The 2002 AGM:
Page 1
.
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF April 13, 2002
(Subject to approval and correction at the 2003 Annual General Meeting)

CALL TO ORDER: by President Bob Bowman at 10:00 a.m.
PESTABLISHMENT OF A QUORUM:  152 voters registered in person or by proxy.
INTRODUCTIONS: Bob Bowman introduced Wally Croy, longtime Board Member, Current Board Members: Barbara Myers, Laura Mork, Vice President Darlene Stoffer, Lucy Bain, and Ola Bergsholm, and General Manager Jackie Granger.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:Bob Bowman stated that according to the official rules we are supposed to read the minutes from the last annual meeting but with a motion the reading can be dispensed with.

(2002/AGM/1) M. Wally Croy   2nd Ray Stewart  “accept minutes as circularized of the last Annual General Meeting.” Passed. 
Kjell and Luane Johnson have volunteered to be ballot checkers are there any others who could do this. Those volunteering were: Denny Barry, Ron Bain, Carmen Dybdahl and Patrick Camarillo.
Bob Bowman stated that before we open committee reports let me take a minute to describe what the board has been working towards.
A planning survey was distributed prior to last year’s Annual Meeting. The Board is pleased to inform you that we have been working towards the top four items members deemed important. These were: drinking water, a safe environment, maintaining affordable dues and neat appearance of lots and roadsides.
When 96% of respondents to last year’s planning survey cited drinking water as their number one priority this Board took action:
We researched the water taste issue and other system improvements and initiated steps which drastically improved the taste of LISE water – other improvements are being scheduled.
Reinforced the Dam face for protective measures and completed the project under budget.
Six members of our community including our Operations Manager, one Board member and the Natural Disaster Committee chair attended a workshop to learn how to lower the risk of fire in Scenic Estates. A community wide workshop will be held this summer thanks to efforts by Frankie Small.
The 2002 dues are being held at the same level as those levied in 2000 while still accommodating the needs of Scenic Estates.
We formed a committee which was requesting assistance from members to improve the appearance of their properties and have focused the Operations department grounds maintenance on the same purpose.
88% of survey respondents felt the neat appearance of lots and roadsides was relatively to very important.
There are 450 properties in Scenic Estates, the committee requested Whatcom County act on 5 properties and sent letters to 57 property owners including 29 informational letters to property owners with recreational vehicles; 5 letters were requests for information and only the remaining 23 were requests for action. 
20 members have responded, committed to action or complied with requests.
Requests for compliance have been limited to existing bylaws and Whatcom County Code.
Bob Bowman continued many of you have a list which was a worksheet for the property compliance committee, this sheet was for one time use, yet it has been circulated widely by some members though not by the committee. Somebody even took it to Whatcom County and it is understood that the County may now use it to seek compliance.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PLANNING/WATER:
Laura Mork stated that last year one of the things that was left on the table by the previous Board was the reinforcement of the dam which was required by the state. This project was completed last year and it came in under budget.
Laura Mork continued that improvements in the water plant itself have made a taste improvement. Jan Bonaparte stated that it still tastes funny. Other people agreed that the taste has been improved.
Preston Schiller stated that he has brought this up at prior meetings. The American Society of Civil Engineers has strongly recommended that water systems move from using chlorine in their treatment. The water in LISE uses chlorine at 20 times the rate of Bellingham. The City of Bellingham treats it so that there is only a trace amount not a huge amount like we have. I would hope in the future that LISE look into this.
Preston continued that he has brought this before the board previously and has not been answered. Vegetation at the lake has been destroyed and this is damaging. A Professor in the study of shorelines told Preston that raising and lowering of the lake exposes vegetation and thus kills it which interferes with the quality of the lake. Not maintaining the shoreline is a serious issue. Preston expected the minutes to reflect this comment and have a committee take this up.
Art Hohl would like to know if the board is going to look into the items brought up by Preston Schiller. Bob Bowman stated that the board will be looking into it. There have been numerous consultants on this system from the state to Whatcom County and others.
Norm Wolf stated that as a biologist a minimum of chlorine could be used in certain systems but it may be in Scenic Estates that there is a lot of organic matter due to the surface water used and thus requires more chlorine. It may be possible to remove the organic matter first to be able to use less chlorine. Scenic Estates would have to look into more filtration.
Laura Mork stated that is a great comment. Laura is very interested in what can be done for our system. Look into new systems and new technologies and costs. We would need to see the pros and cons and costs.
Vince Spucces asked about the drainage of the lake. It seems like it doesn’t rise and fall but that the drainage is always wide open. Is this contributing to the operations of the quarry?
Wendy Thorpe heard that we have leaches in the lake. We haven’t had that problem before. Is it being addressed?
Louise Weber it appears that there is pond weed and algae which seemed to coincide with the weed cutting and cattails at the lake which seems to cause the awful taste in the summer time.
Wally Croy stated that below the LISE property the quarry can legally take the water. The Niedhamer’s had a permit to take water and whether or not the permit was ever filed or used is not known. Preston Schiller stated that the quarry has a 10,000 gallon storage tank. Is Scenic Estates continuing to provide water to the residence? There was a line hooked up from the house to the tank. This leads to the possibility of cross connection and contamination. It was later disconnected without any action of the board. Scenic Estates is in violation of state law, as it is now a seller of water and not just homeowner’s association.
Jackie Granger explained that several years ago new statutes came into effect that required all those receiving water to be members. There was an effort at that time to have the two residences that were not members to become members; one did, the other, the house attached to the quarry did not. Scenic Estates checked with the attorney and we are not allowed to disconnect them even if they are not members. The agreement is in effect that Scenic Estates will provide the house with domestic water and will charge the annual dues amount for such.
Larry Hagan asked if there was a water meter on that house and could it be checked to find out if we are supplying water to the quarry.
Laura Mork stated that she will look at this as an option.
 

OPERATIONS:
Darlene Stoffer stated that the report was in the newsletter and states what has been accomplished this year. Work completed has included cleaning up the grounds, cutting out the scrub trees, painting, repairing and general maintenance of the Estates. Darlene takes a monthly tour of the estates and has met weekly with operations and kept Bob apprised of communications. We’ve done a pretty good job of cleaning up the estates as it had been let go for a number of years.
Scott Wills is there a plan for next year’s maintenance and upkeep? Bob Bowman stated it is covered in this year’s budget.
Torrey Joyce asked about the trees that have been cut down. Darlene Stoffer stated that scrub trees at the top of the clubhouse lot have been cut down which take the resources of the evergreen trees. Others are limbed hopefully to DNR (Department of Natural Resources) requirements.
Allan McFadden stated that in the LICC Newsletter there were several articles about the valuable understory. Darlene Stoffer stated that the fire department has asked LISECC to clean up. Most of it was weeds and to get the weeds there have been some casualties. Al McFadden stated that it looks like it has been done indiscriminately. Darlene stated she wished she had taken before and after photographs. Al McFadden stated that he has picked up a newspaper from DNR showing what is good regarding fire protection; they are Snow berries, ocean spray, salmon berry. The publication recommends keeping this type of foliage. Al stated he hoped the club would keep these if they grow back.
Bob Bowman stated that we will be hearing about that in Natural Disaster.
 
 


To Continue Reading Committee Reports on Page 2 Click Here
 
.
Lummi Island Scenic Estates • 1211 Island Dr. • Lummi Island, WA 98262
                                          Phone/Fax: (360) 758-2699 • e-mail: help@lisecc.com

Return to Top of Page