Newsletters

*  WINTER  *  2*0*0*2  *  WINTER  *

LETTER FROM YO PRESIDENT

Exciting things are in the works during the next 5 months of Winter.  I have made an outline to simplify what is going on in your Tri-Lakes Association.  Your officers and board members are hard at work to improve the Tri-Lakes and make them a wonderful place to live and vacation.

1. Nov. 7, 2002:  Mike Holmes of School Section Lake Association set up a meeting with Yo Pres. representing Tri-Lakes Assoc., School Section Lake Assoc. President, and Horsehead Lake Assoc. President to organize a special meeting on Dec. 7^th, 11:30 a.m. at Morton Twp. Hall to work on lake related problems with all members welcome to attend.

2. Our goals are as follows:
   • Applied for grant for clean up of Blue Lake Island
   • Applied for grant for water safety
   • Applied for grant to clean out dead stream
   • Applied for grant for clean up of Cole Creek
   • Ordinance for anti-funneling at Blue Springs, hearing resolved
   • Monitor lake levels
   • Weed Control
   • Fish and wild life management
   • Gypsy moth inspection
   • Permit for Mute Swans
   • Boat wash at public landing
   • Location of dry hydrant for fire dept. at Tri-Lakes

3. Working hard to meet other Lake Association (NOLA, Torch Lake, Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake, etc.) on how they have solved lake problems.

4. Yo Pres. plans to attend the M.U.C.C. Leadership Conference Jan. 17-19, 2003 and welcomes others to attend.

5. Want to encourage everyone to get a “Golf” team together for the Winter Golf outing.  Contact Kevin Doyle, chairman, 231-972-7129.  Golfing is January 25, 2003.  $25 per couple or $50 per team of four, includes dinner and door prizes at Northern Shores following.  It’s a lot of FUN!!!

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year and I’m looking forward to seeing you at the next April 2003 meeting.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to call me.  My work number is: 1-888-Phantom (742-6866).

                                                                                                Sincerely yours,

                                                                                                          Yo, President

CHANGES

The By-Laws of the Morton Tri-Lakes Association specify that said by-laws be reviewed and updated as necessary every five years by a committee assigned by the President.  This was the year and a few changes or updates have been made.  A number of the changes made were to clean up the language, other changes included incorporating previous amendments into the body of the bylaws.  The election of officers from the board members was changed to the meeting following the annual meeting instead of during the annual meeting when board members are elected by all Tri-Lakes Association members.  The amount of money that the president can spend without authorization was changed from $50 to $150.   

                                                  World Wide Web

Board member, John Bowkamp, has been working at getting the Tri-Lakes Association on line.  He’s hoping it will have information such as board members, coming events, etc. You may check www.MLSWA.org and click on “Visit Our Association Websites” and check if the Tri-Lakes are up and running yet.

 Gypsy moth

No significant egg masses have been detected so it's been decided not to spray for Gypsy Moths next spring.  Should you spot egg masses, do not hesitate to inform a board member immediately so that the area can be evaluated.

HELP!!!

Carol Novak is in need of some assistance.  Cole Creek improvement is the goal.  If you feel you can help in any way, please contact Carol at (231) 972-7295

LAKE ALLIANCE

Saturday, December 7^th, several members of the Tri-Lakes Association met with members of the Horsehead Lake Association and School Section Lake Association.  For this first group meeting attendees were split into three groups, each with a different topic.  The groups were:  1) anti-funneling, 2) water levels, and 3) weed control & zebra mussels.  After group discussion all topics were reviewed for all attendees.  It was agreed that the Lake Alliance should meet on a quarterly basis.  Hopefully our sister lakes will have waged war on or have knowledge concerning some of our problems and vice versa.

 Fun, fun, fun

If you have never attended the Winter Golf outing then you are really missing something.  This year we celebrate the 15^th Annual Winter Golf outing and it’s one of the best things about winter!  Even those who detest the sport have a blast when it comes to having lunch, sitting around a campfire, wading through the course, dinner, prizes and maybe even a sing-along.  Feel free to dress anyway you wish, use any implement to hit the ball that you wish, even bring along your sled to carry ..ohh, golf bags?  Coolers?  Who knows?  Come, have a great time with the people you normally see in swimsuits!

WILDLIFE CORNER

by Dave Moore

  Well, it is almost Christmas and where did this year go?  This article will attempt to play catch up from the last one in April.

     Four wood duck nesting boxes were installed between Blue and Mecosta Lakes in the area north of the dam, but too late for the nesting season.  We look forward to seeing if our efforts bear results next spring. Wood duck begin their courting and nesting activities in April. I want to thank Ray Parker and Joe Lang for their assistance with the installation. There are four additional boxes to be installed in the spring. The nesting boxes are attached to metal rods that have been driven into the   ground in the wetlands area. Maybe some of you have noticed them.

     While cruising the Tri-Lakes, it was obvious that Ray Parker and Bill Tiseo accomplished a major task in our campaign to eradicate Purple Loosestrife.  It took them three days of concerted effort to rid us of this nuisance plant and I feel that their efforts will be well rewarded when June arrives and the purple flowers have vanished. Thank you to those residents who remain anonymous who also assited with this program.

     It was learned that someone stole duck and goose decoys from the waters between Mecosta and Blue Lake in November. If anyone has any information regarding this theft, please contact me or the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department.  It appears that conditions are changing in the area and possessions must be secured just like in the big cities. It is too bad!

    In closing, I wish everyone safe and happy holidays and hope to see you at the Winter Golf outing on January 25^th.  Even if you are not a golfer, you will have a great time!

Rick & Yo Bellinger

 Wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas

And healthy Happy New Year!