Meeting Called to Order by Mike Rankin at 4:00 PM on Zoom
Present: Mike Rankin, Leslie Hind, Amy Heaven, Ryan Mueller, Mike Stappert, Natalie Hill
Absent: Sandy Adams, Blake Larson, Blair Honeyman
Agenda
- Approved as submitted.
Secretary Report
- Minutes from the previous December meeting were distributed to members by email prior to the meeting.
Treasury Report
- Leslie Hind reported a current balance of $5,894 in Venmo and $27,420 in the bank, for a combined total of approximately $33,314.
- The association currently has 85 members. All dues collection is now complete — the final outstanding members paid within the last two weeks.
- The board discussed the possibility of sending invoices earlier in the season (beginning in November) to accelerate dues collection. Amy Heaven suggested an early-payment incentive structure, such as a lower rate for those who pay before January 1. The board agreed to explore this approach for next year.
- Mike Rankin and Sandy Adams discussed raising the calendar advertisement rate from the current $100 to offset Venmo transaction fees (~$3 per payment). A rate of $125 per ad was proposed. The board agreed to continue the conversation, noting the rate has held steady for six years and a significant increase warrants further consideration.
- The board noted the association holds approximately $32,000 in total assets and discussed potential uses for the reserves, including community improvements such as a restroom facility, monument signage, or cluster mailboxes. The board agreed that major expenditures should be deferred until the question of lake privatization is resolved.
Old Business
Spillway/Dam Update
- Leslie Hind reported that two companies have submitted bids for the spillway repair. Final pricing has not yet been disclosed, though costs are understood to have increased since previous estimates. The city has not yet signed with a contractor but is still expected to complete the work this year.
- Leslie noted that securing a meeting with the county has been difficult — the process has stretched over a month. She has engaged Tim to assist in advancing the conversation.
South Development — Lake Road 10 Property
- Leslie Hind reported that the property on Lake Road 10 has been sold. The buyer has not been publicly confirmed, though the developer is believed to be involved. Closing is understood to have occurred around February 24. KP&L and water utilities have been observed on-site.
- Several Lake Road 10 residents had previously expressed interest in purchasing the property. The ultimate buyer remains unconfirmed.
New Resident Welcome Program
- In Blair Honeyman’s absence, the board noted that the welcome bag/packet program should be reviewed. Mike Rankin asked that Blair follow up with Lake Road Reps to ensure new residents are being identified and welcomed.
- The board will revisit this item when Blair is present at the next meeting.
Calendar Distribution
- The board discussed reports from members who did not receive their annual calendars. Approximately 325 calendars were printed; the distribution list has around 260 members. Some calendars appear to have gone undelivered by Lake Road Reps.
- Leslie Hind noted she personally followed up with members who contacted her and distributed remaining copies. A board member offered to cross-reference names of those who did not receive calendars against the distribution list to identify gaps in coverage.
- The board agreed to order approximately 350 calendars for next year. Sandy Adams was noted to have input on quantities; the board will confirm with her.
Spring Resident Meeting — Date Change
- The board voted to move the Spring Resident Meeting from March 25 to April 18, 2026. The change allows the Taskforce presentation to be incorporated into a single combined meeting, and ensures greater board attendance.
- Mike Rankin will send email communications to all members alerting them to the date change. Leslie Hind will post the update on the GLA Facebook page. Blair Honeyman will be asked to notify Lake Road Reps, who can reinforce the message door-to-door while also encouraging membership renewal.
- The board anticipates strong community turnout given the significance of the Taskforce update.
New Business
Spring Lake Cleanup
- Ryan Mueller proposed a coordinated spring lake cleanup event, picking up where a previous community organizer left off. The concept involves both shoreline trash pickup (on foot) and cleanup from the water using pontoon boats.
- The board discussed ways to boost participation beyond the usual small group of volunteers. Ideas included:
- Hosting a community breakfast before the cleanup — Chris Cakes pancakes at a central location or a homemade option (breakfast burritos were suggested by Amy Heaven and Natalie Hill).
- Giving away GLA merchandise (e.g., bucket hats, tank tops) to volunteers who show up.
- Amy Heaven suggested a decentralized approach where each lake road sponsors its own breakfast and launches cleanup from their own access point.
- Increasing GLA Facebook presence with live video content to promote participation.
- The board discussed hosting the cleanup around April 11, the week before the Resident Meeting. Mike Rankin noted he will be out of town but offered to help with email outreach beforehand.
- Ryan Mueller agreed to take the lead on coordinating the event, pending confirmation of his availability on that date.
- Leslie Hind will contact Echo Waste (formerly the City of Gardner) to request a donated dumpster for cleanup debris, as they have provided this in the past.
- Amy Heaven volunteered to handle the mailbox cluster research (see Treasury Report discussion), allowing Leslie Hind to focus on Taskforce preparations.
4th of July Boat Parade
- Natalie Hill will coordinate the 4th of July Boat Parade. July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday, which the board noted is particularly favorable for a large turnout.
- Amy Heaven noted that this year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, and encouraged the parade to reflect the occasion. Shawnna Steele was mentioned as a community member who has reached out with enthusiasm and ideas; Amy suggested Natalie connect with her.
- Leslie Hind will share the events calendar and typical budget breakdown with Natalie Hill. The standard budget has been approximately $500 for major events; Natalie was encouraged to request more if needed.
Community Beautification — Mailboxes & Signage
- The board discussed using a portion of reserves for community beautification. Two ideas were raised:
- Cluster mailboxes: Standardized, lockable mailboxes around the lake would improve aesthetics and mail security. Several residents on one lake road have already independently purchased locking mailboxes. The U.S. Postal Service may offer financial assistance for cluster mailbox installations that save carrier time. Amy Heaven will research this option.
- Monument/entryway signage: Rock or stone entry signs at lake access points were discussed as a way to give the community a more established feel. Natalie Hill expressed strong support for this idea. The board agreed that signage decisions should wait until the lake’s governance direction (privatization) is clearer.
- The board agreed not to commit significant funds to permanent improvements until the privatization question is resolved, citing a past example of a community bulletin board sign that is no longer actively used.
Property Appearance Concerns
- Natalie Hill raised a concern about debris and clutter along the road. The board acknowledged the issue and noted it has persisted for some time.
- The board discussed that GLA currently has no enforcement authority over individual property standards — such matters fall under county jurisdiction.
Special Events
Dumpster Weekend — June
- Leslie Hind will confirm the June dumpster weekend dates and coordinate scheduling. The event typically occurs around the second weekend of June.
Spring Resident Meeting — April 18, 2026
- The combined board business meeting and Taskforce presentation is scheduled for April 18, 2026. The board plans to hold an early April board meeting to finalize preparations. Mike Rankin will coordinate scheduling via text.
Adjournment
- The meeting was moved to adjourn by Mike Rankin and seconded by Amy Heaven.