A review of how and why we’re involved with the City Lake Master Plan is in order, lest we forget the importance of the situation. Mayor Montgomery initiated a dialog about annexing the city lake into the city at the April Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, with a written request to annex his leases F-11 and F12- into the city. He also distributed an information sheet on city lake projected expenses and returns purporting to show that soon expenditures at the lake would exceed income from the lake. The Lake Association Executive Board questioned the validity and completeness of the accounting of the financial statement. During two meetings with the mayor we emphasized our desire to work in cooperation with the city to plan for practical financial stability for the lake and the city. During these meetings with the mayor it became obvious to us that answers to our specific questions were not forth coming and subsequently we delivered a letter to the mayor with copies to the planning and zoning commission and the city council members. This letter stated our concerns about annexation, confirmed our desire to cooperate and assist in planning and establishing a sound financial future for the City Lake Park and the City of Council Grove. We also ask several specific questions about the Information sheet showing the financial status of the lake. The mayor has not answered these specific questions or acknowledged our letter.

At this point Dr Curt Brungardt, Fort Hays State University, Director of Civic Leadership Center, offered to lead the Lake Association and city in developing a master plan for the lake. At the September 1, 2005 Planning and Zoning meeting Councilmen Jones and Evans presented a proposal to annex the City Lake. Their proposal’s time schedule included a city council work session on September 26, 2005, and a city council vote on annexation on October 3, 2005. During this Planning and Zoning meeting the Lake Association Board ask for an opportunity to provide input for future plans for the lake and time to develop a master plan and invited the city to join in the process. Councilmen Jones and Evans agreed to not call for vote on Oct 3 and allow until February for the Association to present a Master Plan.

We’ve had two successful meetings, completed a comprehensive survey, and formed Task Forces to Plan in Major areas identified by the Survey.

We are at a critical pointin determining the future financial stability and quality of life for residents of theLake. We have Progressed from a proposal of annexation which included an approximate 45% tax increase and basically no increase in service, to an opportunity to have viable input for the future of the Lake and Council Grove

NOW IS THE TIME FOR EVERYONE TO STEP UP AND HELP, we must be realistic. A good viable Master Plan presented to City Government should result in a sound financial and political future for both the Lake and the City. If we don’t present a viable plan in a timely manner, the most likely result will be a 45% tax increase with no practical increase in service, and any financial stability or protection from another large increase when the current lease expires.

The Task Force Groups are listed below. Take time to join one of the groups, make email or other inputs. The final out come is dependent on YOU. Visit the web site for details about each Group.

Governance Task Force

Infrastructure Task Force

Beautification and Park Area Improvements Task Force

Water Quality, Environmental Issues, Water Level Task Force

Recreation Use, Public Safety and Fishery Management Issues Task Force

The documents referred to in the above summary, and documentation of current processes is available at the Web site cgclakeassoc.org in the Master Plan section.