The Combined Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District
Thursday, September 15, 2016
6:30 pm
Lake Delhi Trustees Administration Building
Delhi, IA
The regular meeting of the Lake Delhi Recreational Facility and Water Quality District was called to order by President Steve Leonard at 6:33 pm.
Trustees present: Kramer, Leonard, Gifford, Havertape, Colgan
Trustees absent: Burger, Herman
Visitors: Chip Hughes, Jason Wenger, Don Dede, Jim Locke, Chloe Colgan, Donna Kunde, Larry Aschbrenner, John Zietlow
Recording secretary: Shelley Kallenbach
Motion to approve the agenda as read was made by Havertape, seconded by Kramer, motion approved.
Motion to approve the August 18, 2016 meeting minutes as posted made by Colgan, seconded by Gifford, motion approved.
Kramer read the payments. Payments in the amount of $20,956.06 for electricity, maintenance and supplies, asbestos inspection, lobbyist, safes, signage, office rent, insurance, internet, and LP gas were presented from the General Fund. Payments in the amount of $80,337.07 for dam operations, Phase 2 work, closing the service gates, engineering services, and fire extinguishers were presented from the Dam/Spillway Project Fund. Motion to approve the payments as read made by Havertape, seconded by Colgan. It was confirmed that it is possible to combine funds in the future. Motion approved.
Kramer read the financial reports. The General Fund had revenues of $24,239.77 and expenditures of $4,740.51, ending August at $255,972.84. The Debt Service Fund had revenues of $45,288.87 from Delaware County and no expenditures, ending August at $74,231.07. The Dam/Spillway Fund had revenues of $1,761.66 from interest and expenditures of $52,114.29, ending August at $2,254,314.51. Motion to file the financial reports as read made by Gifford, seconded by Colgan. The need for an October planning meeting for next fiscal year’s budget was discussed. Motion approved.
The Board considered possible action on quotes for a holding tank for the former LDRA building, now used as the Dam Office. The existing tank does not meet requirements for separation from the property. Proposals for a 1,500-gallon holding tank northwest of the building meeting the 200 feet separation requirements were solicited. Three quotes were received: Oasis Plumbing for $3,829.00, Mark Fink for $4,090.00, and Groth Services $4,530.00. It was confirmed that the quotes were for equal work and more could be added to this tank if future needs required. It is believed that Oasis can complete this before the end of October. Kramer motioned to approve the Oasis quote at $3,829.00, Gifford seconded, motion approved.
Action on the south slope of the dam agenda item was moved until John Zictlow arrived at the meeting.
The Board considered action on guardrail work. Colgan states that a guardrail is required on the north side of the dam to allow for a snowplow in winter. A quote was obtained for $4,800 from Lovewell Fencing, the usual company used for this type of work. One Call must also be contacted, and then the guardrail will be installed in about the next week. This will be a first step toward preventing unauthorized access at that point, as well. Kramer motioned to approve, Havertape seconded, motion approved.
Colgan made the Board aware of maintenance on asphalt work on the north end of the dam. This will be work inside the fence and will be one of the last things required to be done. No approval was sought at this time.
The Board heard committee updates.
The Beach Maintenance Committee states that Randy Rattenborg has come to survey the property. He has finished Lost Beach and is working on North Beach and other areas. Kramer and her husband have been monitoring trash cans on Lost Beach. Rich Hughes and Chip Hughes have been very active with maintenance on Lost Beach and it looks incredible. The Committee will be sitting down with Chip to make a maintenance plan for Lost Beach for the rest of the year and next year. This will include discussion on the Porta-Potty situation.
The Lake Recreational Maintenance Committee states that they are working on getting the property fully surveyed because it was not all originally marked. An email will also be sent out soliciting volunteers to assist with dam office upkeep work.
The Dredging Committee states that Stanley has put together a comprehensive plan related to dredging. Their main recommendation is to build as soon as possible a siltation trap near the Cedars.
Colgan of the Dam Operations Committee states that June 24th was the day the gates were closed, and on August 21st water was flowing over the spillway. The gates have been fully closed since. The lake level is based on water flows. Currently it is at its lowest operating point and could go between 4 to 5 inches higher as flows increase, and the gates will not be lifted until it reaches 7/10ths of a foot higher, which would require flows of near 500 cfs.
The Water Quality Committee states that it is working with Mary Skopek with the DNR/Iowater to start the water quality process back in action. He is working on a date for a workshop to train volunteers to test 10 points once a month and after major water events. He is looking for 15-20 water testers. Testing would take about 10 minutes a spot. Also, he highly recommends viewing the Turtle Creek Cove area as the project is nearly complete and the DNR has been very impressed with their proactive work.
The Funding/Finance Committee had no updates.
The Legislative Committee states it will be meeting next week with legislators to discuss ongoing initiatives.
The Board considered possible work on the south slope of the dam near the next fencing. John Zictlow and Donna Kunde offer to start a native prairie at this position, which would be both aesthetically pleasing and also supportive of water quality measures. Zictlow presented a proposal for seed to obtain and methods on how to begin this native prairie. This would include killing the existing plant life, mowing the stubble, and planting the seed this year. This project would be a 5-year project as it would take 5 years for the plants to fully produce. Only minor mowing work would be required the first and second years. These plants have a deeper root system and will hold soil to help prevent runoff and improve water quality. Zictlow offers to be the project manager and will not charge for the time to manage and work the project. Kramer motions to approve John Zictlow for no more than $1,000 for a native prairie project on the south slope, Colgan seconded, motion approved.
The floor was opened to public comment.
Chip Hughes states that he intentionally held back one load of stone on Lost Beach and the work there has been completed. He expressed concern that someone used Roundup on trees that were growing on Lost Beach. He states that there is no liability on thorns or thorn material and urges the Board to consider keeping thorny bushes on Lost Beach intact.
Jim Locke requests an update on FEMA and that it be on the agenda for next month.
Larry Aschbrenner asks if a guardrail will be adequate to prevent unauthorized access. It was stated that this will be the first step, but an additional fence can be added along with no parking signs should unauthorized access continue.
Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Gifford, seconded by Colgan. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 pm.