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Association Meeting Highlights – Nov 2014

by Richard D. Gainar, CEBS – Secretary RRA

The RomeRock Association Board of Directors met on November 6, 2014 with all Directors present except Ron Morris. Approximately 12 residents were also in attendance.

President Dell Rogers reminded us of the joint RRA/RSV meeting is scheduled for November 11, 2014 at 7:00PM at the Village Hall. The lake lowering process was started and the Plum Creek dredge training was successfully completed. A cost of $5.92/ft3 of silt removed during the training period was calculated, which is significantly lower that our original estimates. Our dredge plan will require dredge to stay at least 30 feet from any dock where possible. The indemnification provision of our by-laws provides for the Association to fund legal council for Directors. Funding for legal expenses for any lawsuit may require loss of reserve and/or a new assessment. Contrary to unfounded rumors, no decision has yet been made related to the permanent RRA office. The 2015 budget includes a boat fee rollback to former rates and contains no funding for a new weed harvester or new office. Dell is interested in Member comments as to whether there is interest in posting all resident letters to the Association on our website.

Maintenance Director, Dan Mullins, reported that fall clean up and winterization of equipment is occurring. Lake buoys and patrol boat have been stored for the season. Outside restrooms winterized and closed. Our workers removed 680 yds3 of material from Plum Creek for a total of 1,300 yds3 for the year. Maintenance will continue to prepare dredge staging areas for next year as weather permits.

The Lake Management Committee reported that water testing for phosphorus and dissolved oxygen continued during the month and reminded residents to watch for the “Be Lake Responsible” articles in the Shores News and e-blasts that LMC members author to limit entry of sediment and nutrients into our lake. The ‘wave heart’ logo will identify these articles.

Ed Baitt reported that the Fishing Club had placed $500 worth of perch in Flame Lake hoping to improve that fishery.

In the business segment of the meeting, Dell Rogers reported that $25,000 for a bulldozer and $1,000 for a spillway gate was approved in a previous executive session due to timeliness of the purchases. Ed Baitt’s motion to purchase a used pontoon boat trailer was tabled. A series of routine resolutions dealing with next year’s standing committees, budget, assessments, and late fees was passed.

Member comments and questions included posting letters from Members, lakefront property sales, purchase of pontoon trailer, overhead projection of detailed documents for audience to better follow, standing water in a ditch, and the boat fee rollback.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm. Association Board’s next meeting will be on December 4. Hope to see you there!

Lakes, Blooms and Politics

love-the-lake-logo  by David Ernes – Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control Subcommittee

Recently, a number of interesting political announcements have appeared in the news about blooms and grants awarded to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative totaling over 8.4 million dollars to three states, including Ohio. These grants are to be used to study ways to reduce the nutrients going into the lakes, increase monitoring of blooms, and create a database for research and information to find corrective actions to eliminate the public health crisis. Senator Rob Portman has been a strong advocate for this research applauding the success of the grant.

In a few weeks, most of you will be going to the polls and depending on if you are a permanent resident, weekender, or lot owner, the list of candidates may differ. The recent bloom that shut down the water supply for Toledo for several days continues to make national headlines. Our sub-committee has published an abundance of good science based information regarding blooms so that we can all make informed decisions. The link below is to a recent article in the Plain Dealer that offers the views of a number of candidates on lake water quality, blooms, fertilizer, etc. They comment on farming practices, fertilizer selections, and even testing. When you cast your ballot, we ask that you check the candidate’s opinions on these issues, to ensure that grant money goes to good use.

And if they don’t do what they say – write them a letter!

Lake Erie water quality, algae concerns draw opinions from Ohio Statehouse, gubernatorial candidates | cleveland.com

BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE – VOTE

Protecting our Beautiful Lake & Community

love-the-lake-logo  by Tim Langer – Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control Subcommittee Chairman

You may have noticed the new “Love the Lake” logo that marks the articles and programs being developed by residents volunteering for the Sediment and Nutrient Control Subcommittee of the Lake Management Committee. You can see it included in this article. Our mission is to connect our community by 1) raising awareness about important issues, 2) offering good science based information, and 3) offering some easy ways to improve our community.

It is our hope that this logo reminds residents to BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE!

When weeds and algae in the lake become overgrown, we all look for help to find solutions. Our lake is not a public and natural resource of the State of Ohio, so it is up to us, the owners and residents of Roaming Shores to be responsible. We are the primary stewards of our great natural resource, Lake Roaming Rock. Please help us work together to protect our water for our enjoyment and that of future generations.

Given our private ownership and access to Lake Roaming Rock, our goal is to initiate programs to help residents actively manage their properties and proactively seek new and innovative solutions. Once we, the residents and owners, do all that we can to sustain these programs, outside funding, like government grants, can be more readily obtained to help us limit sediment and nutrients from our watershed.

When you see “Love the Lake” articles and programs, please participate. It is our hope that if we all contribute to the health of Lake Roaming Rock, our community will thrive. Please contact me (TimattheShores@gmail.com) if you would like to get involved, contribute or suggest an article, help with a program or have any questions. It is important that we all be responsible to help keep our lake and community beautiful.

I love our lake and I bet you do too.

Washing Your Boat – An alternative approach

love-the-lake-logo  By Tim Langer – Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control Subcommittee Chairman

It is that time of year when we are all trying to get our boats cleaned and ready for winter. It seems like a rite of passage for winter to arrive, but a time to get our boats ready for storage. Did you know, soaps and detergents might add nutrients that promote algae blooms? They also destroy the external mucus layers that protect the fish from bacteria and parasites; plus they can cause severe damage to the gills. So, before you grab your old standby cleaner please consider the following;

  • Rinse your boat frequently with fresh water to reduce the need for soaps and cleansers, help stop marine growth, and extend the life of the protective coating. Spot clean if needed.
  • Use environmentally friendly cleaning products such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and borax when necessary. Use all cleaning products sparingly to minimize the amount discharged into the water.
  • Use good old-fashion elbow grease.
  • Use phosphate-free, biodegradable cleaners such as “Simple Green”. If you use detergents, use them sparingly.
  • Avoid cleaning your boat dockside or in your driveway if you have a grate drain which goes to the lake. Wash your boat in an area that allows for infiltration of wash water, such as gravel or grass without a drain directly to the lake.
  • Look for the words “phosphate-free and “biodegradable” on the cleaning products used.
  • Never dispose of cleaning products by dumping near the lake.

With each of us taking a moment to consider our cleaning methods and products used, we each can BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE.

For more information or to print out a purchasing guide that contains what to look for on labels, toxic ingredients to avoid and how to clean with less please see the following link,

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Environmental/CleanGreen/LessToxic.aspx

 

Trick or Treat!

trick or treat
This Saturday is Trick-or-Treating in Roaming Shores from 5pm to 7pm. Please take extra caution on the roads as there will be little ghosts and goblins out and about!

Children’s Harvest Party

Join us for a Fun Fall Carnival and Refreshments!
harvest party
There will be a bounce house and many more new exciting things!!

Hosted by: Roman Candles Auxiliary
When: Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 1-3pm
Where: Rome Volunteer Fire Dept. (The Corner of Route 6 & Route 45)
Children ages 12 & under

Road Closed: Rome Rock Creek Rd at Callender

Please note that the County is installing a culvert at the intersection of Rome Rock Creek Rd and Callender. The road will be closed until the completion of their project (Estimated to be on 10/16/14). Please plan an alternate route.

Fall OLCA Meeting

F14 OLCA

Last month, Directors Rick Gainar, Ed Baitt, Ron Morris, and Tom Sopko along with RRA employees Dan Mullins, Jen Addair, and Pat Sowry attended the Fall 2014 OLCA (Ohio Lake Communities Association) Conference at Apple Valley POA outside of  Mt. Gilead, OH.

OLCA conferences are an opportunity for Lake Associations from all around Ohio to come together to share ideas, information, and attend informative sessions.

In addition to attending these sessions, the RRA was able to share its progress this year with our Dredging Program. RRA Maintenance Director gave a brief presentation and answered audience questions.

F14 OLCA (2)

Below is the OLCA Fall 2014 Meeting Summary Report that Tom Sopko delivered at the 10-9-2014 Board Meeting. It is a report of observations of how other associations operate and not a statement of recommendations or how RRA should operate.

  1. Apple Valley (AV), host
    1. $2m budget
      1. Annual dues $205
      2. 50% of income comes from dues & assessments
      3. Other 50% of income comes from operations like marina, pool passes etc
      4. Marina was the largest source of income after dues
      5. Indoor pool and rental facility was a losing proposition
      6. Compliance officer is a paid position
      7. 9 Board Positions, each with a 3 year term.
      8. Revenue from
        1. Marina
        2. Campground
        3. Publication advertising, $70k per year
        4. Annual bazaar brings in big $
      9. Photo id are passes. Magnetic card passes.
    2.  Facilities
      1. Video security used extensively
      2. Passes available for a fee for entry before 2 pm to pools etc
      3. Office space 3400 sq ft.
      4. Shelter rental, $25/4 hr increment
      5. Fitness membership $45/yr
      6. Roads were maintained by the county.
        1. Roads were not as good as those at RS.
      7. Architectural Committee existed
        1. Handle footers, setback and design (including color)
      8. Water & Sewer costs about $50/month
    3. Lake front properties were 50% to 100% & greater in value compared to RS
      1. Their lowest value structures = to our highest value structures
      2. 6600 lots
      3. 2600 homes
    4. Boats
      1. Limited to 2 power, 2 non-power and 1 jet ski.
      2. Marina packed with boats, probably 5+ times the size of RS marina.
    5. AV may have a weed harvester to rent or sell
    6. Licensed to hunt geese
      1. Control geese population
  1. AV Lake (330 acre)
    1. Water appeared cleaner than RS
    2. AV did some dredging. Mechanical. Lowered lake and brought in bulldozer type equipment. Only dredged north section. Cost $750,000.
    3. Algae blooms followed dredging. Attributed to stirring up the bottom. Comment offered not asked.
    4. Lot owners are allowed to use an approved weed & algae treatment company. At AV it is Aquadoc. It used to be another company that closed due to owner retiring.
    5. AV does an annual draw down to control weeds.
    6. AV did no annual broad water treatment other than lake lowering.
  1. Dredging
    1. Any association dredging was using the mechanical method citing cost for not doing hydraulic dredging.
  1. Security handled by County.
  1. ADA Federal Regulations require that ADA compliance if facilities are used by non-members only. If a member brings in outside people its ok to not have ADA facilities.
  1. Other Lakes use a paid Compliance Officer to ensure collection & prosecuting fines.
  1. Other Associations seemed tougher on collections. Used collection agencies. They recommended:
    1. Clean up non-collectable debt.
    2. Establish a rigorous policy using third party collection.
  1. Volunteerism and Club Memberships
    1. Participation is down.
    2. Some used some form of recognition for volunteers, dinner, etc.
    3. AV biggest club was 55 members, the Fishing Club.
  1. Rules and Regulations
    1. More handled thru rules and regulations rather than By-Laws
  1. Disaster Management Plan in place at AV.
    1. They rotated meeting invitations to key stake holders like Fire Chief, Police Chief
    2. Suggested having a list of sources for available equipment like:
      1. Snow mobiles
      2. Generators
  1. Recommended having strict rules put in place before a problem occurs.
    1. Membership fees for rentals.
      1. Only allow one home to be rented at a time, prevents owning and renting many homes. Legal to restrict to one home rental.
    2. Rules for ham radio towers
    3. Lighting
    4. Architecture
  1. HB-572 would allow for priority lien status following taxes. Mortgages are third after taxes and dues.
  1. Jen Addair is an OLCA Board Member.

Tom Sopko, 9-30-2014

Donation Drive

dog and cat

At the RRA Office, a local Boy Scout, Tyler, is having a Donation Drive for the Ashtabula County Humane Society.

Items Requested are:

Cat and Kitten

  • Dry cat food
  • Cat toys, cat nip, USA only treats
  • Kitten milk replacement
  • Cat towers
  • Scratching posts

Dog and Puppy

  • Portable, folding cages
  • Dry dog food (Purina, Dads, Retriever)
  • Toys, bones, biscuits
  • Dog shampoo, collars, leashes

Thank you!

Fall in the Shores is a beautiful time of the year

Residential Stewardship
By: Pam Hoover, Lake Management Sediment and Nutrient Control Subcommittee

Congratulations on owning property in one of the loveliest communities in North East Ohio! Whether you are a full time or seasonal resident, living by the water provides a special opportunity to participate in water-related recreation, such as boating, swimming or fishing; to observe wildlife in its natural habitat; or simply enjoy the beauty of watching a sunset over the lake and experience the serenity and sense of well-being experienced around water and nature.

When you own property in Roaming Shores, you do have certain riparian (near the water) rights and privileges. Along with those rights also comes the responsibility to protect, improve, and enhance the quality of the water for your enjoyment and that of future generations to come, keeping in mind that the water itself is a public resource for everyone to enjoy. That’s called stewardship: the individual responsibility to manage one’s life and property with regard for the rights of others. The lake is a living ecosystem and part of the larger ecosystem of all living plants and animals to which we also belong.

ALGAL BLOOMS FEED ON KEY NUTRIENTS!

ALGAL BLOOMS FEED ON KEY NUTRIENTS!

One of the objectives of the Lake Management Sediment and Nutrient Control Committee is to provide ongoing education for residents and to provide you with basic information on good lake stewardship, which if practiced by you and collectively by others around the lake and in the watershed, will help to keep the lake healthy to protect your investment in Roaming Shores property (healthy waters=higher property values), your enjoyment of the lake, and also preserve its ecological integrity.

As you may know, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are key nutrients needed for aquatic plant and algae growth. Excessive P and N that reaches the lake fuels the overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae. Excessive plant and algae growth decreases water clarity, decreases lake health, interferes with the recreational use of the lake, and diminishes oxygen for fish in the water, generally causing declining water quality. Here are steps you can take this fall to reduce the amount of P and N getting into our lake:

  • Leaves, Grass Clippings & Aquatic Waste
    • Burning leaves is NOT permitted in Roaming Shores. When organic matter is destroyed this way, key nutrients are released and washed into the lake.
    • Collect and compost leaves and grass clippings to haul them away from the lake. The Village Compost Site on Rt. 6 is open during daylight hours on weekends (call Village office or see website for updates). If we allow excess plant matter to end up in our lake, the build-up and decay adds to our water quality problems.
    • Rake up aquatic plants, leaves, and other organic matter on the shore land and dispose away from the lake. Hint: It makes great mulch on the garden and can later be worked in as a soil amendment.
  • Pet Waste
    • Collect and dispose of pet waste away from the lake, if it enters our lake it can jeopardize water quality and increases risk of serious health issues. Pet waste contains these key nutrients and may also contain disease-causing organisms, creating unsafe conditions for water recreation.
    • Picking up your pet’s waste and disposing of it properly safeguards you, your neighbors and your lake.

Enjoy this most beautiful time of year at the Shores!

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