Asylum Lake Policy & Management Council
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, 14 April 2005
7:00PM
3707 Greenleaf Circle
Parkview Hills

" The recorded comments below are expressions of council members
and are not approved policy until voted on. The statements were not
recorded verbatim and cannot be used as quotes. "

AGENDA:

I. Call to Order

Meeting was called to order at 7:00PM.

II. Roll Call

a. Sign-In Roster
Council Members Present: Mary Hosely, Tim Holysz, Duane Hampton, Mark Hoffman, Bob Nagler, Paul MacNellis, Michael Nassaney, Tom Edmonds, Todd Kesselring, and Chuck Ide.
Guests Present: Pat Klein, Kay Chase, Debra Chope Hughes, Cari DeLong, Keven Smith and Benjamin Offrink.

III. Adoption of Agenda

Moved to approve the agenda. Seconded. All in favor. None opposed.

IV. Presentation by Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Debra Chope Hughes

• Most recent statement for March of 2005 was passed out and explained by Debra. Background info on the endowment, spending policy and investment policy was explained.
• KCF made a grant for 3 year time period. 1.3 Million. 6% of the principle can be used for grants per year.
• It was made clear the Council would submit a grant proposal to Bob Beam, whom would approach the KCF for the money.
• There was question as to whether the parameters are subject to interpretation. Yes they are.
• Gifts have been given to the foundation. The foundation has invested the money. Last year the fund experienced a loss through the investments.
• No grants have been requested since the fund was created.
• An administrative fee is taken out which is capped.
• The question of whether there were circumstances under which Bob would request money from KCF and they would say no, was raised. There may be. The KCF would refer back to the letter of intent to best serve the donors.
• It was agreed that it would be beneficial for the KCF to look over the Conservation Agreement.
• It was made clear KCF doesn't want to dictate too much.
• Information regarding the methods of investing for the KCF was passed out and explained.
• Grant monies are kept liquid in order to keep them easily accessible.
• Explained that there are tax benefits for people donating money to the Asylum Lake fund.
• The question of whether a donation could be specified as either principle or grant making money was raised. It can be specified, however it is not encouraged. A donor could talk to KCF about a special project to donate to.
• If the Council decided on a project a Grant Request Form would need to be filled out.
• Once WMU makes a contribution there would be dollars available in the Agency Fund. At the moment there is no Agency Fund only a Donor Fund.

V. Approval of 10 February 05 Meeting Minutes and 10 March 05 Meeting Minutes

• Mike Nassaney moved to accept 10 February 05 Meeting Minutes. Mary Hosely seconded. All in favor. None opposed.
• Mike Nassaney moved to accept the 10 March 05 Meeting Minutes. Mark Hoffman seconded. All in favor. None opposed.

VI. Old Business

a. ALPA.. West Boardwalk Proposal
Cal Maston, Mark Hoffman

• At the last ALPA annual meeting Nate Fuller gave a presentation on boardwalks.
• An example of a boardwalk was passed around. It would be floating including space for wildlife to go underneath. Posts are driven in to stabilize.
• Issues such as the Nature Center Survey, observation decks etc. still need to be discussed.
• It was mentioned that the Council should deal with the extensiveness of the boardwalk before moving forward. There needs to be a vision for the area of what the Council would like to accomplish and what the impacts will be.
• There was question as whether animals would still have access to the shore. That issue needs to be looked into.
• There was concern that this boardwalk has become too complicated and will make too much of an impact on the landscape.
• There was suggestion that this project could be done as a development. It could start as just a pathway as a way to get walkers acquainted with the nature there.
• The subject of pedestrians walking dogs without leashes was brought up. The Council has yet to discuss whether or not dogs should be allowed on the property.
• It was brought up that the more accessible an area becomes there needs to be rules. There has been no discussion of rules there. The Council may be risking the contamination of the property by misuse. The University has had problems with this in the past.
• The Council needs to address how to enforce rules if that is what the Council wants. There was question as to whether the Council needs to set aside money for enforcement.
• ALPA was encouraged to come up with a concept including more details for a boardwalk to give the Council something to work with.
• It was suggested that it is premature to discuss specific plans for a boardwalk because the Council does not have an overall management plan.
• It was brought up that bringing the boardwalk to the Council at this point was to request involvement form the Council early in the process. It is too burdensome to put it all on ALPA.
• Bob Nagler mentioned a Management Policy had been drafted for the property in 1976.
• It was mentioned that benign neglect may be the best management of the property. The University has responded to calls for help on the property. Warned against over-management. An attempt to make the property user friendly should be Council's primary responsibility.
  
• Mark made it clear he would like to make the property more accessible for people with disabilities. Some improvement is needed - not necessarily the entire piece of property.
  
• It was suggested again that the Council needs a management plan due to all of the different visions for the property just within the Council.

b. Geo-Sciences Dept… Wells
Duane Hampton

Motion: Bob Nagler motioned for $11,539.79 to be sought from the KCF to be used by Geosciences for the abandonment of wells. Tom Edmonds supported.

Motion Amendment: Mark Hoffman moved to amend the motion to include; future KCF money cannot be allocated for future well abandonment from the Geosciences. Mary Hosely seconded. 9 in favor. 1 opposed. Motion was amended.

Motion was put to a vote. 6 in favor. 4 opposed. Motion was approved.

• Duane passed out a budget for his proposal to have students begin next week to abandon wells on the property. Proposal total is for $11,539.79.
  
• He requested the approval of the Council to use this money to remove the wells.
  
• There was question as to whether Bob Beam has been notified. Paul talked to him.
  
• Some of the wells will be left in for continuing education purposes.
  
• Will abandon about 32 wells and more will be cut down and closed up so they cannot be seen.
  
• That will include all of the wells in the lake.
  
• It was brought up that there are some wells on Little Asylum Lake that were not included on the map handed out by Duane. Duane explained the map included all of the wells that Geoscience Dept is aware of. There may be more.
  
• There was concern that these wells that will be abandoned should be documented and studied for historical value before tearing them down. It was determined that Paul, Mike and Duane could survey the wells and make the proper documentation before abandonment.
  
• It was made clear that the proposed $12,000 would be requested from the KCF.
  
• There was suggestion that projects should be listed and prioritized before making decisions. Instead of dealing with projects one by one.
  
• There was concern as to the future costs of capping and abandoning wells. It was made clear that the Geosciences Dept will fill out protocols for future well drilling. This process includes a plan for abandoning. Official procedure through DNR will be filled out to abandon wells.
  
• Whether there will be future well drilling is up to the Council.
  
• There was concern that voting on this project should not be rushed since it will set the precedent for future projects.
  
• There was question as to how this project fits into the management framework.
  
• It was proposed this project is consistent since there is some danger for water quality and they are an eyesore for the public. Passive recreation is enhanced when these pipes are cleared.
  
• It was added that the KCF will return the request if it is inconsistent.
• Bob Nagler motioned for the $11,539.79 to be sought from the KCF. Tom Edmonds supported.
  
• It was made clear that the 12,000 is much less than the Council would spend to hire a professional.
  
• There was question as to whether the proposal had changed since the last meeting. There are a few more wells added that will be abandoned.
  
• Since the workers are students, the Council will be contracting with the University. Therefore the University will cover workers comp.
  
• There was opposition to using KCF money for the removal of the wells since it should be Geosciences responsibility.
  
• It was suggested the Council should ask the University to pay for this internally.
  
• It was brought up that the financial state of the University is very poor and it is unlikely they could come up with the money.
  
• There was a suggestion that part of the Geoscience classes could include abandoning old wells.
  
• It was decided that there were two questions that needed to be answered by the Council. 1. Does the Council want this work done? 2. Where will the money come from?
  
• It was stated that when the Council took over the property it was under the presumption it would not cost the University any money to deal with the property and the Council is now encroaching on that.
  
• Council took over the property as is.
  
• Whether the problem was created or was a preexisting condition would make a difference.
• Bob Nagler motioned to have the wells removed as per the plan of Geosciences.
• Mark Hoffman moved to amend the motion to include; future KCF money cannot be allocated for future well abandonment from the Geosciences. Mary Hosely seconded. 9 in favor. 1 opposed.
• Motion was put to a vote. 6 in favor. 4 opposed. Motion was approved.
  
  

VI. New Business

• It was mentioned that at the Asylum Lake cleanup abandoned markers for projects were found on the property. These markers need to be addressed.
  
• Tim Holysz was going to report on a maintenance plan for Asylum Lake. This will be tabled until the next meeting.

VII. Special Committee Reports

• Operations Committee has not met.
  
• Research and Education Committee will be meeting next Tuesday.

VIII. Public Comments

None.

IX. Council/Staff Comments

• Landscape Services is planning a prescribed burn scheduled for the last two weeks in April depending on when conditions are right.
  
• Questions were raised as to the risks imposed on the wildlife of the prairie from a burn.
  
• It was suggested the Council should walk through the property before the burn.
  
• The walk-through could be a PR event in which Western could publicize.
  
• The difficulty would be in notifying people since there is not a lot of time before the burn.
  
• It was mentioned that there may not be a burn this year. If wait too long in the year, there will be too much smoke and the burn will kill plants.
  
• There was question as to whether there were activities on Asylum Lake that are not subject to the approval of the Council. Burning is allowed in the Management Framework so it does not have to be approved.
  
• It was mentioned that KCF information is for Council members only. The Council will receive quarterly statements from the KCF.
  
• Mary Hosely will be relocating.

X. Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55PM.

 

Previous Page