Spring, 2018 www.austinlakeportage.com Portage, Michigan Save the Date for the Annual Meeting: The annual meeting of the Austin Lake Riparians will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, from 7:00-8:30 PM at the Portage Library in the Austin Lake Meeting Room. Come meet your neighbors and learn more about your lake. Agenda: Call to order Pledge of allegiance Introduction of board members Introduction of guests President's report Treasurer's report Social Committee report Newsletter & Website report Lake Health Portage Environmental Board Update Sheriff s Department Boating Safety and Q & A Election of Officers Adjournment Attention All Riparians! Your ALR Board Needs your Help! The Austin Lake Governmental Lake Board (GLB) is currently facilitating Phase II of our Bio- Aeration Project which will end when funds from the current assessment are depleted sometime in late summer or early fall of 2020. The GLB has asked your Austin Lake Riparian Board of Directors to provide a recommendation for what, if any, lake improvement techniques they should consider for implementation in 2021 and perhaps beyond. To allow enough time to take public comment, research, consider and implement a future lake improvement project the GLB needs this recommendation by the late summer of 2019. The GLB is tasked (by the Portage City Council) to consider, implement and oversee lake improvement techniques whose implementation would achieve goals of controlling invasive weeds, decreasing muck levels and/or reducing noxious odor caused by decay of organic material in Austin Lake. Lake improvement techniques to be considered for recommendation must feasibly accomplish one or more of these goals. Your ALR Board WANTS YOUR INPUT Over the next eighteen (18) months your ALR Board plans to take the following steps: Hold a special ALR meeting during January or February 2019 to review current and potential projects, brainstorm new ideas and gather input from Austin Lake Riparians. Research and consider the feasibility of potential lake improvement techniques. Provide Riparians information about the effectiveness, cost and pros and cons of various lake improvement techniques such as dredging, weed control through use of chemicals, bio-aeration, and on- 1
land soil erosion and sedimentation control. Information pertaining to potential for lake improvement by doing nothing will be included as well. Conduct a survey of all Riparians to determine which, if any, techniques should be included in the recommendation to the GLB. This survey will be sent to each Riparian through a first-class mailing. Only one survey response per Riparian household will be counted (regardless of number of properties owned and number of adults in residence). Tabulate and consider survey feedback, submit a recommendation to the GLB and support them in any decision they should make. Your ALR Board will be communicating with Riparians through use of our quick contact email system and through Facebook. Please take this opportunity to Friend the Austin Lake Facebook page and provide your email address to AustinLakeRiparian@gmail.com or by clicking on the quick contact link at www.austinlakeportage.com. Your contact information will not be shared with any other organization or company and will only be used to provide Austin Lake related information to you. This is your chance to share in the effort to keep our lake healthy and useable for all. Please participate. By: Your Austin Lake Riparian Board of Directors What are the GLB and ALRB? By Luisa Alexander and Gary Hahn The Governmental Lake Board Austin Lake's Governmental Lake Board (GLB) is a legal entity, established by the Portage City Council. Its function is to consider the feasibility of lake improvement projects, take input from lake residents and, if feasible, implement, manage and monitor improvement projects. Potential lake improvement projects can be referred to the GLB by lake residents, the Austin Lake Riparian Board, or the Portage City Council for evaluation and possible implementation. The GLB can request special assessments to pay for projects and can request funding from the city, county and/or state to fund or partially fund lake improvement projects. The GLB is guided by and must follow Michigan regulations which are described in Chapter 324 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. Austin Lake's Governmental Lake Board members consist of one Austin Lake property owner (Brian Johnson), two City of Portage Councilmembers (Jim Pearson & Lori Knapp), a Kalamazoo County Commissioner (Scott McGraw) and the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner (Patricia Crowley). The Austin Lake Riparians, Inc and the Austin Lake Riparians Board (ALRB) Austin Lake Riparians, Inc. is a non-profit association of Austin Lake property owners (Riparians). Per the corporation s by-laws, the purpose of the corporation is to provide for the better welfare of the community embraced within the lands of the members of the corporation. Each membership is entitled to one vote regardless of the number of lots owned by a member and regardless of the number of adults in residence. The Austin Lake Riparians Board, (ALRB) is an association of volunteer property owners that are elected by lake residents at the Austin Lake Riparians, Inc. annual meeting. The ALRB provides a focal point for association members, helps to consolidate and promote lake improvement ideas, fosters communication of ideas and information and works to improve our lake living experience and environment. The Board is defined and is guided by the corporation s bylaws (see www.austinlakeportage.com for a link to these). The Board has no authority to request or enforce any property assessments or taxes. The Austin Lake Riparians Board has in the past and has again been asked by the GLB to recommend potential lake improvement projects for consideration by the GLB. The ALRB members consist of nine Boardmembers and one alternate Boardmember. Visit the above website for a list of current Boardmembers. Lake Courtesy Reminder For boaters with large directional speakers, please remember your music can be heard across the lake and small ears are listen. Please be courteous and turn it down. 2
Michigan Boating Laws - Unlawful and Dangerous Operation Excerpts from the Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities 2017 Edition (Current Publication) Michigan law designates these dangerous operating practices as illegal: Reckless Operation of a Vessel (defined as operation which disregards the safety or rights of others or endangers the person or property of others). Some examples are: Weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic or swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision Jumping the wake of another vessel unnecessarily close to the other vessel Chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with your vessel Failure to Regulate Speed (defined as operating a vessel at speeds that may cause danger to life or property of any other person or at speeds that will not permit you to bring your vessel to a safe stop). It is illegal to operate a vessel: In excess of 55 mph At greater than slow, no wake speed when a person is in the bow of a vessel without proper seating Faster than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions (weather, vessel traffic, etc.) Improper Distance (defined as not maintaining a proper distance while operating a vessel or towing a person). To maintain a proper distance when you are operating at greater than slow, no wake speed, the vessel or persons being towed must not be within 100 feet of: A shoreline (if operating in water less than three feet deep) Any moored or anchored vessel A dock or raft Any marked swimming area or person(s) in the water Riding on the Bow, Gunwales, or Transom is allowing passengers to ride on a motorboat in places where there may be a chance of falling overboard. While operating greater than slow, no wake speed, persons on a motorboat may not sit, stand, or walk on any portion of a motorboat not designed for that purpose. This includes riding on the gunwale. Alcohol and Drugs Michigan law prohibits anyone from boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is also unlawful for the owner of a motorboat to allow anyone else to operate their motorboat if that person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The following conditions determine if you are boating under the influence. If your blood alcohol content is 0.08% or greater by weight of alcohol as determined by a breath, blood, or urine test, you are considered to be under the influence of alcohol. By operating a motorboat on Michigan waters, you have consented to be tested for alcohol or drugs if arrested by a law enforcement official. Requirements for Towing Skiers: Every person being towed behind a vessel on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs may not be used. Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device must have a person on board, in addition to the vessel operator, observing the towed person(s) at all times. It is legal to tow persons on water skis, surfboards, or any device of this type only between: One hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset if towed behind a boat 8:00 a.m. and sunset if towed behind a PWC Persons being towed must stay at least 100 feet away from: A shoreline (if operating in water less than three feet deep) Any moored or anchored vessel A dock or raft Any marked swimming area or person(s) in the water.. 3
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Austin Lake Summer Events Mark these Austin Lake Social Event dates on your 2018 summer calendar: Sat. June 23rd, Sun. July 15th, and Sat. August 4th. The dates have been picked, but we are still looking for help creating and setting up our fun summer events. If you have any ideas or would like to help out please come to our planning meeting on June 7th, 7pm at Latitude 42. You can also call or email Dani Koewers 269-998- 3473 danil700@aol.com. Also, see our website, www.austinlakeportage, for up-to-date information on events. 5
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3101 Woodhams Ave Portage, Michigan 49002 Postmaster: Please Forward Attention Renters: Please pass this newsletter on to the property owner. 8