Asylum Lake Policy & Management Council
Thursday, 14 August 2008
7:00p.m.
Parkview Hills Clubhouse
3707 Greenleaf Circle

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 7:00p.m.

 

II.   Roll Call

a. Sign-In Roster
Council Members Present: Paul MacNellis, Tim Holysz, Bill Hughes (alt. for ECC), Tyler Bassett, Bob Nagler, Mark Hoffman, Duane Hampton  
Guests Present: Cari DeLong (Council Coordinator), Kay Chase (alt. for KEC), Philip Mcklin

III.   Adoption of Agenda
 14 August 2008 meeting agenda was approved.

 

IV.   Approval of 08 May 2008 Meeting Minutes
Duane moved to approve the 08 May 2008 meeting minutes. Tyler seconded. All in favor.

 

V.          Old Business

VI.            New Business

a.     Kalamazoo Community Foundation Quarterly Report
Cari DeLong

Cari handed out copies of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation quarterly report and went over the details with the Council.

 

b.     Council Seat Re-appointments
Paul MacNellis

Paul announced the Council members who are up for re-appointment. He will be sending out emails to each member’s organization chair asking for appointments.

 

VII.         Project/Special Committee Reports

a.     Research/Education Committee
Cari DeLong

 

·         Cari reported on several applications that were approved by the Research/Education Committee. This included the Geoscience’s Hydrogeology Course, a Michigan Youth Convention garlic mustard pull, a Milkweed Chemical Defense in Response to Herbivore project, an MSU Switchgrass Gene Flow project, and a Freshwater Ecology Course.

·         Cari explained that Dr. Kohler’s Freshwater Ecology Course was approved by the Research/Education Committee to perform water quality and benthic organism analysis at Asylum Lake during a few Saturdays in the fall semester. The data collected by this class will be part of the continued monitoring of the lake health. His class requires a budget of $3350 for various sampling materials and reagents. Cari and Paul had discussed the possibility of using surplus money left over in the water quality study account. After paying for the water quality study, Kieser & Associate’s total bill was below their estimate, as were Dr. Koretsky and Dr. Kohler. There is a balance of approximately $4,000 left in the account. As a continuation of the water quality study, Paul and Cari thought it was appropriate to use the extra money to fund Dr. Kohler’s class. Cari asked the Council for permission to use the surplus funds from the water quality study account.

·         There was a discussion over whether to use these funds for the Freshwater Ecology course.

·         Mark asked whether the materials purchased for this class would be available for continuing monitoring at Asylum Lake.

·         Bob stated that since this project will be an ongoing expense, grant money should be found to support it.

·         Kay raised concern with purchasing materials and possible problems with ownership.

·         Duane responded that equipment is most beneficial in the hands of who is using it. Dr. Kohler is not asking for a lot of money.

·         Mark expressed concern that the results from this study be available to everyone and maybe placed on the website.

·          Since there was not a quorum at the meeting; the Council could not vote on this topic. Because this issue is time sensitive, the Council decided it would be best to send notification to all Council members and ask that they vote through email.   

 

 

 

b.      Operations Committee

No report.

c.     PR Subcommittee

No report.

 

d.    Trails Subcommittee

No report.

 

e.     Construction Subcommittee
Paul MacNellis

Motion: Duane Hampton moved that the Council proceed with the Winchell Entrance project as rapidly as possible for public safety reasons. Tim seconded. There was not a quorum and therefore no voting could take place.

An email was sent on 08/22/08 asking for Council Members to vote on Permission to proceed with the construction of the Winchell Entrance as designed by Site Design Solutions.
Council Members in favor: Mark Hoffman, Tyler Bassett, Frank Wolf, Bob Nagler, Chuck Ide, Tim Holysz, Steve Kohler, Paul MacNellis, Duane Hampton, Tom Edmonds, Bill Hughes (alternate for Bill Steinmann)
Council Members opposed: none
Council Members who did not vote: Bill Steinmann, Ann Paulson, Cam Vossen

·         Paul reported that the final copy of the Winchell Entrance re-design project, including construction specs and documents, has been completed by Site Design Solutions. Paul passed out copies of the sketch-up drawings as well as the specs and planting list for the project. The estimated budget for this project is approximately $70,000.

 

·         Duane asked about the urgency of this project concerning public safety issues.

 

·         Paul stated there had been two reported slip and falls during the winter. This project could be started this fall if the Council approved it. It would be about a three week long project.

 

·         Motion: Duane moved that we proceed with this project as rapidly as possible for public safety reasons, among others. Tim seconded.

 

·         Because there was not a quorum present it was decided that this issue would be sent to all Council members and voted on through email.  

·         Kay questioned whether the issue of using limestone in the design had been resolved.

·         Paul and Tim stated that the type of limestone used in this design is very thick and durable and commonly used for landscape purposes.

·         Bob noted that signage is not included in the budget.

·         Paul stated that there is a respite area at the top of the hill included in this design and signage is intended for this area but it is not included in the budget. He has looked into signage from Pannier Signs and estimates were around $1000.

·         Paul showed blue prints from L.L. Harris & Associates for the spillway between Asylum and Little Asylum Lakes re-design project. The Construction Committee just met with Larry Harris and he is very close to completion. The design includes building a plateau above the culvert between Asylum and Little Asylum Lakes, mitigating the erosion with stone walls, and adding a path leading to a respite area down by the stream. The area around the west end of the spillway next to Asylum Lake will be cleared and planted. Stone dust would be used for the surface of the trail and respite areas. It drains well, packs solid and is wheelchair friendly.

 

·         Paul also explained the progress of the third construction project. L.L. Harris & Assoc. is re-designing the Parkview entrance next to Little Asylum Lake. All parking at this entrance will be eliminated. A parking area will be added next to the sidewalk entrance off of Parkview. This area was chosen for public safety reasons. The parking lot will be joined with existing trails.

 

·         There was discussion as to the vegetation list proposed by L.L. Harris & Assoc. intended for the area to the east of the spillway, facing Asylum Lake. No conclusion was reached.

 

 

f.       Management Plan Subcommittee
Cari DeLong

Cari gave an update on the progress of the management plans. She has almost completed the four remaining plans. These include the marsh, wet meadow, Asylum Lake and Little Asylum Lake habitats. These will be reviewed by the management plan committee and sent out to the Council for review before the September meeting.

 

 

VIII.     Public Comments

·         Mark had a concern with the Council voting through email since it excludes public comment.

·         Phil noted that the beach on the north side of Asylum Lake is very important for turtles laying eggs. He has seen painted, snapping and map turtles there. Map turtles are a species of special concern. He wanted to know if there was a way to prevent raccoons from raiding the turtle nests.

·         Tim mentioned that it is very difficult to stop raccoons and the only way is to use a short electric fence.

·         Tyler mentioned that this is not a new problem and solutions could be researched.

·         Bob noted that this beach is a popular place for dogs to swim and dig. They might be part of the problem.

·         Paul stated that if it is appropriate we could protect the area. However, we have to decide if we want to intervene with a natural process.

·         Bob mentioned that this is one of the educational processes that occur at the property.

·         Duane mentioned that when a species of special concern is involved; people intervene.

·         Phil brought up concern about trash left in fishing spots, especially along the north side.  

IX.            Council/Staff Comments

See “public comment” section.

 

 

X.      Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30p.m.