INLAND LAKES P & R DISTRICT #1 TOWNSEND, WISCONSIN 2013 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER

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1 INLAND LAKES P & R DISTRICT #1 TOWNSEND, WISCONSIN 2013 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER THE ANNUAL MEETING IS SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 AT THE TOWNSEND TOWN HALL. STARTING TIME IS 9:00 A.M. IMPORTANT VOTE TO CHANGE DISTRICT FUNDING As part of the 2014 budget, District members will be voting at the annual meeting on a change to the current Inland Lakes P & R District funding process. The District currently has a flat rate annual charge of $60.00 per property owner, regardless of the number of individual parcels owned. This fee is our primary source of revenue and is used for weed harvesting, maintenance, utilities, and other district expenditures. According to Chapter 33 of the Wisconsin Statues, which governs lake districts, there are three methods of funding lake districts: 1. Mill Rate Levy (tax % levied on all taxable properties within the district). 2. Special Charge (flat rate assessment on all taxable properties for annual expenditures). 3. Special Assessments (flat rate assessment on all taxable properties for specific larger capital projects). Our lake district uses the Special Charge assessment. The current charge of $60.00 has been assessed per property owner, not per taxable property. To be consistent with the intent of state statues, we need to either change the assessment to $60.00 per taxable property (as is the normal case with all tax assessments) or change to a mill rate tax levy on all taxable properties. In order to have our current 2013 tax levy revenue under a mill rate system, the tax levy would be approximately.04% of property values. Our proposed 2014 budget lists tax levy revenue of $43,200 which is based on $60.00 per taxable property versus property owner. This is an increase of $9,720 and represents 162 lake district parcels which have never been assessed the normal $ To get this increased tax levy with a mill rate, the tax levy would be about.05% of property values. We are not proposing to increase the $ The last time the tax levy was increased was 1997, when the levy went from $50.00 to $ In the meantime, all expenditures have increased, as well as the cost of treating Eurasian Water Milfoil. If the budget is not approved with the change to $60.00 per parcel, we will need to change our assessment to a mill rate tax levy to be consistent with state statues. BUDGET REVIEW Due to a number of changes to the format of the budget and anticipated additional expenses, the 2013 budget has been revised. The revised 2013 budget and the 2014 budget will both need to be approved at the annual meeting (see page 6).

2 INLAND LAKES DISTRICT CONTACTS Commissioners Additional Contacts Dwight Ziegler, Chairman Dick Culver, CBCW Dan Jones, Vice Chair Al Benson, Fisheries Committee Joanne Jones, Sec/Treas Joe Paul, Game Warden Town Rep (cell) (home) Ron Dietzen, Harvesting Mike Ashbeck, Townsend Police Tom Peterson, Board Member Troy Sherman, Rec Safety Officer (Open position) (Open position) WI DNR Hotline Dave Schroeder, Board Member National Forest Service Note: Joanne Jones is the newly appointed Town Rep to our Board of Commissioners effective 4/16/13. CHEMICAL AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL APPLICATION In 2012, chemical treatment using the herbicide Navigate in the granular form was used to treat 3 acres of Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) on the waters of the Townsend Flowage and 2 acres on Reservoir Pond. Liquid Navigate was used to treat 18 acres on the McCaslin Brook above the Burnt Dam road bridge. This stretch of the brook has been problematic due to an extremely dense growth of EWM. Past applications of granular Navigate have not produced the control needed. The granular form of Navigate is absorbed through the plant roots. Due to the water flow in this area, it probably has been diluted before being totally absorbed. This past year, liquid Navigate was applied on two consecutive days. This form of Navigate is a contact herbicide, meaning that it works through contact with the plants rather than being absorbed through its roots. The fall monitoring by Onterra LLC showed that the liquid Navigate was extremely effective in controlling the EWM in this area. The Townsend Flowage Association voluntarily drew down their flowage in the fall of 2012 to help freeze out EWM in this area. Prior drawdowns in other bodies of water in the state showed the freezing of these plants is a very effective method of killing EWM. Hopefully the combination of these two efforts will greatly assist us in controlling EWM in this area. The Inland Lakes District is working with a $65,199 grant from the Department of Natural Resources for the monitoring and control of EWM. This is a four year 25%/75% match grant. Two years have been completed and $32,239 remains to be spent. Due to the drawdown necessitated by the repair of the dam on Reservoir Pond and the drawdown to control EWM on the Townsend Flowage it s possible that no chemical treatment will be taking place this year. Any balance that remains will either be utilized in 2014 or an extension of one year will be requested.

3 SUNSET BAR & GRILL SUMMER CALENDAR OF EVENTS Below are the events planned this summer at the Sunset Bar & Grill. This is the only bar & grill on our district waters plan on attending these fun filled events. These are great opportunities to meet other district property owners and support our local business! May 26 Cabin Fever Meltdown June 22 Motorcycle Ride July 6 Elvis & Friends Sept 7 Corn Roast Raffles are held throughout the afternoons of the Cabin Fever Meltdown and the Corn Roast. Proceeds from the Cabin Fever Meltdown raffles go to local charities. The Corn Roast raffles are handled by your Lake District s Fisheries Committee and all profits are used to stock fish, support area kids fishing tournaments and to improve the overall health of our waters. FISHERIES COMMITTEE UPDATE Let me start by thanking everyone who helped support our fund raising efforts last year by purchasing our Bills for Gills raffle tickets and buying raffle tickets at Sunset s Corn Roast. A recap of the Fisheries Committee fund balance follows this article. These funds will go a long way in helping preserve and protect our lake system and help with restocking, improving fish habitat, and possibly partnering with the DNR in some fish research of our waters. It is uncertain what effect the lake draw down will have on our fish populations. We are hopeful that the mortality rate will be minimal but we do know that some fish were lost through the dam during the water release. We have been working with Chip Long, our fish biologist from the DNR, and he has put together a plan to begin restocking in The DNR normally restocks game fish every other year. However, due to the lake draw down, they will be stocking every year for the next 5 years. Then they will re-evaluate. They do not provide stocking of pan fish so this is where we will be concentrating a portion of our efforts and funds. Perch, crappie, bluegills and more will be our responsibility and we will be working with the biologist to determine the ideal time and water conditions for stocking. Details of these plans will be explained at the annual meeting. The funds that the fisheries committee raises through events (and donations) are not part of the general funds of the district and cannot be used for any other expense other than improving our fish populations and habitat as deemed by the committee. The committee also sponsors some fishing events such as our Kids (and Adults) Annual Ice Fishing Event held each February on our lake. Fisheries committee members are Al Benson Chairman ( , al@centralfileinc.com), Lee Gerndt, John (Mitch) Mitchell, Mike Rasmussen, and commissioner reps Dan Jones & Joanne Jones. Please call or me anytime with any questions or comments. We would also like to add two additional members to the committee, so if you are interested, please attend the June annual meeting or contact me. Once again, thank you for your support. - Al Benson, Fisheries Committee Chairman

4 FISHERIES COMMITTEE CORN ROAST FUND RECAP Corn Roast Revenues Auction proceeds $ 1, Boards 1, Football pools 2, Tips from corn roast volunteers Special & spin raffles 8, Total Corn Roast Revenue $14, Corn Roast Expenditures Special raffle payout to winners $ 1, Purchase of gas cards for pool winners Purchase of table for raffle and Bell s recognition Beef tenderloins for raffles Tom Derrickson to help pay for tent Sunset, 60 thank you bar chips for major donors Total Corn Roast Expenditures $ 2, /11/12 Beginning Fish Fund Balance $ 4, /31/12 Fish Fund Balance $16, WEED HARVESTING As in the past, weed harvesting will take place PER DNR GUIDELINES. These guidelines state that mechanical harvesting can only take place in MAIN TRAVEL ROUTES and TO PERMIT ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL DOCKS. These guidelines also state that no harvesting will be permitted within 30 feet of any shore or dock. In addition, since the harvesters need at least 24 inches of water to operate without getting stuck, there may be areas of our water system that we are unable to get to for cutting. If, during the summer months, you have concerns about an area that may need cutting, please contact Ron Dietzen, Dwight Ziegler or Dan Jones. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE HARVESTING OPERATORS DIRECTLY. THEY ONLY CUT WHERE THEY ARE TOLD TO CUT BY A COMMISSIONER. The Inland Lakes District Board of Commissioners recently purchased a 1991 BMY 5-ton 6 x 6 army cargo truck for around $4200. This truck has power steering and automatic transmission. The truck will be used to haul weeds and to transport the weed harvester. This truck replaces the old blue truck that we used for many years. Since it had no power steering and a manual transmission requiring double clutching, it was extremely difficult to maneuver and operate. It will be sold for whatever we can get. The new truck will be a pleasant upgrade for our workers.

5 WEBSITES This is the 3 rd year for our website. If you haven t already checked it out, please do so. On this website you ll find the meeting schedule, meeting minutes, meeting agendas, updates & pictures of the dam repair, commissioner contact information, CBCW contact information, the budget, etc. In addition, any pictures that are available from area events will be posted there. This website is a great way to stay informed on what s going on in your lake district. SIGN UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WEBSITE HOME PAGE TO RECEIVE NOTICES OF UPDATES TO THE WEBSITE. The website was designed and is maintained by Kari Hinkens, a district property owner. She and her husband Dave have been paying for the website s operation since we started it. Whenever you see Dave or Kari, please thank them for their work on this. Townsend information LOON WATCH PROGRAM LoonWatch, a program of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, works to protect common loons and their aquatic habitats through education, monitoring and research. LoonWatch plays a critical role in raising citizen awareness about loons, helping people make the connection between how they use lakes and the ability of loons to flourish on those lakes. Several district members participate in the LoonWatch program by monitoring lakes and recording loon activities such as migration, nesting, chick rearing and chick survival on our district waters. Anyone interested in being a new volunteer and recording loon activity on their lake should contact Joanne Jones the more volunteers we have monitoring and reporting loon activity, the more accurate our information will be. For more information on the LoonWatch program, go to loonwatch.org.or northland.edu/loonwatch. Reminder loons are protected from harassment by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Loons should be given 200 feet of clearance because chicks can easily be drowned in a boat wake. CLEAN BOATS/CLEAN WATER The CBCW volunteers provided over 779 hours in 2012 despite a shortened boating season. The 2013 boating season may be an interesting one as we watch the lake level return to normal. We need volunteers to inspect boats as they enter and leave our lakes, and to teach boaters to inspect their own boats every time they leave the lake. If you want to volunteer or if you have questions on the CBCW program, contact the CBCW Coordinator, Dick Culver. Our CBCW program is conducted at our three major boat landings. If interested in volunteering this year, please contact one of the below boat landing captains: Horn Lake landing: Margaret Lowery Bert Hiebing Burnt Dam landing: Dick Culver Water Street landing: Gus Legler CBCW COORDINATOR: Dick Culver

6 2013 COMMISSIONER MEETING SCHEDULE Commissioner meetings for the rest of 2013 are listed below. All meeting are Tuesday mornings beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Townsend Town Hall. June 18 2 nd quarter commissioners meeting August 13 3 rd quarter commissioners meeting October 15 4 th quarter commissioners meeting COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS Commissioner terms expiring this year are Tom Peterson and Dan Jones. Anyone who is interested in running for one of these two positions should contact Dan Jones at Both positions are 3 year terms. In order to vote, you must attend the annual meeting proxy votes are not allowed. You must also be a U.S. citizen over 18 years of age who is either an elector (a qualified voter who resides in the district) or an owner of property within the district. Since Bill Dutton did not run for Townsend Town Board Supervisor, he is no longer the town rep on our board of commissioners. The Town of Townsend appointed Joanne Jones, a newly elected town Supervisor as their town rep on our board. Per state statues, vacancies to elected positions are filled by a majority vote of the board. Since she previously held an elected position, the commissioners appointed Dan Jones to fulfill the remaining 2 years of her elected term at an additional commissioners meeting which was held April 18, AGENDA FOR JUNE 8, 2013 ANNUAL MEETING 1. 9:00 a.m., Call to order Dwight Ziegler 2. Approval of 2012 annual meeting minutes Joanne Jones 3. Audit of 2012 financials Julie Schroeder 4. Treasurer s report, 2013 to date Joanne Jones 5. Review/approval of revised 2013 budget Joanne Jones 6. Review/approval of 2014 budget, including tax funding change Joanne Jones 7. Operating Reports a. Eurasian Water Milfoil Dwight Ziegler b. Weed harvesting/equipment Ron Dietzen c. Clean Boats/Clean Waters Dick Culver 8. Water refill update Dwight Ziegler 9. Fish Committee update Al Benson 10. Commissioner nominations & elections Dan Jones 11. Discussion 12. Adjournment