Greater Jefferson German Lake Association Board Meeting
June 26, 2014
Call to Order – Scott Haas called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M atSummer Breeze Resort.
Present: Rick Conners, Scott Haas, Arne Jessen, Ralph Johnson, Wayne Quarum, Larry Wasund, and Guest
Mary Johnson. Absent: Bill John
ACTION: Election of Officers. M/s/c to elect the following officers: President, Scott Haas; Vice President,
Rick Connors; Secretary, Arne Jessen; Treasurer, Larry Wasmund.
ACTION: Election of Newsletter Committee Chairperson. M/s/c to elect Mary Johnson, Chairperson.
ACTION: Appointment of Chairs and Co-Chairs of Committees, M/s/c:
- Cannon River Watershed Partnership Liaison Committee – Wayne Quarum, Chair
- Coalition of Tri-County Lake Associations (COLA) – Arne Jessen & Ralph Johnson, Co-Chairs
- County Board – Scott Haas and Larry Wasmund, Co-Chairs
- Farm Run-off – Rick Connors and Wayne Quarum, Co-Chairs
- Fish and DNR Fisheries Liaison Committee – Rick Connors and Scott Haas, Co- Chairs
- Invasive Aquatic Species (Curly Leaf and Eurasian Watermilfoil – Arne Jessen
- Newsletter – Mary Johnson, Chair, and Buster West
- Pond at Cape Horn – Rick Connors
- County Road # 104 – Larry Wasmund
- Septic Systems – Larry Wasmund and Bill John, Co-Chairs
- Sirens – Scott Haas
M/s/c to adopt the Minutes and Treasurer’s Report of the Annual Meeting, May 24, 2014.
Spraying of Invasive Weeds – Arne Jessen reported that the spraying of invasive weeds authorized by a DNR
Permit and partially funded by a DNR grant has been completed. The spraying was done by Lakescapes, LLC of Waterville. Cost was $300 an acre with the grant paying $100 per acre for a total of 25 acres. Homeowners paid the remaining $200 per acre. Spraying was done on 3 acres on German Lake north of Beaver Dam Resort; 2 acres on East Jefferson Lake north of Summer Breeze Resort: 5 acres on Jefferson Shores of East Jefferson Lake; 2.5 acres on West Jefferson, and 12.5 acres on Middle Jefferson creating a boating channel 50 foot wide from West Jefferson to East Jefferson. The board expressed appreciation to the following members who provided important leadership in their neighborhood to achieve the above results: Jeff Hoffman on German Lake; Jason Gibbs on West Jefferson and Jefferson Shores of East Jefferson; Gary Frank on East Jefferson, and Ralph Redding and Lee Plonsky on Middle Jefferson Lake.
A survey of homeowners involved in the spraying will be conducted to determine the value and benefit, problems encountered if any, and recommendations for future spraying by the association. A compilation of the results will be posted on the lake association web site,
Page Two – June 26, 2014 Jefferson German Lake Association Board Minutes (cont.)
Septic System Update–Scottreported that the County Board at a meeting this month responded to the over
200 petitions from our lake homeowners by approving a sewer line as a fourth option for homeowners to be in compliance by 2017. Wenck Associates, INC is making a study of the costs and feasibility of each of the four options. Scott emphasized that the important thing is for our lake owners to have accurate information regarding costs for each option. He distributed a summary of the petitions indicating the number of petitions from each lake (copy attached). Aaron Wills Community Sewage Treatment Facilitator for CRWP (Cannon River Watershed Partnership) is conducting neighborhood meetings around Jefferson German Lakes on behalf of the County Board.
Summer Social Gatherings - At the Lake Association annual meeting on May 24th the idea of having some
Social gatherings around our lake neighborhoods was briefly discussed. Nineteen homeowners indicated their interest in “meeting neighbors on the lake and having conversations about what the Lake Association can do to improve the quality of our lakes for our fishing, boating and swimming pleasure”. The board is encouraging these and other interested members to network with neighbors and try to host a social gathering this summer. Persons declaring an interest will be contacted and assisted by board members.
Farm Run Off - WayneQuarum reported on a workshop he attended in Mankato today on the subject of,
“Agricultural Drainage and the Future of Water Quality”. On County Ditch # 57 which drains into the LeSueurRiver, farmers are required to have buffer strips of 16 ½ footand a holding field, and are paid fair market compensation per acre. There are “ditch viewers”overseen by a Legislative – Citizen Commission on MN Resources (LCCMR) which contributed to the payment of costs. Wayne is interested in exploring a similar plan for our watershed.
Next Meeting of the Board: To be called by the president for August or September.
M/s/c Meeting Adjourned at 8:25 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Arne Jessen, Secretary