Keeler Lake Property Owners Association

Dear Member,

During the annual membership meeting on May 18, 2002, a number of important topics were discussed followed by a vote for action. The Summer Newsletter will contain the official minutes of the meeting for your review, but 2 important items demand immediate attention. This letter is intended to keep you up-to-date on those initiatives.                                                                       Bobbie Piwnicki, President

1. Incorporating the Keeler Lake Property Owners Association.

Rich Johnson, attorney, KLPOA member, and lake front owner, volunteered his services enabling our organization to incorporate in the state of Michigan. A motion was made and seconded by the membership to move forward on this issue. The $20 state-required fee was also approved.

Update: As of this writing, the paperwork and fee have been submitted to the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services. We are hoping to hear back within 2 weeks.

2. Recommendation by the KLPOA board to complete a Lake Level Pilot.

The membership was informed that Keeler Township decided not to consider the petition requesting the establishment of a Lake Level District as a means of collecting the lake initiative monies on behalf of our association. The alternate plan recommended by the KLPOA board was to work with a local farmer, Joe Hassle, to hook up to his well as a means of pumping water to raise the lake level. The "set-up" costs were estimated to be around $2,640 for the piping required to run the ˝ mile from Hassle’s well to the culvert on Oak Drive. This was estimated at 2,640 feet (1/2 mile) * $1/foot. The ongoing costs (fuel and maintenance charge) was estimated to be $360-$540/inch we raise the lake. The lake is up ~18 inches since our original measurement. The agreement amongst the membership as detailed in the petition suggested an initial 24" increase. Therefore, we need to go up ~6 inches. The estimate of fuel and maintenance costs for an increase of 6 inches range from $2,160 to $3,240. Therefore, the start-up ($2,640) and ongoing costs ($2,160 - $3,240) needed to raise the lake 24" from our original measurement, that is, an additional 6" at the current time, is $4,800 to $5,880. This works out to approximately $100 per lake front owner. The motion was made, seconded, and an affirmative vote counted to move forward on this yearlong initiative.

Update: Dave Piwnicki contacted Joe Hassle following the annual meeting. Joe plotted out a path through his soybean field and calculated 1500 feet. Dave contacted Zirk’s Welding and was given an estimate of $1.39/foot cost for used pipe. The pipe is available for immediate delivery. Three things are holding us up at the moment: 1) confirmation from the state regarding incorporation; 2) collection of the required funds; 3) volunteers to lay the pipe. To date, we have collected ~$2,200.00 from the membership. A few of our members have given considerably more than the $100 we recommended. In order to move forward, we need to collect as soon as possible from as many lake front owners as possible. We are fast approaching Hassle’s irrigation cycle when the well will be unavailable to us. If you wish to contribute to this effort, check or cash can be dropped off at Mark Petro’s house (60562 Klett Drive). Contributions can also be mailed to the KLPOA, 60444 Walnut Drive, Decatur, Michigan, 49045. Based on our current plans, we would need as many hands as possible (tentatively on Saturday, June 8th) to hook the 30’ long pieces together. According to Zirk’s, the piping snaps together easily. There will be 50 pieces, 30’ long each. Contact any of the officers if you can help out that day.

Officer Contact Information:

Bobbie Piwnicki, President (708) 460-4695 (home)                      Jon Lucker, Secretary (616) 782-6457

Dave Piwnicki, Vice-President (708) 205-1955 (cell)                    Mark Petro, Treasurer (616) 782-2389