DUCK LAKE - Montcalm County

DUCK LAKE
LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
October 23, 2012
____________________________________________________________________
A meeting of the Duck Lake, Lake Improvement Board was held at the Montcalm County
Drain Commission, 211 West Main, Stanton, Michigan on the 23 rd day of October, 2012
at 1:00 P.M.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Sandborn at 1:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Marv Sandborn, Chairman
Abutting Property Owners Representative
Sandy Raines, Secretary/Treasurer
Montcalm County Deputy Drain Commissioner
Bob Muscott, Member
Crystal Township Representative
Betty Kellenberger, Member
Montcalm County Board of Commissioners
Dick Walthorn, Member
Crystal Township Representative
ALSO
PRESENT: Pam Tyning, Progressive AE;
Carrie Wills, Drain Commission
Ron Braman, David Wight, Ron Massanari
A motion was made by Sandy and seconded by Bob to approve the agenda with an
addition under New Business: weed control survey. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Dick and seconded by Bob to approve the minutes from
September 18, 2012 with a correction: page 3, Public Comment, Dave Wight: the plants were
identified as wild rice not wild celery. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Bob commented that he thought the lily pad cutting approved at the last meeting was supposed to
be experimental in a small area not 27 acres of weeds. The minutes were not specific as to what
the intent was. A lot of biomass was removed from the lake at the last cutting. Ron Braman said
he was there at the request of the township. He is not officially the township commissioner until
January 1 so he is present only to observe. Marv commented that the lake improvement board is
not set up for township purposes.

OLD BUSINESS
Weed Control 2013
Review of 2012 Program
Pam had a power point presentation using historical aerial photos showing the weed growth in
the lake as far back as 1938. The presentation listed available options for weed control and
explained the difference between systemic and contact herbicides and the benefits of each. Pam
explained the use and restrictions for the different kinds of herbicides.The board discussed the
use of weevils for controlling milfoil. Bass Lake used them and had good success. The biggest
growth of milfoil is just outside the manzer drain canal. Bob would like to try weevils sometime
in the future. However, when weevils are used, no other type of control can be used in that area
and boat traffic would not be allowed. It would take a few years to see any improvement. Native
plants are a nuisance in Duck Lake but DEQ only permits herbicide application in an area 300
feet from shore or up to a 5-foot depth, whichever is closer and only on developed shorelines.
That is why harvesting has been used to remove weeds from the middle of the lake.
Bob has contacted Swamp Thing, a company that does tubular harvesting. This type of cutting
removes the whole plant including the root system and hauls them away on a barge. Pam will
check for prices and see if it would also remove starry stonewart. A separate DEQ permit will be
needed.
The board discussed individual property owners getting permits to dredge small areas in front of
their homes. Pam thinks there may be expedited permits issued for those kinds of small projects.
NEW BUSINESS
Questionnaire
Bob suggested sending a survey to all the residents in the assessment district to get their input on
the weed control process. Bob & Dick will find interested individuals for a committee to draft a
questionnaire and present it to the board for review.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board discussed approval of bills for payment and by-laws for the lake board.
The issue of lake level was brought up and referred to the drain commissioner.
There being no further business to come before the board, a motion was made by Sandy and
seconded by Betty to adjourn the meeting at 3:05 p.m. Motion carried.
_____________________________
Don Cooper, Secretary/Treasurer
Dated: October 23, 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 October 23, 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