Annual Budget Meeting Summary – thank you to the 106 individuals who trekked out for the Annual Budget Meeting and for the many who sent in their ballots in advance. Also, thank you to the membership for passing the 2026 budget plan and associated change to the Transfer Fee. It was great to share all the progress made this year with improvements to roads, gas docks, and the Lotawana Properties docks along with the deck repair. Brad Barnhardt provided a detailed update on our stocking of 175 grass carp and over 30,000 Redear Sunfish to combat Zebra Mussels and Naiad Grass.
The Transfer Fee of .25% of the sale price for real estate transaction was approved. In December the Board of Directors will approve the change to the October Minutes to reflect the new percentage and single fee structure approved. This will ensure documentation is accurate for the record.
Special thanks to Marilee and the staff for preparing all the hand-outs and setting up for the meeting. As the Holidays approach at warp speed, we are already working on 2026 projects and beyond. The outlook is good for our community and I greatly appreciate all the feedback and support.
Watershed and Dredging Report Update – the Dredge Committee spent a few hours early this month reviewing a final draft of our updated Watershed and Dredging Plan from 2015 The new plan assuming we do all the work with our crews will take through at least 2032 to complete and get us back to square one. It also outlines the need to work on silt mitigation strategies for Sunrise, Sunset, Big Rock, Water Fall coves where the majority of silt enters. We will be updating the plan with new information as we complete basin upgrades and actually dredge to create a long term planning tool for future operations to leverage.
We recognize that the need for silt removal is becoming increasingly urgent. Over the coming months, we will evaluate outsourcing opportunities, assess how these could be integrated with our current operations, and determine any additional funding requirements beyond our existing plans. We realistically need until mid-2026 to complete work at Silt Basins #5 so we can boost dredging activity. Silt Basin #6 will take all of 2026 into 2027 that will allow us to continue with any expanded dredging scope. In parallel there are other techniques we will look at for smaller covers that don’t require the dredge and try to move them up on the schedule. Also, we are exploring creative alternatives to speed up dirt removal from the basins. The new plan gives us all the facts and information needed to start 3rd party discussions.
Over the winter we will install the #3 Silt Basin drain system and contour the basin for long term operations. The drain will be a new 18” drainpipe from the basin to the sea wall between T112-113. This will mean some road work and seawall replacement in the area. As always we will communicate with members in the area regarding the work, especially should the low water crossing still be closed.
The Operations crew will be using time available over the winter to prepare all dredging equipment and acquire supplies so that we can start staging for dredging operations as spring starts. The plan is to start in Quantrill cove as weather allows. There will be a lot of steps including dock moving to coordinate, so look for more communication specific to those members after the first of the year. If you live in Quantrill cove and would like to volunteer to help organize members for the dredging, please let me know.
Bright Speed – you may remember from several months back, we indicated that a new internet provider may be coming to Lake Lotawana. Bright Speed is that company with plans to start installation in December and completion by February. Quick history lesson – in October 2022, Century Link the legacy ILEC (local phone company) became Bright Speed. Century Link is the ILEC spinoff from Sprint during the Nextel acquisition. As an Internet Service Provider (ISP) they only provide Internet with no content. They bring competition to Comcast Xfinity as an Internet provider, so streaming services will be needed if you switch providers.
Bright Speed is now upgrading their network to Fiber Optics targeting Lake Lotawana. We have met with Bright Speed and their contractor Squan a couple of times to help with their construction plan, permitting, etc. Once the work begins we will have a weekly update call and communicate to the members about any changes to their schedule. Keep an eye out for a LLA communication on the actual start date sometime in the next few weeks. Also, Bright Speed will communicate their service offer soon.
What Bright Speed calls their “Central Office” or “Hub” is located by the Real Estate office inside Gate 2. This is the main connection point for the lake deployment. Over 90% of the installation will be fiber optic cable attached to the existing copper lines. In areas where no legacy phone service is being used they will remove the legacy copper lines.
Courtesy Reminders – With the 2026 budget now approved, the office will begin preparing invoices for all 2026 dues and fees. These will be sent to members at the start of the new year. Please keep an eye out for an email from the Lake Lotawana Association — invoices will come from invoice@invoice.global. You may want to mark this address as a trusted sender to prevent it from going to your junk or spam folder.
If members your information has changed on your boat registration forms. If your information has changed, please be sure to provide the updated form to the office.
If you have questions or topics, you would like discussed regarding the Association, please feel free to drop me a note at President@lakelotawana.net.
Sincerely,
Jeff Clemow
President