Call to Order (Tim Piccard) at 9:04 am, 58 members (including Board members) in attendance 

Pledge of Allegiance

Introduction of the ESLA Board of Directors

1. Absent with notice: Carol Ward (resigned) and Laura Pacifici 

2. Need nominations for 4 Board positions: 3 full term, 1 for Carol’s remaining 2 years

Approval of Agenda

1. Agenda edited to remove special guest Bob Niehuis, add Jalisa Danhof

2. Moved by Anne Baar, approved unanimously

Special Guest: Jalisa Danhof, Camp Newaygo Director 

1. Turtle Island

   1. Camp Newaygo owns the island. If you want to use it, contact Jalisa at jalisa@campnewaygo.org or her cell (850) 445-9060 ahead of time. Be respectful, leave no trash.

   2. Tuesday nights are overnights for Camp Newaygo campers at the island.

   3. Thanks to those who volunteered to remove campers from the island using their pontoons in case of an emergency or weather. Let Jalisa know if you’re interested.

2. Wetland Trail

   1. A brush fire destroyed about 1.5 acres last year, including a 400-foot boardwalk installed in 1987. A cigarette most likely caused the fire. 

   2. Rebuilding efforts started two weeks ago after permits were received from EGLE. Ryan Carrow, who has trail-building experience, will help with the rebuilding effort.

   3. Need financial support. For a $50 donation, you can get your name on the trail. Donate to the Trail: [HERE]

   4. Need volunteers to help with labor. Volunteer Sign-Up: [HERE]

   5. Hoping to open the rebuilt trail next Spring and make it as ADA compliant as possible.

   6. The trail will be free and accessible to the public. 

In memoriam - Members we have lost

1. Bill Sherman

2. Jameson Yarrington

Welcome to our new owners on the lakes – none

1. If you have a new neighbor, contact a board member so we can identify and connect with them

Secretary’s Report (Dan Patrick)

1. Minutes of last year’s Annual Meeting were posted on the website

2. No questions or comments from attendees

3. Tim made a motion to approve, approved unanimously

Treasurer’s Report (Sandy Morse) – cash flow at the door

1. Balance $59,000, informational sheet on the budget was at the door.

2. So far this year, 60% of residents have paid dues. With dues collected at the door, we’re now at 62%, which is a little behind where we’re usually at for this point of the year. Dues can be dropped off to any board member or sent to the ESLA PO Box. If you use Venmo, contact Sandy Morse to let her know. 

3. c. Louisa Self asked about the $8K on the budget. Tim replied that it was the amount for the pre-cast portion of the bridge.

4. Tim mentioned that we have two substantial projects this year, the Carp Project and the Bridge Project. Let him know if other projects may be coming up.

Committee Updates:

1. Safety (Jay Graham)

   1. This committee has not met recently

   2. Tasks completed this year

      1. Speed bumps have been repainted

      2. Posted speed limit and bridge weight limit signs

      3. Addressed dead tree dangers

      4. Fixed the bridge railing temporarily until we get a new bridge

      5. Revised safety notes sheet

   3. Delivery vans are the most common speeders around the lakes. Tim has called FedEx.

   4. Reminder - wake boats must stay as far from shore as possible. 

      1. Our lakes are not getting bigger, but our boats are

      2. Louisa has noticed that some wake boats take on unnecessary water ballast when they aren’t wakeboarding. To minimize wave damage, try to avoid this.

      3. DNR has authority over water. If you have a complaint, contact the DNR

   5. Contact Jay if you’re interested in serving on the Safety Committee

   6. Two recent vandalism reports were filed with the Newaygo Sheriff. 

   7. Rick Sharp recently had someone show up at his boat ramp wanting to launch a boat. This is a reminder that boat ramps around our private lakes are for residents only; there is no public access.  

2. Lakes (Beth Kiekintveld) and Wildlife (Laura Pacifici)

   1. Geese (reported by Beth) 

      1. 29 eggs were harvested this spring, which also caused the adults to leave. This is a fully permitted process. Special thanks to Laura and Sue for this service. 

      2. We still have 8-9 geese. We will see Geese again, Labor Day weekend, they are transient ones that come and go

   2. Lake Quality

      1. Water clarity has decreased on both lakes in the last 4 years, using CLMP and PLM data. A Secchi disk is used to measure the clarity depths 

         1. Sylvan average reduction of 34-35%

         2. Emerald average reduction of 24-25%

      2. Causes: 

         1. Runoff – we have very little, and have none from creeks

         2. Regular boats and wake boats stir up the sediment. Reduce speeds, especially in shallow areas.

         3. Carp 

      1. Concern: Dissolved oxygen on Emerald Lake is low, causing issues for fish sustainability

      2. Causes

         1. Oxygen is used to break down sediment, leaves, and other items put in the lake

         2. Reminder - do not put leaves, yard debris, or fish remains in the lake 

      3. PLM treatment

         1. 3 acres on Emerald, 2 acres on Sylvan

         2. Curly leaf Pondweed is back, which may have come from fishing boats coming into our lakes from Pickerel, which has a public boat launch

      4. Kevin Pasma acknowledged Beth for her passion and dedication to the conservation of our lakes. 

Roads (Jeff Parks)

1. Trying to keep up with road grading after rain

2. Feel free to grab from gravel piles to fill potholes

3. If you have asphalt needs, contact Jeff, as it would be more cost-effective when the bridge is done

4. Sealing the surface of our asphalt roads is generally considered a waste of money; it’s better to spend time and money on sealing cracks 

Newsletter/Facebook/Website Communication (Beth on behalf of Laura Pacifici)

1. The website is working great, and the minutes and other information have been posted.  

2. Contact Tim if your email changes

Oak Leaf Club (Louisa Self) 

1. Louisa is  the new OLC president

2. Great group of women, looking for new members

3. Mostly social

4. Directories for sale for $5, contact Gayle Horton; we will be creating a new one

5. Kate Flagg left painted rocks with the 2025 OLC schedule on people’s docks. Contact her if you didn’t receive one.

6. Contact Carol Weatherhead if you can help with the Corn Roast

Other Business 

1. Carp project (Laura Pacifici, shared by Beth)

   1. Carp Solutions will be here September 9-11, after Labor Day. 

   2. They will electroshock early in the morning. To learn more about their process, go to Carp Solutions' website. We will notify residents of specific times when they need to stay out of the lakes. 

   3. Any stunned carp will be removed, and 30 will be taken to determine their age.

   4. Applying for permits in the next few weeks.

   5. Contact Beth if you see Carp, Carp Solutions is interested in knowing where they are

2. Bridge project (Tim Piccard)

   1. Introduced the eight-member bridge committee, which was established under the road committee after last year’s annual meeting. 

      1. Consists of Tim, Kevin Self, Jeff Parks, Jay Graham, Rich Witte, Steve Kiekintveld, Paul Dressel, and Tom Fleming

   2. Tim presented a bridge project board with professional structural design drawings from soil and construction, with load limits. The final design will be stamped.

   3. Showed the guardrail concept. Mike Geluso is going to give a bid. 

   4. July 28th to October 6th, the bridge would be out of Commission, and times when the waterway underneath will also be closed 

   5. There will be times when the road in front of Baars will be closed for excavation of the south approach 

   6. Tim showed the permit from EGLE 

   7. We’ve collected $111,941; the budget is $104K. There are always the unknowns, so the committee appreciates any other donations, which will give us a risk contingency and allow us to finish the project if anything does come up.

   8. Any surprises will be communicated  

   9. Committee welcomes any ideas to increase the aesthetics of the guardrail approaches to the bridge 

   10. Tim recognized the Baars as they will be the most impacted by this project

       1. Anne Baar said they are in the process of having the proposal reviewed by their insurance company regarding liability

       2. They hope that the branches on their sycamore tree can be preserved as much as possible; they don’t currently plan to repave the road in front of their cottage, and they would like the proposal signed by Tim.

   11. Lisa Howland asked about getting multiple bids. Tim said it has been difficult because it is a relatively small project for most companies. Some of the contractors were mentioned, and we’re familiar with many of them. 

       1. Jeff Parks will demo the bridge; it will take about 5 days

       2. Dekryger concrete

       3. A1 asphalt

       4. Billingsley excavation

   12. The new bridge will be about 1 foot wider and have an additional 16”+ head clearance when traveling on the waterway underneath.

   13. Bob Eggerding suggested that it would be safer to use tubular steel instead of the existing beams, as the existing I beams have flanges which could pose a safety hazard. 

   14. A cottage near Geluso’s will be taken down this summer, which will also increase construction traffic.

   15. Gayle Horton requested that we try to incorporate the previous arched Emerald Sylvan sign

3. Dying/dead/downed trees near roads around lakes (Tim Piccard)

   1. There are a lot of dead trees around the lakes, many due to injury recently by spongy moth caterpillars

   2. The ones that pose the most concern, since they pose a safety hazard, are the ones that could fall across our roads. The worst problem is the North entrance of Sylvan Lake. 

   3. The Board doesn’t have the authority to cut them down. The township suggested that we communicate with the property owners, ask them to remove them, and then, if they don’t address them, we can pursue other options.

   4. Members of the board will go around and document hazardous trees, and then communicate with the property owners

Board of Directors Nominations

1. Sue Korzynak

2. Sandy Morse

3. We’ll keep the nomination period open until July 15

Comments/Concerns

1. Fish Restocking – (Tim Piccard)

   1. Due to our declining dissolved oxygen levels, it may be best to improve our water quality before adding more fish

   2. Beth will check into this.

2. Other?

   1. Bill Hineline was thanked for his opinions over the last several months 

   2. Curly leaf pondweed was found, so 3 acres on Emerald and two on Sylvan were treated. This problematic weed most likely comes from boats and jet skis from Pickeral Lake.

   3. Pickerel Lake Golf Outing on 8/24/25 

   4. Steve Kikintveldt mentioned concern about the speeds of jet skis, especially from other lakes, racing across our lakes. This poses a significant safety concern for swimmers and other boaters. Tim shared that the DNR controls the waterways, so these unsafe events should be reported to them.  

   5. Barricades/buoys to protect shallow areas can’t be placed without contacting the DNR

Adjournment

Beth made a motion to adjourn, which passed

Meeting adjourned at 11:02 am