DUCK LAKE - Montcalm County

DUCK LAKE
LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
July 9, 2012
____________________________________________________________________
A meeting of the Duck Lake, Lake Improvement Board was held at the Montcalm Drain
Commission, 211 West Main, Stanton, Michigan on the 9 th day of July, 2012 at 3:00 P.M.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Sandborn at 3:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Marv Sandborn, Chairman
Abutting Property Owners Representative
Donald E. Cooper, Secretary/Treasurer
Montcalm County Drain Commissioner
Bob Gagne, Member
Crystal Township Representative
Betty Kellenberger, Member
Montcalm County Board of Commissioners
ABSENT: Marie Nico, Member
Crystal Township Representative
ALSO
PRESENT: Pam Tyning, Progressive AE;
Carrie Wills, Drain Commission
David Wight, Lawrence Wight, Ginny Wallgren, Ron Massaneri, Dick Walthorn,
Judy Sandborn, Property owners
Charlie Braman, Bob Naumann, Crystal Township Board Members
Tom Porter, County Commissioner
A motion was made by Bob and seconded by Don to accept the agenda as presented.
Motion carried.
A motion was made by Betty and seconded by Bob to approve the minutes from March
27, 2012 with a correction to the paragraph about the watershed plan: “there is a plan in place for
the lower Maple River watershed district but none for the upper Maple River watershed area”
Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS
Update Weed Control Program
Pam reported that Sonar was used on April 18 and the bump up was on May 9. Twenty-three
acres of Algae was treated on May 23. The survey done on June 26 found Starry Stonewart.
Sixteen acres were treated on June 28 along the West shore, the North shore, West of the island,
and around the pilings. The pondweed cannot be treated this year because sonar was used. The
weeds could be harvested, but there is not a big enough area to warrant the cost. Marv would like
to use sonar again next year but DEQ only permits the use of sonar every three years. Marv
would like a meeting with the DEQ to discuss the issue as soon as possible. Pam will try to set
something up.
The state set up the time limit and other restrictions for using sonar. The only exceptions to the
rule are if the treatment was a failure that year and if you are using an experimental permit. All
the experiments for multi-year use have been completed. For experimental you would need a
monitoring program as well as the management plan.
Ron: Would the shallowness of the lake be a factor that would allow them the experimental
permit? Is there any way to find information on other shallow lakes that have treated with sonar?
Pam will see if she can find some information to share.
Marv: Wants to make a sonar program a top priority for the board.
Pam: Sonar is only allowed every three years because it has the potential to kill other plants as
well. That could cause unrepairable damage to the lake. Over use can also cause plants to build
up and immunity to the chemical. The new hybrids being found in other lakes have already built
up an immunity to the treatment.
Ron: Is there another herbicide available that has similar results but would not build up the
immunity.
Pam: There are other systemic herbicides that don’t affect the other natural plants but they don’t
have the multi-year affect. Clipper is a new chemical but it is more expensive and is used mainly
in smaller volume areas like channels.
A motion was made by Bob and seconded by Betty to make it the boards #1 priority to pursue the
DEQ for sonar application in 2013. Motion carried.
Ginny: The lake is much better this year but she would like to get rid of some of the silt buildup.
Marv: A dredge is just too expensive.
Bob: The state might allow the silt to be dumped in Saginaw where they just dumped river
sediment.
Pam: The cost of hauling the sediment away is very expensive.
NEW BUSINESS
Administration of Lake Improvement Board
The township board is considering a resolution to get more local control over the lake
improvement board. They would like more local control, include lake board meeting with the
township meetings, handle funds, and oversee the day to day operation. Some people would like
a more active involvement and complain that meetings are not convenient for public attendance.
Discussion: The lake improvement board is its own entity. The board would have no control over
the funds or the day to day operations. The township board can be provided with a finance sheet
on a monthly basis and a copy of all board minutes will be forwarded to them. There has been
some controversy over harvesting. Some people feel it has been a waste of time and money. The

DEQ does not permit chemical treatment out more than 300 feet from the shore or in depths
beyond the 5 foot contour except for sonar which is a whole lake treatment. Harvesting is the
only way to clean the middle of the lake. When weeds are harvested in July there is regrowth.
Can the harvesting be done later in the summer? Harvesting is done in June or July to assist with
boat traffic.
Charlie: How do you dissolve a lake board?
Pam: The board is dissolved the same way it is created: by a petition of 2/3 of the abutting
property owners. However, the reason for creating the board has to have been resolved. The lake
board can become inactive with no more meetings, treatments, or tax assessments.
Ron: What are peoples’ reasons for wanting to dissolve the board?
Charlie: They don’t see any benefit of the program. Some say they don’t use the lake. They feel
they are being taxed for anything the board wants.
Don: There is an appeal process for the assessment but they would have to prove that they don’t
use the lake and get no benefit from it.
Public Comment
Ginny asked how long Marv has been the chairperson for the lake board?
Marv: He is not exactly sure, but at least 15 years.
There being no further business to come before the board, a motion was made by Bob and
seconded by Betty to adjourn the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Motion carried.
_____________________________
Don Cooper, Secretary/Treasurer
Dated: July 9, 2012
State of Michigan )
) ss:
County of Montcalm )
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of the minutes of a meeting of the
Duck Lake Improvement Board, Montcalm County, Michigan held on July 9, 2012 and that said
minutes are on file in the office of the Montcalm County Drain Commissioner and are available
to the public.
I further certify that notice of the meeting was posted at least 18 hours before the meeting at the
office of the Montcalm County Drain Commissioner, which is the principal office of the Duck
Lake, Lake Improvement Board.
_______________________________
Donald E. Cooper
Montcalm County Drain Commissioner