Lake Commission holds February meeting

The Lake Commission held its February meeting on Monday evening, February 13, and addressed a multi-issue agenda dealing with information on the Mountain Lake Trail, the lake and the lake’s beach area.

Following is a recap of what was addressed at the meeting:

+ Mountain Lake Trail –

• Lake Commission Member Dave Bucklin received a bid from Nickel Construction of Mountain Lake for two projects – the sediment pond at the Mountain Lake Golf Course and work on the storm sewer outlet into Mountain Lake. Bucklin has also contacted Lohrenz Construction of MountainLake and Matiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye, and they indicted they would also be submitting bids. Bucklin will contact them again and request their bids by the end of this month.
• Bucklin completed some cuting and removing of debris from the trail on the island.
• Heard an item from Jean Haberman, Lake Commission Member, on the idea of “Adopt-A-Board” for creating a fund for the replacement of the walking bridge in the future. Haberman’s plan would have people make a donation for a board of the bridge and their name, business or a memorial would be on it.
• Mountain Lake City Administrator/Clerk Wendy Meyer showed commission members a map from Zieske Surveying for the proposed easement on the property of Ken and Rachel Yoder. there will be a 7½-foot easement from the center of the trail on the north side, with the exception of a few areas wherer more feet are needed for maintaining the trail near the waterways. The south side of the trail remains public access.
• Received a report from Jay Schied on the hours he has compiled in removing buckthorn and Russian olive. He has worked 26 days since January 1, and has removed 997 units for expenses of $1,605, which is covered by a grant.

+ Mountain Lake – 

• Lake Commission Member Jim Peterson has been checking the aerator every day. While Peterson was on vacation, Lake Commission Chair Jason Kruser completed the daily inspection and on Monday, February 13, discovered open water, with some of the “Thin Ice” signs tipping, so he turned the aerator off.
• A permit has been received to keep the boat landing open.
• Administrator Meyer has submitted the Invasive Special Removal Grant application.

• Lake Commission Member Heather Funk presented an estimate from Mountain Lake Public High School Ag Teacher Stephen Funk for three benches, a pergola and landscaping block around a fire pit. Estimates have the cost between $1,500 and $2,000. Work will be completed by his students. Administrator Meyer requires an itemized cost estimate to submit for grant applications.
• There was discussion about the possibility of improving the beach with a dock, swimming platform and changing house. Rachel Yoder has been corresponding with Scott Bohling of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and he suggested contacting Durel Carstensen, an Aquatic Plant Management Specialist, about the removal of vegetation. There is a possibility that Friends of the Pool could donate money towards the project.