Hackert Lake Association - Annual Meeting Minutes
Hackert Lake Association Annual Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2024
Pam Christensen
The meeting was held at the lakefront home of Matt and Jen McMellen with 23 in attendance, including board members Ed Sanders, Jen McMellen, Cathy Iteen, Rick Mallon, Jeff and Pam Christensen. At 10:04am President Sanders called the meeting to order, inviting all in attendance to introduce themselves.
Secretary's report - July 22, 2023, minutes were distributed to all in attendance for review. Beth Mallon moved minutes be accepted. Gail Kowalski 2nd. Motion passed.
Treasurer's report - Cathy Iteen reported a current balance of $11,971.95. Expenses since last meeting include the newsletter, meeting refreshments, yard sale ad, and a $500 donation to friends of the campground fireworks fund. At the time of the meeting there were 52 paid memberships, which she expected to increase next year if we returned to all postal mailed newsletters. (90 newsletters were postal mailed and 30 emailed in spring of 2024) Angie Kuhns motioned to accept the treasurer's report. Beth Mallon 2nd. Motion passed.
Old Business:
1. Lake Improvement Board – Ed Sanders reported more than $8,000 remaining in the Lake
Improvement Board fund, which was collected to conduct lake water quality studies. Since West Shore Community College is no longer able to perform them, Ed has researched other options and passed out packets of information outlining the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, which has many water studies available on an annual basis. Since 2024 registration closed last May, our soonest opportunity to enroll will come in 2025. Ed is willing to undergo the volunteer training necessary to participate. Matt McMellen and Rick Mallon answered the call for additional volunteers. The nearest training center is in Muskegon, MI. Once enrolled, study options such as phosphorus, chlorophyll, aquatic plant watch, etc, may be chosen at a relatively small cost. The first year's fee is likely to be $700- $800, which includes enrollment. Following years are expected to cost $400-$500 per year. In comparison, a private company may run as much as $5,000 per year. Results of the study are emailed to the association at no cost. Paper copies of the report incur a nominal fee. Jen McMellen motioned the Lake Association register to enroll, collect, and submit samples in the spring of 2025. Dan Bradshaw 2nd. Passed.
2. Lake Association Yard Sale Event: Positive comments were made regarding yard sale day
in June. The cost of the newspaper advertisement was $38. Those present expressed a value in the camaraderie promoted and consensus was to continue the first Saturday in June for 2025.
3. Fireworks: Appreciation was voiced for the fireworks show over the lake on July 6, put on by the Friends of Crystal Lake Campground. Approximately $1,000 of private lake resident donations were added to the association gift of $500, for which a nice "thank you" note was received from campground management.
4. Watercraft (boat) Parade: Last year's parade went very well, and all were invited to
participate in the 2024 decorated (or not) watercraft parade on August 10 at approximately 7:30pm, after which live music will be performed at the lakefront of the campground, along
with an abbreviated fireworks show. Ed Sanders has secured prizes from local businesses for best decorated vessels. Lew and Yvonne Wilson have volunteered to be our judges. More details will follow through email.
New Business:
1. Meeting Date: The date of July 19, 2025, was set for the next Hackert Lake Association
annual meeting. Michael & Angela Kuhn graciously volunteered to host at their home, 1439 N Cedar Lane, Scottville. Time is to be determined.
2. Election of Officers: Cathy Iteen, Treasurer, and Jen McMellen, Vice President, whose
two-year terms of office expired July 21, 2024, volunteered to serve another two years in switched positions and so moved and seconded. Passed. All other current officers expressed a willingness to serve another two years. Absent alternate candidates, a voice vote was held to retain all present officers and carried unanimously.
3. Open comments:
a. Geese continue to be a problem for many lakefront owners. A brainstorm of ideas to repel
included bike alarms, shining lasers on goose feet in the dark, rotated string fences with tin foil flags, DNR provided shotgun blanks for noise. Everyone enjoys and wants to encourage the loons.
b. Milfoil is still a problem, and the weevil program is no longer available. A 30-year
chemical program may be worth looking into but requires a permit. A V-shaped aqua weed rake may help, as well. Zebra Muscles are another spotted invader in Hackert Lake, likely brought in by boat transfer, which is a common occurrence in Michigan lakes with a public boat launch.
c. It was noted that the DNR sign at the boat launch says a parking permit is required, and that high-speed boating signs have overgrowth material at one end of the lake. Ed McCarthy volunteered to go down and uncover the signs. Thank you, Ed,
d. A request was made and echoed that vehicle drivers please slow down when traversing the
hill on North Cedar Lane off Hansen Rd. Remember, families and young children are put at risk by fast moving traffic over narrow, residential roadways with limited visibility. Thank
you.
e. Appreciation was expressed for Rick Mallon's inclusion of riparian rights and
responsibilities on the association website, which can be found at HackertLake.org.
f. A question was posed as to whether the high-speed boating times could be expanded in light
of some families' desire to use the lake on weekday evenings after work and supper. A response noted that all high-speed boating times are regulated by the state of Michigan.
With no further business, Ed Sanders proposed we close the meeting. All signified with verbal agreement and the meeting was closed at approximately 11:15am.