2011 Annual Meeting

LIONS’ HALL, COBOCONK

Sept 22, 2011

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Balsam Lake Association Inc. (BLA) was held on Sunday, August 07, 2011 at 09:00 at the Lions’ Hall in Coboconk. There were approximately 40 in attendance. Coffee was available from 08:30 during informal discussions with various attendees prior to the start of the formal portion of the Meeting.

1. Call to Order

President Donna Braniff called the meeting to order at 09:10, and welcomed all in attendance. The Directors introduced themselves, giving their location on the lake.

Donna explained the voting rules. Individual members and members of Road Associations in good standing would have one vote on any Motion.

Copies of the Agenda at the rear of the hall were available to everyone.

2. Minutes of the 2010 Annual Meeting

These Minutes were posted on the BLA Web Site, and also posted at the rear of the Hall. In the interests of time, it was proposed to omit the reading of the Minutes.

Motion: It was moved by Peter Robinson and seconded by Ken Watkins that the reading of the 2010 AGM Minutes is dispensed with, and that they be approved as circulated. Carried.

3. Financial Report

Treasurer Gerry McKeown presented the Financial Report for the fiscal year ending Feb 28 /11.

Opening balance March 1, 2010 $9293.01

Revenues $3325.83

Expenses $2752.17

Closing Balance February 28, 2011 $9866.67

Copies of the Financial Report detailing the revenues and expenses were available as handouts, and a copy is appended to these Minutes.

Motion: It was moved by Josie Pascoe and seconded by Leslie Joynt that the report be accepted as presented. Carried.

4. City of Kawartha Lakes

Mayor Ric McGee and Councillor Stephen Strangway were in attendance. Regrets were received from Councillor Doug Elmslie. The Mayor spoke on behalf of Council.

• The Official Plan has been approved by Council.
• The mining of aggregates in the City is very important, as our resources are the third largest in Ontario.
• Lake Management Plans for Balsam and Cameron lakes are in progress under Council’s auspices.
• A new contractor has been hired for waste collection at a saving over the previous arrangement. Any savings will be used to develop alternate disposal methods to reduce the use of landfills.
• Council is working to ensure private collectors of material such as metal, similar to the one on highway 35 near Coboconk, observe environmental regulations.
• Docking at Fenelon Falls has been improved in a partnership with various stakeholders to improve tourism.

5. Lake Management Plans

Dave Pridham of Kawartha Conservation reviewed the status and the methodology being used in the Balsam and Cameron Lakes study. There will be community involvement. The end result will be a long term action plan to protect these valuable resources.

6. Lake Fisheries

Holly Simpson, a MNR Biologist, reviewed the impact of the arrival of pike on the Kawartha muskie population.

Muskies are a valued resource, and all efforts will be to preserve them. Pike are not native to inland lakes, but they have made inroads. It has taken them 65 years to reach Balsam Lake from Lake Simcoe.

Pike are also breeding with muskie resulting in a hybrid (tiger muskie) that makes identification more difficult. There are 6 or more pores on the underside of muskie jaws and less than 6 on pike. Pike also spawn earlier, and competing with pike is a new phenomenon for muskie.

The 2010 creel survey revealed 913 pike and only748 muskie.

7. BLA Business

7.1 Corporate Memberships

There have been requests from corporate entities to join the BLA. After due consideration, the Board now wishes to proceed with this initiative.

Motion: It was proposed by Gerry McKeown and seconded by Josie Pascoe that:

1. the Balsam Lake Association approve a new class of membership for commercial entities and

2. the commercial member fee be set by the Balsam Lake Association Board of Directors on an annual basis, and

3. each commercial member shall be entitled to only one vote.

Carried.

7.2 Wake Concerns

There have been concerns over speeds near shore when towing skiers and large wakes near docks, especially in the canal and the narrow channel near Coboconk.

The City has provided extra funding to the OPP Marine Unit to patrol specific targeted areas.

7.3 Fresh Water Summit

The BLA presence was a great success. The booth near the actual Summit sign gave good exposure and attracted a few new members.

7.4 Web Site

The BLA is in the process of updating the web site. It will be more user friendly and contain expanded information.

7.5 Lake Hazard Marking

In 2011, the BLA has marked 5 sites with a buoy (a sample was on display at the rear of the hall). Insurance concerns have been addressed. More sites may be marked as the Board becomes aware of needs.

7.6 Water Quality

The BLA has funded 7 sites this year for E-Coli testing. Most results are excellent, with a few degradations noticed after heavy rains.

The testing under the Lake Partner Program of the Ministry of the Environment is

on-going and data is available on the FOCA web site.

7.7 Acknowledgement of the founder of the BLA.

Percy Hughes passed away recently. He was instrumental in forming the BLA to deal with the threat of over development of Grand Island.

8. New Business

There was no new business.

9. Adjournment

The President adjourned the meeting at 11:10, having thanked the presenters, Mayor and Councillor.

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