ARROWHEAD LAKE ASSOCIATION — Special election on the horizon

By Mary-Justine Lanyon

 

After serving as a director of the Arrowhead Lake Association since October 2022, Denise Loxton – who was most recently the vice president of the board – stepped down as she has moved off the mountain.

At the Aug. 23 meeting, President Bud Macer presented Loxton with a plaque as a “small token for what Denise has done for ALA. She has been my go-to person to ask about the bylaws. We will miss her – she has become a good friend.”

Under New Business, the board approved declaring the At Large A seat vacant and approved the holding of a special election, which will be electronic. Any members without access to the Internet or who have difficulty voting electronically can go into the ALA office where a computer will be set up for them and staff will be available to help.

Macer announced he had selected Director Marilyn Dishell as the interim vice president until the board holds its formal election in October.

Several candidates for the election committee had approached him, Macer said. He recommended attorney Mark Lester – who had previously served on the ALA board – both as a member of the committee and as the inspector of elections. He also recommended attorney Ron Goldie and former board member Kathi Rothner as committee members. The board unanimously approved his recommendations.

Anyone interested in running for the vacant At Large A seat should pick up an application in the ALA office; the deadline for filing is 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 10. The campaign period will run from Sept. 11 to Oct. 13.

There will be a candidates forum on Sept. 13 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at County Fire Station 91. That will be followed by a candidates meet and greet on Sept. 20 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at Grass Valley Park.

Voting instructions and ballots will be distributed to members in good standing on Sept. 28 by 5:00 p.m. Electronic ballots must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 13, when the inspector of elections will announce the results.

The newly elected director will be seated at the Oct. 25 meeting.

Under Directors Comments, Eran Heissler, who represents the Grass Valley district, said he would like to see a dog park at Grass Valley Park. People who visit with their dogs leave the animals’ waste on the grass where children play. There is an area of empty land that has never been used. The issue is access as folks would have to cross a creek that currently has no bridge.

“We got a used gangway from Arrowhead Docks,” Heissler said, “and could put it in place at minimal cost.”

General Manager Mike Pate added he gets calls quite frequently about someone having been bitten by a dog. “Parents are nervous about dogs being there with children playing in the same area.” He said a fenced park would provide a measure of safety.

Member Roberta Rindenow cautioned the board to check with legal and insurance about liability for a dog park. There have been issues, she said, with the dog park at MacKay Park.

In his General Manager’s Report, Pate said they had had emergency repair done to the crane which he hope will add five years or more to it. The repair took place at the main stress point on the crane.

Pate also showed slide of work that had been completed by staff since the last board meeting, including trail work and a repair of the retaining wall at Grass Valley Park. “They look like small projects,” he said, “but they take a lot of manpower.”

Because there has been some significant vandalism at some of the bathrooms, a couple of them are being locked during the day. However, members can unlock and access them with their member cards.

Pate had high praise for Chris King, the new head of maintenance. Someone had reported a stump on the beach that had been uncovered by wind and erosion. “The report came in at 5:00 p.m.,” Pate said. “It was gone by 6:45 the next morning.”

He toured the maintenance shop, the GM said, and found it to be immaculate with the tools hung up.