Attending: Kathleen Schisler and Bob Scapicchio
1 – Members discussed the current status of Willow Lake Homeowner Assessments for 2019. With the exception one homeowner in Bankruptcy, all 2019 Assessments have been received.
2 – Financial Review – Per our last meeting, 12-moth CDs were opened/renewed with interest rates of 2.77%. One 3-month CD with an interest rate of 2.05% was opened in the amount of $3,000.00 instead of $4,000.00.
3 – Snow removal status for Winter – $1,000.00 was budgeted and actual cost was $0.00. If everything else in our budgeted line items stays the same, our Homeowner Association will be $1,000.00 UNDER budget.
4 – JD Paving was contacted and they are tentatively scheduled to inspect the roadway this coming Saturday, May 18, 2019. A family emergency arose this past Saturday and they had to reschedule to May 18, 2019.
5 – Phragmites Update – In the last meeting minutes there was mention of addressing the issue of reoccurring phragmites in various areas around the lake shore. By our estimate, the total amount of phragmites is well under an acre. When the phragmites problem was addressed in 2007, the Virginia Lake Management (now Solitude Lake Management) came and sprayed the phragmites with a commercial herbicide approved for use in aquatic environments and not available to homeowners. At that time, we had a tremendous amount of phragmites that covered a large portion of the shore line and extended well into the lake. We were told that it would take two sprayings to control the phragmites. The phragmites have been under control except for one major patch located at the North side lake access and a few other much smaller lake areas and homeowner’s properties. They also informed us that the major cost of eradication was labor and not chemicals. DNREC also does phragmites spraying in selected circumstances but they will only come if the area is larger than 5 acres. The phragmites can be controlled in a somewhat labor-intensive manner by cutting the top of the phragmites off and placing a small drop of Roundup, by eye dropper, onto the cut portion. This should be done in the fall when the plant is pulling energy back to the roots for the winter. It works! At the present time, with the small amount of phragmites present, it is not recommended that a commercial company be employed to control the phragmites. If there are enough community members who are willing to devote a couple of hours this fall, phragmites at the North side lake access area could be addressed. (Robert Lamontagne)
6 – Geese Status – approximately 30 eggs in five or six nests were oiled. Ten goslings were seen on the lake at the last count. There have been few geese observed on the lake. USDA will be contacted and advised of the current geese numbers as well as the influx of approximately 200 or more during molting season to see if the USDA would be interested in seeing our community.
Respectfully Submitted,
-Robert Scapicchio