Month: December 2024

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING

October 12th, 2024

BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Watt, President

Jerry Agrusa, Treasurer 

Nancy Bell, Secretary 

Scott Coakley, Trustee 

Chris Sellers, Trustee

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:  

Al Vitous

Kevin Mack

The meeting was called to order at 9:02 by President, Jim Watt at TTT.  The pledge of allegiance was recited.  A guest speaker, Mike at Solitude, gave an informative presentation about Water Management Treatment Program for over an hour.   Then the minutes from the September meeting were read.  The minutes were approved as written by Jerry Agrusa, seconded by Scott Coakley.  All in agreement.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Jerry Agrusa read the Treasury.  Scott Coakley approved the report as written, Jim Watt seconded.  The Treasury report was approved by all.

NEW MEMBER:

Membership stands at 203

OLD BUSINESS

WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

Mike at Solitide provided a flyer with information about the weeds and Lily pad treatment.  Currently, we have ‘skip lot treatments’ but ‘wide lake’ is more effective in the long run.  Swimming restrictions would be the same no matter what chemical was used. Irrigation restrictions could be different.

For whole lake treatment, a survey in April or May would be done to find invasive plants to determine different treatment for different areas.. The initial treatment would be done a couple weeks after that. Then it is reinspected to make sure it was a success. Another survey will be done after that.  In 2024,  240 lots received treatment. The whole lake management program would cost less in the future years as weeds are controlled. The quality of fishing has increased and fish habitat would be better in the long run as it is maintained by the treatment   Red Algae bloom is due to iron, no circulation, nutrients in water etc.  

Treatment of lily pads is determined by EGLE.  Up to 40×40 zone, 15-20 foot spray in the center of a channel and 10 feet from docks and shoreline can be treated based on development of the land.   Lily pads mostly grow in shallow waters up to 5 feet deep. The root must be removed to eliminate additional growth.  For a whole lake treatment, exceptions can be marked for no spray areas.

Water quality testing is done before treatment to test temperature, PH levels, oxygen, etc,   Each chemical product goes through three levels of approvals before use in lakes.  A hard winter with deep ice covered with snow blankets shade in the water and would help eliminate weeds for next Spring.  Bubblers stop ice formation so Mike will forward information as he gets it pertaining to weeds.  Mike gave many examples and answered questions of what can legally be treated.

PARKS:

A fence for the Pickleball court was ordered and will take 6 weeks to get installed. Posts will be bolted into cement slab and have a 3 foot opening. Chris and Michelle Sellers are donating a bench at the court.  Because of liability, perhaps install a sign saying ‘use at your own risk’ and add ‘for use of LD residents’.  Jim will contact insurance company. 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Trunk or Treat – October 25th *

*LDCA – non-sponsored

RENTALS:

Three rental properties have agreements in place to quit short term rentals.  Two others have taken off social platform.

TRAILERS:

Jerry received the decrees from the lawyers pertaining to trailers.

NEW BUSINESS:

A FYI – Did you know – sheet was drafted of Michigan Laws/Lake Diane rules to put in the Welcome package and possibly send out with annual assoc invoices.

An official copy of deed restrictions for Lake Diane can be obtained at the Hillsdale County Register of Deeds office.  

Next meeting will be on November 9th at 9:00 at TTT.  At 11:08, Scott Coakley made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Nancy Bell seconded the motion. All agreed and the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy Bell

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING

November 9th, 2024

BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Jim Watt, President

Jerry Agrusa, Treasurer 

Nancy Bell, Secretary 

Kevin Mack, Trustee 

Chris Sellers, Trustee

Al Vitous, Trustee 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:  

Scott Coakley, Trustee

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 by President, Jim Watt at TTT.  The pledge of Allegiance was recited. Then the minutes from the October meeting were read.  The minutes with two minor adjustments was approved by Jim Watt, seconded by Al Vitous.  All in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Jerry Agrusa read the Treasury report.  The mowing of parks was paid for the 2024 season.  Kevin Mack approved the report as written, Chris Sellers seconded.  All in favor for the Treasury report as written.

NEW MEMBER:

Membership stands at 203

OLD BUSINESS

WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:

Water quality was the top number one priority with 74% of the surveys received. Whole lake water management is the best solution to control weeds in the lake.  There are over 400 lots on the lake with 240 that were sprayed in 2024.  A flyer will be done to provide lake owners the benefits to hand out plus put on LD website.  Starting in Spring 2025, go door-to-door to get signed petitions to agree on whole Lake management.   A majority of the votes is needed for SAD.   This is extra work but Amboy Township board should agree with positive  information to put on winter taxes for 2026 spray for the 12.6 miles of shoreline.  In front of the dam would have to be excluded.  

Lately beavers have been spotted in the lake. Residence can get rid of them if they are doing damage to the lake.

There is an excessive amount of geese migrating lately.  Goose round-up is not permitted anymore. Jerry will inquire to apply for goose removal in 2025 that the state would do if approved.  

PARKS:

The fence for the Pickleball court was installed. Kevin and Chris will look for signs and work on wording for the court. Might need landscaping but won’t do till next year. Doug Whittler has some pavers that he will donate to the court landscaping.  

Downspouts were fixed on the shelter house by Kevin. He also would like to move the teeter totter more to the north.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

No events for the rest of the year.

RENTALS:

There are a couple of short term rentals still advertising on various websites. Steps will be taken in order to stop this. 

TRAILERS:

No conversation on this subject at this meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

Radar Speed limit signs on East Diane have been suggested like the ones on Woodbridge that were donated.  These were installed by the county.  The safety speed of East Diane is 15 mph.  

Cellers Road near Hillsdale Rd. has a big crack and ask county to maintain.

Underground telephone lines were cut and are exposed on the north side of the lake. Don’t know the reason why ditches are being filled in.  Jim will inquire at Amboy Twsp meeting.  

LDCA and Friends of LD are working on a LD phone directory to be distributed in 2025.

A seminar to learn water testing is being held on April 25th weekend in Muskegon. Instead of paying the state, have 2 volunteers take the class to get water samples.

Jim Watt resigned as President of LDCA.  Chris Sellers made a motion to accept Jim’s resignation as President, Nancy seconded. All in favor.

Chris made a motion to assign Treasurer to Jim Watt, Al seconded.  All in favor.

Chris made a motion to assign Jerry Agrusa as President of LDCA, Jim seconded.  All in favor.  

Positions were accepted and all agreed.

At 10:33, Jim Watt made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Al Vitous seconded the motion. All agreed and the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy Bell