2018 BPLA Spring Newsletter

Spring Greetings!

The Big Pine Lake Association Board of Directors wishes to update our members on recent news, current status and future activities that should be of interest to them and all property owners on Big Pine Lake.  We also want to encourage all lake property owners to get involved in 2018 summer activities that will get us better acquainted and also to share in the programs and benefits of membership in our Lake Association.

Newsletter Distribution:  In the interest of timeliness and efficiency, we continue to distribute our newsletters to our association members via email so it is imperative that we have a current email address for every member.  Please let us know if/when your email address changes. We will also continue to post each newsletter on our web site at www.bigpinelake-crosslake.com.

BPLA Memberships: The benefits of membership in our lake association are listed on our website at http://www.bigpinelake-crosslake.com/about/membership/.  Annual memberships are effective from May 1 until April 30 the following year, hence membership renewals for 2018 are due beginning May 1.  We currently have 52 paid memberships that end April 30, 2018.  The price of an annual membership remains $25.  New members may join our association at any time during the year for the full membership price.  Please mail your dues payment to: Big Pine Lake Association, PO Box 756, Crosslake, MN 56442. Note: Annual membership dues may also be combined with payment for subscription in the 2018 Environmental Mosquito Management Program (offered below).

2018 Environmental Mosquito Management Program: According to the Minnesota Dept. of Health, 83 West Nile Virus (WNV) disease cases were reported in 2016, the highest number since 2007. Fourteen (17%) had neuroinvasive presentations including encephalitis or meningitis, and there were 5 deaths. The other 69 (83%) cases had West Nile fever. Seventy-three percent (61) of the cases were male, and the median age was 55 years. In 2016, 46 (55%) WNV cases were hospitalized. The majority of cases (93%) reported symptom onset in July, August, or September.

Given the continued threat of WNV and the cost-effective comfort that our mosquito control program provides subscribers, we are pleased to announce and offer subscriptions to the 2018 BPLA Environmental Mosquito Management (EMM) Program.  This program is sponsored and administered by BPLA on behalf of its members – at no additional cost beyond the annual program subscription fee. Non-BPLA members are also welcome to subscribe for an additional administrative fee of $10. 

After negotiations concluded last spring with our EMM service provider, Clarke Environmental, BPLA entered into a three-year contract that was unanimously approved by the BPLA Board. This year, we will see our first price increase in EMM program cost since 2009.  The contract authorized a four (4) percent price increase this year that will carry through to 2019 with no additional increase.  The net effect will be a $20 price increase that will result in an all-in price of $515, plus tax, for 2018 and 2019.

As you may recall, each year since Ken began managing the EMM program, BPLA has sought-out pricing from other firms that perform services similar to Clarke’s.  The lowest price we received was $641.25, including tax, for eight (8) backpack-applied treatments and no truck-based ULV treatments.  Just to put the lowest-priced company’s offer in perspective, it was 36 percent higher than Clarke’s 2017 price.  The highest price we received was from Mosquito Squad out of Merrifield at $91.77 per treatment, which totals $734.23, including tax, for eight backpack-based treatments.

Highlights of the BPLA 2018 EMM program, provided by Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management, Inc. include:

• (9) Truck-based Ultra Low Volume (ULV) treatments if property is large     enough to accommodate truck
• (9) Backpack-based Barrier Control treatments in and around property
• Treatments control mosquitoes, no-see-ums/sandflies, and flying midges for up to seven days
• Comprehensive insurance coverage for BPLA
• Program Consulting and Quality Control Staff
• Citizen Mosquito Hotline: (800) 942-2555
• Local, state, and federal regulatory compliance
• Digital customer database record keeping
• Clarke’s 2018 price, without tax, will be $57.22 per treatment per household ($515 for the entire season of 9 applications)
• Seasonal subscriptions MUST be paid to BPLA no later than May 15th in order to participate in the 2018 program
• Please send payment to: BPLA, PO Box 756, Crosslake, MN 56442

• BPLA Members – $550.41 ($515 + 6.875% tax)
• Non-Members – $561.09 ($525 + 6.875% tax)
• NOTE: You may include $25 for a new BPLA Membership or a Membership renewal with your EMM subscription for a total of $575.41 ($550.41 + $25)
• For questions or to report issues with your service, please contact Ken Ormsbee at (612) 963-1660 or ken.ormsbee.ii@gmail.com

• As usual, 2018 applications will commence the week before Memorial Day weekend and continue through mid-August.  Preliminary application schedule:

• May 24, 31; June 7, 21, 28; July 5, 19; August 2, 16

Supplemental Clark Environmental Aquatic Service:  Lastly, Clarke Environmental also provides services aimed at controlling aquatic pests, weeds, and algae.  These services can be purchased independent of the BPLA EMM program directly from Clarke at an additional cost.  Information on the aquatic services they offer can be found at Clarke Environmental Aquatic Services.

Rock Dam and Pine River Fish Passage Project: Since Phase 1 of the project was successfully installed last June and a subsequent bog-jam and breach of the rock dam was quickly repaired, the project team has focused on implementing Phase 2. That work has included finalizing the design of the arched riffle structure, passing the DNR Dam Safety Review, getting the DNR Waters Permit, publishing the bid specifications and receiving three qualified bids for the construction of the riffle system and access staircase. Considerable time and effort by the project team has resulted in successful completion of those important tasks, however, each of the resulting bids were approximately twice the available grant funding to date. In addition an issue regarding the use of Big Pine Trail as a haul road for the large quantities of materials required for Phase 2 has been raised with the City of Crosslake.

During the 60-day period for bid evaluation and awarding (if possible), the project team has been focusing on securing additional grant funding and an agreement with the City regarding the use and repair (if necessary) of Big Pine Trail. That work is currently in progress so there is nothing definitive to report at this time. As usual, we will keep you informed of significant developments and decisions with timely updates and breaking news emails.

Lake Level Minnesota Program:  Big Pine Lake will continue to participate in the Lake Level Minnesota Program for 2018. The measuring gage for Big Pine Lake will again be installed near the dock at 14145 Sugarloaf Road where daily readings will be observed and reported by a Board member.  Daily measurements taken during the summers of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 are available to the public using the DNR Lake Finder online application using Lake ID =18026100 or by clicking on this web address: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showlevel.html?downum=18026100

Our daily lake elevation data has been valuable for calibrating the hydraulic model used to develop final design specifications for our new arched riffle water control structure.  To learn more about the Lake Level Minnesota program, please visit the following web address:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/waterlevels/lakes/index.html

Water Quality Monitoring: The first water quality sampling for 2018 does not occur until May 21st and, unlike last year, we hope to have docks and boats in the lake at that time. We have been participating in the monthly water quality monitoring program sponsored by the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association, WAPOA, for 8 years.  This information has shown a recent trend to clearer lake water – thank you all for your efforts to limit phosphorus runoff into our lake. The 2018 Kickoff meeting will be held 9-10:15 am on Monday, May 7th at the ACOE office near the Pine River Dam in Crosslake.  We welcome any volunteers to assist in this exercise.  It requires a boat and about one hour of time on one day each month for our lake water sampling and sample drop-off at the ACOE office on Monday morning.  Please contact Scott Eichhorst at spe@nextera.net or Pam Graves at pjgraves1@gmail.com if you are interested in helping.

Social Events and Activities: At this time we don’t know if, how or when the condition and usability of our lake might be influenced by the construction of Phase 2 of the new fish passage project.  However, the social events that are planned for this spring and summer include the following:

Roadway Cleanup:  Saturday, May 26th @10:00 AM:  We will meet at the public landing to pick up team assignments. More details will be available in a mid-May email.

Family Fishing Contest:  Saturday, June 16th @8:00 AM:  Please note that this is Father’s Day weekend and NOT the Fourth of July like we did the first two years. Volunteers will be needed. Details will be included with the email for the roadway cleanup.

Boat Parade (Independence Day):  Saturday, June 30th @2:00 PM:  This date was chosen because it is the same day as the Crosslake Fireworks.  Join in the parade with your boats.  Decorating your boat is OPTIONAL. We will follow the 2017 plan.

Annual Meeting:  Saturday, August 18th @10:00 AM:  Crosslake Community Center – coffee, juice and pastries will be served at 9:30 AM.

Treasurer’s Report: The balance of the BPLA operating account as of March 31, 2018 is $3,731.96. The balance of the SSD account for dam maintenance as of January 31, 2018 is $61,028.96.  The next posting of assessment collections for the SSD account will occur in August. Currently, $50,000.00 of the SSD fund is committed as non-state matching funds for the dam/fish passage project with the remaining balance of $11,028.96 available for rock dam repairs, as necessary.

We continue to welcome your ideas and suggestions for making our association more effective and valuable for all members.  Also important is your involvement in projects, activities and events that will improve our lake-living experience and property values for years to come.  Please let us know how you may be willing to help.

Thanks in advance,

Your BPLA Board of Directors