Budget and Finance Committee:  (June 2009)   Bob Sichel is Chairman and members are, Dick Anderson, Bob Blue, Betty Cea, Moe Cea, Margaret Elliott, Judy Fagert, Bob Meldrum, Dick Myers, Marilyn Reaser, Kathy Riley, Nellie Robinson, and Angie Ward. 

The meeting scheduled for May was cancelled.  When the committee met the following week there were not enough members present for a quorum.  Thus there was no approval of the minutes etc.  However there was some discussion about the April financial statement. Later in the meeting a question was asked about whether the boat cleaning service operating out of the AV marina was paying AV for the use of the marina space, utilities, and whether the AVPOA had any liability with this boat service.  The chairman did not know and said that he would get an answer.  Accountant Dunnavant was asked the same question and he had no answer.

Editor’s Note:  Why is our accountant not privy to this type information?  Is it because we are giving free marina space and utilities to this business or is it because the income from this business is not being credited to the AVPOA or because the accountant cannot give information without Harmer’s permission?

Property Committee (June 1, 2009)   Judy Fagert and Julie Arnold are Co Chairmen and members are Ed Arnold, Margaret Elliott, Chris Gustafson, Sharon Harper, Sharon Holmes, Fran Kovach, Vince Marcellino, Kay Myers, Lorraine Stanson, Don Ward, Carol Webb, and D.J. Young.

Property Committee had a noon time cookout.  Since it was raining the cookout was held at Carol Webb’s home.  The weather cleared after lunch and the members were able to go by pontoon boat to check the beaches.

Editor’s Note:  During the lunch the members discussed whether the money being saved by the new key card system at the clubhouse was significant enough to override the negative impact that it has had on the property owners and about some of the activities that are going on at our beaches after hours.  It is interesting to note that these same beaches will now be closed at 10PM instead of 11PM, but whether this is being done because of the above problems or whether it is being done to save staffing costs is unknown.

Lake Committee (June 1, 2009)   Bob Neumann is Chairman and members are Bob Blue, Curt Campbell, Maurice Cea, Margaret Elliott, Judy Fagert, Bill Gordon, Roy Landskroner, Bob McLaughlin, Sally Slonaker, and Carol Webb.

 The May minutes were read and approved.   There were two guests at the meeting and Chairman Neuman explained to the guests the six concerns and responsibilities of Lake Committee, which are the quality of the water and the related testing, lake fishing, lake patrolling, weed control, dredging, and Common Area Docks.  Then the committee proceeded to discuss these areas.

The May water test showed the dissolved oxygen level at 10.4-11.3 with excellent clarity. The weeds in the lake seem to be a pond weed caused by the low water level earlier in the Spring.  Hopefully they will all be chopped off by the boats and the consensus of the committee was that using our Weed Harvester machine might just be a waste of time.

Fish Club reported that the Bratwurst Stand was a success during the Garage Sale weekend.  Although Fish Club has eighty nine paid members it seems that it is always the same ten or fifteen members doing all of the volunteer work.  Sally Slonaker said that they need more of the Fish Club members volunteering to work at their sponsored events.  Sally also reported that we have lots of blue gills, but not enough crappy and walleye and that it would be best for the lake if our fishermen did “catch and release” on these two species.

The subject of Buoy placement was discussed.  Some of the buoys were placed too far out from the shore and have been moved back to comply with our DNR buoy plan.  Buoys should be eighty feet from shore and fifty feet from the docks.  There are about one hundred buoys on the lake.  The committee agreed that a notice needs to be put in the Cider Press stating that it is illegal for property owners to move buoys.

The sunset lights are still not working.

There is to be no overnight docking at the Common Docks.

There is already a lot of erosion at the new jetty at Davis Beach and also it needs to be larger.  The riprap in the cove was put there to prevent illegal boat launching.  The committee will ask the Board again about building docks in the cove because the ones on the lake are almost unusable because of the waves.

There is still no dredging report from BBCM.

Editor’s Note:  A couple of years ago before “the lawsuits”, committee guests were not welcomed to the various committees.  Often they were not permitted to sit at the table or to make any comments or ask any questions until the end of the meeting and unless they were friends of the entrenched committee members they were treated like second class property owners.  This has changed and this committee meeting was an excellent example of the change.  These guests were welcomed and invited to join the committee.  Their opinions and input were sought in an attempt to make our lake the best lake for all of the owners.

Margaret Elliott, Editor and Publisher