END OF THE DOCK
Ken Klehr, President

It is hard to believe it is time to take the dock out.  I would like to summarize some of this year highlights. But first I would like to recognize past President Kim Winter who took on the responsibility of president in 2002. During her term as president she has demonstrated good leadership in guiding and directing the LWIA. We are fortunate that Kim is still on the board of directors so we can continue to use her knowledge and experience.

We received a permit from the DNR to use herbicides to treat 78.39 acres for Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) costing over $35,000. Obtaining this permit, along with grant money, was the result of a lot of time and effort spent by our Exotic Species Team. Also, financial support via grants for this year should total $23,000 thru the DNR and County.  We began developing a Lake Vegetation Management Plan. Please see the Exotic Species Committee’s Report for more details.

Financing the effort to manage EWM will be one of our major challenges. So to open the doors to more financial assistance, thru public and private grants, we have submitted an application form 1023 to the IRS for recognition of exemption under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code to be designated as a non profit charity. Also to accommodate this designation as a non profit charity we had to add some verbiage in our Articles of Incorporation. In addition, we will need to file yearly income reports to the IRS. The application was mailed to the IRS in September.  We should hear back from the IRS by March. This application was put together by the Financial/Fund Raising Committee with outside help from Dave Berry at the law firm of Wood, Berry and Rue and Steve Hanson at the accounting firm of Piehl, Hanson, Beckman.

Over the last several years, the boat traffic between Stella and Washington has been hindered by the build-up of silt in the channel. Milt Lueneburg (Lake Washington) has been working with Rob Collet from the DNR to obtain permit approval to dredge the east side of the channel between Lake Washington and Lake Stella. The DNR permit has been approved and Milt has lined up Craig Reiner from Reiner Contracting (Lake Stella) to do the dredging. It is scheduled to be done this fall. The LWIA would like thank both Milt and Craig, along with adjoining property owners, for their time and effort. The dredging should allow for easier access between lakes.

The Communications and Public Relations Committee has but together and published three newsletters this year. They have been communicating via our web site www.lakewashingtonassn.com . 

The Social Committee hosted the annual meeting and Potluck-Bar B Q with good food and guest speaker Lee Sundmark, DNR, covering the 2008 Fish Survey.

The Shoreline Captains/Membership Committee met with the Shoreline Captains receiving input about areas for improvements and concerns regarding the LWIA. The LWIA board is currently working on these issues and we will be giving feedback thru the Shoreline Captains. These issues are also covered in our board meeting minutes.

Recently Professional Lake Management (PLM) completed a whole lake vegetation analysis which will assist us in developing a Lake Vegetation Management Plan. Also they did a water quality assessment. PLM will be presenting this information at our next board meeting.

The board is going to lose two board members next spring. Cammy Moses and Jenna O’Brien. They have accomplish much in the years they have been on the board, such as the Lake Washington Association Cookbook, the Lake Washington Directory 2005, and developing a detailed membership spread sheet to mention a few. We are going to miss them. So we are looking for new board members. If you are interested in serving on the board, which is a term for 3 years, or know someone who may be interested, please contact any board member.

Overall, we feel we had a productive year. Our biggest challenge continues to be Eurasian Water Milfoil and financially the ability to manage and eventually eradicate it from Lake Washington. Thanks to the DNR support thru grants, permits and technical assistance and to the County for their grants. Also the Board wants to recognize the following for their efforts; Orlin Ortloff from the Meeker County Association of Lakes who has been representing Lake Washington since 1992, Milt Lueneburg, Craig Reiner, Hojies Grill and Smoke House, Shoreline Captains, those that help at our gatherings and the list goes on. Most important is the support your have given thru your time, effort and financially.

See you next spring and enjoy the winter lake activities.