The July 2001 Newsletter

CLA MADE 5 RAFTS FOR FIREWORKS!!

Buzz Holtulvuer, Karel Wolters, Chuck Lane, Linda Lane, Jon Boersma, and Brad Jones spent several hours constructing the fireworks rafts. They are beauties! On July 4 in the early evening, the main raft will be anchored in the lake.

2001 FIREWORKS - JULY 4, 2001

7:00 p.m. BOAT PARADE
The parade starts at the Wolters residence on the north side of the lake. Just prior to the parade, register your boat with Pat Wolters so we can keep track of who owns which boat. Plan on circling the lake twice. "Fame & Glory" Prizes will again be awarded to top 3 boats). If you are a winner, a picture of your boat will be placed in the August CLA newsletter. Opportunities to be a judge of this contest are still available. Contact Pat Wolters (887-8707).

9:45 p.m. RING OF FIRE
Light your milk jugs with candles (ones you have purchased from CLA work best). Put the candles about 10 feet apart on the lake side of your residence)

10:00 p.m. FIREWORKS!!
The following residents have volunteered their yards for viewing of the fireworks:

South Side: Gustins (2471 VanDyke), Shukers (2491 VanDyke)
North Side: Lanes (2764 Crockery Shores), Wolters (2442 Crockery Shores)

We will have a marine patrol boat on site for the boat parade and fireworks.

BOATER SAFETY CLASS

Michigan Boating Laws require a boater safety certificate if a person under the age of 16 is going to operate a jet ski (even with a boater safety certificate you must be 14 years old) or a boat with a motor size of over 5 h.p. Call Tami Zahon at the Ottawa County Marine Division to sign up. 786-4189. When they have 30 names, a class will be given at the Filmore Complex.

RUMMAGE SALE - SEPT 6 and 7 CHESTER TWP. HALL

Last year's rummage sale brought in $650! Because CLA is now a tax-exempt organization, your fireworks donations are also tax-exempt. If you want a federal tax write-off for your rummage sale donations, you will need to do the following:

Utilize the tax-exempt form (attached to May and June Newsletters or pull it off our website), or obtain one from Linda Lane. You will only be able to write-off the current retail value of the item. All items must be listed separately with a description.
You will need to have a board member sign your tax-exempt sheet for it to be valid for tax purposes.

The 2001 rummage sale is planned for two days--September 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chester Township Hall. Drop off: Sept 5 at Chester Township Hall. Larry Edmonds and Marv Knoper will be running the show! Last year, only ten families donated items; even fewer helped at the sale. Just think how much money we could get if more of you would donate!

Please start collecting your items now. We only ask that they be clean and useable.
The proceeds will go toward the 2002 Fireworks.

CROCKERY LAKE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING

Took place on June 20. Approximately 30 residents attended. Speaker: Ottawa County Deputy Sara Randall. Residents asked the CLA Board the following questions. We have printed the questions with the Board's responses.

Will there be a weir clean-out this year?
Yes. We will have one later in the year. We sure would like more volunteers. Those who participated last year had quite a good time!

Why are lily pad roots floating up to our shorelines?
Someone is deliberately cutting the roots on the lily pads. This is illegal. If you see someone doing this, please ask them to stop or call Pat Wolters.

Why were there algae blooms two days after the weed treatment?
Algae blooms which can be attributable to the weed treatments occur approximately two weeks after the treatment. At the time of the weed treatment, we had been experiencing a large rainfall. Whenever we experience a large rainfall, we will probably get an algae bloom. This bloom had nothing to do with the weed treatment.

Why is the whole lake being treated for weeds--why not do spot treatments?
Only 6 acres of our 108 acre lake are being treated for weeds. If you would like to "opt out" of the treatment, you need to advise Professional Lake Management before the first weed treatment.

Why were the weed treatments done during a downpour and windy conditions? Doesn't it have to be calm and sunny for the treatments to work?
Up until about 6 years ago, weather conditions were extremely important to a successful weed treatment. Now a chemical called "Sidekick" is added to the Diaquat. Sidekick adheres to the weeds in any type of weather--rain, wind, etc. An examination of the success of the first weed treatment this year backs up this information. Only a few sprigs of milfoil were found alive after the treatment.

If neighbors on each side of me treat for weeds and I "opt out", doesn't the chemical still end up on my weeds?
Probably. There is nothing that can be done about this.

Are weeds which drop to the bottom, either because of a weed treatment or natural causes, creating toxic conditions for the lake?
Yes, they are. They also create more "muck". Your best course is to rake up as many weeds as you can that float in and get them out of the lake.

Is the lake board doing any testing regarding the effects of the dead weeds at the bottom of the lake?
Not at this time. It is possible we may be able to do some testing on this through Michigan Lake & Stream in the next couple of years.

Does the lake board keep current on other options for lake weed treatments?
Yes. We receive information from Michigan Lake & Stream and from our weed treatment company. We are looking into using 2-4-D in some parts of the lake next year. 2-4-D kills the root of milfoil. If we treat with 2-4-D, we can have the option of getting rid of native weeds at our discretion by manually raking them out or cutting them. Only areas where residents' wells are at least 50' from the lakeshore will be able to use 2-4-D.

Can we have a no-wake rule on our lake?
The no-wake idea was turned down by residents last year. We will monitor the level of activity on the lake this year and see how bad it gets. The no-wake idea may be discussed again if enough residents feel it is warranted.

Can't the lake charge outsiders to get on the lake?
No. Only the DNR may do this. The Board looked into this possibility last year. The DNR will only charge on a lake where it has a DNR parking lot it owns. Since we do not have this, they are not interested in setting up a booth for the lake.

Do chemical treatments of weeds kill fish?
99% of the time, no. If we were treating the whole lake, we would have a problem with this, but because only a small portion of the lake is treated, the fish are easily able to escape when the treatment occurs.

What can be done about stopping the salting on the roads around the lake during the winter?
There is a Senate bill pending on this. CLA will monitor and let you know status.

Questions Posed to Sara Randall, Deputy Sheriff for Ottawa County:

Will we have marine patrol on the lake this year?
Yes. Every couple Saturdays they will patrol our lake. They will stay 2-3 hours. They will also stop by during the week. We do not know ahead of time when they will show up. They may write tickets to residents for boats that do not meet the state laws. Make sure your boat is legal!

Can to write tickets to boaters when we have a high water, no wake situation on the lake?
Because this is not an official sign, the Sheriff's Dept. cannot write tickets. [CLA has asked Ms. Randall to check on this and let us know. CLA thinks if damage is done to property, a ticket can be written.]

If official speed on Crockery Shores and VanDyke is 55 m.p.h., is there any situation where you would write a ticket for excessive speeding?
We can write tickets for careless driving. You can call in a careless driving complaint, and I may write a ticket, or go out and pay a visit to the offender, but you need to be prepared to testify in court if it is contested.

Dogs Running At Large--can you write dog's owner a ticket?
This is handled by Animal Control. I would suggest you "contain the dog" and then call Animal Control. Because there is only one person handling half of Ottawa County, it is hard to get to the site very quickly. If you tell them you have the dog contained, they definitely will show up.

What about loud music?
Chester Township has a nuisance ordinance which would cover this. Yes, call me and I will take care of this.

Additional Comment from Ms. Randall: There have been many daytime breaking & entering in rural areas lately--not in this area right now. Usually the homeowners are not home at the time and are at work. Keep your doors locked and stay alert for unusual activity--this can be called in to the Sheriff's Dept.

CALL IN ALL COMPLAINTS TO SARAH RANDALL AT: 1-888-731-1001!!!!

REMINDER: CURFEW HOURS FOR CHESTER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS

No minor shall be upon, in, or on any public street, highway, alley, park, vacant lot, or other public place during the hours hereinafter specified (unless with parent or legal guardian at least 21 years of age, in a motor vehicle, or is in route to or from his/her employment): Less than 13 years of age: 10:00 p.m.; 13-17 years of age: midnight.

2001 SEPTIC PUMPING

We will be running the Pumptitude Honor Roll for all of you who have your septic pumped from January 2001 through October 2001. After you have your septic pumped, please let Linda Lane know (887-1562) so you can be added to the honor roll. She will also check with VanDyke & Myers for those of you who forget to call. To help keep the lake clean and keep your septic systems working properly you should have your septic tanks pumped each year.

VanDyke & Myers has again volunteered to give us a group pumping price.

Regular price of pumping: $125
Discount prices for Crockery Lake Residents:
1 tank (you dig cover) $85 2 tanks (you dig cover) $110
1 tank (they dig cover) $110 2 tanks (they dig cover) $135

Call them at 899-2324. You will need to let them know you are from Crockery Lake to get the discount. They would also appreciate it, if possible, if you could tell them your tank capacity. VanDyke & Myers has received information that there will be a substantial increase in 2002 due to updated EPA guidelines they must meet. Get your tanks pumped while the price is low!!!!!! You won't see the same prices next year.

PUMPTITUDE HONOR ROLL

Dave & Sue Wobma, Chuck & Linda Lane; Jean Schmucker; Harley & Ernie Barrs; Elaine Dodde; Greg Reyburn; Klio Bursma; Richard Broucek; Jody Hyde; Charlie Van Dyke; Belinda Huisman; John & Diane Thornton; Walt & Jan McClellan;

Come On, Residents! Do your lake & your septic system a favor---pump it!!!

Our condolences to Teresa Rayburn on the death of her mother.

FREE SEASONED FIREWOOD! Great for 4th of July campfires. Pick up any time, no appointment necessary. Take as much as you want. 2732 Crockery Shores. If the firewood is not gone by this fall, they will be burning it up.

NEED YOUR LAWN MOWED? Call Dan at 899-5402 or BJ at 899-5465

Open Letter from the CLA President:

I would like to thank the CLA Board for their support and hard work this past year. I look forward to working with them on upcoming projects and issues.

Being a "professional volunteer", I can honestly say I have enjoyed working with every new board I've been on. Volunteers are special people, and play an important role in this world. Thank you!

Thank you to DEAN and TINA ROOKS for their continued work with CLA. They have taken secchi disc readings for many years. This test tells us the clarity of the water. Another test they do is the spring and summer phosphorus tests. As we have stated in past newsletters, we are very high in phosphorus. The first phosphorus test is taken one to two weeks after ice off when lake water is extremely cold and they must put their arms in that water, up to their elbows. Thanks a lot you two! Dean and Tina, from time to time, do side-by-side testing with DEQ on the lake.

Thank you to DAN ZIMMERMAN and DON SHUKER who are doing additional water quality testing to round out our testing. Dan will translate all the testing that has been done in the past and what we are currently doing into our language for all to read. Thanks guys!

CLA was chosen to be included in a new pilot program for "algal assessment" and "chlorophyll A" testing. I have been trained to do this testing. I will be doing side-by-side testing with the DEQ also.

Thank you to URSULA SWIDWINSKI for taking over the Great Day receipt program. This job takes more time than you would think. She has to calculate 1 percent of the total on each receipt, without the tax, submit that total along with your receipts and have it match Great Day's calculations. Thanks, Ursula!

Sincerely, Pat Wolters.

WHAT HAS CLA DONE FOR YOU IN 2000? PLENTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enviro-Science--talked with them regarding possibility of using weevil that eats Euraisan Water Milfoil; fireworks on rafts; popcicles handed out on 4th; sold sweatshirts; did petition for sewer; addressed no-wake issue; did weir clean-out; attended Michigan Lake & Stream regional & annual seminar; had grant written for watershed study; held Octoberfest; big erosion problems with creek that runs through Grose Park discussed with Park Commission & remedied; looked into alternative weed treatment alternatives; updated website; discussed Sonar treatments for weeds with Professional Lake Management; put up cool sign at boat landing; updated boat dockage and funnelling ordinance; 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status achieved; received a grant from Coopersville Foundation for watershed study; gas brought to lake residents; trash pickup around the lake; looked in "aerators" for lake; met with Ottawa Co. Sheriff re marine patrol on lake; participated in zebra mussel program; sent out window peeper alert; sold plumbers candles; published newsletters; looked into 25 mph speed limits; welcome packets for new residents prepared; held boat parade on 4th; additional lake testing; created permanent rafts for 4th fireworks' display; held rummage sale; obtained group septic pumping price; distributed water sampling bottled to interested residents.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PAY YOUR DUES TO KEEP OUR ASSOCIATION ACTIVE!!

Would you like to advertise in your newsletter?
Members: FREE
Nonmembers: $5
Full-Page Ad (you supply all copies): $10
Contact Pat Wolters at 887-8707

Current Crockery Lake Association Board Members: