Lake Martha Association

Meeting Minutes

Monday, May 20, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 7:11pm at the home of Frank and Sara Forsberg – 7688 5^th Street SE.  There were 14 members in attendance. 

The minutes from the April 22^nd meeting were accepted as typed. 

Bill Tregaskis requested that the agenda for the following meeting be added to the minutes in the future.

Joy Morris preceded the Treasurer’s Report, which is as follows, by stating that the Savings Account must have a minimum of $100.00 or service charges will be applied.

Lake Martha Association – Treasurer’s Report

Some people have yet to pay their 2002 annual dues – please forward the money to Joy ASAP.

The installation of the grinder pumps was started 2 weeks ago.

There were several examples of residents having difficulties with Wright-Hennepin in regards to the electrical work for the grinder pumps.  The difficulties ranged from extremely high quotes to no returned phone calls.  Kevin Potter expressed confusion as to a reason for these difficulties.  He said that there is suppose to be a set quote from Wright-Hennepin for all residents of Lake Martha - $275.00 that includes 20 ft. from the pump & $9.00 per ft. for trenching.  There could only be an increase to that quote if variances occur in one’s situation regarding Federal circuit breakers, sub boxes, false ceilings, etc.  Those who had had problems with Wright-Hennepin mentioned that they were going to have the work completed by Dane Olson with Pro Electric – a friend of Julie & Lon Voigt.

Bill Tregaskis discovered that MN Gas will come to mark the gas lines of one’s property with a two (2) day notice when he and Bob Halagan decided to rent a trencher to do that work themselves.  It was mentioned that Gopher One will come and mark all lines – gas, phone, and electrical – the amount of necessary notice was unknown.

The PCA says that only silver nitrate could be sprayed on the Lake, but it is too late at this time of the season. 

Craig Kasa reported on the findings of weed harvest in the Lake.  It would cost $2.65 per linear ft. with an 1800-ft. commitment.  The company would start cutting 6 inches from shore and continue out 100 ft.  It would be able to do the cutting during the second week in June, which an early date is necessary, since the curly leaf weed is falls by July 4^th.  The company would need a site to dump the weeds within three (3) miles and the Lake Association would have to pull the permit.  Bruce Biederman believes that a permit is valid for two (2) or three (3) years.  Bill Tregaskis will confirm the time limit of such a permit.  Jeannie Tregaskis said that Harvey’s Aquatics is the company that harvested the Lake two (2) years ago for $2.00 ft.  Jeannie Tregaskis and Julie Kasa will follow up with the two companies and notify the Lake residents via e-mail of the findings and then complete the scheduling of the weed harvest.

Joy Morris stated that Lake Martha residents are supposed to use the compost site by the Rockford Town Hall on 14.

Poisoning the Lake was mentioned as a possible solution to the weed problem.  It would be a three- (3) year process that would kill out the entire Lake habitants – weeds and fish.  A concern of overflow into Lake Charlotte with the poison was expressed.  Steve Hancock proposed using this method as a “last ditch resort” and to wait a couple of years to see if the Lake can rejuvenate itself, since the cows are gone and the sewer will be in, thus less pollutants will be released into the Lake.  There was much support of this suggestion, thus it was concluded to wait and see how the Lake does over the next couple of years.

There are a couple of inches of sediment in the Lake Charlotte culvert and nothing is flowing.  Gary Jackson or Frank Forsberg are usually the people who clean the culvert.

Bill Tregaskis reported that Lake Martha will have a permanent plaque on the Band Shell, as a donation of the $1,000.00 level was reached.

Dave Tabbut mentioned that the Orchestra will be playing a free concert at the new Band Shell on June 9^th at 7:00pm.  The concert will be moved to the High School auditorium if rain.

The inquiring of group rates for professional lawn fertilizing and weed control has been tabled until next year because of the trenching for the sewer project.  Angela Miller has current information for those who are still interested this year.

The Lake Martha Summer Picnic has been tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 17^th.  It will be located on the Scott and the Tregaskis connecting lawns.  The alternative date being considered is Saturday, August 10^th.  The Lake Martha Summer Committee members are Jeannie Tregaskis, Mary Leffler, and Angela Miller.  Please contact one of them with ideas or to volunteer your help.

The Lake Martha Hospitality Committee has a current fund of $50.00.  That donation was from Julie Voigt when Joy Morris refinanced with Julie’s company.  The Lake Martha Hospitality Committee members are Sara Forsberg and Julie Kasa.  Please contact either of them with events for them to cover or to volunteer your help.

Mike Rydberg said that there are technical problems with the Lake Martha web site and he currently can not get into it.  Jim Matson came back and has offered his help, since he is the one who got the free server for the Association.  Mike plans to have the Lake Association minutes and agendas on the web site.  He also plans to have any softball updates.  There will possibly be a “For Sale” section on the site.  Currently Frank Forsberg has a boat lift for sale – contact him for details.

The Lake Charlotte and Lake Martha combined garage sale was a success, even though it occurred on a rainy day.  This may become an annual event.

An interest in having the roads around Lake Martha was expressed by Bill Tregaskis and confirmed by several others.  An objection would be increased speed of cars on the roads.  Supposedly the Rockford Township has $400,000.00 put away for such a purpose, yet no one has requested it.  Thoughts are that Rockford Township would pay 50% to have the roads paved, but not 100%.  Thus, there would be another assessment on top of the current sewer one.  Everyone is suppose to be able to get a property tax deduction this year from the sewer assessment – contact your accountant for clarification of this subject.  In years past, the Rockford Township has said “no” to paying anything towards having the roads around Lake Martha paved at many town meetings.  The reasoning was that the roads would be torn up as utility lines, sewer lines, etc. were put in.  It was stated that water is an annex issue.  Making Lake Martha it’s own township and getting annexed by St. Michael was proposed.  An opposition to that suggestion was that Rockford does do some road maintenance around Lake Martha.  Bill Tregaskis will talk to Lake Charlotte to determine any interest and then will talk to both Associations about getting the topic put on the Rockford Township Meeting Agenda.

Joy Morris was given bank statements through the 1980’s when she became Treasurer this year.  She proposed to throw away all statements except the last ten- (10) years – for audit purposes.  This action was unanimously approved by all in attendance.

Craig and Julie Kasa agreed to take over the duty of measuring the water clarity with the secchi disc and reporting it to the DNR on a weekly basis.  Dave Tabbut has been doing it for the past 15 years.

Bruce Biederman motioned to adjourn the meeting.  Julie Kasa seconded the motion.  The meeting adjourned at 8:14pm.

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