BMLM19850828BIG MUSKEGO LAKE/BASS BAY PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD AUGUST 28, 1985
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M. by Chairman Wayne
Salentine. Also present were Lake District Commissioners Ralph
Tomczyk, Frank DeAngelis, Daniel Hilt, Edwin Dumke, David Taube,
Deputy Commissioners Brent Martins, Leslie Proeber, Tony Tobin, Larry
Erickson and Frank Switala. Lake District Commissioners Mitchel
Penovich and Richard Nilsson were absent. Commissioner Dumke left at
9:30 P.M.
Chairman Salentine requested the Secretary read the minutes of the
Annual Meeting held August 29, 1984. Mr. Ian McNutt moved to accept
the minutes. Seconded by Deputy Commissioner Proeber, motion carried.
Commissioner Taube moved to approve payment of vouchers in the amount
of $447.70 ($136.54 to City of Muskego, $265.00 Conley, McDonald,
Sprague & Co. and $46.16 SEWRPC). Seconded by Commissioner Dumke,
motion carried.
Mr. Mark Anderson, Wildlife Manager from the State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources, explained the status of the dam
replacement and the possibility of a draw down. He stated that
engineers from the DNR had inspected the dam and the rough cost
estimate for replacement of a large chunk of the dam and repair of the
remainder would run around $40,000. That bill will be picked up by
•the Department of Administration with the condition that a unit of
government, whether it be the City of Muskego or the Lake District, is
willing to accept operation of the dam after it is put in a good state
of repair. There will be a manually operated gate installed probably
in the middle of the dam. It would take over one summer to construct
the dam.
A two year possible draw down was recommended in the Inland Lake
Renewal report. Mr. Anderson felt that a one year program would be
more receptive to property owners. It would start at the end of the
duck season discharging water into the Channel to Wind Lake, leaving
it dry the following summer and putting the water back the following
August or September.
Deputy Commissioner Switala questioned what, if any, cost would be
assessable to the District itself. Mr. Anderson explained that there
would be no cost of the dam replacement as long as some government
body (either the City or the Lake District) would take over
maintenance of it after it is repaired. He also stated that the DNR's
attorney has stated that if the dam reaches a poor state of repair and
becomes even a slight hazard and no government body is interested in
accepting ownership, that a fixed sill dam would be put in at a level
approximately one -tenth of a foot below the present one because the
dam at some time will have to be replaced. The DNR engineers feel
that parts of the dam need to be repaired.
Big Muskego Lake/Bass Bay Protection & Rehabilitation District
IV August 28, 1985 - Page 2
Mr. Andersen stated it is not necessary to draw the lake down to
repair the dam, but felt that drawing down at the same time the dam is
being repaired offers a lot of benefits to the lake. He feels the
draw down would provide tremendous potential to the wildlife of the
lake and looks of the lake. He did admit that it would increase weeds
on the lake.
Mayor Salentine questioned who makes the ultimate decision on drawn
down and what procedures are followed to get to that decision. Mr.
Andersen stated that it is a decision by consensus requiring a
reasonable degree of consensus of the Lake District, from other
parties involved with the lake in one way or another and have a
definite interest in the lake and also the people on Wind Lake which
have to be considered. This means that for a draw down of this size,
an environmental impact assessment, if not a statement, would have to
be written. If the Lake District would then approve it, the Inpact
Assessment would go out for a review period for 45 days during which
there would be at least one, if not two or more, public hearings to
gather testimony and they would be more officials meetings.
Mayor Salentine asked what procedure we have to follow to have the dam
repaired. Mr. Andersen stated that the DNR wwould have to confer with
the State what the engineers judge is the correct way to repair the
dam. If that is acceptable to either the City of the Lake District,
they provide a written resolution to that effect and the dam will
proceed. Commissioner Tomczyk moved to take a vote as to who is in
favor of the draw down. Seconded by Commissioner Dumke, the motion
was defeated with 21 in favor and 22 opposed. Maintenance of the dam
would then be the responsibility of the city.
Mayor Salentine asked for a show of hands as to who felt we should
have a dam that continues in state ownership. There were none in
favor. Mayor Salentine stated that the City would have to take a hard
look at costs that we will incur with future repairs with this dam, as
once it is our dam we can not look to the state for funding.
Deputy Commissioner Switala spoke on the possibility of establishing a
public access on Big Muskego Lake or Bass Bay. The reason for
establishing a public access is that the DNR reported that future fish
management will not be possibile if an adequate public access is not
provided. He stated that they are looking for approval from the Lake
District to start negotiations with various land owners for developing
a District- owned or public City -owned public access allowing access
by off -shore residents of the District as well as the general
public. The funding would be through assessment and applyin� through
the DNR for any funding available. It would be the district s
responsibility for developing. This would be done in steps. He asked
that the Lake District allow the Commissioners and the Deputy
Commissioners to pursue developing a suitable access site for the Big
Muskego/Bass Bay area at both the District's expense and the DNR's.
Big Muskego Lake/Bass Bay Protection & Rehabilitation District
is August 28, 1985 - Page 3
Dale Balton moved to deny the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners
the right to continue with their request to explore a lake access.
Seconded by Ian McNutt. The motion carried with 19 in favor and 16
oppossed.
Mayor Salentine gave an update of the Sewer abandonment project. Bay
Lane sewers are in and operating. Kurtze Lane sewers are in and
operating. Connections are being made at the present time along Woods
Road to the interceptor. The City of Muskego has been given a one
year extension in their abandonment time which was to be December 31,
1985 and is now extended to December 31, 1986 to complete abandonment.
At the present time the City is in the process of preparing specs and
to bid out the project to abandon two lagoons.
Mayor Salentine gave a brief report on the proposed development of the
Muskego Lake Country Club project. The City has been supportive of
this request and will appear before the DNR to discuss an amended
sewer area.
The 1984 Audit was reviewed. Chairman Salentine reviewed the audit
and updated the Commissioners on the financial status of the Lake
District. The current balance is $1,614.30 after payment of the
aforementioned vouchers.
•The Commissioners discussed adoption of a 1986 Budget. Commissioner
Proeber proposed that properties be assessed $20.00 with an operating
budget of $1,000.00. Deputy Switala moved to approve a $203.00
assessment to provide additional funds for the Lake District to have
for emergency purposes. Seconded by Deputy Commissioner Erickson. At
this point Mayor Salentine explained that the City's insurance
representative has notified us that the City very possibly may not be
able to obtain insurance with riders. The City's insurance rates are
expected to triple. Robert Klenz moved to amend the assessment to
$10.00 with an operating budget of $1,000.00. Seconded by Mr.
Repischak. The motion to amend the assessment to $10.00 with a
$1,000.00 budget was approved with 10 in favor and 7 opposed. A vote
was then taken on the amended movement. The motion carried with 11 in
favor and one opposed.
ELECTION OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS
Frank Switala moved to nominate Bob Klenz. Seconded by Leslie
Proeber. Mr. Klenz declined the nomination.
Frank Switala moved to nominate Tom Repischek. Seconded by Leslie
Proeber. Mr. Repischek declined the nomination.
Frank Switala moved to nominate Tony Tobin. Seconded by Leslie
Proeber.
Big Muskego Lake/Bass Bay Protection & Rehabilitation District
August 28, 1985 - Page 4
Tony Tobin moved to nominate Frank Switala, seconded by Larry
Erickson.
Brent Martins moved to nominate Larry Erickson. Seconded by Frank
Switala, motion carried.
Larry Erickson moved to nominate Leslie Proeber. Seconded by Frank
Switala, motion carried.
Frank Switala moved to re -nominate Bob Klenz. Seconded by Larry
Erickson, motion carried.
Tony Tobin, Frank Switala, Larry Erickson, Leslie Proeber and Bob
Klenz were unanimously elected Deputy Commissioners.
Deputy Commissioner Leslie Proeber informed the Committee of a State
Lake meeting to be held some time in November. If anyone is
interested, please contact him.
Commissioner Tomczyk moved for adjournment at 10:20 P.M. Seconded by
Deputy Commissioner Switala, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlotte L. Stewart
City Clerk
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