By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Among the items discussed at the Feb. 22 meeting of the Arrowhead Lake Association board were an inflatable aquapark, improvements to the Burnt Mill Beach Club, crane repairs, the latest on the valve project and proposed changes to the bylaws.
Because General Manager Mike Pate was charged with boosting ALA membership and revenue, he proposed installing an inflatable aquapark at Tavern Bay Beach Club this summer. The $50,000 cost would include the inflatable structures, life vests, a storage unit for off-season and costs associated with the installation, operation and maintenance of the aquapark.
When Director Denise Loxton raised concerns about security and possible vandalism, especially at night, President Bud Macer pointed to Pate’s experience at Lake Gregory as being beneficial. Concerns were also expressed about the lifeguards being there just for the aquapark and not for swimmers, although they may think they are there for them. Macer suggested bringing these concerns to Pate, who was on a previously scheduled vacation.
Director Alan Kaitz pointed out this is a capital expense and that the structure would last for at least five years. “I can see the membership increasing for this reason and this reason alone,” he said. “This is Mike’s idea; he put a lot of effort into it. I think we may need to trust his judgment. He came up with a project he feels will generate additional funds.”
Director Jim Hannon agreed: “We tasked Mike with driving future sources of revenues.”
The vote was 6-1 with Director Kelly Wallace voting no.
At Burnt Mill Beach Club, ALA is addressing water leaks and redoing the restrooms. The work is expected to take just over two months.
The board addressed a safety concern with the stacker crane which currently has no fail-safe braking system. “This needs to be addressed immediately,” Kaitz said. He noted ALA’s lease agreement with Inland Marine says ALA will maintain an operable lift for the stacker crane. “If we don’t fix it, we are in breach of our lease.” He added that the crane is over 30 years old and this repair will just be a “Band-Aid.”
“We really have no choice,” said Macer. “They cannot function without the crane. We would be responsible for their loss of income.”
The board unanimously approved awarding an amount not to exceed $58,000 to Ace Industries for the stacker crane repairs. In addition, the Finance committee asked that staff solicit an estimate for a total replacement crane to be added to the capital budget in the future.
The board learned from General Manager Mike Pate’s report, read by Lake Safety Supervisor Rick Reisenhofer, that requests for proposals had been sent to 25 engineering firms by the lake valve and outlet project committee. There are six or seven firms very interested in the project; a walk-through was scheduled for them. The committee with the Congressman Jay Obernolte’s office to discuss grant possibilities.
The board held an extensive discussion on proposed changes to the association’s bylaws. There has been confusion, Macer said, about what applies to candidates and what applies to members. In an effort to dispel that confusion, the proposal is to add the following statement to each article: “Unless otherwise specifically stated herein, each and every section, paragraph and sentence of these bylaws shall apply to all ALA members.”
The proposed addition of a sentence stating that “The candidate shall be responsible for any infraction done on their behalf by an ALA member or non-member” drew some criticism. “It’s difficult to control other people,” said Director Eran Heissler. “Sometimes you don’t know the person. Even if you do and tell them to stop, they may not. In the past, if someone sent an email on your behalf, you would get fined.”
Director Loxton asked why someone would promote a candidate if they didn’t like them. Director Marilyn Dishell suggested adding that a candidate would have to put it in writing that they asked the person to stop; then the candidate would not be responsible. “But how can you be responsible for other people?” asked Director Heissler.
Director Dishell said they wanted “to make it clear to all members that paid newspaper ads are not allowed anymore in a campaign. ALA email blasts that go out should be the only way to communicate.” She added that, when she was running for the board, she got two separate phone calls from people offering more than $5,000 to promote her campaign. “I thought it was horrible a candidate would have to come up with their own money or find someone. I find that abhorrent. This bylaw was made in the interest of members, trying to get members to run for office.”
The board voted 5-1, with Directors Heissler and Kaitz voting no, to give staff approval to post the proposed bylaw revisions. Final approval will be scheduled for the March 22 board meeting, which will be held in the community room at Fire Station 91.
At the beginning of the meeting, the directors all expressed their shock over Greg Daily’s death and expressed their condolences to his wife, Angela. Director Heissler made the suggestion that patrol boat #2 be named for him as it was his boat. Daily had served on the Lake Safety patrol for more than 17 years.
During the question and answer period, Reisenhofer distributed copies of a resolution honoring Greg Daily to the board. They had voted to present this resolution for Daily’s retirement but instead presented it to his wife, Angela. She was, Reisenhofer said, very thankful. “In June we would like to put together a last call for service for Greg. We will gather in the early morning with the patrol boats in the middle of the lake and place some wreaths on the water.”
Member Andy Sedlak brought up a pedestrian crossing on Highway 173 by the marina. “We have tried and it has been rejected by the state,” he said. “Can ALA post some caution signs themselves if we can’t get the state to acknowledge our safety concerns?” Both Macer and Kaitz thought that was something that could be done.
0 Comments