Dunham Lake Property Owners Association

Dunham Lake Property Owners Association May 2015 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Meeting called to order 7:45 pm

Members present: Diane Blakeney, Bob Blakeney, Carol Schemanske, Carole Gannon, Scott Oswald, Carol VanSpybrook, Kristina Oswald, Mardi Mattei, Diane Hallinen. Others present: Cinda Everhart, Mark Boyer, Terry Gannon.

President’s Report: Scott Oswald – Successful work bee, but need to recruit younger residents to help with the heavy work. The Huron Valley School millage meeting was lightly attended. Carol VanSpybrook is working with the NIsts to have the culvert at the north gate redone. East beach brush pile to be chipped.

Vice President’s Report: Bob Blakeney – Doing work with Walt to replace the steps from the upper to the lower trail on the Hartland side. Motion to approve $300-$500 for supplies to make steps usable and safe; approved.

Secretary’s Report: Carol Schemanske – April minutes read and approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Jane Debbrecht – 2015 dues notices have gone out. Current balance $47,200 (combined check & CD accounts). Approx $1000 collected in past dues

Civic Committee Report: Carol Van Spybrook - The CC approved an increase in the annual dues to $175 beginning in 2016. CC is updating fence policy.

Security Report: Kristina Oswald – Four new locks ordered.

Greenbelt Report: Diane Hallinen – Perimeter inspection- 7 issues required letters. New issue with a resident clearing greenbelt area for motor boat storage; will need estimate to restore area. Motion to approved perimeter report; approved. Hired 4 new workers for garlic mustard removal for May (or garlic mustard season). Plans for a controlled burn.

Carole Gannon – John DeLisle nature walk postponed; probably the weekend after Labor Day. CG also thinks the board needs to increase greenbelt budget for 2016 and give greenbelt invasive removal and restoration a higher priority. CG feels a lack of board support and lack of sufficient budget. CG also concerned about the continuing shore erosion. SO assured that additional funding can be added to next budget.

Park Maintenance: Carol VanSpybrook – Need younger guys and women for heavy work at spring and fall work bee. Good attendance for the work bee, but mostly 60-70 year olds. Damaged grill needs replacement. Beaches need to be power raked. Seed retention mat at west beach will disintegrate on its own. Board as a group needs to establish boundaries of greenbelt/park/trails. CVS would like more discussion at the next board meeting to discuss how much dead and cut brush and logs should be left on the greenbelt. DH thinks the board should not micromanage and the greenbelt board members should make the decisions and have final say. DH feels goals should be for ecological management and not for aesthetics. Glossy buckthorn cuttings are removed, not for aesthetics, but for practical reasons. Both greenbelt and park maintenance board members and their handful of volunteers put in many hours of hard work maintaining the common properties and trails. Differences continue on what policy should be regarding what should be removed & what should be left to break down (and other greenbelt issues). Fish & Water Report: – Mardi Mattei – Teenager hired to dump standing water from boats. All boats on greenbelt need to have DLPOA sticker. Contact Cinda Everhart for a boat sticker (there is no sticker fee). Still some untagged boats at greenbelt.

Beach Maintenance: Diane Blakeney – Clean-up crew set for this summer. Some picnic reservations already made. Please remember that a park reservation does not give any party exclusive use of the beach or park. A copy of the rules pertaining to parties are given for each resident making a reservation. DB tries to put a maximum on the total guests from all the parties so the park is not overcrowded on any day.

Grass & Garbage: Tom Landry - Porta-john service to be re-established mid-May.

Old Business – John Schiltz continuing to gather information regarding the road improvements for the Oakland side. Hope to have asphalt reps walk the sub to evaluate the roads. Web development – still needs updating.

New Business – DH- park/greenbelt areas need to be addressed. DH suggests limiting path width to me no more than 4 ft wide (2ft beyond center line on either side) with no mowing, clearing or trimming. Any fallen trees, not dangerous to trail, will remain on the greenbelt (things that fall beyond the 4 ft width will be greenbelt decision). Need to define park area; fishing area near the lagoon is not part of park. No mowing at lagoon on either side of trail. Need to define back and side lines of Briarhill Hill park/greenbelt. Negotiate back boundary at Blue Heron Park. Sledding trail is reasonable. In future, clearly define these lines.

Adjournment: 10:18 pm

The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at the park or the home of Mardi Mattei.

Minutes recorded by Carol Schemanske/ approved as amended 7-14-15