Big Cedar Lake Property Owners Association

Annual Meeting 2022 Minutes

Minutes of Big Cedar Property Owners Assn.                             7-1-2022

June 26th, 2022

Cedar Lake Yacht Club

  • Meeting called to order by President Sturgeon at 4:00 PM CDT
  • Roll Call:

Present.  Present: D. Sturgeon, D. Baldus, D. Claussen, K. Egan, R. Gale, M. Hammen, J. Jansky, M. Kachelmeyer, R. Krueger, T. Mestan, M. Nast, C. Nielen, M. Nielsen, B. Reynold, P. Rolfs, S. Rolfs, S. Simon, K. Wahouske, & M. Weske.

Excused: None  Absent:  J. Tews

President Sturgeon presented a map that showed each neighborhood area and its rep.

  • The 2021 annual meeting minutes are on the POA website and accepted as written.
  • President’s Report:
    • Introduction of current Executive Board (D. Sturgeon, R. Gale, J. Jansky, T. Mestan & C. Nielsen).
    • A reminder that the BCL-POA is a 501C4 organization.
    • POA’s two main and long-term issues the POA has been facing are: the Cedar Communities situation & boat crowding on the lake. The POA continues to present the concerns of its members regarding overcrowding to the PRD and Town of West Bend.  We will keep working to be sure our public officials understand how the majority of our members feel.
    • The POA, SW BCL residences on Hwy 144 and the WB Town board funded and have permission to place an illuminated Radar Speed Sign for Southbound traffic to make the highway safer for pedestrians to cross over from their homes to the lake. The Speed Limit Sign should be installed in July 2022.
    • There are six new initiatives the BCL-POA will be unfolding over the next twelve months. Reports on each to be given later today by the organizing director.
    • As an effective, expedient and cost-effective method of communication, all future annual meeting notices, as well as POA newsletters, will be sent to POA members via email.
    • Dues for the 2022-23 fiscal year are now due. POA window stickers and Serigraph-donated 2022 Reward Signs will be available to each family upon their 2022-23 membership renewal.

 

  • Treasurer’s Report: Joe Jansky gave his report: 7/1/21 to 6/26/22.  All attendees got a printed copy of the 2021-22 financial records. – Income: $7,410 (net). Expenses: $3,681.96.  Surplus for the year: $3,728.04.  Total Cash on Hand: $48,417.28 with our Ckg Acct. $18,240.86 and Vanguard Acct. $30,176.42.  The POA 2022-23 Budget calls for Total Expenses to be:  $6,869. Joe asked all members to pay their 2022-23 membership fee dues of $20 in person OR on-line.

 

  • Membership Report: Terry Mestan reported the POA’s paid membership for 2021-22 was 357. (membership numbers similar to past years) When asked about “what is the estimated number of BCL residences, PRD Director Dave Baldus said there are approximately 830 lake residential units.

 

  • Committee Reports:
  • Nominating Committee: Steve Simon reported a larger than normal number of area reps up for election.  They are:  D. Baldus, Dave Claussen, R. Gale, R. Krueger, T. Mestan, C. Nielsen, and K. Wahouske.  All were asked and have agreed to continue as a POA rep.

A motion was made and seconded to elect all nominees on the recommended list for of 2022-2025.  Motion passed. All were elected.

VACANCIES:   Currently two vacancies on the POA Board (5322-5840 West Lake Drive North & West Lake Drive Middle).                                   If you know of a person interested in being an area POA Rep should contact Steve Simon or Doug Sturgeon.

  • Welcome Packet program: Bruce Reynolds has developed an assembly of relevant and useful

information about BCL, a summary of organizations that serve the BCL area and more (like a

gift certificate to an area restaurant) will be included in a welcome packet to be delivered by

the respective area POA rep to any new (purchased a BCL property in the past 12 months)

resident.  The packet to be “a work in progress” as more useful information/materials become

available.

 

  • Photo Contest program:  Bruce described the new photo contest he, and the POA, are developing for BCL youth.  Two classifications for photos being submitted. One being “nature at its best” (depicting the natural beauty of an area on or around BCL) and the other focusing on “conservation in practice” (a picture capturing the implementation or activity relating to conservation).  A photo submission form has been created and is available for distribution by Bruce Reynolds.  There will be cash prizes totaling $250 each year.

 

  • Shoreline Revegetation Program: Chet Nielsen gave an overview of this program along with a handout containing a fuller description of goals and key elements relating to this water conservation initiative and the Revegetation Project Applications.  With is designed to be in concert with the wonderful activities of the CLCF and OWLT as the POA’s initiative is directed at privately owned shoreline that is not for sale to a conservation organization nor wanting a conservation easement on that property/shoreline.  The POA is encouraging participation as this is the right thing to do for long term preservation of the lake.

 

  • Cedar Community Report:  Dave Baldus gave a brief update on the 5-years of discussions a POA committee has had with administrators of Cedar Communities.  Dave reported the Cedar Communities has withdrawn their earlier plan to build more individual homes and instead seek permits to: convert parts of their 2nd and third floors of their main facility into residential units; renovate that building’s exterior; and, convert an interesting amount of the current blacktop into grassy areas (which will significantly add to the ecology of their property and lake front).  In closing, Baldus added it is Cedar Community’s stated intent to formalized a conservation easement with a local land trust.

 

  • 4th of July Parade Program: Unfortunately, the POA director responsible has taken a position outside of Wisconsin and thus unable to complete the plans for a 2022 parade on BCL.  President Sturgeon will be reassigning this initiative to another board member with hopes to conduct a 4th of July parade on BCL in 2023.

 

  • Scholarship Program: Kelly Egan described the purpose and goals of the POA scholarship program.  We will seek to award a $1,000 scholarship to a West Bend HS Senior and to a Slinger HS Senior who will be seeking an advanced education in the field of water ecology and/or conservation.   It is the BCL-POA’s desire to encourage and support area youth to get involved in the area of lake and water ecology.  Buz Carr had asked Kelly if there would be some sort of commitment to volunteer or work in this field in our local area.  Kelly said there are no current plans to make this a requirement.  Otherwise, it appears this initiative received a positive response.

 

  • Open Discussion: No topic brought up.
  • Special Presentation: Mike Nast, CLCF President, and Franz Mackenzie, CLCF Stewardship Coordinator, gave an informative presentation that provided a great historical background of the BCL dam in Timmer’s Bay.  Densmore Maxon arrived in in the area in 1843, founded Maxonville (now Cedar Creek) and built a sawmill.  Records indicate the 1st BCL dam built as early as 1865.  An 1867 act created the Cedar Creek Hydraulic Company (owned by Maxon and other sawmill owners on the creek) to build dams and own waterpowers using BCL as their water reservoir.  The original purpose was to provide water for surrounding residences and businesses.  Over the years, the dam needed rebuilding and repair, which focused the need water for surrounding businesses and residents.  As BCL became more popular as a site for summer recreation and residents, the focus on the lake level changed.  Depth of the lake for recreational purposes became important.

In 1890, The Cedar Lake Hotel Company sued the Hydraulic Company to raise the lake level for (better) recreational use.  A 1919                       Complaint was filed with the Railroad Commission as the Hydraulic Company reduced the lake level below the stipulated level. Thus,               when additional work needed to be done and funding needed, the members of the CLYC stepped up to help.  Patches and other repairs             to the dam occurred over the ensuing 90 years.

In recent years, Cedar Partners (the Maclay family) were the owners and charged with maintaining the dam.  Then in 1986, Cedar                    Partners donated the dam along with some property on both sides to the CLCF who now have ownership and the responsibility for                    maintenance of the dam and work closely with the BCL-PRD regarding proper water levels.  We also learned of the cooperation that the            BCL dam owner needs to exercise with the LCL-PRD (the organization that owns and operates the LCL dam) with water levels                            suddenly rise or fall.  What the owners of BCL dam regarding outflow of BCL waters directly impacts LCL as the capacity of discharge                from BCL is approximately twice that of the LCL dam.  All in all, an interesting and complex topic because of the number of entities                   involved.  The CLCF was encouraged to provide the interesting history of the BCL dam, and the impact actions taken with the dam’s                water level can have on surrounding lakes and land.

  • Adjournment by Mark Nielsen and seconded by Dave Baldus to adjourn the 2022 POA annual meeting.  Motion Moved passed
  • Adjournment time:  5:43 PM

Respectfully Submitted.

Chet Nielsen

BCL-POA Secretary

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