August Minutes, 2007
Annual Meeting, unapproved

Rock Lake Improvement Association
Annual Meeting at 10 a.m., Aug. 25, 2007
Lower Rock Lake County Park

RLIA board members present: President Karl Vonderohe, Vice President Johanna Chworowsky, Treasurer Jim Colegrove, Secretary Margaret Krueger, Stan Smoniewski, Milt Strauss, Ron Niedfeldt, Tom Pezzi and Russel Wagner.
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. Board members and officers were introduced by Karl Vonderohe.
Secretary’s Report:
Minutes of the Aug. 26, 2006 minutes were approved with no changes.
Treasurer’s Report – Jim Colegrove
Treasurer’s Report showed current assets of $11,932.76 as of  Dec. 31, 2006, including $3,178.94 in Lake Management Account; $4,627.61 in RLIA Checking Account; and $4,126.20 in RLIA Savings Account. RLIA is now a 501c3 non-profit organization and accounting has been changed to the calendar year.
President’s Report - Karl Vonderohe
Changes have happened rapidly this summer with the lake going from a low water level to a high water level in a short period of time, and the more rapid than expected spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) from Lake Michigan into a Wisconsin lake. He also talked about completion of the master plan for Rock Lake; effect of the zebra mussel invasive species; bad effects of run-off and phosphorous; annual goose count; city’s shoreline cover ordinance; existing ordinance that prohibits vehicles on lake at night in winter; renovation of the Rock Lake north end county parking lot; donation to the Rock River Coalition; purchase of sampling equipment; donation to Wisconsin Association of Lakes legal fund; and annual lake clean-up.
Rock Lake Joint Committee Report – Chairman Glen Zastrow
The lake was 829.2 feet as of this morning, well above the maximum average for this time of year. The committee failed to have the city and town reach an agreement on a shoreline ordinance, and also with launch fees. The committee printed a brochure for distribution to boaters listing basic lake laws.
Publicity Report – Milt Strauss
An informational exhibit was displayed at Lake Mills Town and County Days, Fall Festival and Lake Mills Middle School Environmental Day. Packets are distributed to new lakeshore owners. The spring RLIA newsletter is mailed to property owners in the watershed, along with a membership envelope, and a newsletter and thank you card are mailed to members in fall. The RLIA now has six years of goose counts and will consider options for lowering the rising number of resident geese.
Long Range Plan Report – Patricia Cicero
Recommendations were made in the Long Range Plan for Rock Lake and some are currently being implemented. A grant will be applied for to renovate the north end county parking lot. Sampling is being done for run-off, and a law limiting the use of phosphorous is now being considered at the state level. Other topics included shoreland plantings to protect sensitive areas; management of the dam that controls the lake level; invasive species information; importance of cleaning boats before moving from lake to lake; Columnaris; and VHS. She gave a demonstration on netting near-shore fish in Schultz Bay following the meeting.
Lake Enforcement – Scott Erwin and Dave Walz
Town of Lake Mills Police Officer Scott Erwin said it was a typical year for the lake with the same number of citations, although with fewer patrol hours. He cleans out the dam on a regular basis.
Department of Natural Resources Warden Dave Walz said the biggest problem he has encountered is violation of slow no wake in Schultz Bay. Boating safety classes were cancelled because of lack of interest, although everyone born after Jan. 1, 1989 must take a boating safety course to legally drive a boat.
Jefferson County Supervisor Steve Nass
He touched on topics such as failure of ban on phosphorus to pass at the county level; status of park fees; shoreland zoning rules; groundwater study now under way; and Glacial Heritage Area.
Election of board members and officers:
A slate of board members was approved. Re-elected board members are Johanna Chworowsky, Jim Colegrove, Bob Jeffers, Margaret Krueger, Ron Niedfeldt, Tom Pezzi, Stanley Smoniewski, Milt Strauss, and Russel Wagner. New board members are Scott Johnson and Larry Clark. Karl Vonderohe did not run for re-election because he plans to move from the area. He was presented with a certificate from the RLIA Board in recognition of his many years of service.
Officers elected to serve the organization are Milt Strauss, president; Tom Pezzi, vice president; Jim Colegrove, treasurer, and Margaret Krueger, secretary.
General Membership Forum
Members participated in discussions throughout the meeting, and asked questions of each speaker.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m. Attendance sign-in sheet was signed by 34 people.
            These minutes, submitted by Margaret Krueger, are unapproved. The next annual meeting will be held in August 2008.