Fife Lake Lakefront Property Owners Association

Minutes of the 2006 General Membership Meeting

July 8, 2006

 

 

Meeting Called to Order by President Galloway at 10:00 A.M.

 

Gratitude and Thanks were extended to all the many people and organizations that had supported FLLPOA's campaign against Milfoil.  The overwhelming successful lake treatment this Spring has made this one of the best 4th of July celebrations ever.

 

It was noted that vigilance was needed, in that 168 new invasive species were reported in the Great Lakes last year.  We will always have a battle to fight, and we need to be prepared.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL REPORT:

 

The financial report was provided by Treasurer, Jeanell Ellis.

 

Savings         $9,107.39

Checking           277.32              

Sub-shares      1,811.84

CD                  6,102.78    

Balance       $17,299.23

 

Interest YTD   $263.51

 

Dividends Paid YTD  $89.22

 

LAKE ASSESSMENT:

 

John Strobridge reported there is no visible growth of Milfoil. There is a natural species of pondweed growing in certain areas called Clasping Pondweed or Richardson’s Pondweed. Even though this is part of the natural flora, in some areas around docks it has become a nuisance. Total lake involvement at this point has been estimated at 15 acres. The Pondweed will not fragment and spread like the Milfoil and can be spot treated with liquid Aquathol-K at a cost of $245 per acre. The chemical has very little drift capability and can be easily confined. FLLPOA already has the permit required to treat and use this chemical.

Motion by Ed Hungness: To treat those areas of Pondweed, where, in the opinion of an individual property owner, the Pondweed has become a nuisance and to confine the treatment to 100 feet out from the shoreline. Following a discussion, the motion was approved with 20 yeas and 8 nays.

 

 

 

5 YEAR PLAN OVERVIEW:

 

Dennis Meyer reviewed the original acreage and cost of the original 5 Year Plan and noted that the estimates were close to the actual findings. The Milfoil kill rate obtained from other lake associations of 50% was very conservative in light of the 90% kill rate obtained from Rustin Lake and Pond Service. The cost of the 2006 spring treatment was $43, 000. The success makes it possible that the 5 year goal of financing the management of the lake with $50 dues is achievable.

 

 

WATER RESOURCE IMPROVEMENT TAX INCREMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY- MICHIGAN SENATE BILL 1159

 

Linda Forwerck reported on the advantages and the complexities of the TIF Districts. Many legal requirements must be met to organize such a plan. Tax Incremental Financing is a tool used by local governments as a method of self-financing projects from revenues collected in the local community. Revenue is captured whenever property is sold or property improvements are made which results in an increase the property tax above a base value. The new tax revenue above the base can be assigned to the TIF district. Michigan Senate Bill 1159, introduced by Senator Jason Allen, allows for the first time that funds from TIF districts can be used to treat aquatic nuisance species in lakes.

 

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

Fred Joles reported that the grant request to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Tribes was not approved. The State of Michigan did not have any funds available. However, grant requests were made to both US Senator Debby Stabbenow and US Representative Dave Camp for $300,000 over 5 years beginning in October. The Senate approved the request as a bill in the Appropriations Committee. The next step is for the bill to go to the US House of Representatives when it returns in session in August. Although Rep. Camp is not on the particular House Committee in charge of this bill, he indicated that he would assist in the process of having the bill approved.

 

 

 

PRESENT AND FUTURE FUNDING:

 

John Strobridge reported on the results of FLLPOA fund efforts, comparing our identified goals with our actual income. 

 

                                                                GOAL                     ACTUAL

2005 Carry-over                                    $10,941.74              $10,941.74

Lake Front Owners                                 57,750.00                30,630.00

Friends of Fife Lake                                                                  3,180.00

Fife Lake DDA                                                                         1,000.00

Forest Area Chamber of Commerce                                         1,000.00

Fish Campaign                                                                             789.00

Arbutus Rebekka Lodge                                                              100.00

Fife Lake Village                                                                      5,000.00

Fife Lake Township                                                                10,000.00

Union Township                                                                        1,000.00

American Legion                                                                          200.00

TOTAL                                                $68,691.74                $63,841.16

 

John then broke down FLLPOA's income with a funding analysis that was designed to identify income sources.  The analysis was based on 165 riparian lakefront property owners.

 

82% Participated as dues paying members

26% Paid requested $350.00 or more

74% Paid less than requested $350.00 or nothing at all

53% Amount collected relative to goal

         18% paid nothing

         19% paid dues only

         19% paid requested $350.00

           7% paid more than the requested $350.00

         38% paid more than the $50.00 dues but less than the requested $350.00

 

Because only a few property owners are paying for the benefit of many, consideration of forming a Special Assessment District (SAD) was discussed as a means of sharing costs of lake treatment more equitably.

 

Special Assessment Districts are allowed under Michigan P.A. 180 of 1988 which amends the Township Act, P.A. 188. A SAD can be established simply by having 51% of the property owners (not voters) from the Village of Fife Lake and Springfield sign a petition requesting a SAD. When presented to a Township, the Township must establish the SAD.

 

 

Both Pros and Cons were presented.

 

PRO                                                                          CON

1. Easy and simple to implement                              1.Potentially limits association control

2. Township appoints a lake management                   over treatment program.

committee. The lake management committee       2.Treatment is hired by the Township,

then informs the Township of their manage-           not lakefront owners association.

ment  decisions and recommends payment           3. Association may or may not be

to contratctors.                                                          allowed to intervene in lake treat-

3. Lake management committee can be the                  ment issues.

lake association board members.

4. Assures equitable contributions from all

lakefront owners.

5. Assures moneys are available for lake treatment.

 

 

 

 

BALLOTING AND ELECTIONS:

 

Nominations were taken from the floor, and balloting and elections were conducted. 

 

Nominees accepting the nominations were:

 

President – John Strobridge, Vice President – Jim Abram, Treasurer – Jeanell Ellis, Secretary – Sue Foster, Boardmembers – Ron Broering, Gerald Cherwinski, Tom Snyder, Phil Sorensen and Arch TerHaar

 

Also on the ballot was the Question: 

 

Should we as an association support a Special Assessment District to ensure funding to manage Fife Lake over the next five years?

 

An independent committee then tallied the results. 

 

 

501 C- CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION APPLICATION:

 

Allen Galloway reported that work is continuing on obtaining the 501 C designation. The process is difficult, time consuming and typically finds periods of success followed by having to go back and make revisions to the application and then re-submit. However, the effort is continuing toward a successful outcome.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

A motion was made and seconded to authorize the FLLPOA Board of Directors to commit association assets for the purpose of continuing stewardship of Fife Lake as the Board deemed necessary.

 

Motion carried.

 

BALLOTING RESULTS:

 

President             John Strobridge

Vice President    Jim Abram

Treasurer            Jeanelle Ellis

Secretary            Sue Foster

Board Members: Ron Broering, Gerald Cherwinski, Arch TerHaar

 

Motion to support a Special Assessment District petition drive to ensure funding to manage Fife Lake over the next five years:   Carried:  16 Yes  6 No

 

Respectfully Submitted,  Phil Sorensen for Susan Foster, Secretary.