LOVE OUR LAKE

KLA UPDATE:  BOARD MEETINGS

from Richard Orr, KLA President

​

This article previews the KLA Annual Meeting of Members on Saturday July 9, 2022, and provides a report on the spring KLA Board meeting.  That report is divided between lake topics and organization topics.  Minutes of all Board meetings are posted on the KLA Archives page.  Click here for the May meeting minutes.

​

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS             

All members and friends of KLA are invited to attend the annual membership meeting on Saturday July 9, 2022, at the Wilkins House.  The business meeting will start at 9:00 am, but we will resume our traditional coffee and donuts beginning at 8:30.  Weather permitting, we will bring our chairs outside.  If it is raining, we will be inside and, in that event, we ask attendees to mask and do their best to maintain social distance.

​

Our keynote speaker will be Randy Lessard, Chair of the Select Board in Waterford. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the relationship between Keoka and the town.

​

Most of the meeting will be informational, primarily focusing on the health of the lake and related issues.  There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

The regular business of the meeting will include approval of contributions to various organizations and the election of Directors and Officers of KLA.  Pursuant to the By Laws, the Board has recommended that the board members whose terms are expiring be reelected for another three years and that the existing officers be reelected for another year.  Additional nominations can be made by any member of KLA at the meeting. 

The meeting is a nice opportunity to reconnect with neighbors and friends, and to meet new people.  We hope you can join us.

​

SPRING BOARD MEETING – LAKE TOPICS

The Board met on May 27, 2022, and received reports on several topics related to lake health.

• The Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) does water testing in Keoka every year.  The LEA report of testing during 2021 concluded that on the three key measures of water quality in Keoka for the last five years, two measures were trending positive and the third is stable.  The full water quality report can be found on the here.  A helpful summary of the report, by Charlie Tarbell, is available here.

• Prior to COVID an annual “Milfoil Summit” was conducted in person.  This year LEA hosted an online “Invasives Summit.”  The name change reflects the reality that although Milfoil may be the most well-known invasive plant species, it is not the only problematic plant.  Moreover, the potential invasive threats include other organisms in addition to plants.  A recording of the Summit was posted by LEA here.

• One aspect of the Summit was a case study about how another lake responded to an infestation and the lessons learned.  The Board has begun developing an emergency response plan so that in the event invasives are discovered there will be a framework already in place outlining what needs to be done and how to do it.

• A lynchpin of preventing invasives is the Courtesy Boat Inspection program.  LEA delivered a CBI online training program which several Board members attended.  The program emphasized the need to be vigilant about not only Milfoil and other plant material, but other species as well.  The CBI training program video and other resources are available at the LEA website here: Maine Lakes Courtesy boat inspectors.

• The condition of lakefront property can have a significant impact on lake health.  The potential issues include septic leakage, unrestrained runoff into the lake, and failure to maintain appropriate vegetation along the shore.  The Board’s LakeSmart team will be continuing to reach out to property owners and encourage them to have a property evaluation.  This is a voluntary program, which provides information only to the landowner.  There is no reporting to governmental authorities and no enforcement mechanism.  The Board encourages every property owner to have a Lake Smart evaluation.  To schedule an evaluation or for more information, contact any of the Lake Smart team:  Ginger Eaton, Priscilla Treadwell, or Doss Hasson.

• The condition of property upstream of the lake also affects lake health.  Board member Kim Struck and T’ing-T’ing Doore walk the streams that feed Keoka every year.  They reported to the Board on their findings.  An article about their efforts was in the May KLA newsletter and can be found on the website here. 

• Did you know that that the buoys in the lake and the docks and boat ramp at town beach are maintained by KLA, not the town?  Board member Andy Tabor again volunteered to manage the deployment of buoys and the installation of the docks at Town Beach.  Several Board members, along with other volunteers, reported for duty on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to install the docks and swim float.

​​

BOARD MEETING – ORANIZATION TOPICS

The Board received financial reports.  Treasurer Dan Treadwell reviewed the income statement and balance sheet for KLA.  KLA is sound and secure.   

​

The Maine Community Foundation holds and invests the funds raised by the KLA50 Capital campaign for the Milfoil war chest and also invests KLA unrestricted funds.  Board member David Johnson reported on the MCF online seminar he attended, which reviewed MCF’s investment strategy and performance.  Despite the recent rockiness in the markets, the approach of MCS seems prudent and the results are satisfactory in this environment.

​

Jo Lynne Johnson reported on the KLA50 Celebration plans and ticket sales.  The Celebration will be held 3-6pm on July 9.  It was planned with the promise that none of the funds contributed to the KLA 50 capital campaign would be used for the party.  Moreover, the goal was to have the event be self-sustaining, without the expenditure of any KLA funds.  

​

Jo Lynne reported that both goals had been achieved, largely because the committee raised over $4,000 in individual sponsorships for the event.  As of the May 27 Board meeting, just over 100 tickets had been sold and RSVPs were still coming in.

​

The Celebration is the culmination of a multiyear fundraising effort to create a war chest so KLA can respond quickly to any infestation of Milfoil or other invasive species or to other threats to the lake.  The grand total of contributions will be announced at the Celebration.

​

BOARD MEMBERS

A list of Board members, and brief bios for most, are available on the KLA Website at here.  Please reach out to any board member if you have questions or concerns, or are interested in serving on the Board.  Or you can email keokalakeassoc@gmail.com.

​

Have a safe and happy summer on the lake.