D'burg town gov't wants your comments on proposed new Comprehensive Plan Phill Sexton, chair of the Town-appointed committee to revise the Comprehensive Plan, has provided us a copy for your review. Written comments from the public are due January 31. A "virtual" hearing will be held January 21. Click here for details and to read the proposed plan. HOW WE VOTED results of both the Duane Lake "sewer survey" and the follow-up survey THE MID-SUMMER SURVEY In the summer of 2020, a link to an online survey was emailed to 74 Duane Lake property owners identified as likely to be affected by any of the alternative proposals for managing septic leakage into the lake. Another 15 paper ballots were hand-delivered to residents unable to or not wanting to vote via internet. The survey was completed by 71% of the property owners contacted (many of them contacted multiple times with reminders.) Results * 17 preferred forming a Sewer District. * 9 preferred forming a Septic Inspection District. * 19 preferred requiring inspection upon transfer of ownership. * 17 preferred doing nothing. Conclusions * By a 45 to 17 vote the community voted for doing something. * The majority preference is rather evenly distributed between a Sewer District and inspection upon transfer of ownership. * The Septic Inspection District idea did not draw much support. * By a different 45 to 17 margin the community did not prefer a sewer pipe around the lake. Other findings In an information-gathering part of the survey, we learned that 53% of households rely on lake water; 43% on wells. A survey conducted several years ago found that about 65% relied on lake water for household use. * 73% of all households reported that they do not drink lake water, though many who don’t drink it do use it for washing and cooking. * 26% say their septic system was installed or upgraded since 2010; another 17% since 2000. Unfortunately, 19% don’t know when it was done. * Regarding septic tank pumping, 19% said they have it done every year; 45% every two years; and 22% every three years. Two households report never pumping. * 50% use the DLA-endorsed septic pumping service--King's Midway. These maintenance numbers are fairly encouraging and testimony to the power of “gentle nagging” by the DLA and the offering of a modest financial discount through the DLA for septic pumping. THE FOLLOW-UP SURVEY The first survey told us that by a 3 to 1 ratio most people around the lake thought some major action or policy should be put into place to prevent or reduce septic effluent leaking into the lake. However, the survey was unable to determine which of the three "do something" options posed by the Duane Lake Association board of directors was preferred. A follow-up survey would be necessary. The follow-up survey used ranked-choice voting and was successful in discerning a clear favorite. By assigning two points to each person's first-choice alternative, one point to each person's second choice alternative, and zero points to their third-choice, the following consensus emerged: Inspection upon Transfer—52 points Septic Inspection District—33 points Sewer System—27 points At its October 13 meeting the DLA Board of Directors voted unanimously to convey these findings to the Duanesburg Town Board with a request that the Town Board create a local law that would require a thorough, state-of-the-art septic inspection upon transfer of ownership of any property around the perimeter of the lake. Such local laws are not unusual in upstate New York towns with lakeside neighborhoods. ___________________________________ DUANE LAKE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS (year indicates 3-year term ends in June) Alan Knight, President 2021 David Elliott, Vice President 2022 Maria Flores Seibert, Secretary 2022 Norman Stewart, Treasurer 2021 Michaelynn McClenahan, Director 2022 Christina Miller, Director 2020 Kim Roberts, Director 2020 Pat Huff, Director 2021 Christine Whitaker 2021 The Association can be contacted at DuaneLakeAssoc@gmail.com
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Duane Lake Association, Inc.
Subpages (12):
* Algae Information
* A possible sewer system for Duane Lake: January 28, 2020, presentation by Delaware Enginering
* Bylaws and Meeting Minutes
* CSLAP data for Duane Lake
* DEC wetlands protection regulations and forms
* Deed Restrictions--important new information added August 2015
* DLA Newsletters
* Left empty for future use
* Left empty for future use
* Natural vegetation to strengthen shorelines
* Q and A about the proposed lake management plan for 2020
State of the Lake 2019: a science review