OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
(printable view)

NEXT ACTIVITY: MASTER PLAN PROGRESS REPORTS
HAYS HOUSE OCTOBER 28, SOCIAL 6:30 PM, MEETING 7:00PM

Contacts
Email cglakeassoc@yahoo.com Web Site: cgclakeassoc.org
Chairman: Dave Baker, E-13, 767-6403 Vice Chairman: George Forester, D-39, 767-8194
Treasurer: Vernon Hay, J-9, 767-8071 Secretary: Andy Hutter, C-42, 767-6561

Welcome New Neighbors
Michael Herman & Linda Kroeger D-8 Gerald & Linda Wiseman C-1 Zachary Tyner J-14
Tara M Hardt Trust C-46 Jerry & Renee Roths C-2, C-3

Web Site and Email
Our web site is now operational with more features to come. The Master Plan section has a running history of the Master Plan progress and will be updated frequently. Visit the site every few days to see the progress and updates. The web site is cgclakeassoc.org. For now the email address is still cglakeassoc@yahoo.com and is not tied to the web site. To receive Lake news updates as they occur send us your email address.

.
Volunteers
We are seeing an increase in volunteers actively supporting the Lake Association, and sincerely appreciate each individual effort. We especially want to recognize Fred Vance, B-9 and Alice Eubank D-39. Fred volunteered to to take charge of transfers, welcome packets, address changes, and keeping both the Lexinet and lake listing updated. He has been a huge help in freeing the secretary’s time to take care of writing correspondence, emails, etc. Thanks Fred!
Alice volunteered for the monumental task of tabulating the Master Plan survey results, organizing and recording the comments. She did a tremendously large job in a short time frame, enabling us to move forward with the Master Plan. Thanks Alice!

Meet the New Marina Owner
Bill Berns is the new Council Grove Marina owner and operator. Bill attended the October lake Association meeting and shared some of his plans for the Marina Store. He plans to operate the business much in the same manner as it has been by Ron Long, and has future plans to provide covered boat storage. Bill will take possession of the Marina Janurary 1, 2006.
Bill and his wife Joanne live in Topeka. Joanne is a PAT educator and Bill will be retiring from the State of Kansas, Department of Administration to devote his time to operating the Marina.
Currently Bill may be contacted by email at mailto:bill@ berns.com.

Missing Boat
Drifted away from the dock last spring and lost, hopefully not forever. We are looking for our 12’ aluminum rowboat with the letter EC-200 on the hull. If this boat drifted to your place or you know the where this boat is, please call Connie Essington at 620-767-5673.

Symphony in the Flint Hills
Get ready for a One-of-a-Kind special event; a celebration of this beautiful area where we live. On June 10, 2006, the Kansas City Symphony and Chorus and the Paul Winter Consort will perform “Grasslands: Prairie Voices” at the Tall grass Prairie National Preserve. Activities will begin early in the day and culminate with the concert at 6:00. For all the information regarding this affair go to: www.symphonyintheflinthills.org. Only a limited number of tickets will be sold so call early to Select-a-Seat. Volunteers are needed. If you are interested in being a part of this day contact Louise Carlin at 620-273-8139 or email Emily Hunter at mailto:info@symphonyintheflinthills.org.

City Lake Master Plan
Next Master Plan Meeting, October 28, 6:30pm Hays House
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 F-12 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. After considerable discussion, 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 point in determining the future financial stability and quality of life for residents of the Lake. 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 are available at the Web site cgclakeassoc.org in the Master Plan section.

GO TOTHE WEB SITE; PRINT THE INFORMATION AND SHARE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. YOU CAN HELP A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT BY KEEPING EVERYONE INFORMED WITH DIRECT SOURCE INFORMATION INSTEAD OF RUMORS!