Did you know?
A great idea was presented to me by our Engineering firm as we work to develop a framework for our long-term capital planning efforts (Roads, Ditches, Culverts, Dredging, Silt Basins, Drainage Basin, etc.). This idea is to provide under the title “Did you know?” key facts about our Association and the significant assets we manage. I have heard now from several Engineering Firms, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Conservation (DOC), contractors along with others how our Association is a much bigger operation than many rural cities that have a tax base. Yet, we manage with a smaller staff.
The ability to have a smaller staff is a result of so many volunteering their time to the community in support of our paid staff. However, running so lean for so long has us in catch up mode making the capital plan for our future so important. The goal of adding “Did you know?” going forward in Association Communication is to illustrate and compare our efforts with small communities. It should help frame how important our fiscal planning is to maintain the investment so many have made over the almost 100 years of the lake’s existence.
Did you know that the Lake Lotawana Association staff totals 11 when fully staffed. An Office Manager, plus 2 full-time and 1 part-time employee; Operations Manager, 6 full-time employees; Water Patrol Supervisor and 5-6 seasonal patrol persons. Occasionally we have part-time help from prior office staff to help with peak workload. Some may ask what about the Executive Director role. We continue to not fill that position as Marilee Magerkurth, Office Manager and Scott Johnson, Operations Manager do such an outstanding job leading. My thanks to the many member volunteers that supported Marilee and Scott with their expertise through the various committees and full board.
As we move forward with future planning, we are focused on reducing office administration workload where we can. On the operations side, defining what we can do with our staff efficiently and what will need to be contracted out over time as well as the right equipment for in-house workload.
I look forward to each month continuing the “Did you know” topics in my articles.
Boat Ramp Usage
It is that time of year when everyone is putting their water vessels in or taking them out for maintenance. Please remember the boat ramp is part of the parking lot for the Marina 27. It is preferable if you plan not to use the ramp after 5:00 p.m., especially during the weekend. Blocking the parking lot access impacts Marina 27’s business, so be mindful.
Maintaining Security and Peace: Addressing Trespassing
The term “trespassing” refers to knowingly entering another person’s property without their permission. It is considered a criminal offense, and the penalties can range from a minor violation to a felony. Trespassing can occur on both land and buildings, and it involves unlawfully intruding upon someone else’s rights or possessions. Whether it is crossing a boundary without authorization or violating social ethics, trespassing is a legal issue that should be addressed promptly.
As many of you are aware, we occasionally encounter individuals who are not Association Members fishing on our lake. Some cast their lines near the spillway, others venture closer to entrances, and a few even launch kayaks from someone else’s property. In some cases, it is a family member or a contractor who has received permission from the owner to enjoy the lake after completing a project. At other times, it is simply an angler seeking a quiet spot to fish.
Regardless of the circumstances, trespassing remains a legal matter that falls under the jurisdiction of the Lotawana Police Department. Fortunately, we have an established agreement with the city to ensure our roads are patrolled, so reporting such incidents is straightforward.
However, there is an important distinction to make: While we strive to protect our private lake status and prevent it from becoming a popular fishing destination, it is essential to avoid confrontations. Members or staff attempting to address trespassers directly can lead to safety risks. Instead, I urge you to call the police promptly if you encounter any unauthorized activity.
Additionally, if you have family members planning a fishing outing or if your contractor wishes to cast a line, consider communicating this to your neighbors. Awareness among full-time residents helps prevent unnecessary police calls for innocent lake visitors.
Remember, a few missing fish are a small price to pay for maintaining safety and tranquility within our community.
Spring Clean-up Day
Another successful spring clean-up day at the Gate 1 lot and Martin Property. My thanks to all the volunteers that once again support the two locations as we all work to keep our lake community beautiful! The Red Rack donations collected were one of the largest hauls we have ever seen. Another value to the clean-up days.
Storage Lot Auction
Mark on your calendars June 8th 9-11 a.m. when we will hold the Lake Lotawana Association abandoned property auction. The property will be positioned at the front of the storage lot just inside the gate. Each property will be marked with a #. If you would like to place a bid for the property, we will have volunteers at the gate to take down your contact information and bid. The property will be sold to the highest bidder.
All the proceeds will be designated to improvements of the lot going forward. Any property not sold during the auction will be publicly auctioned or destroyed depending on condition and value.
One bit of good news is that the property for the auction has significantly been reduced as we work to identify ownership and get storage lot agreements updated. Any junk not worth auctioning has been identified and the LLA Operations crew is removing that property over time.
Dredge Operation Planning
A Bathymetric and Bottom Hardness survey of the lake was completed by Midwest Lake Management in April. The result is a full view of the lake’s current depths at full pool. Also, we now have a lake bottom survey that tells us where we have silt building up around the lake.
Since this survey was done after Union Cove dredging was completed, we can see cove is now 6-12’ of depth with no silt and hard bottom. We can also see the silt build up at the dam and all the various coves. These maps will be a key cornerstone to our dredge planning efforts.
You will find the two maps posted on the website if you would like to download for your own use.
Sincerely,
Jeff Clemow
President