Brenda Springer

Our prayers and condolences to the Springer family.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=brenda-springer-kulash&pid=163035069#storylink=cpy



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More of Invasive Species, aka Zebra Mussels

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
Feb 4

More from the presentation by WLIC prez Rick Neece:

• 1 zebra mussel can reproduce 1 million in a year 
• Limited number of natural predators
• Can populate a body of water in 2-3 years
• Destroys entire eco systems, disrupting food webs, sport and commercial fishing and navigation, recreational boating and agriculture.

Some Missouri Lakes/Rivers infested:

• Bull Shoals Lake
• Lake Lotawana
• Lake of the Ozarks
• Lake Taneycomo
• Smithville Lake
• Little Platte River
• The Missouri
• The Mississippi
• Osage River

Kansas Infested:

• Cheney Reservoir
• Council Grove City Lake
• Wilson Reservoir
• El Dorado Reservoir
• Lake Afton
• Melvern Reservoir
• Perry Reservoir
• Wyandotte County Lake

WLIC recommends watching this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uLKK09TljI

Desperate Times

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
Feb 6

demand desperate measures...that might be the summary of WLIC President Rick Neece presentation to the BOA last night in regards to keeping WL zebra mussel free.  Rick has been making the rounds of some of the clubs (Fishing Club Monday evening) to give an overview of what the WLIC Board has in store to keep WL pristine:  Some of the recommendations of the Stream Team include include (quotes from his presentation materials):

• Seal the Lake for use by members only
• All watercraft and anything that is absorbent (lifejackets, bait buckets, fishing gear, anchor lines) is designated for use at Weatherby Lake and cannot be used in any other body of water.
• Heated power washing station 140 degrees for the following:
• New watercraft registered for first time with Weatherby Lake
• Post service/repair appointment if done by infested Lake (Smithville marina)
• Staffed by volunteer, wears protective clothing, $20/Boat, limited hours each month
• Phased approach to changing out locks to boat ramps and installing access gates at C Point and Venita
• FOB gate for access, each family gets two cards
• Combination locks initially then transition to new keys on boat ramps
• Security cameras at FOB and boat ramp access
• Education, testing and signing of form required before get FOB and boat ramp keys
• Educate all 785 Weatherby Lake members (mike note, think they mean homes)
• Phased approach to training
• Test in person or on line
• Signs posted at access areas
• Change to rules and regulations for increased fines or damages whichever is greater, loss Lake privileges
• Change to City ordinances for trespassing to match WLIC policies

Zebras Coming to BOA

Tonight the regularly scheduled meeting of the WL BOA happens @ 7PM, City Hall.  According to Mary's notes, WLIC President Rick Neese will give a presentation on Zebra Mussels...might be worth the price of admission...well seeing there is no cost but your valuable time...anyway there are usually plenty of seats, average 6 or less of us attend.

Plains Zebras (Equus quagga), more specifically the Damara subspecies (Equus quagga antiquorum) in Okavango, Botswana. An edit of Image:Zebra Botswana.jpg on English Wikipedia, done for that image's FP try on Wikipedia. The original image description: Zebra, Okavango, Botswana, 2002. Taken & submitted by Paul Maritz (Paulmaz) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Other Stuff

The Official Unoffical Minutes of the WL BOA
17 January

A potpourri of odds and ends:

• The City has been awarded $116,000 as part of a national class action suit regarding atrazine.  What to do with the windfall will be discussed more at the next BOA.
• During the discussion of building permits, George mentioned we are "losing money on water hookups", no action discussed.
• Vic asked if we receive an "annual report from the trash people?".  Jerry is going to request one.  The mayor also mentioned he is glad we have "no fuel adjuster" to the current trash contract.
• The Women's Club does not want to host the traditional July 3rd dance on C-Point...Jerry is looking for another host(s).
• The BOA has created a "BOA Designated Emergency Fund".  Not clear, nor was it really explained, on the why of establishing the fund, I guess we will find out...or not.
• There was no report from the Entrance Advisory Committee.

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• Study: No cancer risk from atrazine
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• Evansville's portion of atrazine settlement amounts to $374,095

Return of the...

The Official Minutes of the WL BOA
January 17th

Never have gotten into the Zombies thing, but to each his own, right

Speaking of the dead, undead, returning from the dead...Jerry mentioned he had received an email from Mary requesting discussion of the lack of building in the West Ridge subdivision and her perception of the negative effect of City codes and fees that contribute, (in her mind and a small group of others) to the mostly vacant subdivision.  Marlin and Linda Cone appeared in support of the notion that the City was the main impediment to building new homes at West Ridge, thus preventing a "revenue stream" for the City.

Mary said she talked with "realtors and builders" regarding the issue.  She did not identify exactly who they were, other than the Cones.

This started a lively interchange with Mary, Jerry, George and the Cones, the Mayor obviously straining to remain patient and calm.  Jerry pointed out if the City codes and fees were an issue, apparently it wasn't a big deal because he has not been approached or contacted regarding those issues.  George mentioned our codes (the 09 version of the International Codes) are what virtually all cities are following in the area.  One of the differences might be the fee for grinders which many cities do not have (if you live in Riss Lake your results may vary).

None of the aldermen seemed interest to support the idea of looking into or changing anything, other than Mary.  The Mayor clearly was not.  Mary is interested in establishing a committee to study the issues, no motion was made by Mary, it would have been DOA (Dead On Arrival, kind of a Zombie motif).

Hand it to them, Mary and the Cones will not give up on the idea.  Smaller lot sizes, smaller homes, patio homes...not sure what the agenda is, but rest assured, there is an agenda.

 

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Ode to Odour

Interior photo of a large sanitary sewer from an access manhole. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA

Public Works
The relatively warm winter (your results may vary) has required the continued use of chemicals to suppress the smell of our sewer system.  Cost to the City last year was about $60,000.  George and Jerry would love to cut back but nobody wants to take the gamble of causing a stink.

Speaking of royal flushes, George cited the grinder pump calls for the last three years, 242 calls in 2010, 261 in 2011 and 251 in 2012,  one of the costs of insuring your excrement ends up in the sewer and not in the lake.

What "seemed like a good deal at the time" apparently has taken a turn for the not so good.  George discussed the 08 diesel truck which goes out of warranty this month (26,000 miles on the odo if you must know).  Time to turf the truck?  Gman thinks getting rid of the truck now would "eliminate a potential problem".  Citing higher maintenance costs, according to George, ($300 for an oil change), George and Jerry   want to consider selling the truck "this spring".  Alderman Hoy, "is there money in the budget?"  Jerry, "no".  At least they are consistent, there wan not a line item for purchasing the last truck either.

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