KORONIS LAKE ASSOCIATION

February 23, 2018 – 11:30 Hilltop

Members Present: Susan Schaefer, Kevin Farnum, Jim Losleben, Jim Elseth, Karen Langmo,Ken Hess, Sue Eyre

Members Absent: Alex Naujokas, Matt Brauchler, Jeff Erdmann, Dan Zeigler

Secretary’s Report: A motion by Kevin Farnum was made to approve the October 2017 minutes. It was seconded by Sue Eyre. The motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s report for January-December, 2017 was reviewed. There was no approval of the report

Old Business/Special Requests

Weed Harvester Update:An agreement with Mathiowetz Solutions to contract for the removal and harvesting of SSW from Lake Koronis was signed on November 27, 2017. Mathiowetz Solutions was formed to purchase and operate the necessary equipment for the removal/harvesting of SSW. This agreement is between KLA Mathiowetz Solutions LLC. Karen and Kevin met with Brian and Chad Mathiowetz on February 12, 2018, to start the planning process for the 2018 harvesting season. KLA is currently in the process of getting the necessary DNR permits for 2018. Discussion was also held on the fundraising funds that KLA has raised for this project and how to handle them going forward. The board felt that some communication needs to be done with the individuals that have contributed as to how we are going to use the funds since KLA will not be purchasing a weed harvester.

No Wake Zone: Karen reported that she is communicating with Brian Cruze, Meeker County Sheriff on where they are at with the joint powers agreement with Stearns County for 2018 No Wake Zone. This needs to occur as the No Wake Zone through Meeker County from 2017 is null and void this year because of the lake being in two counties. A joint powers agreement is the only way to do this going forward. Hopefully Stearns County will come through. More to come.

Committee Reports

Community Involvement/Awareness: Karen reported that the fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 7th. The budget is set at $10,000. Alex will be able to organize the boat parade and drive the pontoon with the princesses again this year.

Lake Quality Improvement:CAC meeting March 12 in Brooten that we need voting participants to attend.
Intern for summer 2018 is chosen and paid for with monies from our original $15000 donation, we have 3 years of intern service with this.
Looking for AIS detective help via Susan S., she will put information in upcoming newsletter to get the word out.

Greg Berg is reviewing Randall/Johnson project, he needs to speak with landowners and will update Susan after he has gathered more information.

AIS:

Our AIS permit for Starry Stonewort has been submitted to DNR in January. All SS permits are being handled by a team within DNR, so it may take some time. We submitted for over the 15% of the littoral area so that may impact our permit and our future requirements. This might be a Lake Vegetation Management Plan over the next 3 to 5 years. Karen Langmo and Kevin Farnum (along with Steve McComas our Project third party auditor and Dan Larkin, University of Minnesota) meet with DNR AIS specialist Chris Jurek and assistant Ty to discuss last year’s results and look to the future for 2018. Meeting went really well. (Follow-up meeting to be held March 5th.)

Since our work in 2018 will be pretty large, we will have to go out for quotes this next year. Kevin has been working on the Requests for Quotes.

Karen and Kevin reviewed a meeting with Brian and Chad Mathiowetz. Mathiowetz Solutions LLC. will be purchasing the mechanical harvester that will be used in the project in the future. Meeting went well and we are looking at finding some local employees to operate the equipment. A draft job description was delivered to LAMB earlier this day. We are still working on the impact of the funds collected through donations to the harvesting.

Kevin has submitted for a signature waiver for the treatments on Koronis. This would alleviate the need to go door to door to get signatures of all people within 150 feet of the treatment areas. We are waiting to hear from DNR if it has been approved. Notices would go in the Paynesville Press, our next Newsletter, and in the membership dues request letter. The notice would indicate what needs to be done if the shore owner wants to select out of the treatments.

KLA received a $10,000 grant towards the project from Stearns County AIS Committee. They received $12,500 from Meeker County for inspection and the project work in the access area. The NFCRWD received its grant for the Inspection program. KLA’s portion will be slightly higher this year than last year’s.

LCCMR grants are being reviewed to see if they can be used to sustain the SS project work into the future. Kevin will follow-up with LCCMR and then if needed will get to Jim for help with the grant request.

The AIS Summit is coming at the end of the month. Dr. Rodgers will be here and Kevin asked permission to help cover dinner and some expenses. All felt that was appropriate. We will have some extra time on Thursday to spend with him. Other lakes with SS have been invited.

Karen and Kevin gave an update on the CD 3 unit for the Hwy 55 access. Since none of the units had been on a DNR access before, DNR didn’t have a position of their install. They have issued a letter saying that the install had to be with a partnership of an LGU and the DNR. This eliminates a Lake Association from doing one of these on their own. DNR is working on a contract to have. Once Karen and I see it we will either kill the project or move it forward.

Kevin will be speaking on our SS project at the AIS Summit, the State of the Waters Meeting, and a University meeting called Gathering Partners.

NFCRWD has signed the DNR inspection delegation agreement once again this year. Hopefully they will support us with not charging us for the management time of the budget.

We had been asked by the county to put up some signs that talk about AIS. These signs are water resistant lawn signs. We looked at an example and the board thought that they could use/put up about 10 of therm. Kevin will follow-up with the county.

Membership/Dues: Karen is working on the membership form and will be sending it out in April.

New Business

Annual Meeting: The meeting has been set for Saturday, July 14th at the Koronis Regional Park. It will be from 8:30-11am.

Newsletter:Discussion was held on what to put in the newsletter. Karen will send out a listing. Looking at sending out newsletter the first part of May.

Water Festival: The date is set for May 4th - Kevin will be presenting a program on AIS, he will be needing board volunteers to help. KLA will be donating water bottles again.

Insurance Renewals: Jim said all insurance is paid up for 2018.

CD3 Station Update: The joint project between the Stearns and Meeker County AIS committee’s to place a CD3 station at the Highway 55 landing has been put on hold due to the DNR not having a lease put together allowing these to be placed at DNR landings. As of now it is very unorganized at the DNR level in regards to how to handle these.

AIS Signs: The Stearns County AIS committee is looking for lake association board volunteers on area lakes to install signs that promote prevention of aquatic invasive species. They would be placed on private property, preferably somewhere that has significant traffic or is near a watercraft access. The board decided to participate in this project.

Sauk River Watershed Community Partners Project: Stearns County soil and Water is looking to put together Watershed community partnership projects on area lakes. They would like to model it off of the Sauk River Watershed Community Partners Project. This would involve project sharing amongst the area lake associations. They would identify potential projects with the largest impact. They would also like to involve more lakeshore owners in these types of conservation projects. These projects would include: stormwater infiltration practices, shoreline buffers, etc.. These could also be done on non lakeshore properties also in the watershed. Greg Berg from Stearns County SWCD, will be presenting at the April 17, 2018 Stearns County COLA Spring meeting at the Rockville City Hall. The meeting is planned for 6pm.

Future Meetings: The next regular meeting will be held April 5th at Hilltop.

11:30 a.m.

Signed, Executive Secretary,

Alex Naujokas