Minutes for Homeowners Meeting August 8th, 2009 Junkermier Cabin
The meeting called to order by Vice President Jack Lewis at 10AM.
Members Present: Pam & Chuck Lowry, Polly Poole, Bill Junkermier, Mike Wright, Geoff Knight, Jack Lewis, Diane Barrick, Leslie & Tom Giles, Doug Platts, Mike Redmond, Sue (Reynolds) Flaig, Charlie Brown, Diane McCue Hollinger, Patrick Gleason, Helen Cory, Dave & Susan Williamson, Gwen Hanley, Helen Cory, Jim Cory, Gary Wadsworth, Bill Cory, Bill & Jean Langlass, Dave McCrane, Fred & Gayle Wadsworth, Dennis Drouillard, Lou & Phyllis Whitsell, Graig Wirth, Mikal Kellner, Jim Drasdo, Judd Binley,McCu…, Lynn Anderson
(I couldn’t read one name very well and if you were at the meeting and didn’t sign in please let me know Diane Barrick)
Before the meeting got underway Mike Wright explained how the phone conference call would work. Julie Kotschevar was the only homeowner who was on the call.
Connie Mccabe passed around a card for Ann Nelson.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the June 27th meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report Lynn Anderson
Lynn passed out a list of expenses for the last 5 years. She went over the 2009 column. All the bills are in for road maintenance. The costs for the road were over budget. There was a motion to approve the costs that were over budget. It was seconded and approved.
At this point VP Jack Lewis asked that homeowners take the time to introduce themselves.
Road Report Bill Junkermier
Bill reported that the road maintainence went over budget this year. We have paid $3000 for snow removal, $1400 for culverts and the remainder of the money went to gravel. This is the 2nd year to increase budget for the road. Originally it was estimated that it would take at least $20,000 to $25,000 to improve the road. We are about a third of the way to get entire road graveled. He said the recent rain left some muddy areas, which are not yet graveled. The graveled areas dried out better. Next year Bill plan to spend $10,000 to continue to work on road. There was a motion to approve this money for the road. The motion was seconded and approved. Speed limit signs have been put up. They are reminders to drive slower. We all need to remind others to slow down and if we have guests we need remind them too. If an accident were to happen when the driver was not going the speed limit it is possible that they can get cited for negligence. Bill Cruz was thanked for donating the money for the signs and Bill Junkermier was thanked for his work on road. There was a comment that the road has never been better. Regarding the dust abatement coating Lou Whitsell asked if it was environmentally safe and EPA approved. He has a well and wants to know if it would be safe to do the dust abatement. Bill said the EPA says it is ok. As of yet no one has been billed for the dust abatement. Fire turnarounds were next discussed. The Forest Service has estimated that we need 4 areas 1 every ½ mile and each turn around should be about 50-60 feet in diameter. Bill has talked to owners of land across road in order find appropriate areas. The Homeowner Assoication could give them an annual lease of $1 so they would be leasing land to us. We might need funds to grade the areas and rock them off to keep the land safe and possibly to gate the turnarounds off to prevent people parking in them. The most difficult area to find turnarounds is at the end of lake where the road way is narrow. We would signs posted for no parking. Dave McCrane said that the individual homeowners should be responsible to govern the areas and not homeowners association. Tom Giles stated if someone parks in the turnaround a letter of authorization should be sent if landowners live out of state.
Fire pump
Roger Junkermier said that all the fire pumps are full of gas and have been fired up. There was some discussion as to the location of the fire pump at the Drascos cabin. They will put a sign up on the outside of where the pump is located. Prior to end of season all pumps will be winterized.
Old Business
Regarding the water testing: Geoff Wright has no collection data at this time. He is getting together old sampling reports. He is still deciding what to do and how to do it. He wants any old data that any Homeowners might have. He plans to do the testing next year.
New Business
RogerJunkermier talked about taking his kids for a float trip down river earlier in the summer. They tied up their boats on the old campground and launched at the barbeque pit. The old campground is next to the ranch and is all primitive land now. In order to get to the river you do have to cross the Diamond L Bar property, which is private property. The Diamond L Bar property owners objected to the kids crossing over on their property. It was stated that river access is public. The road and bridge are used by the Diamond L Bar property owners. There was discussion as to how to proceed on this. A suggestion was made that we need to talk about it at the Diamond L Bar homeowners association. Are we becoming too protective of private property? Jim Corey suggested that we send a group to talk to them and work it out. Jack asked for clarification. Do we need to have ground rules to protect us? Pam Musket commented that maybe we are losing a good neighbor sense and we need to have a more open and accommodating environment. It was decided that the conversation with Diamond L Bar property owners should be up to the next President. Karen Taylor said the Diamond L Bar owners don’t want anyone walking road. She has had problems with people trespassing on their property. The conversation should include the Cignate Lake homeowners so all associations would be included. Judy Shear is President of the Diamond L Bar Association. A motion to have the new President meet with the other 2 associations regarding this issue was made, seconded and passed. Jim Corey thanked Julie Kotsechvar and Diane McCue-Hollinger for letting us pick huckleberries on their property.
Loren Stormo gave a report on the noxious weeds growing along the road. There has been no spraying this year. People have been pulling the weeds alongside the road as they walk. Is it ok to pull other peoples weeds and spot spray? If there is no objection Loren said he would pull weeds and if there are any concerns Homeowners are encouraged to call him.
Delaine Wirth asked that boats respect the 200 feet wake zone. Some boats are coming too close to shore
Mikal Kellner mentioned an article on lake trout invasion in the local lakes. The Fish & Wildlife is beginning a program to net the lake trout to control them. It is a 2-year program. The information is on our website. The Fish and Wildlife is asking for funding for the program.
Presentation of the Homeowners Website
Mike and Geoff Wright did a presentation of the website and ran through what is currently on the website. They thanked Bob Reynolds for donating his time and expertise. Mike and Geoff want to know what else the Homeowners want on the website. Leslie Giles wanted to know why there was no password to get on the website. There could be a password for certain areas of the website that we don’t want to make public. Bob Reynolds could help with creating that. Bill Cruz asked if we really wanted to promote Lindbergh Lake to the whole world. Should there be a password for the whole site? The data base for e mail addresses needs to be updated so it is up to homeowners to get info to the website. The original website had password.
It was mentioned that there are patches for Doug firs to protect them for the infestation of the beetles. Information is on the website and we can sign up for patches.
It was noted that at the June meeting Signet lake people were there. Our by laws allow them to be members. There are no specific requirements for voting, nor no requirements for payment of dues. Julie Kotschevar asked how much were the dues and when they were to be paid. The information is on the website. It was asked if $300 was too much. There was a motion to keep the dues at $300. It was seconded by Lou Whitsell and approved.
Duane Wright reminded homeowners that at the June meeting it was suggested that we revisit zoning 25A restrictions. Dave McCrane reported on his experiences with Missoula County when he applied for a variance in February to remodel his cabin. The County has not issued a variance unless it was forced to. The County adheres to the literal enforcement of 25ft high water mark, which increased 5 ft uphill, which is 2 feet higher than historical level. If any portion of a cabin is a non-conforming structure and if homeowners want to improve the structure, any improvement over 50% of value in the 50 ft setback must get variance. There is no legal precedence established for this recommendation of a 50-foot setback and variance requests have been denied. Often deals are done behind closed doors. When we redid 25A and the 50 ft setback the county put 50% rule in and we accepted it. The County commissioners don’t want to see the cabins improved. They like all as is. How was the high water mark determined? 25A doesn’t respect shoreline regulations. It should be estimated on a normal 7 yr cycle. Was it arbitrarily established with no real data? This year it went higher than normal. How can the high water mark be measured and established without court interference? One way is to look at the vegetation line of individual property owners and then look at the county mark. If we add a foot and half we will have a problem. Pam Musket stated that the county does have a system to measure the high water mark now and will get the information to other homeowners. We will have to amend 25A. Variances are difficult to get. Bill Cruz stated that there is a bigger problem. Some in Missoula County don’t want property rights taking preference over government rules. We have to be careful. We can make recommendations but the county can change it. They have ultimate control. There is the Grandfathering issue. The reason to get a variance cannot be financial. Duane Wright stated that we won’t be able to address the 50% rule because all residents in Missoula County have to abide by that. Jack asked for any comments. Dave McCrane was asked to get a group together to look into this so they can come back next meeting with recommendations. He said that anyone can come over to talk to him about it or can reach by phone or e-mail. He was asked to chair the group. Jim Drasco stated that he didn’t have too many problems with the county. They made suggestions to help and it was easier to build in Montana than in California.
Leslie Giles is trying to update the Swan emergency list. She has forms for homeowners to fill in and has contacts for address and person for signs for the cabins stating name, address and lot number.
George McCabe said that there was supposed to be no shooting around the cabins. Several of the homeowners heard shooting last week. Homeowners want all to respect the no shooting restriction.
Nomination and Election of new officers check to see if Clark or Corey
Bill Langlois, Jack Lewis and Duane Wright were on the nominating committee. Jim Corey volunteered for Vice President and Pam Lowery volunteered for President. Lynn Anderson and Diane Barrick will stay on as Treasurer and Secretary. Jack asked if there were any other nominations and there weren’t any so Pam and Jim were approved.
Bill Cruz, Duane Wright are on the Directors at Large. Mike Wright will replace Duane and Julie Kotschevar volunteered to become the third Director at Large. There were no other nominations. The Directors were approved after the motion to do so was seconded.
Location and date of 1st meeting in 2010
July 3rd is the date for the first meeting of 2010.Both Hungry Bear and Holland Lake Lodge have agreed to host the meeting if so desired. Leslie Giles asked why we need 2 meetings and it was stated that the 2 meetings were in the bylaws and if that were to change it would have to go through the executive committee. Julie Kotschevar volunteered for the July 3rd meeting and the August meeting will be at the McCue-Hollinger cabin.
Pam Lowry wants to know all homeowners were invited to stay for the barbeque.
The meeting adjourned at 11:58 AM
Respectfully submitted, Diane Barrick, Secretary