ANNUAL USCLA BOARD MEETING MINUTES --  JUNE 4, 2006

Directors in Attendance   Jim Cherfoli, Chris Connolly, Mark Hoffman Treasurer, Tom Itin President, Laurly Prena

Safety on the Lake  It was determined that there were minimal problems on the lake and that our slogan of “Fun and Compliance” with the law is working. We are requesting that all boat owners get a copy of Michigan Boating Laws that can be picked up at the City Hall in Orchard Lake and West Bloomfield and read the boating guidelines in the newsletter.

Treasurers Report  was approved. 

Boat Dock Lengths and Buoy Locations were reviewed with the board requesting that all homeowners use care when placing swim buoys, swim platforms, and boat docks.  The location of swim buoys or docks should not infringe on boat traffic lanes by extending them too far out into our already narrow lake. Additionally, unused docks and any under water obstructions should be removed.

Fireworks Display for Fourth of July Celebration was discussed.  The date of July 2, 2006 and rain date of July 8th was confirmed by a call to Joe LaVerdi who has handled the display for over 20 years. West Bloomfield has raised the permit fee from $100 to $1000 which will reduce the visual display unless more money is contributed to cover the cost.

Wake Board/Water Ski Classes will be offered again this year if we can find a volunteer to chair the project.

Boat Parade will take place on July 8th. There will be a prize for best decorated boat.

Lobster Roast will be held on July 15th at Bayside Beach.  We appreciate the hospitality shown by Bayside Beach

Four Music Concerts held around the Lake are once again planned. Details on website already

Update of By Laws is being reviewed by Mike Burwell who will report his findings to the board

Membership in USCLA  is being asked for in the newsletter and website. To date we have 108 members.

Weed Harvesting will take place the second week in July. The cost this year is approximately $13,000 to clear weeds from the major areas of the lake. All lake owners and users will be notified by a mailing requesting a contribution. There is always concern that contributions will not meet the cost. The board hopes that all contributors will follow the guidelines

Alert Authorities if residents see anyone contaminating our lake water. One of our concerns is the new construction and landscaping to the waters edge. Run off from loose or disturbed soil contaminates the lake not only with the soil and material washed into the lake but adds a myriad of natural occurring nutrients like phosphates and nitrogen into the water. These chemicals cause uncontrolled weed growth further harming the water.

Communications will be handled by newsletter and website.  It is felt that both are needed to reach all residents.

150 Copies of Safe Boating Rules were passed out last summer by attaching them to handles of all Jet Skis on lake.

A Boat Safety Inspection Program by the Marine Patrol was discussed and it was decided that those interested could call for their own safety inspection.

W BL Twp Meeting on Revising Hours of Lake Usage & Other Controls  Request to change didn’t succeed due to great response of protestors who attended meeting & stated reasons to deny change

Lake Levels are not a concern this year due to large amount of rain this Spring. Additionally because the dam is now set at  931.0 feet we are retaining about 2 1/2 inches of additional water to compensate for dry periods.  In the past it was set at 930.8 feet.

The meeting was closed with a renewed effort to encourage more residents to become involved with USCLA

The next board meeting date to be determined

Jim Cherfoli, Secretary

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UPPER STRAITS CLEAN LAKE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES -- MAY 7, 2005

DIRECTORS IN ATTENDANCE: Mike Burwell, Jim Cherfoli, Lee Egrin, Kenneth Gitlin, Robert Haase, Mark Hoffman Treasurer, Tom Itin President, Luaryl Prena

SAFETY ON THE LAKE Concern for safety on the lake and problem of speeding and loud engines. It was resolved that there were really only a few individuals that were responsible for both problems. The other incidents were probably due to lack of knowledge of the Upper Straits Lake rules as well as Michigan Boating Laws.

A committee of three of the directors was formed: Robert Haase, Mike Burwell, and Lee Egrin who will be responsible for the “Fun and Compliance.” They will work with the City and Township to assure lake safety. The committee members will contact those individuals who are not complying with the law and rules on our lake and if necessary will contact the Oakland County Marine Division to patrol the lake when any incident is not resolved.

It was also decided that a handout flyer listing the Upper Straits Lake boat rules as well as specific Michigan Boating Laws regarding Jet Ski use would be developed. The reverse side of the handout would include a topographic map of the lake bottom defining shallow areas. This handout would be provided to all associations with boat ramps and encouraged to distribute it to launchers.

The key to safety on our Upper Straits Lake is our by word “FUN AND COMPLIANCE”

TREASURERS REPORT was reviewed and approved (see attached)

WAKE BOARD RAILS/RAMPS USE was discussed by the board and the following rules were established for Upper Straits Lake.

Those intending to construct and use Wake Board Rails or Ramps must get the required permits and must locate the rails in front of their own property or in front of association property if approved by the association. No other Lake locations are approved.

BOAT DOCK LENGTHS AND BUOY LOCATIONS were reviewed with the board requesting that all homeowners use care when placing swim buoys, swim platforms, and boat docks. The location of swim buoys or docks should not infringe on boat traffic lanes by extending them too far out into our already narrow lake. Additionally, unused docks and any under water obstructions should be removed.

FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION was discussed. The date was confirmed after a call to Joe LaVerdi who has handled display for over 20 years. The date is Sunday July 3^{rd with the rain date on Saturday, July 9, 2005.}

WAKE BOARDING OR WATER SKIING CLASSES will be offered again this summer. The type of classes available will be based on the numbers interested. Last year’s organizer was Cece Homovec.

A BOAT PARADE will be organized again this year. There will be a prize for the best decorated boat.

THE LOBSTER ROAST this year will be held on July 16th at Bayside Beach.

FOUR CONCERTS ON THE LAKE are planned see details on the upperstraitscleanlake.com website.

UPDATE OF BYLAWS Mike Burwell will review the Charter and Bylaws of the Upper Straits Clean Lake Association to determine what should be revised and updated and report to the board with his findings.

MEMBERSHIP IN USCLA Upper Straits Clean Lake Association is again asking all lake users to join the association and pay their annual $25 membership dues. Members get the added benefit of a free advertisement on our website for their business in our New Classified Advertisement Section. All directors were asked to get more people involved in the association and our activities.

WEED HARVESTING is again planned for mid July. The cost this year is approximately $13,000 to clear weeds from the major areas of the lake. Again we will be asking all lake owners and users for a weed harvest contribution. All will be notified via a mailing. There is a concern that contributions will not meet the $13,000 expense this year. The board hopes that all contributors will follow the contributions dollar guidelines indicated in the mailing.

Robert Haase is developing a better mailing list to reach more lake owners and lake users

ALERT AUTHORITIES All lake users should be vigilant and notify the proper authorities if they see anyone contaminating our lake water. One of our biggest concerns is new construction or landscaping to the waters edge. Run off from loose or disturbed soil contaminates the lake not only with the soil and material washed into the lake but adds a myriad of natural occurring nutrients like phosphates and nitrogen to the water. These chemicals cause uncontrolled weed growth further contaminating the lake water.

It was also suggested that in addition to the website we should resume mailing of the newsletter to all lake owners and users. The newsletter will resume with a mid June mailing.

The meeting closed with all agreeing to work to get more people involved in the USCLA and its activities.

The next board meeting will be in Mid July

James Cherfoli, Secretary