Pledge
Roll Call- D Mix, R Chaffins, R Rose, S Ellinger
Minutes -Roger made a motion to accept the minutes as written with Rosie 2nd ‘ing it. The motion carried.
Forest Update – Mr. Wakeland – noted several things he’s been contemplating and would like to see occur:
- Surveyor/ beaver mess. Nothing new as he understands. His personal convictions are as described: He spoke with Mr.- Al Alsop, an excavator, who has worked on a beaver control project in Potato Creek State Park. Mr. Wakeland also spoke with a naturalist at that park. From the conversations, it’s Mr. Wakeland’s understanding that 5 yrs. ago they put in a device to deter the beavers from building dams and it’s still working. Mr. Wakeland will be meeting with Mr. Alsop tomorrow. He wants to check- if the situation at Potato Creek Park holds true on at our Forest
- Rick Ward – had a 2nd solution through Ducks Unlimited. Mr. Wakeland will try the devices over the winter since they test best during the winter season. It was suggested that they may be able to integrate both devices as a solution. It had come to Mr. Wakeland’s attention that Surveyor Dennis Estok asked for that proposal to spend the money and the engineers were responding to that request by Mr. Estok. Get a few more elevations: Elevation of ditch closer to 1100, if water flowing, then need elevation of the flowing water and elevation at the bottom of the ditch and the elevation of the culvert. Wants confirmation that elevation is correct. Should proceed with that, proceed with the devices and then need to meet the new surveyor early on and talk with him. No need to do anything until we have the new surveyor.
- Signage- We should get county green and white signs with arrows: 1025 or 1100… it tees into Division Rd, and then at Division and 23. His suggestion was that we may want to work with the Highway Dept to place the signs.
- Encourage cross country skiers. Dependent on El Nino winter with snow for this year. It will depend if we have any money left. Grooming trails, clear snow from parking lot; and need to pull a trailer to make the track over the course once. Work with WKVI or build a website to let people know there’s a place to cross country ski. Have own snow mobile or someone willing to use their snowmobile to make the trail. Question: Should Mr. Wakeland spend money to purchase a snowmobile. The closest area we have to a groomed ski trail is in South Bend.
- Would like to pick a date to plan another day to have a tour open house. Would suggest mid-July. Due to the beauty of the flowers at that time.
Board would like some time to look into signage. Also look into get a website.
- Almost time to harvest the timber but will wait to see the market prices.
Beach and Campground – Mr. Callahan reported – it was closed on Oct 31. Ms. Mix stopped him right there and said she had concerns about campers still being there overnight. She had gone to the camp on Thursday, Nov. 12 and noticed that 6
- 8 campers were still there and were hooked up to water and electric. Mr. Callahan stated they were there cleaning during the day only and not staying overnight. Ms. Mix noted that once she was notified by a lake resident that the campground was still open and a deer was hanging on a tree at one of the campsites. She drove over to the campground a couple of days later and looked around. Ropes were found hanging from a tree, but there was no deer hanging. She also went onto their Facebook page and looked around and eventually found photos of a dead deer hanging from a tree and on a trailer. Mr. Callahan said when he found out he told the guy he had to remove it. Mr. Chaffins notified Mr. Callahan that it cannot happen again.
It was reported that after this past weekend, the water is drained, and no campers will be there at night. Mr. Wallsmith reported that the address of Callahan Enterprises has been changed to:
7060 S. US Hwy 35, Knox. 46534
Per M r. Wallsmith: If possible, it would be helpful to know what issues we want addressed, it would make the meeting more expedient.
Mr. Wallsmith also noted that he wasn’t notified until the day of the work session and was told that day to put anything in writing that he wants. Mr. Ellinger corrected him that his office had been notified a day or two before that he didn’t need to be there and his concerns needed to be put in writing. Mr. Ellinger stated that it was his office that failed to notify him. When asked if he brought anything in writing this evening, he said, “no”. Mr. Wallsmith verbally notified us he wants to meet with the county attorney to clarify definitions such as the reassignment of the beach and campground as well as defining the rent portion and whether the sewer bill is considered rent or utilities. He was directed to call Mr. Lucas and make that appointment.
A question from the audience asking if the board has started a 5-year plan, and if so, when will it be completed. The board was in agreement that we have not started on a 5-year plan and we haven’t planned a start day to draw one up.
With no further discussions or questions, the meeting adjourned at 7:12pm Next meeting is Dec. 15, 6pm at the annex. Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Mix Secretary
Per M r. Wallsmith: If possible, it would be helpful to know what issues we want addressed, it would make the meeting more expedient.
Mr. Wallsmith also noted that he wasn’t notified until the day of the work session and was told that day to put anything in writing that he wants. Mr. Ellinger corrected him that his office had been notified a day or two before that he didn’t need to be there and his concerns needed to be put in writing. Mr. Ellinger stated that it was his office that failed to notify him. When asked if he brought anything in writing this evening, he said, “no”. Mr. Wallsmith verbally notified us he wants to meet with the county attorney to clarify definitions such as the reassignment of the beach and campground as well as defining the rent portion and whether the sewer bill is considered rent or utilities. He was directed to call Mr. Lucas and make that appointment.
A question from the audience asking if the board has started a 5-year plan, and if so, when will it be completed. The board was in agreement that we have not started on a 5-year plan and we haven’t planned a start day to draw one up.
With no further discussions or questions, the meeting adjourned at 7:12pm Next meeting is Dec. 15, 6pm at the annex. Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Mix Secretary
Pledge
Roll Call- D Mix, R Chaffins, R Rose, S Ellinger
Minutes -Roger made a motion to accept the minutes as written with Rosie 2nd ‘ing it. The motion carried.
Forest Update – Mr. Wakeland – noted several things he’s been contemplating and would like to see occur:
- Surveyor/ beaver mess. Nothing new as he understands. His personal convictions are as described: He spoke with Mr.- Al Alsop, an excavator, who has worked on a beaver control project in Potato Creek State Park. Mr. Wakeland also spoke with a naturalist at that park. From the conversations, it’s Mr. Wakeland’s understanding that 5 yrs. ago they put in a device to deter the beavers from building dams and it’s still working. Mr. Wakeland will be meeting with Mr. Alsop tomorrow. He wants to check- if the situation at Potato Creek Park holds true on at our Forest
- Rick Ward – had a 2nd solution through Ducks Unlimited. Mr. Wakeland will try the devices over the winter since they test best during the winter season. It was suggested that they may be able to integrate both devices as a solution. It had come to Mr. Wakeland’s attention that Surveyor Dennis Estok asked for that proposal to spend the money and the engineers were responding to that request by Mr. Estok. Get a few more elevations: Elevation of ditch closer to 1100, if water flowing, then need elevation of the flowing water and elevation at the bottom of the ditch and the elevation of the culvert. Wants confirmation that elevation is correct. Should proceed with that, proceed with the devices and then need to meet the new surveyor early on and talk with him. No need to do anything until we have the new surveyor.
- Signage- We should get county green and white signs with arrows: 1025 or 1100… it tees into Division Rd, and then at Division and 23. His suggestion was that we may want to work with the Highway Dept to place the signs.
- Encourage cross country skiers. Dependent on El Nino winter with snow for this year. It will depend if we have any money left. Grooming trails, clear snow from parking lot; and need to pull a trailer to make the track over the course once. Work with WKVI or build a website to let people know there’s a place to cross country ski. Have own snow mobile or someone willing to use their snowmobile to make the trail. Question: Should Mr. Wakeland spend money to purchase a snowmobile. The closest area we have to a groomed ski trail is in South Bend.
- Would like to pick a date to plan another day to have a tour open house. Would suggest mid-July. Due to the beauty of the flowers at that time.
Board would like some time to look into signage. Also look into get a website.
- Almost time to harvest the timber but will wait to see the market prices.
Beach and Campground – Mr. Callahan reported – it was closed on Oct 31. Ms. Mix stopped him right there and said she had concerns about campers still being there overnight. She had gone to the camp on Thursday, Nov. 12 and noticed that 6
- 8 campers were still there and were hooked up to water and electric. Mr. Callahan stated they were there cleaning during the day only and not staying overnight. Ms. Mix noted that once she was notified by a lake resident that the campground was still open and a deer was hanging on a tree at one of the campsites. She drove over to the campground a couple of days later and looked around. Ropes were found hanging from a tree, but there was no deer hanging. She also went onto their Facebook page and looked around and eventually found photos of a dead deer hanging from a tree and on a trailer. Mr. Callahan said when he found out he told the guy he had to remove it. Mr. Chaffins notified Mr. Callahan that it cannot happen again.
It was reported that after this past weekend, the water is drained, and no campers will be there at night. Mr. Wallsmith reported that the address of Callahan Enterprises has been changed to:
7060 S. US Hwy 35, Knox. 46534