Upcoming Meetings
Board Meeting
Annual Meeting
Saturday, August 19 10:00 AM Mission Park
Annual Meeting
Saturday, August 19 10:00 AM Mission Park
Agendas
AGENDA for 2023 Annual Meeting
Welcome and Social Time
8/22 Meeting Minutes Approval
President's Updates:
Speaker - Lily Carr from the Lake Steward Program
Loon Center Update
Water Monitoring
Member Signs
Plans for 2024
Mission Park Update
Treasurer's Report
Election of Vice President
Passing the gavel
Open Discussion and Concerns
Welcome and Social Time
8/22 Meeting Minutes Approval
President's Updates:
Speaker - Lily Carr from the Lake Steward Program
Loon Center Update
Water Monitoring
Member Signs
Plans for 2024
Mission Park Update
Treasurer's Report
Election of Vice President
Passing the gavel
Open Discussion and Concerns
2022_annual_meeting_agenda.docx | |
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bla_2021_annual_mtg_agenda.pdf | |
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bla_8-8-20_annual_meeting_agenda.docx | |
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8-11-18_meeting_agenda.docx | |
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8-27-16_meeting_agenda__3_.pdf | |
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Minutes
bass_lake_association_annual_meeting_minutes_-_8-13-2022.docx | |
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bass_lake_association_annual_meeting_minutes_-_8-14-2021.pdf | |
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bass_lake_association_annual_meeting_minutes_-_8-8-20.pdf | |
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bla_financial_report_8-8-2020.docx | |
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bass_lake_association_annual_meeting_minutes_8-11-2018.pdf | |
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bass_lake_association_annual_meeting_minutes_8-26-17.docx | |
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bass_lake_association_meeting_minutes_8-27-16.pdf | |
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8-29-15_meeting_minutes.pdf | |
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8-23-14_meeting.pdf | |
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5-17-14_meeting.pdf | |
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8-24-13_meeting.pdf | |
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8-18-12_meeting.pdf | |
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Past Meetings
August 13, 2022 Annual Membership Meeting 10:00 AM Mission Park
August 14, 2021 Annual Membership Meeting 10:00 AM Mission Park
August 8, 2020 Annual Membership Meeting 10:00 AM Mission Park
August 10, 2019 Annual Membership Meeting 10:00 AM Mission Park
August 11, 2018 Annual Membership Meeting 10:00 AM Mission Park
August 26, 2017 Annual Membership Meeting 10:00 AM Mission Park
August 27, 2016 Potluck at Mission Park NOON
23 people attended the meeting, representing 13 member households
August 23, 2014 Potluck at Mission Park NOON
May 17, 2014 Spring Meeting with Master
Naturalist
August 24, 2013 Potluck at noon
May 18, 2013 Spring Meeting with 30 Lakes
Watershed District Speaker
August 18, 2012 Potluck Picnic
May 19, 2012 Spring Meeting with Master
Gardener Speaker
23 people attended the meeting, representing 13 member households
August 23, 2014 Potluck at Mission Park NOON
May 17, 2014 Spring Meeting with Master
Naturalist
August 24, 2013 Potluck at noon
May 18, 2013 Spring Meeting with 30 Lakes
Watershed District Speaker
August 18, 2012 Potluck Picnic
May 19, 2012 Spring Meeting with Master
Gardener Speaker
Board Meeting Summaries
Friday, August 4, 2023
Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Nancy Geiger, Jon Auge, Pam Berhow
Annual Meeting Updates: August 19 at 10:00 am. Mission Park Pavilion. Nancy will pick up donuts and juice, Bob will pick up coffee.
Agenda for the meeting:
Speaker
Loon Center Update(Bob will contact Michael on current information for the Center)
Water Monitoring (Bob will contact Catherine for updated water information)
Member Signs
Plans for 2024
Mission Park Update
Treasurer's Report
Election of Vice President
Passing the Gavel
Open Discussion and Concerns
Membership Directory Changes: Martha mentioned the directory should be updated. Jon will update and let Martha know. The policy for changing the password was discussed and having the password available for members only.
Color coding for members was also discussed.
Venmo: Martha mentioned using Venmo. The board decided to look at it again if we have more members interested.
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Nancy Geiger, Catherine McGoldrick, Pam Berhow
Membership Fees: A decision not to increase the $20 membership fee was decided. Nancy mentioned sending out renewal notices only by email and no paper mailing. Pam will be sending out an email to members and non members in May with the information about the membership and dates for the summer events.
A Welcome Committee was discussed for new residents on the lake. Nancy will revise a draft for a pamphlet of information for them.
Spring Social: The social is scheduled for June 10 from 2:00-4:00 at B Merri's. Bob will be making the accommodations. The date for RSVP's will be June 7. Pam will send out an email for RSVP's.
Mission Park Spring Event and Parade: The event is scheduled for June 24 and the Association decided not to enter a float in the parade.
The boat parade on July 4 at 1:00 will be happening again this summer.
Annual Meeting Date: The annual meeting will be held August 19 at 10:00 am at Mission Park. The pavilion has been reserved. Martha suggested an intern, lake steward program from Minnesota Lakes & Rivers for a guest speaker.
The board will meet August 1 before the annual meeting.
Bob talked about an informational meeting for the Wake Study at the University of Minnesota.
Bob also talked about the Mississippi Watershed, Ripple Effects book to create awareness.
Wednesday July 27, 2022 at 10:00 am.
Present: Bob Steele, Nancy Geiger, Jon Auge, Catherine McGoldrick, Pam Berhow
Annual Meeting Agenda: Bob discussed the agenda for the annual meeting in August.
President's Updates
Guest Speaker
Loon Center Update and Get The Lead out Program
Water Monitoring
Member Signs
Plans for 2023
Boat Wake Impact Research
Mission Park Updates
Treasurer's Report
Membership fees
Election of Website Coordinator
Open Discussion and Concerns
Guest Speaker for the Annual Meeting: Bob and Martha talked about the Crow Wing County speaker and a Loon Center speaker. These two options will be discussed for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Jon mentioned possibly combining different Lake Associations for a Loon Center Speaker.
Candi Fuller has approached the board about a demonstration on soil run off in the lakes. Martha talked to Candi and other topics were discussed Nancy suggested a topic on shoreline restoration. Martha will contact Candi.
Pam will contact Anna Anderson about the reservation for the pavilion at Mission Park.
Nancy, Pam and Bob headed to the bank to add Pam to the bank account.
Next board meeting will be sometime in October.
Bass Lake Association Board Meeting Minutes - Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Jon Auge, Nancy Geiger, Catherine McGoldrick, Pam Berhow
Membership Fees: Nancy Commented on sending out renewal notices only by email and no paper mailing. Pam will talk to individual residents at the resort about becoming members. Pam will send Jon any membership changes. A decision not to increase the $20 membership fee was decided.
Spring Social: The social is scheduled for Saturday June 4th from 2:00-4:00 pm at b merri. Bob will check with b merri for accommodations and an email will be sent with details to the members.
Mission Park Celebration: The date for the celebration is June 11th. Marilyn Carslon expressed interest for a float in the parade representing the Bass Lake Association. Bob will follow up with Marilyn.
Starry Stonewart: Martha talked about information she received on a starry stonewart research program and rating your lake for risk. Right now Bass Lake is low risk. There are Starry Stonewart funds available for up to 25 lake associations which would be $200. The association can send 2 people to training May 3rd at 1:00pm. Catherine is willing to take point on this training. Nancy took the action item to have Nicole Erickson add Pam to the Crow Wing County AIS email list. Nancy will continue forwarding Pam emails from Nicole until Pam starts receiving them.
Updating Forms: Bob, Nancy and Pam will take an updated signatory form to Western Bank in Cross Lake to remove Jon Auge from the approved signatory list and to add Pam Berhow and to change the address for the Association to Pam's address. Jon will send the updated form to Pam. We will order new checks for the Association reflecting the address change. Nancy and Pam will update the renewal forms from Lakes and Rivers Associates (LARA) and Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR) to reflect new Board members. They will send renewal checks with the updated forms.
Audit: Nancy mentioned John Carlson has agreed to do the audit again this year. Nancy and Pam will prepare the documents and bring them to John.
Research on wake boats University of Minnesota: Bob commented about the impact of motors on the bottom of the lake and waves impacting the shoreline. He asked if we should donate any money to the wake impact. The decision was made to donate when opportunities come up. The agreed amount of donation would be $200.
Loon Center Donation: Bob asked about donating to the center this year. The decision was made to hold off for now and see if they need assistance.
Facebook: Martha has set up the Bass Lake Association (Mission Township) group. Pam will become the second admin.
County Ordinance 34.8 E3: Bob talked about how this applies to Bass Lake. This relates to how many boats can be tied up to the dock. There was some concern with Pinecrest Resort. Something to keep on our minds for further discussion.
Our next meeting is scheduled for May 26th at 10:00am. We will be discussing the spring social, Mission parade and July 4th.
Bass Lake Association Board Meeting Minutes - Friday, October 8, 2021
The Board of Directors met on October 8th, 2021 at noon. Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Jon Auge, Pam Berhow, Nancy Geiger
Comments on Bass Lake Association Website: Martha reported that the link from the website to is not working (the link sends comments directly to the Secretary so she can respond). Martha will work with Pam to make sure the link is working.
Facebook Page: The current BLA Facebook page is not working as Martha had envisioned. We had hoped that members would post pictures and comments, but currently Martha does the posting and we are getting only a few comments. Martha volunteered to restructure the page as a private group to encourage participation. Martha and Pam will be administrators and will start the group by inviting current BLA members. Martha will develop a communication for the new group.
Spring Social: The social is currently scheduled for June 4th. We will revisit the topic and make a decision at our spring meeting. We may hold the social outside (Mission Park).
July 4th Parade: The date of the Mission Park parade may be changed due to many conflicts on July 4th. We discussed sponsoring a float in the parade. Bob will talk to Marilyn Carlson to see if she has any ideas for the float. We will have a Bass Lake Boat Parade on July 4th at 1:00 as in past years.
Annual Meeting Schedule: We decided to hold the Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 13th at Mission Park. Pam will contact Anna Anderson to request reserving the park from 9:30 to noon that day.
Donation to Loon Center: We agreed to donate $200 to the National Loon Center that is being built in Crosslake. Nancy will send the donation,
Final Membership Data: 30 households paid dues to join the Association in 2021.
Horseshoe Lake Zebra Mussels: Bob asked if the discovery of zebra mussels in Horseshoe Lake has any implications for Bass Lake. He said that their lake association had paid extra to ensure that there were inspectors at their public accesses all weekends but they have found zebra mussels in both basins of the lake. Jon sent us information saying that the mussels have probably been in the lake 3-5 years. Nancy will check with MAIRSC information to see if there have been any advances in the treatment of zebra mussels.
Bass Lake AIS Testing: We discussed the current AIS testing for zebra mussel veligers/larva (once a year in two locations of the lake) and if increasing the testing frequency might be helpful. We also discussed testing for milfoil. Bob will talk to Catherine McGoldrick about her thoughts. One option we may consider is the establishment of a Lake Improvement District/LID. Jon outlined the process for a LID and the budget implications. Mission Lakes is currently evaluating setting up a LID as they are having significant issues with milfoil.
Next meeting - April, 2022
Bass Lake Association Board Meeting Minutes - Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Present: Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, John Carlson, Catherine McGoldrick, Nancy Geiger
Membership Update - Nancy reported that there are 25 paid memberships to date. Five are new members, and two are rejoining members - the rest are renewals. Jon will send a reminder with his June update.
Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer Candidates: We have not received candidate names to date. Board members volunteered to contact people around the lake to assess if anyone is interested.
By-Law Review - Jon presented several revisions to the Association By-Laws. The Board approved the revisions - Nancy will make the changes and include an updated set of the By-Laws with the Annual Membership Meeting mailing. The Board will review the revised document at our August 4th meeting before the mailing to all members.
Lake Health Initiatives:
- Safe Wakes - Martha has contacted the Safe Wakes people but has not heard back from them. The University Research Center at St. Anthony Falls has not yet published their findings related to the impact of wakeboats and prop thrust. They are planning to release their study later this year, and will publish it in a peer-reviewed journal as there is a lot of national interest around the topic.
- Catherine reviewed recent Bass Lake readings (published on the Bass Lake Association web page). Clarity reading was very good - last reading was 19 feet. The lake depth has gone down significantly.
Annual Meeting Agenda - the Board reviewed topics for the annual meeting on August 14th. We decided to look into having a speaker to discuss either the Loon Center in Crosslake or the state Get the Lead Out program. Jon will check into finding a speaker. Nancy will develop a draft agenda and send it to the Board for review. The member mailing announcing the meeting will include the agenda, minutes from 2020, revised By-Laws, and the Treasurer's Report.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 4th at 10:00 at Valeri Ann's. Jon will send out an agenda.
The Bass Lake Association Board met on May 11th at 10 a.m. via zoom. Present were: Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, John Carlson, Catherine McGoldrick, and Nancy Geiger
2021 Social Events - Jon
- The Spring Get Together is cancelled again this year due to COVID concerns. We hope to get back to a normal schedule in 2022.
- The July 4th Boat Parade will be held at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a gathering/boat hook up in the middle of the lake.
- The July 4th Mission Township Parade and the Fire Department Parade and gathering at Mission Park are both cancelled this year. Next year Marilyn Carlson will take the lead on planning how the Association can participate in these events.
- The Bass Lake Association Annual Meeting will be held the morning of Saturday, August 14th at Mission Park. We will meet to set the agenda.
Annual Membership Drive - Nancy
- We will send an email to everyone we have addresses for, and paper cover letters/renewal forms to other people on the lake asking them if they would like to join/renew their memberships. Nancy will draft a cover letter/email and attach an updated form and send it out the week of May 17th, We will include a short survey about topics we have been discussing to assess members' interest in more information or presentations. Jon and John will send Nancy names and addresses of new people on the lake.
Candidates for Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer - Jon
- Jon will send out a spring email and ask people if they are interested in either position (election will be at the Annual Meeting). Martha has posted the positions on the website.
Old Business - All
- Audit of Books - the 2019 Audit was completed by John Carlson. He has agreed to audit the 2020 books. Thanks, John!
- University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Research into the impact of wake boats and prop wash - the research started last year has not been released. The State House of Representatives is waiting for the results before they draft their bill related to environmental impact.
- Beaver Control - no action was taken over the winter. This remains a cocncern in 2021.
- Two no parking signs have been placed on the public landing. We can remind people who park blocking the landing but cannot enforce regulations. If people do not listen or move their cars, we should call the conservation officer. Jon will put a reminder in his email.
- The Board decided to contribute $200 to MAIRSC - the aquatic research project at the University of MInnesota. We contributed $200 in 2019.
- Membership signs - Martha sold an additional sign over the winter. We will remind members that some signs are still available.
Wakeboat Grassroots Initiative - Martha
- The St. Anthony Falls Research group has not yet released their findings about the impact of wake boats and prop thrust on shorelines, aquatic plants, and birds. When the research is released, the State Legislature will include recommendations in future bills. Any bill that becomes law will be enforced by the DNR. The Board will continue tracking progress on this topic.
- Martha is working with people from Crosslake and Emily on the safewakes initiative (safewakes.org). They are focusing on documenting incidents and educating people on the impact of watercraft and will meet with a representative from Safe Wakes. Jon said that we need to clarify the role of Association members in this issue and this will be a topic at the Annual Meeting.
Loon Center - Catherine
- The goal is to break ground on the center in 2023. They have hired an Executive Director who is taking the lead on publicizing progress on a website and a storefront in Crosslake that has information and publicity materials. There is also education related to the Get the Lead out state initiative - Catherine will bring materials to the Annual Meeting and will keep the Board informed about progress on the Center.
Other Topics - All
- Bob talked about the new development on Horseshoe Lake. The proposed development includes a "cluster" development of fourteen homes, two docks, and two boatlifts. The Horseshoe Lake Association is opposing the development, supported by the Mission Township Board. Concerns include the increased boat traffic and burden on the AIS inspectors on the lake.Thr proposed development will go before the Crow Wing County Board.for approval. The Lake Association has hired a lawyer to contest approval, which will be difficult given current land use rules.
- The Association supported the request for a grant from the DNR to improve facilities at Mission Park including making it handicapped accessible and building pickleball courts. We will hear in July if the grant is approved. The grant is supplemented by a memorial gift of $6000. Building would not start until the spring of 2022.
Future Meetings:
The Board will meet on June 29 and August 4.
The Bass Lake Association Board met virtually on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. Present were Jon Auge, John Carlson, Nancy Geiger, Bob Steele, and Martha Steele. Marilyn Carlson and Catherine McGoldrick were unable to attend, but sent their input prior to the meeting.
Follow up from Annual Meeting:
Beaver Control Plan: There was a consensus at the Annual Meeting that the Board should assist in controlling beaver-caused damage.. John Carlson suggested that we set a limit on the cost of trapping, and we agreed on a limit of $300. Jon has exchanged emails since our meeting with Candi Fuller. Nick is a licensed trapper and will see what he can do once the lake freezes. He is offering to do it free of charge to the
Association, but depending on how it goes, Jon will likely propose some compensation within the $300 limit. Jon said that it seems the going rate is between $25-$50/beaver, so using Nick is a bargain for the Association. Jon will stay in contact with Nick and will keep us posted.
Donation to University of Minnesota Boat Impact Plan Research: There was a consensus at the Annual Meeting that the association support research into boat wake impact that is being done over the next year. Bob Steele said that the research group had met their fundraising target and the project is currently closed to additional donations. Bob said he would continue to track the project and if it opens up again to contributions, we would donate at that time. He suggested we donate $250 and the Board agreed to that amount.
Loon Nesting Platform: Catherine McGoldrick followed up on this item and sent information ahead of the meeting. If we decided we wanted to install a nesting platform, we would need to fill out a form and submit it to the Crow Wing County Sheriff's office and pay a $20 fee. There are some requirements for the platform, e.g. it must have reflectors. Catherine stated that she does not think that Bass Lake has a nesting problem, and that our problem is that the loon chicks are killed by eagles, turtles, northern, or other predators after they leave the nest (two days after hatching). Bob Steele will follow this issue and bring it up again if he feels we should build a platform.
Parking Signs at the DNR Landing: Jon looked into this and found one sign is missing which could cause issues for people bringing boats in and out at the landing. Jon volunteered to contact the DNR about replacing the sign. Jon spoke with Wade Miller and he agreed to have the DNR staff replace the missing sign at the foot of the landing and likely add one additional sign on the south side of the hill. It will be done either this fall if conditions permit, or for sure by fishing opener next spring.
Social Events for 2021:
We decided to establish a tentative schedule, hoping that the pandemic restrictions will be lifted next summer:
Spring Social at Mission Tavern - Saturday, June 12 at 4 p.m. following the format we had in 2019 providing appetizers.
July 4th Parade at 1:00 followed by a hook-up of boats in the middle of the lake.
Annual Meeting - Saturday, August 7th. Nancy will contact Anna Anderson in January to reserve Mission Park.
Marilyn Carlson has proposed that the association participate in the Mission Township Parade in 2021. The parade was canceled this year, and we decided to see if it will be held in 2021. Marilyn sent ideas about how we can participate. Jon had followed up to see if Mission Tavern could donate a sign/banner for us, but that will probably not be possible. We decided to address parade planning next spring when we know more about a date/schedule. Marilyn has volunteered to organize our participation.
Business Updates:
Association Books audit. John Carlson completed the audit of the 2019 books. Nancy has changed the way she tracks member renewal to make the audit smoother. Thanks, John!
Final Membership data: 30 paying members in 2020. Nancy will mail non-members next spring to hopefully increase membership.
Well Testing Program: Catherine followed up on people who did not turn in their well testing kits in August to include them in the September batch. This was a successful program and a benefit to our members.
Membership Signs: Martha reported that we have sold 21 signs and there are 14 remaining. We will continue to advertise the signs.
Education Grant: The association received $80 from Crow Wing County's Education grant program to cover the cost of the sign at the DNR landing. The sign has information about decontamination resources for boaters.
Business Topics:
Boating Regulations Education: The Board discussed issues related to boats coming too close to the shore, docks, birds, and kayaks/swimmers. This is a problem on many lakes in the state, and something the legislature may address in the future. Jon sent us a screen shot of state regulations. We decided to develop a one piece handout covering watercraft regulations and etiquette that we will make available to members and non-members on the lake (hopefully the resort will inform renters - John volunteered to work with them). Nancy will work on a draft of the handout and we will review it next spring. If you have ideas please send them to her.
2021 Elections: We will solicit interest for the Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer position in the membership mailing next spring.
Emails to Association: There were several emails that had not been responded to that came from the contact form on the website. Martha rerouted to form to Nancy's email and she will follow-up with inquiries.
Next Meeting: We will meet next April, probably via Zoom. Jon will contact people next spring.
Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Nancy Geiger, Jon Auge, Pam Berhow
Annual Meeting Updates: August 19 at 10:00 am. Mission Park Pavilion. Nancy will pick up donuts and juice, Bob will pick up coffee.
Agenda for the meeting:
Speaker
Loon Center Update(Bob will contact Michael on current information for the Center)
Water Monitoring (Bob will contact Catherine for updated water information)
Member Signs
Plans for 2024
Mission Park Update
Treasurer's Report
Election of Vice President
Passing the Gavel
Open Discussion and Concerns
Membership Directory Changes: Martha mentioned the directory should be updated. Jon will update and let Martha know. The policy for changing the password was discussed and having the password available for members only.
Color coding for members was also discussed.
Venmo: Martha mentioned using Venmo. The board decided to look at it again if we have more members interested.
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Nancy Geiger, Catherine McGoldrick, Pam Berhow
Membership Fees: A decision not to increase the $20 membership fee was decided. Nancy mentioned sending out renewal notices only by email and no paper mailing. Pam will be sending out an email to members and non members in May with the information about the membership and dates for the summer events.
A Welcome Committee was discussed for new residents on the lake. Nancy will revise a draft for a pamphlet of information for them.
Spring Social: The social is scheduled for June 10 from 2:00-4:00 at B Merri's. Bob will be making the accommodations. The date for RSVP's will be June 7. Pam will send out an email for RSVP's.
Mission Park Spring Event and Parade: The event is scheduled for June 24 and the Association decided not to enter a float in the parade.
The boat parade on July 4 at 1:00 will be happening again this summer.
Annual Meeting Date: The annual meeting will be held August 19 at 10:00 am at Mission Park. The pavilion has been reserved. Martha suggested an intern, lake steward program from Minnesota Lakes & Rivers for a guest speaker.
The board will meet August 1 before the annual meeting.
Bob talked about an informational meeting for the Wake Study at the University of Minnesota.
Bob also talked about the Mississippi Watershed, Ripple Effects book to create awareness.
Wednesday July 27, 2022 at 10:00 am.
Present: Bob Steele, Nancy Geiger, Jon Auge, Catherine McGoldrick, Pam Berhow
Annual Meeting Agenda: Bob discussed the agenda for the annual meeting in August.
President's Updates
Guest Speaker
Loon Center Update and Get The Lead out Program
Water Monitoring
Member Signs
Plans for 2023
Boat Wake Impact Research
Mission Park Updates
Treasurer's Report
Membership fees
Election of Website Coordinator
Open Discussion and Concerns
Guest Speaker for the Annual Meeting: Bob and Martha talked about the Crow Wing County speaker and a Loon Center speaker. These two options will be discussed for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Jon mentioned possibly combining different Lake Associations for a Loon Center Speaker.
Candi Fuller has approached the board about a demonstration on soil run off in the lakes. Martha talked to Candi and other topics were discussed Nancy suggested a topic on shoreline restoration. Martha will contact Candi.
Pam will contact Anna Anderson about the reservation for the pavilion at Mission Park.
Nancy, Pam and Bob headed to the bank to add Pam to the bank account.
Next board meeting will be sometime in October.
Bass Lake Association Board Meeting Minutes - Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Jon Auge, Nancy Geiger, Catherine McGoldrick, Pam Berhow
Membership Fees: Nancy Commented on sending out renewal notices only by email and no paper mailing. Pam will talk to individual residents at the resort about becoming members. Pam will send Jon any membership changes. A decision not to increase the $20 membership fee was decided.
Spring Social: The social is scheduled for Saturday June 4th from 2:00-4:00 pm at b merri. Bob will check with b merri for accommodations and an email will be sent with details to the members.
Mission Park Celebration: The date for the celebration is June 11th. Marilyn Carslon expressed interest for a float in the parade representing the Bass Lake Association. Bob will follow up with Marilyn.
Starry Stonewart: Martha talked about information she received on a starry stonewart research program and rating your lake for risk. Right now Bass Lake is low risk. There are Starry Stonewart funds available for up to 25 lake associations which would be $200. The association can send 2 people to training May 3rd at 1:00pm. Catherine is willing to take point on this training. Nancy took the action item to have Nicole Erickson add Pam to the Crow Wing County AIS email list. Nancy will continue forwarding Pam emails from Nicole until Pam starts receiving them.
Updating Forms: Bob, Nancy and Pam will take an updated signatory form to Western Bank in Cross Lake to remove Jon Auge from the approved signatory list and to add Pam Berhow and to change the address for the Association to Pam's address. Jon will send the updated form to Pam. We will order new checks for the Association reflecting the address change. Nancy and Pam will update the renewal forms from Lakes and Rivers Associates (LARA) and Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR) to reflect new Board members. They will send renewal checks with the updated forms.
Audit: Nancy mentioned John Carlson has agreed to do the audit again this year. Nancy and Pam will prepare the documents and bring them to John.
Research on wake boats University of Minnesota: Bob commented about the impact of motors on the bottom of the lake and waves impacting the shoreline. He asked if we should donate any money to the wake impact. The decision was made to donate when opportunities come up. The agreed amount of donation would be $200.
Loon Center Donation: Bob asked about donating to the center this year. The decision was made to hold off for now and see if they need assistance.
Facebook: Martha has set up the Bass Lake Association (Mission Township) group. Pam will become the second admin.
County Ordinance 34.8 E3: Bob talked about how this applies to Bass Lake. This relates to how many boats can be tied up to the dock. There was some concern with Pinecrest Resort. Something to keep on our minds for further discussion.
Our next meeting is scheduled for May 26th at 10:00am. We will be discussing the spring social, Mission parade and July 4th.
Bass Lake Association Board Meeting Minutes - Friday, October 8, 2021
The Board of Directors met on October 8th, 2021 at noon. Present: Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Jon Auge, Pam Berhow, Nancy Geiger
Comments on Bass Lake Association Website: Martha reported that the link from the website to is not working (the link sends comments directly to the Secretary so she can respond). Martha will work with Pam to make sure the link is working.
Facebook Page: The current BLA Facebook page is not working as Martha had envisioned. We had hoped that members would post pictures and comments, but currently Martha does the posting and we are getting only a few comments. Martha volunteered to restructure the page as a private group to encourage participation. Martha and Pam will be administrators and will start the group by inviting current BLA members. Martha will develop a communication for the new group.
Spring Social: The social is currently scheduled for June 4th. We will revisit the topic and make a decision at our spring meeting. We may hold the social outside (Mission Park).
July 4th Parade: The date of the Mission Park parade may be changed due to many conflicts on July 4th. We discussed sponsoring a float in the parade. Bob will talk to Marilyn Carlson to see if she has any ideas for the float. We will have a Bass Lake Boat Parade on July 4th at 1:00 as in past years.
Annual Meeting Schedule: We decided to hold the Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 13th at Mission Park. Pam will contact Anna Anderson to request reserving the park from 9:30 to noon that day.
Donation to Loon Center: We agreed to donate $200 to the National Loon Center that is being built in Crosslake. Nancy will send the donation,
Final Membership Data: 30 households paid dues to join the Association in 2021.
Horseshoe Lake Zebra Mussels: Bob asked if the discovery of zebra mussels in Horseshoe Lake has any implications for Bass Lake. He said that their lake association had paid extra to ensure that there were inspectors at their public accesses all weekends but they have found zebra mussels in both basins of the lake. Jon sent us information saying that the mussels have probably been in the lake 3-5 years. Nancy will check with MAIRSC information to see if there have been any advances in the treatment of zebra mussels.
Bass Lake AIS Testing: We discussed the current AIS testing for zebra mussel veligers/larva (once a year in two locations of the lake) and if increasing the testing frequency might be helpful. We also discussed testing for milfoil. Bob will talk to Catherine McGoldrick about her thoughts. One option we may consider is the establishment of a Lake Improvement District/LID. Jon outlined the process for a LID and the budget implications. Mission Lakes is currently evaluating setting up a LID as they are having significant issues with milfoil.
Next meeting - April, 2022
Bass Lake Association Board Meeting Minutes - Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Present: Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, John Carlson, Catherine McGoldrick, Nancy Geiger
Membership Update - Nancy reported that there are 25 paid memberships to date. Five are new members, and two are rejoining members - the rest are renewals. Jon will send a reminder with his June update.
Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer Candidates: We have not received candidate names to date. Board members volunteered to contact people around the lake to assess if anyone is interested.
By-Law Review - Jon presented several revisions to the Association By-Laws. The Board approved the revisions - Nancy will make the changes and include an updated set of the By-Laws with the Annual Membership Meeting mailing. The Board will review the revised document at our August 4th meeting before the mailing to all members.
Lake Health Initiatives:
- Safe Wakes - Martha has contacted the Safe Wakes people but has not heard back from them. The University Research Center at St. Anthony Falls has not yet published their findings related to the impact of wakeboats and prop thrust. They are planning to release their study later this year, and will publish it in a peer-reviewed journal as there is a lot of national interest around the topic.
- Catherine reviewed recent Bass Lake readings (published on the Bass Lake Association web page). Clarity reading was very good - last reading was 19 feet. The lake depth has gone down significantly.
Annual Meeting Agenda - the Board reviewed topics for the annual meeting on August 14th. We decided to look into having a speaker to discuss either the Loon Center in Crosslake or the state Get the Lead Out program. Jon will check into finding a speaker. Nancy will develop a draft agenda and send it to the Board for review. The member mailing announcing the meeting will include the agenda, minutes from 2020, revised By-Laws, and the Treasurer's Report.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 4th at 10:00 at Valeri Ann's. Jon will send out an agenda.
The Bass Lake Association Board met on May 11th at 10 a.m. via zoom. Present were: Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, John Carlson, Catherine McGoldrick, and Nancy Geiger
2021 Social Events - Jon
- The Spring Get Together is cancelled again this year due to COVID concerns. We hope to get back to a normal schedule in 2022.
- The July 4th Boat Parade will be held at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a gathering/boat hook up in the middle of the lake.
- The July 4th Mission Township Parade and the Fire Department Parade and gathering at Mission Park are both cancelled this year. Next year Marilyn Carlson will take the lead on planning how the Association can participate in these events.
- The Bass Lake Association Annual Meeting will be held the morning of Saturday, August 14th at Mission Park. We will meet to set the agenda.
Annual Membership Drive - Nancy
- We will send an email to everyone we have addresses for, and paper cover letters/renewal forms to other people on the lake asking them if they would like to join/renew their memberships. Nancy will draft a cover letter/email and attach an updated form and send it out the week of May 17th, We will include a short survey about topics we have been discussing to assess members' interest in more information or presentations. Jon and John will send Nancy names and addresses of new people on the lake.
Candidates for Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer - Jon
- Jon will send out a spring email and ask people if they are interested in either position (election will be at the Annual Meeting). Martha has posted the positions on the website.
Old Business - All
- Audit of Books - the 2019 Audit was completed by John Carlson. He has agreed to audit the 2020 books. Thanks, John!
- University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Research into the impact of wake boats and prop wash - the research started last year has not been released. The State House of Representatives is waiting for the results before they draft their bill related to environmental impact.
- Beaver Control - no action was taken over the winter. This remains a cocncern in 2021.
- Two no parking signs have been placed on the public landing. We can remind people who park blocking the landing but cannot enforce regulations. If people do not listen or move their cars, we should call the conservation officer. Jon will put a reminder in his email.
- The Board decided to contribute $200 to MAIRSC - the aquatic research project at the University of MInnesota. We contributed $200 in 2019.
- Membership signs - Martha sold an additional sign over the winter. We will remind members that some signs are still available.
Wakeboat Grassroots Initiative - Martha
- The St. Anthony Falls Research group has not yet released their findings about the impact of wake boats and prop thrust on shorelines, aquatic plants, and birds. When the research is released, the State Legislature will include recommendations in future bills. Any bill that becomes law will be enforced by the DNR. The Board will continue tracking progress on this topic.
- Martha is working with people from Crosslake and Emily on the safewakes initiative (safewakes.org). They are focusing on documenting incidents and educating people on the impact of watercraft and will meet with a representative from Safe Wakes. Jon said that we need to clarify the role of Association members in this issue and this will be a topic at the Annual Meeting.
Loon Center - Catherine
- The goal is to break ground on the center in 2023. They have hired an Executive Director who is taking the lead on publicizing progress on a website and a storefront in Crosslake that has information and publicity materials. There is also education related to the Get the Lead out state initiative - Catherine will bring materials to the Annual Meeting and will keep the Board informed about progress on the Center.
Other Topics - All
- Bob talked about the new development on Horseshoe Lake. The proposed development includes a "cluster" development of fourteen homes, two docks, and two boatlifts. The Horseshoe Lake Association is opposing the development, supported by the Mission Township Board. Concerns include the increased boat traffic and burden on the AIS inspectors on the lake.Thr proposed development will go before the Crow Wing County Board.for approval. The Lake Association has hired a lawyer to contest approval, which will be difficult given current land use rules.
- The Association supported the request for a grant from the DNR to improve facilities at Mission Park including making it handicapped accessible and building pickleball courts. We will hear in July if the grant is approved. The grant is supplemented by a memorial gift of $6000. Building would not start until the spring of 2022.
Future Meetings:
The Board will meet on June 29 and August 4.
The Bass Lake Association Board met virtually on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. Present were Jon Auge, John Carlson, Nancy Geiger, Bob Steele, and Martha Steele. Marilyn Carlson and Catherine McGoldrick were unable to attend, but sent their input prior to the meeting.
Follow up from Annual Meeting:
Beaver Control Plan: There was a consensus at the Annual Meeting that the Board should assist in controlling beaver-caused damage.. John Carlson suggested that we set a limit on the cost of trapping, and we agreed on a limit of $300. Jon has exchanged emails since our meeting with Candi Fuller. Nick is a licensed trapper and will see what he can do once the lake freezes. He is offering to do it free of charge to the
Association, but depending on how it goes, Jon will likely propose some compensation within the $300 limit. Jon said that it seems the going rate is between $25-$50/beaver, so using Nick is a bargain for the Association. Jon will stay in contact with Nick and will keep us posted.
Donation to University of Minnesota Boat Impact Plan Research: There was a consensus at the Annual Meeting that the association support research into boat wake impact that is being done over the next year. Bob Steele said that the research group had met their fundraising target and the project is currently closed to additional donations. Bob said he would continue to track the project and if it opens up again to contributions, we would donate at that time. He suggested we donate $250 and the Board agreed to that amount.
Loon Nesting Platform: Catherine McGoldrick followed up on this item and sent information ahead of the meeting. If we decided we wanted to install a nesting platform, we would need to fill out a form and submit it to the Crow Wing County Sheriff's office and pay a $20 fee. There are some requirements for the platform, e.g. it must have reflectors. Catherine stated that she does not think that Bass Lake has a nesting problem, and that our problem is that the loon chicks are killed by eagles, turtles, northern, or other predators after they leave the nest (two days after hatching). Bob Steele will follow this issue and bring it up again if he feels we should build a platform.
Parking Signs at the DNR Landing: Jon looked into this and found one sign is missing which could cause issues for people bringing boats in and out at the landing. Jon volunteered to contact the DNR about replacing the sign. Jon spoke with Wade Miller and he agreed to have the DNR staff replace the missing sign at the foot of the landing and likely add one additional sign on the south side of the hill. It will be done either this fall if conditions permit, or for sure by fishing opener next spring.
Social Events for 2021:
We decided to establish a tentative schedule, hoping that the pandemic restrictions will be lifted next summer:
Spring Social at Mission Tavern - Saturday, June 12 at 4 p.m. following the format we had in 2019 providing appetizers.
July 4th Parade at 1:00 followed by a hook-up of boats in the middle of the lake.
Annual Meeting - Saturday, August 7th. Nancy will contact Anna Anderson in January to reserve Mission Park.
Marilyn Carlson has proposed that the association participate in the Mission Township Parade in 2021. The parade was canceled this year, and we decided to see if it will be held in 2021. Marilyn sent ideas about how we can participate. Jon had followed up to see if Mission Tavern could donate a sign/banner for us, but that will probably not be possible. We decided to address parade planning next spring when we know more about a date/schedule. Marilyn has volunteered to organize our participation.
Business Updates:
Association Books audit. John Carlson completed the audit of the 2019 books. Nancy has changed the way she tracks member renewal to make the audit smoother. Thanks, John!
Final Membership data: 30 paying members in 2020. Nancy will mail non-members next spring to hopefully increase membership.
Well Testing Program: Catherine followed up on people who did not turn in their well testing kits in August to include them in the September batch. This was a successful program and a benefit to our members.
Membership Signs: Martha reported that we have sold 21 signs and there are 14 remaining. We will continue to advertise the signs.
Education Grant: The association received $80 from Crow Wing County's Education grant program to cover the cost of the sign at the DNR landing. The sign has information about decontamination resources for boaters.
Business Topics:
Boating Regulations Education: The Board discussed issues related to boats coming too close to the shore, docks, birds, and kayaks/swimmers. This is a problem on many lakes in the state, and something the legislature may address in the future. Jon sent us a screen shot of state regulations. We decided to develop a one piece handout covering watercraft regulations and etiquette that we will make available to members and non-members on the lake (hopefully the resort will inform renters - John volunteered to work with them). Nancy will work on a draft of the handout and we will review it next spring. If you have ideas please send them to her.
2021 Elections: We will solicit interest for the Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer position in the membership mailing next spring.
Emails to Association: There were several emails that had not been responded to that came from the contact form on the website. Martha rerouted to form to Nancy's email and she will follow-up with inquiries.
Next Meeting: We will meet next April, probably via Zoom. Jon will contact people next spring.
Prior Year Board Meeting Summaries
June 17, 2020
The Bass Lake Association Board met on Wednesday, June 17 at 1:00 via Zoom. Present were Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Nancy Geiger, Catherine McGoldrick, John Carlson, and Marilyn Carlson. A summary of our discussion is below:
Membership Renewal: Nancy said that 20 homeowners had renewed their membership (22 as of June 20). Nancy will send a reminder next week to those who haven't responded. She will continue to send directory changes to Jon, who will send them to Martha to update the directory on the website.
July 4th Parade: The parade will be held at 1:00 - Jon will lead us around the lake twice - no hook-up this year, and let's hope we don't get rained out. Jon will put together an email with several reminders that Nancy will forward - the parade will be referenced in that email.
Member Signs: Martha completed this huge project! She picked up the signs, and Nancy sent her a check for $885 to cover the cost at Upland Advertising and Design. An email was sent to the members (including those who have not yet renewed) with a picture of the sign and cost/ordering information today. Martha will collect payments ($23) and hand out the signs - Nancy will deposit the checks. Martha will also publish information on the website. Signs look great!
2019 Audit: Nancy will get the books to John Carlson next time she's at Bass Lake.
Decontamination Sign: We reviewed the sign format, approved it, and decided to hang it at the landing with the other signs.
Get the Lead Out Program: Jon has been emailing with people working on this state-wide program. They will not be doing any in-person meetings this year, due to Covid 19. Hopefully next year we can arrange an in-person meeting and they can hand out samples of lead-free sinkers, lures, etc. and do general information for our members. We agreed to hand out information on the program at the Annual Meeting. Catherine said that this program has been around for many years, but now there is money for staff and other resources in conjunction with Crosslake's designation as a Bird City. She is hoping there will be an exchange station at the new Loon Center. Martha said that she will post a list of things to do to protect loons on our website. We can also pass this information out at the Annual Meeting.
Well Testing: We have received only one response about well testing at a reduced rate for members (Brad and Wendy Peterson). We will include information about the testing, cost, and process in the general reminder email. Steeles, Carlsons, and McGoldrick/Blassey/Geiger expressed interest, Catherine will pick up the test kits at the Annual Meeting. She will collect the fees when people pick up their kits from her.
Annual Meeting Agenda: Nancy and Jon will put together an agenda. Let Nancy know if there are items you would like to add to the agenda.
Bass Lake Association Sign for Mission Parade: The parade was canceled this year, but Marilyn thought we should look forward to next year. She suggested we look into getting a sponsored lake association sign to put on the pontoon we'll use in the parade. Jon will contact Mission Tavern to see if they are interested in assisting us in getting the sign.
We did not set up another meeting, but should plan to meet before the Annual Meeting to finalize the plan for handouts, etc. I'll be in touch about dates/times.
May 12, 2020
The Board met via Zoom on Tuesday, May 12th. Present were Jon Auge, Martha Steele, Bob Steele, John Carlson, and Catherine McGoldrick. Below is a summary of the topics/discussion:
Mission Park Parade: We had talked about participating in the annual parade - Marilyn Carlson had volunteered to coordinate. The Parade is cancelled due to the coronavirus restrictions. We will pursue participation next year.
Summer Social Events: We will cancel the June social event at Mission Tavern, but keep the July 4th Parade and the August 8th Annual Meeting on our calendars. We may consider an additional social event later in the summer.
Member Signs: Martha can't get in touch with Red House printing, probably due to the shutdown. She'll keep working on getting information finalized so Nancy can send it out to the membership with the goal of collecting orders/money at the Annual Meeting.
2019 Audit: John has agreed to do the audit - Nancy will get him the information when she comes to Bass Lake.
Well Water Testing: Catherine said that the organization that does our lake water tests will give our members a group rate ($55 instead of $65) to have our home well water tested. Tests include bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic. The samples must be drawn and to the lab in 24 hours. The Board decided to pursue the project, and Catherine volunteered to be the point person. She will develop a plan and send it to Jon to be included in an email to members. The plan will include how to distribute and drop of the test kits, and information on how to pay for the service. We may use the Annual Meeting as a point for drop off. There is no minimum number of members participating required.
2020 Membership Renewal: We will keep the process and dues the same as last year. Nancy will email a reminder to all members and to three people who indicated an interest last year in rejoining (Brine, Torok, Luedtke). Members will send any changes to the online directory to Nancy, who will forward them to Jon. Nancy will collect checks and have them deposited in the Association account.
Loon Nesting Platforms and Signs, and Safe Wakes: Bob discussed the platforms and signs he's seen on other lakes. After a discussion, we decided to not act on this at present, and he will continue doing research on the topic. Bob talked about the Safe Wake website that addresses the issue of wake boats and other boats whose large wake impacts shoreline and wildlife. This is a problem on many lakes, including Bass Lake. The University of Minnesota is pursuing a grant to investigate how the wave action from these boats impacts lakes with the goal of proposing that the legislature set wake limits. Bob will monitor this issue.
Decontamination Information Sign: We reviewed a sample sign from Horseshoe Lake and may put a similar sign up at the Bass Lake landing. Martha will talk to the Horseshoe Lake people about what approval they got on their sign.
Get the Lead Out Program: We discussed the Minnesota State Program about switching out lead sinkers, etc. for aluminum or steel, and educating people about how lead endangers wildlife. Information and small switch-out kits are available. Lake Associations can apply to host exchange programs. This may be a possibility for our Annual Meeting. Jon will get more information and will get back to us.
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Webinars: Several of us have attended these webinars and feel they are valuable. Jon will include information and a link in the email that will be sent out to members. There is currently a link to Minnesota Lakes and Rivers on our website.
Annual Meeting: We will aim for Saturday, August 8th. Nancy has had Anna Anderson reserve Mission Park for the meeting. We will plan the agenda, etc. at our meeting in June.
The Bass Lake Association Board met on Wednesday, June 17 at 1:00 via Zoom. Present were Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Nancy Geiger, Catherine McGoldrick, John Carlson, and Marilyn Carlson. A summary of our discussion is below:
Membership Renewal: Nancy said that 20 homeowners had renewed their membership (22 as of June 20). Nancy will send a reminder next week to those who haven't responded. She will continue to send directory changes to Jon, who will send them to Martha to update the directory on the website.
July 4th Parade: The parade will be held at 1:00 - Jon will lead us around the lake twice - no hook-up this year, and let's hope we don't get rained out. Jon will put together an email with several reminders that Nancy will forward - the parade will be referenced in that email.
Member Signs: Martha completed this huge project! She picked up the signs, and Nancy sent her a check for $885 to cover the cost at Upland Advertising and Design. An email was sent to the members (including those who have not yet renewed) with a picture of the sign and cost/ordering information today. Martha will collect payments ($23) and hand out the signs - Nancy will deposit the checks. Martha will also publish information on the website. Signs look great!
2019 Audit: Nancy will get the books to John Carlson next time she's at Bass Lake.
Decontamination Sign: We reviewed the sign format, approved it, and decided to hang it at the landing with the other signs.
Get the Lead Out Program: Jon has been emailing with people working on this state-wide program. They will not be doing any in-person meetings this year, due to Covid 19. Hopefully next year we can arrange an in-person meeting and they can hand out samples of lead-free sinkers, lures, etc. and do general information for our members. We agreed to hand out information on the program at the Annual Meeting. Catherine said that this program has been around for many years, but now there is money for staff and other resources in conjunction with Crosslake's designation as a Bird City. She is hoping there will be an exchange station at the new Loon Center. Martha said that she will post a list of things to do to protect loons on our website. We can also pass this information out at the Annual Meeting.
Well Testing: We have received only one response about well testing at a reduced rate for members (Brad and Wendy Peterson). We will include information about the testing, cost, and process in the general reminder email. Steeles, Carlsons, and McGoldrick/Blassey/Geiger expressed interest, Catherine will pick up the test kits at the Annual Meeting. She will collect the fees when people pick up their kits from her.
Annual Meeting Agenda: Nancy and Jon will put together an agenda. Let Nancy know if there are items you would like to add to the agenda.
Bass Lake Association Sign for Mission Parade: The parade was canceled this year, but Marilyn thought we should look forward to next year. She suggested we look into getting a sponsored lake association sign to put on the pontoon we'll use in the parade. Jon will contact Mission Tavern to see if they are interested in assisting us in getting the sign.
We did not set up another meeting, but should plan to meet before the Annual Meeting to finalize the plan for handouts, etc. I'll be in touch about dates/times.
May 12, 2020
The Board met via Zoom on Tuesday, May 12th. Present were Jon Auge, Martha Steele, Bob Steele, John Carlson, and Catherine McGoldrick. Below is a summary of the topics/discussion:
Mission Park Parade: We had talked about participating in the annual parade - Marilyn Carlson had volunteered to coordinate. The Parade is cancelled due to the coronavirus restrictions. We will pursue participation next year.
Summer Social Events: We will cancel the June social event at Mission Tavern, but keep the July 4th Parade and the August 8th Annual Meeting on our calendars. We may consider an additional social event later in the summer.
Member Signs: Martha can't get in touch with Red House printing, probably due to the shutdown. She'll keep working on getting information finalized so Nancy can send it out to the membership with the goal of collecting orders/money at the Annual Meeting.
2019 Audit: John has agreed to do the audit - Nancy will get him the information when she comes to Bass Lake.
Well Water Testing: Catherine said that the organization that does our lake water tests will give our members a group rate ($55 instead of $65) to have our home well water tested. Tests include bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic. The samples must be drawn and to the lab in 24 hours. The Board decided to pursue the project, and Catherine volunteered to be the point person. She will develop a plan and send it to Jon to be included in an email to members. The plan will include how to distribute and drop of the test kits, and information on how to pay for the service. We may use the Annual Meeting as a point for drop off. There is no minimum number of members participating required.
2020 Membership Renewal: We will keep the process and dues the same as last year. Nancy will email a reminder to all members and to three people who indicated an interest last year in rejoining (Brine, Torok, Luedtke). Members will send any changes to the online directory to Nancy, who will forward them to Jon. Nancy will collect checks and have them deposited in the Association account.
Loon Nesting Platforms and Signs, and Safe Wakes: Bob discussed the platforms and signs he's seen on other lakes. After a discussion, we decided to not act on this at present, and he will continue doing research on the topic. Bob talked about the Safe Wake website that addresses the issue of wake boats and other boats whose large wake impacts shoreline and wildlife. This is a problem on many lakes, including Bass Lake. The University of Minnesota is pursuing a grant to investigate how the wave action from these boats impacts lakes with the goal of proposing that the legislature set wake limits. Bob will monitor this issue.
Decontamination Information Sign: We reviewed a sample sign from Horseshoe Lake and may put a similar sign up at the Bass Lake landing. Martha will talk to the Horseshoe Lake people about what approval they got on their sign.
Get the Lead Out Program: We discussed the Minnesota State Program about switching out lead sinkers, etc. for aluminum or steel, and educating people about how lead endangers wildlife. Information and small switch-out kits are available. Lake Associations can apply to host exchange programs. This may be a possibility for our Annual Meeting. Jon will get more information and will get back to us.
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Webinars: Several of us have attended these webinars and feel they are valuable. Jon will include information and a link in the email that will be sent out to members. There is currently a link to Minnesota Lakes and Rivers on our website.
Annual Meeting: We will aim for Saturday, August 8th. Nancy has had Anna Anderson reserve Mission Park for the meeting. We will plan the agenda, etc. at our meeting in June.
September 26, 2019
The Board and interested members met on September 26th at Valeri Ann's restaurant in Ossippee. Members present were: John Carlson, Marilyn Carlson, Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Catherine McGoldrick, and Nancy Geiger. Jon led the meeting:
Annual Meeting Topics: Jon summarized topics that came up at the annual meeting on August 10. These topics were included in the agenda for this meeting.
No Wake Zone: boats coming too close to docks, swimmers, and wildlife came up at the annual meeting. Current state law is that watercraft cannot come within less than 100 feet of the shoreline. People can report watercraft owners who don't follow the law, so we decided to not proceed with any additional action at this time.
Mission Park Parade Participation: Marilyn Carlson will take the lead on BLA participation. She will ask for assistance, and the Board approved funding candy, etc. for parade giveaways. Martha Steele will publicize the event on the website.
Website/Facebook Pages: The group discussed ways to increase participation on both pages. Martha will put more information on the webpage and will look at setting the Facebook page up so people can access it more easily. Jon's daughter may assist.
Social Events: The Spring Fling was a big success - we decided to repeat it next year and set the date on June 13th at the Mission Tavern. We will also repeat the July 4th parade at 1:00, followed by a pontoon hook-up and will hope for better weather.
Member Signs: Martha showed us mock-ups of the sign, including changes made based on feedback from the Annual Meeting. She will work on colors and will get information on having the signs made. The Board will send out an email about the signs, costs, and ordering in March.
Membership Directory: Jon will send electronic copies of the directory and map to Martha to post on the website. He will develop an email about accessing both documents and send it to Nancy, who will forward it to current members.
Membership Renewal 2020: We decided to keep the membership fee at $20. Nancy will send membership renewal information out to members and non-members in April with the goal of having directory changes completed before the start of summer.
Annual Meeting 2020: The Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 8th. Nancy will reserve Mission Park and the Mission Town Hall as back-up in January when reservations open. We may invite a guest speaker to increase attendance - Jon suggested someone from the police/sheriff's department talking about protecting cabins over the winter.
Public Landing Sign: The DNR turned down our request to post a sign based on several of their requirements (e.g. it must be "above and beyond" DNR signs, we can't use the word "our"). We will continue researching ways to promote lake safety and AIS awareness.
Board Recognition: We thanked John Carlson for all his work on the Board over the last four years, and thanked Marilyn for hostessing so many Board meetings. We hope they will stay involved and come to all our meetings!
Board Meetings: We will continue to put Board Meeting schedules on the website and encourage members to come. Jon will include information about our next meeting in the email about the directory changes. Our next meeting is scheduled on May 12th, 1:00 p.m., location TBD.
July 22, 2019
June 8th and July 4th social events were evaluated. Annual meeting agenda was set. Changes to the directory were approved as well as the proposed sign for the landing. Facebook page will be monitored for activity. Information on the membership signs will be presented at the meeting to determine interest. The open Vice President position will be posted on the website.
May 8, 2019
Membership renewals will be done via email asking for changes only for the directory. The email will include information on the website, Board contacts, planned social events and the annual meeting. Members will be contacted regarding their interest in purchasing membership signs. A Facebook page will be established but the website will be the primary source for information. Wording was approved for a sign at the landing. Specifications of the sign will be sent to the DNR for approval to post it at the landing. Nominations for Vice President to be sought. Next meeting in July will be for planning the annual meeting.
October 3, 2018
Membership Renewal:
Dues will remain at $20
A question asking if people want to have a Facebook page set up for the Association
Include information about membership signs
More information from the DNR is required for a sign at the public access.
The Board will decide on final format and wording and see if the Education Grants are still available through the County to cover part of the cost.
Member Association Signs/Neighborhood Watch
Proposed logos/mock-ups with vendors/costs/sizes
MAIRSC
Jon attended the MAIRSC conference in September. Not a lot of new information related to stopping AIS,
April 25, 2018
Loss of AIS inspection hours was discussed at length and determined that hiring our own inspector was not feasible. By-laws were reviewed and proposed updates created. 2018 membership process was discussed and dues were set at $20. 4th of July Boat Parade will be at 1:00.
June 11, 2017
Financial audit completed. Membership update: 28 households so far. No final schedule of word for additional request for additional inspector hours. Boat parade time set at 1:00 to be led by John and Marilyn Carlson. Annual meeting time changed to 10:00 AM and continental breakfast to be provided with the hope it will encourage increased attendance. Vice president nominations still being sought.
April 20, 2017
The 2017 Membership form was approved and a cover letter developed. Review of the Crow Wing County AIS Inspector schedule for 2017 was completed and a request for additional hours covering six more days will be made. Information was shared on the new decontamination station at Breezy Point. The Boat Parade will be held on July 4th. The vice president position is open and will be elected at the annual meeting in August. Nominations for vice president are being sought.
November 2015
The Association's Board has been meeting to firm up plans for 2016. As part of the Crow Wing County AIS Plan, Bass Lake will receive 200 hours of AIS Inspection coverage. As inspection has been proven to be effective in containing the spread of invasive species, it was decided increase hours of inspection time with BLA funds. A schedule was created so that every weekend from May 14 (Fishing Opener) through the weekend after Labor Day would have an inspector with approximately 270 hours. The additional coverage would cost in the neighborhood of $1000. The majority of the weekends will be scheduled with 5 hour shifts with a few 8 hour shifts on expected high traffic weekends.
In addition, as part of the county AIS Plan, money is available for education. The Board decided to apply for funds to distribute the information packet created by Crow Wing County Land Services to all residents with additional information on the decontamination units located in the area.
As always, input from all members is welcomed and encouraged!
The Board and interested members met on September 26th at Valeri Ann's restaurant in Ossippee. Members present were: John Carlson, Marilyn Carlson, Jon Auge, Bob Steele, Martha Steele, Catherine McGoldrick, and Nancy Geiger. Jon led the meeting:
Annual Meeting Topics: Jon summarized topics that came up at the annual meeting on August 10. These topics were included in the agenda for this meeting.
No Wake Zone: boats coming too close to docks, swimmers, and wildlife came up at the annual meeting. Current state law is that watercraft cannot come within less than 100 feet of the shoreline. People can report watercraft owners who don't follow the law, so we decided to not proceed with any additional action at this time.
Mission Park Parade Participation: Marilyn Carlson will take the lead on BLA participation. She will ask for assistance, and the Board approved funding candy, etc. for parade giveaways. Martha Steele will publicize the event on the website.
Website/Facebook Pages: The group discussed ways to increase participation on both pages. Martha will put more information on the webpage and will look at setting the Facebook page up so people can access it more easily. Jon's daughter may assist.
Social Events: The Spring Fling was a big success - we decided to repeat it next year and set the date on June 13th at the Mission Tavern. We will also repeat the July 4th parade at 1:00, followed by a pontoon hook-up and will hope for better weather.
Member Signs: Martha showed us mock-ups of the sign, including changes made based on feedback from the Annual Meeting. She will work on colors and will get information on having the signs made. The Board will send out an email about the signs, costs, and ordering in March.
Membership Directory: Jon will send electronic copies of the directory and map to Martha to post on the website. He will develop an email about accessing both documents and send it to Nancy, who will forward it to current members.
Membership Renewal 2020: We decided to keep the membership fee at $20. Nancy will send membership renewal information out to members and non-members in April with the goal of having directory changes completed before the start of summer.
Annual Meeting 2020: The Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 8th. Nancy will reserve Mission Park and the Mission Town Hall as back-up in January when reservations open. We may invite a guest speaker to increase attendance - Jon suggested someone from the police/sheriff's department talking about protecting cabins over the winter.
Public Landing Sign: The DNR turned down our request to post a sign based on several of their requirements (e.g. it must be "above and beyond" DNR signs, we can't use the word "our"). We will continue researching ways to promote lake safety and AIS awareness.
Board Recognition: We thanked John Carlson for all his work on the Board over the last four years, and thanked Marilyn for hostessing so many Board meetings. We hope they will stay involved and come to all our meetings!
Board Meetings: We will continue to put Board Meeting schedules on the website and encourage members to come. Jon will include information about our next meeting in the email about the directory changes. Our next meeting is scheduled on May 12th, 1:00 p.m., location TBD.
July 22, 2019
June 8th and July 4th social events were evaluated. Annual meeting agenda was set. Changes to the directory were approved as well as the proposed sign for the landing. Facebook page will be monitored for activity. Information on the membership signs will be presented at the meeting to determine interest. The open Vice President position will be posted on the website.
May 8, 2019
Membership renewals will be done via email asking for changes only for the directory. The email will include information on the website, Board contacts, planned social events and the annual meeting. Members will be contacted regarding their interest in purchasing membership signs. A Facebook page will be established but the website will be the primary source for information. Wording was approved for a sign at the landing. Specifications of the sign will be sent to the DNR for approval to post it at the landing. Nominations for Vice President to be sought. Next meeting in July will be for planning the annual meeting.
October 3, 2018
Membership Renewal:
Dues will remain at $20
A question asking if people want to have a Facebook page set up for the Association
Include information about membership signs
More information from the DNR is required for a sign at the public access.
The Board will decide on final format and wording and see if the Education Grants are still available through the County to cover part of the cost.
Member Association Signs/Neighborhood Watch
Proposed logos/mock-ups with vendors/costs/sizes
MAIRSC
Jon attended the MAIRSC conference in September. Not a lot of new information related to stopping AIS,
April 25, 2018
Loss of AIS inspection hours was discussed at length and determined that hiring our own inspector was not feasible. By-laws were reviewed and proposed updates created. 2018 membership process was discussed and dues were set at $20. 4th of July Boat Parade will be at 1:00.
June 11, 2017
Financial audit completed. Membership update: 28 households so far. No final schedule of word for additional request for additional inspector hours. Boat parade time set at 1:00 to be led by John and Marilyn Carlson. Annual meeting time changed to 10:00 AM and continental breakfast to be provided with the hope it will encourage increased attendance. Vice president nominations still being sought.
April 20, 2017
The 2017 Membership form was approved and a cover letter developed. Review of the Crow Wing County AIS Inspector schedule for 2017 was completed and a request for additional hours covering six more days will be made. Information was shared on the new decontamination station at Breezy Point. The Boat Parade will be held on July 4th. The vice president position is open and will be elected at the annual meeting in August. Nominations for vice president are being sought.
November 2015
The Association's Board has been meeting to firm up plans for 2016. As part of the Crow Wing County AIS Plan, Bass Lake will receive 200 hours of AIS Inspection coverage. As inspection has been proven to be effective in containing the spread of invasive species, it was decided increase hours of inspection time with BLA funds. A schedule was created so that every weekend from May 14 (Fishing Opener) through the weekend after Labor Day would have an inspector with approximately 270 hours. The additional coverage would cost in the neighborhood of $1000. The majority of the weekends will be scheduled with 5 hour shifts with a few 8 hour shifts on expected high traffic weekends.
In addition, as part of the county AIS Plan, money is available for education. The Board decided to apply for funds to distribute the information packet created by Crow Wing County Land Services to all residents with additional information on the decontamination units located in the area.
As always, input from all members is welcomed and encouraged!