Lake Forest Association

General Membership Meeting

 

10/17/04

 

Director’s Present:  A. Porter, R. Gugelmann, C. Chescheir, P. Oglesby, D. Brewer, E. Neely, C. Newby, and R. DeLong.

 

Absent: B. Hollister, S. Anderson, H. Grabowski, G. Gamble.

 

1) Call to order.  Meeting called to order at 7:38p.

 

2) Sign-up – A list was circulated for attendees to sign.

 

3) Minutes.  A motion to approve the minutes from  last year Oct 26, 2003. was passed and seconded.   

 

4) Extended term.  Extended terms for Don Brewer, Ed Neely, Sharon Anderson, Richard Gugelmann were approved. 

 

5) Introduction of Darcy Berger.  A motion to recommend Darcy to the board was passed and seconded  (Welcome Darcy!)  Extensions and nominees were approved unaminously.

 

6) Recognition of out-going members.  Thank you for their work.  Because  P. Oglesby was present he was commended and given a thank you gift.  

 

6) Treasurer’s report.  The year-end profit & loss statement report was circulated (Oct 2003-Sept. 2004).  Ending cash and cash equivalents were $178,250.  There was an excess of revenue over expenditures.  There were questions concerning the legal settlement its nature and whether insurance should have been used for this claim which P. Oglesby and E. Neely addressed.  There were also questions concerning associate membership dues and it’s line item which A. Porter and E. Neely spoke to.

 

7) Committee reports. 

a) new-comers and welcoming committee – is providing welcoming materials to newcomers, including distributing a directory, etc.  The committee communicates to the board when LFA homes are up for sale.  Also tracks with the board properties and assessments/payments dues.

b) socials committee – Judy Leinbach reporting on socials, she chaired the summer party.  This committee is in need of a few more members.  A sign-up list was distributed. 

c) Engineering report – D. Brewer reporting.  Lake bed excavated 2001 and top of the dam and beach widened in 2002.  Summer 2004 inspected dam along with C. Chescheir no action other than treating for plants growing on/in rock.  In 2002 a drain was added to allow partial draining to do aquatic weed removal or reparations on dock.  Board decided not to partially drain the lake this winter.   Partial lake drainage calculations don’t support doing this prior to major storms/hurricanes.  Flow capacity sufficient to protect lake front from flooding.  48 acres lake surface.  Approx 7 days to drop lake level four feet.  Full lake drainage would take about 3 weeks equivalent to 2 inches of run-off.  In excess of flow capability approximately  8-9” of rain within 24 hours would be required to overflow  “parapet” or top of the dam.   Forebay built to capture sediment prior to it filling up lake.  Total accumulation of approx 1 1/2 foot.    Probably don’t expect to have to excavate forebay for several years.   Will continue to survey depth of forebay biannually.  Town cleaned out pool last year up-stream from forebay.  This action probably prolonged the need for dredging the forebay.   Silt or sediment can settle usually prior to forebay except in major storms which essentially “flush the creek”.  Question by Neal Bench - is there an estimated cost of volume of silt removal?  There is no forebay on the other end of the lake.  Sediment settling actually change in color just as it hits the forebay suggesting that the forebay is actually working. Ed and Richard are monitoring the Carolina North project which is somewhat quiet right now.  Storm water management board Don appointed to this town board.  Question is Eastgate fully prepared to take water that will flow down to them?  Question from Jim Protzman.  The town has been doing some work and the expectation is that for a “rain event” will be better prepared.  Is there any formal representation from LFA on the Chapel Hill North project.   In a major storm could the forebay silt be “lifted into the lake?  Some sediment will get by and the stream has partly changed course.  Some settlement has occurred in the bay of the lake just after the forebay.  The forebay was never actually designed to catch all of the silt. 

d) Lake quality and water testing (C. Chescheir) – every year take samples one sample around cedar fork and one sample at Booker Creek.  Taken to a lab in Raleigh this year the samples have been quite clean.  Measured in colony forming units all have been lower than acceptable units (< 200-400 CFUs).   This time last year had an episode of blue-green algae but not reported this year, probably linked to an excess if nitrogen. This has in other countries been reported to be toxic although not in North Carolina but be cautious and please report this.   Fish sampling on-going bass and catfish now 14-16” throughout the lake.  Also a hybrid striped-bass white bass was stocked this summer.  Grass carp keep the weeds down.  Q- What’s the plan on stocking more?

e) Park recreation – A. Porter reporting.  Opened up with some lock combo issues, had the staff on board a bit earlier this year.  Had a great staff and a great manager Julie Lucier.  Younger teens non-life guard certified did gate duty nd helped out more on the beach and waterfront.  Challenges we’ve had keeping guards after college’s start-up.  Geese.  On-going issue improvements to procedures for inclement weather.     

 

8) Membership – As of Oct 15th 250 members, 36 associate members, 40 of 45 lake fronters 178 of 285 nonlake fronters

 

9) Other issues.   LFA backyard fence compliments.  Suggestion that it be open to all members.  Postings of contractors, etc. very helpful.  Question about clear-cutting does LFA have recommendations for builders not to cut so many trees?  Not really a homeowners association.  LFA has mandate for LFA land around some borders and around Lake. Could have a role in education, suggestions?  Individuals may contact town planning department.  Question about set-backs from Lake or water and recent changes in town rules? Walk through the park and the gate was wide open don’t want to leave the lock with combination engaged.  Letter to realtors include a paragraph about aesthetics and trees that the neighbors value these.   Jim Morris - General question about the annual dues and projected cash-flow and what the construction costs would be for lake drainage in the future?  Need to convene the finance committee to include Jim, Ed and Henry.  Build in a lag time (~ 3 yr) to save for this and to plan for having funds available probably not sufficient at the current rate.   Work around park, tree work.  Park improvements on-going.

 

10) Motion to adjourn 9:06. 

 

Meeting adjourned.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Rob DeLong.