Asylum Lake Policy & Management Council Meeting

Thursday, 8 June 2006

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 7:09p.m.

 

 

II.              Roll Call

a. Sign In Roster

Council Members Present: Steve Kohler, Michael Nassaney, Chuck Ide, Pat Klein, Mark Hoffman, Paul MacNellis, Tim Holysz, Duane Hampton, Bill Steinmann, Ann Paulson, Bob Nagler

Guests Present: Cari DeLong

 

 

III.          Adoption of Agenda

Michael Nassaney moved to adopt the 8 June 2006 meeting agenda. Ann Paulson seconded.  All in favor. None opposed.

 

 

IV.            Approval of 9 March 2006 Meeting Minutes

Ann Paulson moved to approve the 9 March 2006 meeting minutes. Michael Nassaney seconded.  All in favor. None opposed.

 

 

V.                Old Business

a.     Asylum Lake Preserve Management Plan Progress

Forest Management Plan, Cari DeLong

Forest 1 Management Plan was passed out to Council.  Cari explained that this is the 4th management plan completed and given to the Council.  The next plan, forest 2, will be given to the council at the next meeting.  The remaining 4 plans will be written after the water quality study has been completed.

 

Paul explained that the management plans will be compiled at the end for the Council to vote on.  They have been given out one by one so that the Council will have a chance to look them over as the process moves forward.

 

 

b.     Dogs at Asylum Lake

Tom Edmonds, Paul MacNellis

Paul explained that a contract was drafted between WMU and animal control to do patrols at Asylum Lake.  County raised the hourly rate from $24 to $34.  Revised contract was approved at city meeting last night. They will start next week.  Animal control officers will be uniformed and on foot.  They will ticket visitors with unleashed dogs. It will not be a joint effort with WMU police.  They will be patrolling 6-8 hours a week in two hour blocks at random.  Maybe decrease hours after a few months.  Signs will be posted at entrances. 

 

 

c.     Water Quality Study

Paul MacNellis

Paul explained that Bob Beam has signed the request for money.  Kieser & Associates will be starting in August.  Dr. Carla Koretsky will be taking sediment samples with Kieser.  Dr. Steve Kohler will be taking water samples.  The Physical Plant will do a study of the bathymetry of both lakes.  Cari is writing a protocol for the use of vehicles and boats at the property during the study.

 

Michael raised concern over whether or not there was a subcommittee formed for the study and whether anything was added to the original proposal since its approval.  If formed the committee should have to report back to the Council. 

 

Pat added that when a committee makes recommendations it should come back to the Council.  Her interpretation of Management Framework part 5 under “Powers and Duties”. 

 

Paul stated that Bill, Duane, Steve and Chuck were on the subcommittee.  The Council voted at the last meeting to allow the subcommittee to make final decisions and approve the study.  There were some things added to the original study.  This was discussed at the last meeting.  The total came to $52,000.  The intention was to give a report tonight.  Nothing in Framework states that giving a committee the authority to approve a study is not allowed.   

 

It was agreed the Council was justified in giving the subcommittee authority to approve the study.


 

 

VI.            New Business

a.  Boardwalk (west end of lake)

      Mark Hoffman, Cal Mastin

Mark explained that the issue of the boardwalk had come up at the last ALPA meeting. Looking for a progress report from the Council.  Encourage the Council to make it a priority.  Have received some donations and pledges. 

 

Tim requested that ALPA do research on materials and cost and then come back to Council. Would also like to see Kieser study and management plans completed before approving.

 

Michael stated that this Council was not prepared before to approve the boardwalk until the management plan was completed. Nothing has changed.

 

Paul explained that he is in favor of a memorial for Monty and Renay Piercey but not necessarily a boardwalk. Little Asylum Lake walkway will begin at the end of June. The city will eventually be putting in a walkway along Drake. We could collaborate. When the city has a design we can tie in a lookout area that could be dedicated.

 

It was decided that Mark and Paul would meet to discuss future progress.

 

 

 

b.     Rainy Day Reserve

Motion: Duane Hampton moved to establish a budget subcommittee to look into the Council’s   finances and related issues.  Chuck Ide seconded.  All in favor.  None opposed.

 

Mark presented information he gathered from talking to Jenny Grub from the KCF.  $77,000 in interest was made available to us in addition to what we have.  It would be good to have money set aside to pay for projects if we fall short a year.  Several options with money.  1. It could sit in a money market with 2-3% interest. 2. Re-invest back into endowment and increases the principle.  3. Establish rainy day fund.

 

Mark suggested we invest in a cd which earns 4%.  Require bookkeeping. Could set aside 10% of new money for rainy day fund.

     

This issue was discussed and it was decided the Council needs more information.  Paul suggested the Council invite Debra Chope Hughes to talk at a future meeting.

 

Duane Hampton moved to establish a budget subcommittee to look at this and related issues.  Chuck Ide seconded.  All in favor.  None opposed.

 

Budget subcommittee - Duane and Mark.


 

 

c.     Landtrust Alliance Tour

Mark Hoffman, Cari DeLong

Cari explained that she attended a day long Landtrust Alliance Conference in March.  Leaders included David Borneman, Lisa Brush, Nate Fuller, and Lisa Smith.  Second half of the day was spent at Asylum Lake with Cari and Mark Hoffman as guides.  The purpose being to facilitate discussion on different management techniques. Summary of comments regarding Asylum Lake was passed out to Council.

 

Mark added that during the tour attention was brought to what is happening under the old oak trees that is preventing growth of oak saplings. David Borneman was an advocate of burning to allow growth of oaks.  We need to act soon and involve the community.  Invasives are taking over.

 

Management of Asylum Lake was discussed briefly. Nothing was concluded.

 

 

d.    Operations Committee

Michael Nassaney

Michael did not recall wanting to discuss the Operations Committee.

     

Paul explained that the Operations Committee, Chad, Kay, and Tom met this week to develop what they needed to operate their committee. Duties of R&E committee are to review applications. They can use the review panel in their process. Operations committee then oversees a project once it is approved. Make sure project is kept within approved parameters.  The Council could discuss how they feel the committee should be functioning.    

 

Duane mentioned they also oversee maintenance. 

 

 

VII.        Project/Special Committee Reports

a.     Research/Education Committee

Motion: Tim Holysz moved to approve the application for research at Asylum Lake submitted by the Geosciences Department to hold a Field Hydrogeology Course at Asylum Lake.  Ann Paulson seconded.  All in favor.  None opposed.

 

Chuck explained that the initial proposal included drilling.  Then after talking with Paul, Michael Durham of Geosciences decided not to drill at Asylum Lake. Proposal was resubmitted without drilling and committee hasn’t had time to look it over.

 

Duane gave a summary of the course. One week focuses on below surface geophysics. Students find targets buried under the ground. There is a monitoring and sampling week.  Samples are taken from the wells to determine the functioning of a lake hydrological system.  Water is pumped through wells to see the effects in well field 1.  They will be drilling wells at the BTR park for the rest of the weeks.

 

Duane explained that for the monitoring week the wells are flooded at 50-60 gallons a minute.  A hose is run down to empty the water into the lake.  Geosciences has been doing it since 1991 and it doesn’t appear to have an environmental effect. WMU vans are needed for students in case of thunderstorm.  Students have to be at the pump 24/7 for the pump test and bring their own vehicles. Course will start in middle of July.  Six to seven students per module.

 

Tim Holysz moved to approve the application for research at Asylum Lake for a Field Hydrogeology Course.  Ann Paulson seconded. All in favor.  None opposed.

 

 

b.     Operations Committee

No members of the committee were present.

 

 

VIII.    Public Comments

None.

 

 

IX.            Council/Staff Comments

Mark mentioned that Nate Fuller had talked at the last ALPA meeting.  Phragmites is a problem at Asylum Lake.  This is a good time to control it.

 

Paul explained that the best way to get rid of phragmites is to cut it then treat the stumps with Round-Up.  We need to control it but right now we are not set up for that. 

 

Tim stated that there are a lot of invasives that need to be dealt with. It gets back to the management plan and priorities.

 

 

X.                Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 8:42p.m.

 


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