Yahara Lakes Association, Ltd.
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 14, 2020 11:30 a.m. - 1:10 p.m.
The Yahara Lakes Association Board of Directors held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2020, via a Zoom meeting.
The following members participated: Dick Adler, Stuart Allbaugh, Caroline Fribance, Annette Hellmer, Tamara Knickmeier, Allan Levin, Eric Olson, Nancy Peckham, Dan Schultz, Scott Seymour, Dave Silverberg, Jim St. Vincent, Sal Troia, Eric Vieth, and Brenda Matthias
Members and advisors not present: Eric Englund, Dick Person, Bill Fitzpatrick, and James Tye
11:30 a.m. Call to Order: President – Eric Olson called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.
11:35 a.m. April Minutes:
· Jim St Vincent made a motion to accept the April 9, 2020 meeting minutes. Sal Troia seconded the motion. Motion passed.
11:40 a.m. Treasurer Report – Sal Troia
· The financials were reviewed with no major expenses for April. The marketing budget has increased to $14,000 which includes the additional administrative hours.
· Allan Levin made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report. Dan Schultz seconded the motion. Motion passed.
11:50 p.m. Marketing & Membership Committee (M&M) – Nancy Peckham
· Since the April board meeting we have 25 additional renewals and 12 new members. Renewal appeal was included in the April newsletter and an email blast was sent on May 1st to those who have not yet renewed. We need 8 more members to reach our 2020 membership goal.
· Lake Monona has the most non-renewals. Note: 2020 non-renewed includes 2018 members who did not renew in 2019. Next step is to either send personalized emails and/or phone calls by board and committee members to non-renewed members.
· YLA membership by lake as of Monday, May 11th
2020 Renewals 2020 New Total 2020 Members 2020 Non-Renewed
Kegonsa 25 20 45 2
Mendota 82 28 110 12
Monona 66 23 89 25
Waubesa 31 15 46 12
Yahara/other 2 0 2 8
Totals 206 86 292 59
· A sponsorship recruitment letter was sent to potential new sponsors and the 2019 sponsors on May 4th.
· Newsletters
o Annette Hellmer led the effort in April and the newsletter was sent on April 16th.
o Tamara Knickmeier will be leading the effort for May. The goal is to send the newsletter out on May 20th or May 21st. Possible articles include President’s message, dredging, water levels, reminder on the new tentative date for the Annual meeting, among others.
· Lakeside Listening Socials - planning postponed until we have more information about guidelines for gatherings in late August/September.
· Lake Alerts –
o Dan Schultz, Eric Vieth, Eric Olson, and Sal Troia met with John Reimer about partnering with the Dane County Land & Water Resources Dept. on the Yahara lake alerts project.
o The proposal was very well received by John Reimer and he agreed to have his department partner with YLA.
o The Membership & Marketing Committee will move forward to develop a postcard to send to all non-members of YLA who live on the Yahara lakes asking for their emails to add to the lakes alert list and at the same time invite them to join YLA for additional benefits. With obtaining the emails the M&M committee would have a way to invite them to become members in the future.
o A lake alerts announcement will also be sent to current YLA members.
o John Reimer also suggested to provide lake alerts from municipalities who have Yahara lakes within their boundaries.
§ Eric Vieth volunteered to develop the list of municipalities and initiate the communication with them.
· Website and Facebook page revisions since the last board meeting:
o Latest News Items
§ Added Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID-19 link
§ YLA Annual Dinner postponed until Sept 8th
o Added General Heating and Air Conditioning logo to Home page under Sponsorships
o Updated Sponsorship tab to reflect the sponsors that have renewed for the new year
o Added April Newsletter to News & Articles tab
o Added April minutes, financials and current membership listing to Board area
o Added that the Annual Dinner has been rescheduled to the Events tab
o Added April Newsletter to Facebook
12:25 p.m. Water Quality, Lake Levels & Flow Committee – Eric Vieth
· The Dredgit Corporation mobilized equipment the first week of May and is beginning the first stage of the project which involves establishing a dewatering site and 3-mile-long piping network for the transport of sediment from the river. Dredgit is utilizing land at Land Farm County Park to store equipment and materials during construction. The dewatering site, which will be utilized to separate water from the removed sediment, is located on Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District property. This dewatering staging could take 3-4 weeks, possibly longer with COVID-19 impacts to worker availability, before actual sediment removal will begin.
· All lakes are within summer targets and the goal is to obtain summer minimum levels on all lakes. The lake levels are maintained based on the guidelines adopted in 2018. Lake Kegonsa riparian’s are concerned that the level is too low and they won’t be able to get their boats out.
· Yahara CLEAN Compact Steering Committee meetings will start again shortly. Currently they are still working on the processes so nothing more to report.
· Dane County Lakes and Watershed – Allan Levin
o Currently discussing the budget with the following concerns –
§ Need increase of $2 million for dredging
§ Funding to maintain retention ponds
§ Additional funding for sheriff hours during no wake zone
§ The purchasing of weed cutting equipment
· Stoughton Dam project – due to the COVID-19 everything has been on hold. Town of Pleasant Springs is trying to get a meeting together to discuss the project. Stoughton Whitewater Committee will be sending us a letter asking for YLA support of the project. The dam project may be an issue for riparian’s on the river due to how it might affect the water levels and flow.
· Eric Vieth and Tamara Knickmeier will work with Brenda to make it easier to find the Lake level conditions on the YLA website.
1:10 p.m. Legislative & Legal Committee – Caroline Fribance & Scott Seymour
· A shoreline repair and restoration article that was written by Eric Englund was included in the April newsletter.
· Action items that the committee is currently working on –
o Monitoring legislative activity in regards to Riparian rights and the WI Supreme Court decision regarding piers.
o Monitoring County and municipal storm water and infiltration regulations and research.
o Scott is writing an article about the legislation and DNR involvement with PFAs for the May newsletter.
o Because of COVID-19 there is little legislative and regulatory activity to monitor or lobby.
12:59 p.m. Events - no report
1:00 p.m. Other Business
· Allan Levin made a motion to hold a Board meeting on June 11th. Caroline Fribance seconded the motion. Motion passed.
· Sal Troia made a motion to cancel the September 10th Board meeting. Dan Schultz seconded the motion. The rest of the board members in attendance opposed the motion. Motion did not pass.
1:10 p.m. Allan Levin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dan Schultz seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Next meeting date is June 11th via Zoom conference call.