Minutes of the Board of Directors’ Meeting October 4, 2008 Lake-Osceola State Bank, Baldwin Administrative 1. The meeting was called to order by President Paul Bigford at 9:02 a.m. 2. Attendance: Paul Bigford, Jim Bos, Jill Engelman, Dave Gabrielson, Eric Lewis, Fred McLane, Dick Schwikert, Grant Snider and Chuck Turk

Excused: Jay Barnhart, Jeff Carpenter, Rick Conney, Kevin Morlock and Tom Seroczynski

Absent: Clint Anderson and Steve Fraley

3. Minutes of the September 6, 2008 Board of Directors’ Meeting were APPROVED as Corrected. Corrections include Item 6C, Paragraph 3 corrected to read “Eric, through his research, found that international corporations, retailers, and state and national ORV organizations have been lobbying for passage of State legislation allowing use of ORVs on county roads. The local pro-ORV lobby consists of retail businesses, an ORV dealer, and some residents who want to drive their ORVs on the roads” Motion/Seconded by Dave Gabrielson/Fred McLane.

4. President’s Notices: A. Mason-Lake Conservation District is holding their annual Fall tree, shrub and book sale. Deadline for orders is October 7, 2008.

B. October 11, 2008 has been announced as the date for the Lake County Household Hazardous Waste Pick-up date.

C. The Mason FFF Expo is planned for December 6th and a new annual show the Au Sable River Expo is scheduled for April 25-26 in Grayling. PMWC to consider exhibiting at both shows. Parties interested in manning the PMWC booth to contact Paul Bigford.

D. It was announced recently by the MDNR that Tom Rozich has retired. Mark Tonello has taken his place on a temporary basis. Paul Bigford to send a note of congratulations and thank you to Tom on his retirement and for his work above and beyond what was required. He has been a continued supporter of PMWC and its projects.

E. The MDNR is having an Open House in the Baldwin field office on October 28 from 4pm to 7 pm. to provide information and receive public comment on the proposed forest management treatments for 2010. The public is invited.

F. The USDA Friends of the Forest meeting is to be held October 24th in Houghton Lake. For more information please call (231) 775-2421.

G. Michigan Clean Water Corps is hosting a conference for “Celebrating Volunteers” on October 20-21, 2008 at the Ralph MacMullen Conference Center on Higgins Lake. Deadline for registration is October 10th.

H. The Great Lakes Fisheries Trust will hold their next meeting on Grant Making on October 10th at the Hagerty Center, Travers City, MI.

I. Fred McLane, Nominating Committee Chairman, expressed concern that due to business schedule conflicts that Director Clint Anderson is considering tendering his resignation from the Board. He will contact Clint to confirm. Possible candidates were discussed to fill the possible vacant position. Fred to follow-up on suggestions. Old Business 5. Financial Integrity: A. The September 30, 2008 Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. The report continues to show a net profit – this month $9,611.26 – between revenue and expenses. Report was APPROVED. Motion/Seconded: Dave Gabrielson/Grant Snider.

The question was raised with regards to the insurance invoice not yet seen accounted for on the report. Jill Engelman to check with Treasurer Jay Barnhart on status.

B. Jill Engelman noted that the inventory of fleece vests is down to three and a reorder should be placed prior to the upcoming Fly Shows. Following discussion, the Board voted to expend up to $1,000 on new merchandise – vests/jackets etc. in both women’s and men’s sizes. Jill to place order as she sees fit. APPROVED Motion/Seconded: Fred McLane/Grant Snider.

6. Watershed Restoration: A. The Restoration Committee’s met September 16th and reviewed the financial report, the progress of the 319 Grant, Sand Traps, Forks Bridge project, Baldwin Stormwater Drain project, Tank Creek Dam, In-stream Structure Inventory, Scottville Bridge, Bos Woody debris and the various streambank restoration projects. The Bell Sandtrap on the Little South Branch is full and scheduled for cleaning shortly by the USFS. PMWC will pay for the trucking and will offer volunteers to spread hay and re-vegetate if materials can be supplied by Director Jeff Carpenter and the USFS. Dick Schwikert to coordinate.

Through Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) rock placement has begun along the road near the Forks Bridge to eliminate further erosion into the river.

The CMI Grant for the Baldwin Stormwater Drain Project is under consideration for yet another time extension. MDOT and MDEQ engineers did not approve the proposed system due to the high groundwater table. Project needs re-engineering. It was noted that PMWC/Restoration Committee attend the next Village Council meeting to call attention to this important project.

Additional funds are being sought to compliment the $10,000 Inland Fisheries Grant Funds to remove the Tank Creek Dam prior to next Spring’s high water. CRA is obtaining a firm estimate for this work.

CRA, USFS and MDNR Fisheries are expected to float the PM to complete the in-stream structure review earlier planned for August. This will update the 2000 inventory from M-37 to Gleason’s of 64 functional structures at that time. Jim Bos recommended adding the stretch between Bowman’s Bridge to MacDougals to evaluate the need for additional woody debris.

Bos Woody Debris project is complete. PMWC voted to pay 10% of final cost - $1,050 from Riparian Rehab Fund. APPROVED Motion/Seconded Fred McLane/Dick Schwikert.

Jill Engelman to ask Kim to send Grant Snider copies of the Restoration Committee minutes so that he can update the PMWC Restoration Project Listing.

B. No additional update for Riparian Rehab other than Bos Woody Debris project listed above. C. The next meeting of the ORV Advisory Committee is planned for October 16th where the Township Officers have been invited to attend. It appears that one of the main concerns is the “County vs. Township” writing of the ORV ordinance.

The County Road Commission can close 30% of Class A roads to ORV traffic similar to that of Snowmobile traffic. This would mean that that all roads without the winter restrictions signs posted are still at “risk” of ORV traffic.

Eric reported that it seems that the townships in the northern and northwestern part of Lake County support allowing ORV traffic on county roads where the remaining portions of the county may show less support.

PMWC has been contacted by a group in Northern Luce County re: education of ORV riders.

The Board of Directors reviewed Paul Bigford’s draft of the ORV letter previously approved to be written at last month’s Board Meeting. The letter will be two pages with the 2nd page being a map of county with townships shown and county commissioners and township officers listed. The intent is to have persons write/contact officials and voice their opinion regarding the ORV ordinance. Paul will revise the letter to include the two suggestions mentioned and forward to Jill Engelman to produce. Lake County Riverside Property Owners Association (LCRPOA) will also sign the letter and donate to the cost of the mailing. It was determined that the letter should be sent to the following groups.

LCRPOA membership list PMWC membership list - having a permanent/seasonal residence in Lake Co. Lake County Riparian list Township Officers

Paul Bigford will also write a letter to the Lake County Star for submission into a future edition of the paper.

D. Grant Snider provided a computer presentation of the PMWC River Restoration Projects Listing showing all projects listed to date. He will provide hard copies at the November meeting so that all Directors can review and make comment.

E. Dave Gabrielson provided an overview of West Shore Community College’s (WSCC) Streamside Project for the Lincoln River/stream/pond. It has been noted that the temperature of the pond is cooling down to a 10 degrees difference from the incoming stream. Dave indicated that the College has agreed to the projects concepts and will now be seeking grant funding. Monies to take out the dam and replace it with a bridge, restore the wetland/stream area as well as provide permanent story boards for educational purposes is sought. It was suggested that volunteer labor for some of the work might be available from the National Guard.

F. Previously it has been noted that the bank is eroding immediately down from the railroad tracks in the vicinity of the Flint Rainbow Club, 72nd Street, Baldwin. As of the meeting, PMWC had not received a response from Marquette Railroad (MRR). Kim Balke of CRA will contact Jeff Davis, MRR with regards for their plans to restore the bank.

G. Bell Sandtrap update – See Item 6A.

H. Kenosha Lake – a proposed quality trout lake was discussed. MDNR will accept West Shore Community College’s survey/sampling of the lake as a base line for their consideration of the new designation status. Mike McKinney to coordinate with Mark Tonello and procure the proper sampling permits if WSCC does not already have them.

7. Unified Management: A. The proposed agreement is being reviewed at the director’s level at MDNR. Response expected shortly.

B. The Pere Marquette Natural River Zoning Review Board met September 15th. Ken & Mary Guerink were granted a variance to construct an addition. The Mason County Road Commission is planning to replace the Scottville Bridge with a two span bridge constructed 4” higher than the existing. Bridge abutments will be constructed of natural colored concrete and special forms will be used to make the piers appear like natural rocks.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 20th at the Logan Twp. Hall at 4:30 p.m. Stewart Kirker, Branch Twp. Mason Co. is requesting a variance to construct an addition and Denise and Rick Demmink, Pleasant Plains Twp. Lake Co. are requesting a variance or a septic tank/drain field installation.

C. No change was reported from last month’s Attorney General Pam Stevenson report that the Pagura’s had filed an appeal on the final judgment previously issued. A November deadline for the removal of the dam remains with no activity noted.

D. The Henry’s Campground situation is proceeding through the review system. Sue Conradson, staff floodplain engineer for MDEQ forwarded the Henry’s flood plain engineer’s report on to Lansing for final review. The MDEQ must first approve the engineer’s report prior to the court reviewing the case.

E. Dick Schwikert reported that the “appealed issue” of the USFS PM River Management Plan was the # of watercraft allowed. The Judge hearing the appeal rejected it so the Plan stands as originally published and is now in effect.

F. Jim Bos attended the Lake Michigan Citizens Fishery Advisory Council’s recent meeting which centered around the Sea Lamprey population in the Great Lakes. The 2007 report stated that there are still too many Sea Lamprey in the Lakes and that they haven’t reached the reduction in numbers that was desired. It was noted that the Pere Marquette River is scheduled to receive TFM again in 2010.

8. Communication and Information: A. Jill Engelman is continuing to collect documents from directors to begin the process of updating the website. Dick Schwikert passed on his collected documents to Jill.

B. Jill Engelman, Editor for the Mainstream, relayed that nearly 500 copies of the Fall 2008 issue had just been mailed. The January issue will focus on the Bell Sandtrap, Ferris/PMWC/Sweetwater Twp River Clean-up, and Endowment Fund etc. It was also suggested that a portion of the river system be the focus of each newsletter. Jill to review the river history submitted by Dick Schwikert and others for consideration in upcoming issues.

C. Rick Conney has agreed to chair the Annual Watershed Conservation Organizations’ Volunteer Meeting for PMWC next Spring. The date and location are to be determined.

D. Dick Schwikert brought two draft copies of the PMWC Director Indoctrination Notebooks to the meeting. Jill Engelman to insert various office documents. One copy will be available for “check out” with the 2nd being kept on file in the Office.

E. The grant that Paul Bigford received on behalf of PMWC, Sweetwater Twp. and Ferris State University for a Fall PM River clean-up project was put to use September 27. Baldwin Canoe Rental provided canoes for the 21 Ferris State students to float down the river and pick up trash. The clean-up spanned from the M37 Bridge down to Upper Branch Bridge.

9. Environmental Impact: A. Industrial Plant Updates: Money for the insurance policy required by the backers of the tires-to-diesel was secured. This project may be moving forward.

The land along Astor Road for the wood pellet plant has been cleared. Further status is unknown at this time.

B. The Bottle Bill recently highlighted in the MUCC magazine Michigan Out-of-Doors was discussed. Eric Lewis offered to contact MUCC and provide a letter to Bill sponsors and West Michigan representatives.

C. The Great Lakes Compact, restricting diversion of water from the Great Lakes, was just signed by President Bush. For more detailed information please refer to the Fall Issue of the Mainstream Newsletter.

10. Public Comment: (time limited to 5 minutes) No public comment this month.

New Business

11. The appeal for Lake County SEV Property Assessments is under review by the Great Lakes Appraiser Todd Schaal. Currently awaiting response.

12. The wide waters area of the Baldwin River was suggested by Chuck Turk as a potential good Brook Trout fishery. Previously it had been stocked by the MDNR. The access is by a two-track. The area is currently fished out, but with some habitat improvement could return to a quality fishery.

President Paul Bigford adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Motion/Seconded: Jim Bos/Grant Snider. APPROVED.

Respectfully submitted, Jill Engelman Secretary

Next meeting: November 1, 2008 at 9:00 am, Lake-Osceola State Bank in Baldwin.

* Hard Copies of the following documents/handouts are on file in the PMWC office. 1. Minutes of the September 6, 2008 Board of Directors’ meeting. 2. Treasurer’s Report of September 30, 2008