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2008 Annual Meeting Minutes, continued
Joe
presented the Treasurer’s report for 2007/2008 fiscal year. The Tree Removal
fund, which is capped at approximately $1,000.00, had only one charge of $35.00
and has a balance of $979.50. Winter roadwork was low due to unusual weather
conditions and considerable traffic from the construction crews at the
Ohrnberger and Ward lots. The Road Committee spent only $490.00 this year and
the fund has a balance of $1,044.22. General Roadwork was a disaster for the
same reasons less was spent for winter roadwork. The Road Committee spent
$2,657.00 to keep the road barely open for traffic during April, May, and early
June. There is a deficit in that fund of ($1,698.50). We spent $636.70 from
the General Fund. Cabin Inspection was $400.00 of “pass through funds”
collected by the Association and paid to the contractor, this year’s Earth Day
expenses that the membership approved in the 2006 annual meeting, and $74.70 for
postage, copies, cards, and supplies for the past three years.
A dollar a
lot assessment will bring Tree Removal close enough to our cap of $1,000.00 for
that fund. $17.00 per share for snow removal plus the $10.00 per member
“Emergency Access” established at the 2005 annual meeting will bring Winter
Roadwork to about $1,950.00 which should cover a bad winter even with the price
increases we are sure to get due to the price of fuel. We must pay off our
deficit in General Roadwork and bring that fund up to a reasonable amount to
keep our road passable. This year’s assessment is set at $110.00 per lot. That
will give us roughly $1,600.00 in the fund. The General Fund is a combination
of dues, $10.00 per member this year, and “Cabin Inspection Fees” that remain at
$40.00 per person for those that need the service. We will have a balance of
$430.00; $400.00 being projected inspection fees in that fund. We have charged
“Earth Day” activities to the General fund for the past two years to burn up the
funds carried forward from prior years. This year that activity will come from
the two Roadwork funds, which is a better reflection of the where the cost
originate. Lanny proposed the budget be approved as presented. Ellen seconded
the motion. The motion passed by voice vote.
Joe
presented the Road Committee report for Jacqui who was unable to attend. The
road was a disaster this year as outlined in the financial report. Jack Weber
telling the Road Committee he could no longer work on the road for health
reasons farther complicated the situation. Jacqui and the committee interviewed
several people for a replacement to keep the road in passable condition. The
person currently selected for the position is John Washburn a.k.a. T. J.
Enterprises. He provided the gravel and made the repairs in the first week of
June. The road is still in good shape so Jacqui believes his repair and grading
technique may only require him to do maintenance every three or four months on
average. He doesn’t actually fill potholes. He breaks up the road surface to
grade over the area. She believes John may actually be less expensive with his
equipment than filling potholes has been in past years. Joan reminded people
with complaints or suggestions about the road to call Jacqui and not
our contractor. Jacqui wants John Washburn to feel responsible to one person –
not everyone in the subdivision. Larry reminded us that “in the good old days”
able-bodied people in the subdivision gathered on nice days to repair the road.
I remember that too, and even participated once or twice. Joan announced she
had the commitment of the current Road Committee to serve another two-year
term. It was generally agreed that responsibility for and decisions about
activities for the road would remain with the members of the Road Committee.
That would be Jacqui as Chairperson, Ray, and Jim.
(Note: I
did get several people inquire after the meeting if Roadwork was going to remain
at this $110.00 per lot level. No – I certainly do not expect that to
happen. I do not, however, believe we will get back to the $35.00 per lot level
either. I believe that the increases in the cost of gravel and fuel will put us
in the $40.00 to $50.00 per lot range in coming years. We have not done any
significant road improvement since the gravel that was brought in back in 2000
or 2001. Having a skilled road maintenance person will help to keep our
expenses in line.)
Old Business:
Defibrillator and CPR:
Ray made some comments about available equipment and then nearly everyone
chipped in with their thoughts. There were some particularly good comments from
the doctors, nurses, and schoolteachers that are required to have CPR training.
I believe it all boiled down to the critical time frame of five minutes or less
to start some form of CPR procedure when a heart attack is suspected. It was
generally accepted the very first thing to do was call 911. The discussion
ended by Joan asking the committee to make some more specific recommendations on
equipment and where, if anyplace, we might want to keep a defibrillator if one
were purchased. Lanny volunteered to look into CPR training in conjunction with
next year’s annual meeting. Ray stated he wasn’t pushing for the Association to
purchase a defibrillator. If he felt it was necessary for his home – he would
buy one. That might be a good recommendation for the membership to consider
since time seems to be the critical factor.
Fire
Prevention: Linda stated the
committee had not met. She had, however, located a movie “fire safety in the
woods”, or something like that, that she thought might be worth showing to a
group if someone would bring popcorn. I believe Joan gave the committee more
time to work on the subject. There was a question about burning yard waste on
the beach. Beach fires are permitted if closely supervised. Burning yard trash
requires a Burn Permit from the DNR. To obtain a Burn Permit on the computer go
to
www.michigandnr.com/burnpermits/default1.aspx
or enter “DNR “Burn Permit”, Traverse City, MI” in your Google search.
If computers are not your cup-of-tea call toll free (866) 922-2876.
Dumpster: That
concern seems to have been resolved since it was not mentioned at this year's
meeting.
Funding
of Mission Acres web site name:
Approved last year. I offered to send Larry a check, but he indicated he would
contribute the cost of the site to the Association until we decide to use it
more often than it is being used. Thanks Larry. He also indicated he has done
little to develop the site in the past year due to the building project. He may
work on a Bulletin Board type application that would make it more useful and
more interesting to visit on a regular basis.
New Business:
Access
to Whispering Trail from Property on the East:
Lanny proposed we prevent any more roads being cut into Whispering Trail at any
point other than the existing Farm Trail, that is gated, across from his lot.
He volunteered to assure that gate was locked one day a year to assure open
access at that point was not a guarantee. That thought was seconded by a number
of people. Larry pointed out that the motion or one similar to it was passed
years ago and all we needed to do was enforce that motion. The motion received
unanimous support. Lanny said he would personally block the old road that Jack
Weber opened last fall to haul firewood from the woods on Nyblad Farms property.
Lanny
proposed we have the two year term officers serve to be reelected on odd years –
starting with 2009, effectively shortening the present term one-year to comply
with the constitution. Linda and Taffy seconded the motion. The motion passed
by voice vote.
Joan called
for volunteers to serve on a nominating committee for an election to be held at
next year’s annual meeting. Linda, Taffy, and Ray volunteered. Joan had hoped
to get Peter Ohrnberger and will leave the appointment of members open until she
has a chance to talk with him. Someone asked how many people could be on the
committee. Joan was sure there was no limit so if you want to volunteer – call
her. We’ll find a way to let people know who is on the committee when it is
finalized. In the interim – if you crave to be an officer of the Association
call Joan.
Jack
Callahan asked for time to say a few words about the drain problem on the Conway
beach. He brought down a written copy of what he would like to have in the
minutes later in the day after he had inspected the site. He and I discussed
it, and it is included as an addendum to the minutes.
Larry and
Nancy agreed to host next year’s meeting at their new home. The meeting will be
on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM.
Ellen
proposed the meeting adjourn. Ray seconded the motion. The motion passed by
voice vote. Joan adjourned the meeting at about 11:40 AM.
Thanks for holding the meeting on such short notice Joan. The
coffee and rolls were a real treat.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Verdoorn
Joe
Verdoorn, Secretary/Treasurer
Addendum:
Jack
Callahan provided the following after he made an inspection of the beach on the
Conway property: Following comments from the floor – Larry Ward and Joe Verdoorn
briefly reviewed the history of the Nyblad/Straub drain (as they understood it
from reading the historical minutes). In 1945, Max Musser, then owner of the
Nyblad property, created a ditch from his wetland pond to the beach to make the
lakeshore lots more saleable. To eliminate a bridge over Whispering trail a
pipe was extended under the roadway to the Straub property. Marie Evelyn Straub
disliked the aesthetics of a ditch along side her property and extended the
culvert pipe to the beach. This proved to be unsatisfactory and was extended
90-feet onto the Conway property. When plugged with dune sand, the backed-up
swamp water on two occasions gullied the Conway beach. That problem has
recently been corrected.
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