Patrolling the Pond-December 4th Edition

/ News from the Association / By

Patrolling the Pond, December 4th Edition.

Mike Miller, Member Lake Lotawana Association Board of Directors, Sergeant at Arms

There’s a chill in the Air but It’s Always Warm at the Lake.

The first snow made its entrance this weekend. A big, ‘hats off’ to the Lotawana Road crews for keeping the roads safe and navigable. You all do great work year around but it’s easy to see all your effort when the snow starts to fall. Most of us will give gifts sometime during this Holiday Season. The Roads Crew at Lotawana is one of the gifts that keeps on giving when the snow is flying. They make it our roads feel like it’s warm even when it’s cold and snowy. Well done!

This December marks 97 years since the establishment of the Lake Lotawana Development Company’s incorporation by Milton Thompson making way for the beginning of development around the Lake. (1) Though the damn wasn’t finished for another year and a prolonged drought prevented the lake from filling completely until 1935, December marks the beginning of the beginning of Lake Lotawana (2). What will you do to celebrate? There are certainly a lot of other reasons to celebrate in December. Maybe save that one for the big Centennial Celebration in 2028! More to come on that as we get closer.

December is also the month that most people think very little about the Lake Lotawana Association Rules and Regulations. That said, with the new registration documents landing in mailboxes recently, it’s never too early to think about some of the rules around registering your watercraft, golf carts, lake toys, and docks. And while spring is a ways off, just thinking about it may give you some warmth! Here are a few reminders from the Rules and Regulations (see Section C, p.9 of the Lake Lotawana Rules and Regulations):

  • Current registration decals shall be displayed on all Watercraft before it may be used on the Lake. So cool that we will now have ‘Forever’ decals that will need to be renewed and not replaced every year.
  • Operating a watercraft without a sticker is a 9-point violation. Ouch.
  • You can get a temporary permit from the Association office to test drive a boat. All the rules of ownership apply when you get a temporary permit for test drives.
  • All PWCs get two identical decals. Yes. Forever decals.
  • Lot and Block numbers should be placed on all watercraft and water toys (for return if they fly off your dock). It’s not a bad idea to make sure your Lot and Block numbers are still legible and on your watercraft. I just saw a post yesterday about a pontoon that escaped someone’s dock. You just never know! Make sure you put decals in the right location (see Appendix A, p. 40 of the Association Rules and Regulations for placement of decals).
  • If you plan on having any contractors do work on your property, boats, or seawalls and they need access to the Lake, check out Section C, Subsection 6, p. 11 for more details on what to do.
  • The FREEZER Question: Can you use Ice Removal devices on the lake? No ice removal devices are allowed on the Lake. No bubblers. No fountains. Not allowed.

These reminders of some of the Registration Rules may come in handy as we approach some of the Registration deadlines in 2025. Consider this an early New Year’s gift!

Stay tuned for more on Registration Rules as we move toward February when I will also share and reiterate some of the new Registration processes and rules including the issuance of ‘forever’ decals as we move toward spring. That said, winter is here and while it brings its own special sparkle on the water, whether you are new to the lake or have been here for 30 years, being prepared can sometimes get caught up in the busyness of the Season.  Here are a few reminders to help avoid some of the pitfalls of cold weather and help you stay focused on what’s most important during this time of year.

Temps are dropping way below freezing this week and next. Here are just a few reminders that may help minimize any issues from the colder weather:

  • Make sure your pipes in your house are protected and insulated if needed to prevent freezing.
  • Open up bathroom vanity doors on cold nights to expose your pipes to warm air.
  • Turn your water off if you will not be at your house for extended periods of time. Big water bills from running water are no fun to receive.
  • Disconnect hoses from outdoor spickets.
  • Winterize your boats.

NOTE and DISCLAIMER: This is not a comprehensive list of how to prep your property for colder temps. Hopefully this short list of things that will help trigger you to remember something you may have forgotten in the midst of a busy season.

Taking care of a few things like this can prevent some headaches and help you stay focused on what is most important during a month of busyness and celebration. For those who celebrate Christmas we are reminded of the importance of  Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love during this busy season. I think everyone can rally around these virtues. Add kindness, giving back, and serving others and you have the ingredients that make our community just a little bit warmer even when there’s a chill in the air. And when you see the Roads Crew out there plowing and keeping our roads safe, give them a friendly wave for making our roads look like spring even when the snow is flying. Until next time…

See you on (or around) the Pond!

Mike Miller

You can reach me for questions, comments, and ideas for future articles at [email protected]

The Safer Seven Quiz is looking for the right questions for the Holiday Edition and will be back Next Time. Be Safe!