Harris Pond Lake Association

 HARRIS POND LAKE ASSOCIATION

JUNE 10, 2023

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

DRAFT

President, Joe Helmin, called the Board of Directors meeting to order at 1:30 pm at the pavilion in front of the Firehouse Community Room.  He welcomed all those present.

Those present:

President - Joe Helmin

Vice-President - Dave Kappel

Secretary/Treasurer - Sue Tutaj

At-Large Board Member - Bill Jansen

At-Large Board Member - Jay Ingram (Absent)

Town of Harris Representative - Vacant

Sportsmen’s Club Representative - Mike Mittelstedt

 Quorum Set.

Others in attendance - Nancy Bores; Pat Kappel

REVIEW AND APPROVE THE PRINTED AND POSTED MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 11, 2023, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.

It was motioned by Bill Jansen and seconded by Dave Kappel, “to approve the printed and posted minutes from the March 11, 2023, Board of Directors meeting.”  Motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  REVIEW THE LATEST FINANCIAL AND MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITY FROM MARCH THROUGH MAY, 2023.

Sue Tutaj, Treasurer/Secretary, stated we are 18 members strong.  

It was motioned by Bill Jansen and seconded by Dave Kappel, “to approve the financial reports from the months of March 2023; April 2023; and May 2023, as read:

FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2023:  The starting balance as of March 1, 2023, of $17,536.49; Income of $700.00; No expenses; leaving an ending balance as of March 31, 2023, of $18,236.49.

FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2023: The starting balance as of April 1, 2023, of $18,236.49; Income of $600.00; No expenses; leaving an ending balance as of April 30, 2023, of $18,836.49.

FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2023:  The starting balance as of May 1, 2023, of $18,836.49; Income of $160.00; Expenses of $177.98; Ending balance as of May 31, 2023, of $18,818.51.”

Motion carried.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

PENDING UPGRADES TO THE LANGE PARK PAVILION

Joe referred to Mike Mittelstedt, Sportsmen’s Club Representative, about the update.  Mike stated by July 4th, 2023, the pavilion will have a new steel roof; new electrical updates to also include LED lighting; the east side of the structure will be enclosed and part of the south side.

Most of the work will be done by volunteers.  He thanked the Harris Pond Lake Association for our donation of $2,500.00 towards this project.  

Mike also stated the Sportsmen’s Club is donating some food for our Annual Membership meeting and will also have a donation jar out at the 4th of July parade and the money collected will be donated to us.  

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CENTRAL SANDS NITRATE-NEONICOTINOIDS STUDY ON APRIL 6, 2023

Joe stated he attended the Central Sands Nitrate-Neonicotinoids study meeting on April 6, 2023.  This study encompassed counties from Adams, Juneau, Marquette, Portage and Wood counties.  Joe stated the study has  five (5) year intervals and this study tested 74,000 wells.  Among the more interesting data he heard was Marquette County has more clay than sand; there was no data from the lakes; if 10 milligrams per liter of nitrate or more is detected, there is cause for concern; a nitrate test kit can be obtained from the UW Extension office by individual home owners and there is a nominal fee for the testing; and as of this time Marquette County has no alert levels.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MARQUETTE COUNTY LAKES ASSOCIATION MEETING ON JUNE 8, 2023

Joe stated he and Sue attended the Marquette County Lakes Association meeting held on June 8, 2023.  Their board is made up of all new members, and they added two (2) more At-Large members that night.  The guest speaker was Mike Jones of Wildlife management and he spoke about the geese population and problems associated with it.  A few highlights included:  geese are federally protected because they are migratory; they have a twenty (20) year life span; they love manicured lawns.  To control the goose population, “oiling” of eggs is an effective solution; contacting Mike Jones’ office to obtain a $3,500.00 permit to round up and euthanize the goose population is available.

The board also expressed the need for volunteers to help at the booth they have set up at the Marquette County Fair, July 6-9, 2023.  The next meeting for the Marquette County Lakes Association will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 6:30 pm; the Annual meeting.

PARADE FLOAT AND CANDY UPDATE

The 4th of July parade will start at 11:00 a.m.  Jay Ingram has graciously loaned us his boat to be used in the parade.  The candy has been purchased and Joe stated we will need people in the boat to “throw out” the candy and from the truck.  It was the general consensus to meet on Water Street and to decorate the boat at 9:30 a.m.

DISCUSS UPCOMING HPLA BOARD OF DIRECTOR POSITIONS (3) UP FOR RE-ELECTION

The positions up for re-election are:  Vice-President; Treasurer; and At-Large Board Member.

DISCUSS PAT KILBEY’S INFORMATION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS LIVING ON HARRIS POND

Joe handed out information about Rip-rap and what a homeowner can or cannot do.  Regarding dredging, up to two (2) cubic yards can be removed by hand annually.

Pat Kilbey is also to be our guest presenter and guest drawer of the raffle tickets at our Annual membership meeting on July 8, 2023.

UPDATE ON THE PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE PROJECT FOR 2023

Joe stated he and Sue have been raising the purple loosestrife for the last month or so.  We raise the purple loosestrife to grow about a foot tall and receive beetles and cover with netting.  

Within the next month we will release the beetles to the opposite side of the pond to control the purple loosestrife.  Joe stated he and Shane recently visited the areas where we released the beetles from a year ago and there has been a significant reduction of purple loosestrife plants on the eastern shoreline.  We will release the current beetles sometime in mid-July.

DISCUSS THE VACANCY OF THE HARRIS TOWN BOARD REPRESENTATIVE ON THE HARRIS POND LAKE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

It was stated Phyllis Ingram, our Town Board Representative, has retired from the town board.  It was the general consensus to offer Darlene Wulff and/or Mike Rozek  to be a Harris Pond Lake Association Town Board Representative.

DISCUSS HPLA ANNUAL MEETING AND RAFFLE DRAWING ON JULY 8TH, 2023.

(NO PICNIC/TIME CHANGE/GUEST TICKET DRAWER)

Our Annual Membership meeting will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. at the Lange Park Pavilion, on Water Street. We will be re-electing the positions of Vice-President; Treasurer; and At-Large Board Member.  The raffle drawing will be held at l:30 p.m. following the Annual meeting.  Our guest raffle ticket drawer is Pat Kilbey, Marquette County Land and Water Conservation Department.  Only 300 tickets total are sold.  The first place winner receives $1,000.00. Mike will make sure about bringing the turning barrel for the tickets. 

VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT

HARRIS TOWN BOARD REQUEST FOR HPLA TO ASSIST WITH PAYING FOR PUBLIC DOCKS BEING PUT IN AND REMOVED EACH YEAR.

Dave Kappel, Vice-President, stated Harris Town Board requested if the Harris Pond Lake Association could assist with paying for putting the docks in and taken out again.  It was motioned by Mike Mittelstedt and seconded by Bill Jansen, “Harris Pond Lake Association will not support paying for the docks, either by being put in or removed each year, as our tax dollars for the town pay for it.” Motion Carried.

LAKE PLANNING STEERING COMMITTEE

BOAT LAUNCH PAD UPDATE

Joe stated some work has been done on the boat launch pad although the asphalt has not been smoothed out as yet.  It has been noted boats have not had any problems using that launch.

FUND RAISING COMMITTEE

2023 RAFFLE TICKET SALES UPDATE

Sue stated the raffle tickets are all out to members that requested them.  It was suggested to get the money from the tickets to Sue as soon as possible, especially before the Annual meeting.  

FACEBOOK ACTIVITY/FOLLOWERS

413 FOLLOWERS

Joe stated facebook has 413 followers.  

ADDITIONAL TOPICS NOT PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED

PURCHASING OF NEW PICNIC TABLES FOR BOAT LANDING AND ONE ADDITIONAL LOCATION

It was suggested to purchase picnic tables for the pavilion at Lange Park.  We could possibly look into purchasing the same type of picnic tables that are at the pavilion (Manthey pavilion).

We would like to purchase three (3) six (6) foot tables.  It was the general consensus to look into the prices for this type of picnic table and present at our Annual meeting.

Joe stated he spoke to Shawn Henby, Aquatic Plant Management.  Shawn stated mill ponds are the toughest customers because of all the sediment/muck they generally have.  Shawn does not recommend draw-downs as an effective tool for Harris Pond.  Joe suggested we invite Shawn to attend one of our future meetings to give a presentation.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

ANNUAL HPLA MEETING AND RAFFLE DRAWING ON JULY 8, 2023

Our next meeting is our Annual Membership meeting to be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Lange Park Pavilion at 12:30 p.m.  The raffle ticket drawing follows our meeting at 1:30 p.m.  There will be 28 lucky winners with the top prize of $1,000.00.

MOTION TO ADJOURN

It was motioned by Bill Jansen and seconded by Dave Kappel, “to adjourn.”  Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Tutaj, Secretary/Treasurer