Rock Lake Improvement Association
Regular Board Meeting
8 February 2010
Meeting Called to Order - Jan Jenrich, president, 6:30 p.m.
Attendance – Present: Jim Colegrove (treasurer), Betsy Delorey, Lee Gatzke, Jan Jenrich (president), Katie Otto.
Absent: Scott Johnson, Margaret Krueger (secretary), Jim Plotz (vice president), Bill Amman and Ron Niedfeldt
Review of agenda – Will be followed as planned.
Secretary’s report - Meeting minutes – Motion to approve minutes of 2010-01-11 Regular Board meeting minutes made by Gatzke, seconded by Otto. Jenrich suggested clarification of upcoming grants award and matching fund totals. Minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
Motion to approve minutes of 2010-01-25 Special Board Mtg made by Otto, seconded by Gatzke. Minutes were unanimously approved as written.
Treasurer’s report –Colegrove submitted financial reports for checking, savings, and the grant account for 2009 and stated an audit should be done. Jenrich suggested this be put on the March agenda for when Plotz returns from vacation.
Colegrove informed the Board that RLIA may exceed the $25,000 IRS income threshold which requires more reporting of 501(c)3 organizations if the Feb and August grants are awarded. He will continue to investigate IRS change of status criteria and reporting requirements for 2011 reporting of 2010 income.
The Board decided to include a PayPal link on RockLake.org for payment of dues and donations and possibly other merchandise sales. If total business done via PayPal is less than $100,000, there will be a .30 fee per transaction plus 2% of total purchase amount. On a $15. individual membership, the fee would be .30 + .30= .60.
Correspondence –
Colegrove reported correspondence from:
Earth Day T-shirts-no action taken.
Rock River Reflections & Lake Tides, WI Lakes Partnership—Board decided to post all partner newsletters on RockLake.org as pdfs or links.
WAL & Rock River Coalition membership renewals—Motion by Delorey, seconded by Gatzke to approve $330. renewal and table Rock River Coalition renewal until March. Motion passed unanimously.
Jenrich reported correspondence from:
WI Assn of Lakes Convention to be held at Waukesha County Technical College Feb 13. Our engineer Neal O’Reilly will be a presenter at the conference.
Steve Steigerwald City of Lake Mills videographer and cable caster called Jan to officially withdraw his request to video record and broadcast RLIA meetings because we are a private organization. Time is limited for broadcasting private meetings on the local channel.
Robin Untz expressed interest in the t-shirt design contest.
Public Comment –
Jacob Arndt of Lake Mills on spring manure spreading and phosphorous runoff.
Jim Curler of Lake Mills on DNR rules for runoff (NR151) hearing to be held Mar 15. Possible changes to agriculture setbacks and construction funding for famers. Also livestock sitting hearings—confined animal feeding locations.
Stan Smoniewski of Lake Mills criticism of RLIA completion of 2009 grant and application for 2010 grants.
Hope Oostdik of Lake Mills requested extra copies of agendas and treasurer’s reports be printed
Committee Reports:
Bylaw Committee –
Next meeting on March 1 due to Delorey traveling. Should be ready to present draft changes to Board at May meeting. Tentatively planning special meeting in June to present board approved proposed changes to membership. No major changes are being considered, only changes for consistency and clarity throughout existing bylaws.
Grant Committee –
Jenrich working with Eileen Traynor of DNR on financial reports to be submitted with final grant study report to close out 2009 grant. Lab fees specified in 2009 grant were overspent by $1262.45. Total of DNR reimbursement will be $1223.64.
In a motion by Delorey, seconded by Gatzke, the board unanimously approved a meeting of landowners adjacent to drainage ditch, the engineer, and RLIA board is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Feb 25. The purpose of the meeting will be for landowners to voice their thoughts about the project and have engineer share general information about these types of projects and what is known about Miljala Shores at this time.
In a motion by Otto, seconded by Gatzke, the Board voted to use the money previously approved for engineer consulting fees at the town Board meeting to be used for his services at the landowner meeting. The vote carried 3-1, with Colegrove opposed.
In a motion by Otto, seconded by Gatzke, the board voted unanimously to have Jenrich contact all the parties to confirm best time and place for the meeting and send out written invitations.
Public Relations Committee –
An article will appear in local newspapers this week about the Special Board mtg to approve funds to cover consulting fees necessary for County and Town Board meeting where local government letters of support are being considered for RLIA’s next two grant applications. The article will also cover the Jefferson County Land and Water Committee meeting regarding the County letter of support.
Speakers are lined up for March and April, DNR officials regarding their conservancy land acquisitions program and the DNR head of the Glacial Heritage Project, respectively.
Old Business:
Website Review –
Suggestions for the website included posting of the grant applications when they are submitted to DNR in February, posting of the 2009 grant report when submitted to DNR, and newsletters from WAL and Rock River Coalition.
New Business:
Membership Donation Levels
This will be taken up after the bylaw revisions have been considered by the board as the way the board administers review of dues is being suggested.
Videotaping –
Colegrove expressed his view that video recording and subsequent broadcasting on tv or via the internet of RLIA board meetings would expedite communication. The board is still unclear of time available on local channel designated for private organizations. The board tabled the discussion until costs can be determined.
Jenrich noted that not all local government bodies video record their meetings and no other private groups do. She is concerned that RLIA build and maintain a positive and future oriented and progressive reputation so others will want to become involved. She feels the best way to do this is to have personal involvement via attendance at RLIA meetings to become fully informed of RLIA business and acquainted with other members.
Board
Meeting Schedule
– Next meeting is March 8, 2010.
Adjournment –
Motion to adjourn made by Delorey
and seconded by Gatzke. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.