in checking and $6019.61 in savings. $1350 in member dues, representing 38%, collected to date. Motion was made to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Motion passed.
A recommendation was made to send out a second notice on dues. Point was made that Zone Reps are likely still working on that in their respective zones.
Terry Schuiteman distributed flares to zone reps attending the meeting, for them to take back to their zones and sell to residents. Jim Tower was again kindly coordinating this year’s July 4 Flare sales. Zone Reps were to see Jim if they needed more flares and then also to turn flare sales money into Jim as soon after July 4 as possible.
Thanks to Gord Hicks for once again taking care of making sure the participants in our July 4 Bills Lake races would have trophies to motivate them.
July 4 schedule was noted as July 3 for actual day of races, boat parade and activities, with Sunday July 4 as the rain date. All races in same order and times as 2009, with full details on the Bills Lake website. Ed Waits asked that anyone who takes photos to please be sure and email them to him.
A CPR class was scheduled for July 10 at the Croton Fire Department, from 8-11am. Cost is $45 per person (to cover training equipment rental + certificates).
Lake report was brief: water quality is very good. If you want more details and data, Ed Waits asks that you please see the information that is available on the Bills Lake website.
Ed also reminded everyone that the content of the printed newsletter has been scaled down. Instead, lots more information is available on the Bills Lake website. Attendees at the meeting agreed that the website is a great source of info. Copies of the printed newsletter will continue to be given to Zone Reps, so residents should check with their Zone Rep to obtain one. Comments were also made that encouraged everyone to check in with their neighbors – perhaps they have a neighbor without Internet access or printing available to them, and it would be a kind deed to print out a copy of the newsletter for them.
While he had the floor, Ed Waits floated a new idea to the group: might folks be interested in organizing a community wide “Septic Day”? He asked that interested residents please let him know. He will gather and pass names to a neighbor who expressed interest in gathering a number of households who would like to schedule service together, to hopefully negotiate a reduced rate with the septic service provider. Ed has used Schultz. Holly mentioned that she has used Kerkstra.
As it was obvious that members were very anxious to spend all their cash at the Miller’s Market, it was suggested we hold the 50/50 drawing earlier in the agenda. Carol Elenbaas oversaw the drawing of the winning ticket belonging to Pat Crowe, who split the $32 with the Association.
Bear sightings – oh my! DNR says to please just leave the bear (or bears – especially if we are talking about Mama and cubs) alone. Make noise. Do not run – if you run, you can risk the bear treating you as prey. Ed Waits shared the exquisitely corny bear joke re: you only need to run faster than the other guy.
There have been a few eagle sightings. And mention was made of the Swan rescue (see story on – you guessed it – the Bills Lake website!).
Kind and urgent advice was made for everyone to be extra careful on the water over the July 4 holiday weekend – lots of amateurs out there!
Holly and Martha noted that the State of Michigan website is still out of date re: 2009 Boaters Guide. Many questions arose re: Personal Watercraft.
UPDATE: on June 28, the Michigan website was updated and the 2010 Boaters Guide was posted. It’s available at http://www.boat-ed.com/mi/handbook. Pasted here is direct quote from the handbook on the website:
· Each person riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs may not be used. See PFD age restrictions.
· You may not allow a child under 7 years of age to ride on or be towed behind a PWC unless with a parent or guardian or designee of the parent or guardian.
· The lanyard of a PWC's ignition safety switch must be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator.
· It is illegal to operate a PWC during the period that begins at sunset and ends at 8:00 a.m. “Sunset” means that time determined by the national weather service.
· PWCs must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner at all times. It is illegal to:
o Jump the wake of another vessel unnecessarily close to the other vessel.
o Weave your PWC through congested traffic.
o Swerve at the last possible moment to avoid collision.
· A PWC must be operated at "slow, no wake speed" if crossing within 150 feet behind another vessel unless the other vessel is also a PWC.
"Slow, No Wake Speed" means the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and which does not create a wake.
· You may not operate a PWC within 200 feet of a Great Lakes shoreline unless traveling at "slow, no wake speed" perpendicular to the shoreline.
· You may not operate a PWC in waters less than two feet deep unless you are operating at "slow, no wake speed" or are docking or launching your PWC.
· It is illegal to harass wildlife or disturb aquatic vegetation with your PWC.
Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Those less than 12 years of age may not legally operate a PWC.
Those 12 and 13 years of age may operate a PWC legally only if:
· He or she obtained a boating safety certificate prior to January 1, 1999, or ...
· All of the following conditions are satisfied:
o The operator is accompanied solely by his or her parent or legal guardian and ...
o Both the operator and the parent or legal guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate and ...
o The PWC is equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch and the parent or legal guardian has the lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing, or PFD.
Those 14 years of age or older:
· And born after December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate.
· And born on or before December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally without restrictions.
Mention was made that the Garage Sale was not advertised this year. Can we please make sure to have ads in the River Valley Shopper and Highlights next year? It was noted that last year, we voted to no longer collect from anyone holding a sale (which in years past was used to cover ad cost). It was also noted that in years past, we had signs at Swan and Elm streets, promoting the Garage Sales – but not this year. It was noted that we had no Garage Sale committee this year and that we do miss Ed Schroeder and his perennial involvement in the event. Discussion ensued regarding the timing of the event and suggestion was made to move it to the 3rd weekend in June, because by then school will be completely out of session and families will be better able to prepare. It was agreed to put Garage Sale on the agenda for discussion at the next/future meeting.
Question was raised: What happened to the outhouse? Answer: discussed ad nausea at meetings in 2008 and 2009 and decision made and acted upon in 2009 to demolish and not replace.
Question was raised: What happened to Lake Fest? Answer: lack of interest and especially no one able or willing to chair a committee and/or organize the event. If anyone is interested to volunteer to organize a Lake Fest celebration for 2010, the Association would love to hear from them.
Question was raised: Do we need to report to the State of Michigan re: our non-profit status. General consensus is that our cash flow/budget does not hit the amounts that requires annual filing.
Question was raised: Is anyone interested in have a Dumpster Day (or days) at the Association grounds? No one in attendance was interested in organizing such, and many comments were offered re: Croton Transfer station and various waste removal service providers being used/shared by residents.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:46am and the Millers were cleaned out before 11:00.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Gabrielse, Secretary