John Oeltjenbruns resigns as commission member
The Lake Commission held its regular monthly meeting at Mountain Lake City Hall on Monday, November 14. Commission members accepted the resignation of longtime member John Oeltjenbruns. The search is now on to fill the opening.
The Lake Commission meets at Mountain Lake City Hall the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
Information on the Mountain Lake Trail
+ Decided that the “Trail Pals” program will remain in effect. All using the trail are welcome to be a “Trail Pal” and pick up litter as they walk, run or bike the trail.
+ Decided that work on the Mountain Lake Trail’s walking bridge will be postponed until summer 2017 due to wet conditions.
+ Learned that Stephen Funk’s Mountain Lake Public High School ag education class will work on the island trail next spring. Yet this fall, Commission Member Dave Bucklin will remove branches obstructing that trail.
+ Learned that Commission Member Jason Kruser will trim the maple tree by the Freedom Rider’s Club House that is by the trail.
+ Learned that Bucklin will trim trees by the property of Ken and Rachel Yoder.
+ Decided that Commission Chair Jim Peterson will speak to Mountain Lake Parks/Streets Superintendent Rick Oeltjenbruns about moving the sign just north of the dam as the edge faces the incoming curve of the road and is hazardous.
+ Discussed mowing the trail up to the bench. Bucklin will obtain a copy of the boundary survey from Randy Markl. Kruser suggested limiting the mowing to one side in order to disturb fewer habitats. The commission will get written documentation of the approval for mowing from Markl. As it currently stands, the Lake Commission has recommended mowing a loop up to the bench and back down to the trail. The commission is open to more discussion.
+ Learned that Luke Winger is now working on a recreational mountain bike/cross country skiing trail located on 6.75 acres of city property west of Cottonwood County Road #1 and south of the Union Pacific Railroad rail line – and not on the island
Information on Lake Commission projects
+ Heard that Bucklin is waiting for contractor bids for various projects – the sediment pond at Mountain Lake Golf Course, the culvert by Yoder’s, as well as by Lawcon Park. Rachel Yoder was at the meeting to discuss drainage problems on their property that is along the Mountain Lake Trail. She requested that they are contacted before the culvert is installed.
Information on Mountain Lake
+ Learned that Peterson had attended the Mountain Lake/Odin/Ormsby Sportsmen’s Club meeting to request help with the lake’s aeration system. Club members offered to help with the placement of “Thin Ice” signs, as well as monitoring the system on a daily basis. The window of operation for the utilization of “Thin Ice” signs will run from December 1, 2016 to March 30, 2017.
+ Heard that Peterson and Kevin Ella had moved the fishing pier to its wintertime location at the end of October.
+ Learned that Funk is working on a cost estimate for benches and a fire pit at the lake’s beach area.