Updates

Island Owner’s Association

Board Meeting

October 10, 2015

Board Members Present:

Meeting called to order by Doug Hintzman at 8:00 am. Board members present: Chris Miller, Doug Hintzman, Tom Reimer, Chad Williams, Bill Allyn, Tony Reyerson. Absent: Greg Apel. Laurie Helling (Secretary), Helen Schwietert (Treasurer)

Members Present:  Jeff Zearley, Steve Lampe, Dena Lampe, Linda Lampe, Bob Sims, Larry Brown, Donna & Bob Gilkes, Don Niosi, Ken Brandel, Ken Schmerbach, Charlene Manson, Cindy Miller, Bruce Copeland, Carol Buhman, Mert Duffy.

Minutes:

• Motion by to approve board minutes from 10-9-2015. 2^nd by Chris Miller, 2^nd by Bill Allyn. Motion Approved.

Treasurer’s Report:

• Check submitted for Boat Storage in the building.
• Motion to approve Treasure’s Report by Doug H. Motion made by Bill Allyn, 2^nd by Tony Reyerson. Motion Approved.

Bills:

• Treasurer & Secretary Compensations 2015 submitted and approved.
• County Taxes paid

Building Permits:

• J. Zearley submitted plans for building screened in room on back of existing home. Discussion held. Building committee members approved proper permits and setbacks. Doug Hintzman made a motion to approve. 2^nd by Tony Reyerson. Motion passed.
• G. Apel variance request revisited. Doug Hintzman read the legal opinion on “structures/buildings” in regards to the by-laws. Taking this into consideration as well as by-laws, Doug asked for a motion to not approve the variance. 2^nd by Chad Williams. Motion passed.
  • Addendum:  Legal opinion http://esmannisland.com/esmann-island-hoa-100115/

Property Ownership Changes:

• None at this time

 Road Report:  

• Bill Allyn spoke to Jim Schleuter (School Bus) about our plans to trim the back road and he was happy to hear that information.
• Tentative Date of Tree Trim/Work Day October 24^th.
• Bill will be keeping an eye on a couple spots in the road with changing temperatures into the upcoming months. (Especially once frost sets in)

 Old Business:

• Pond Committee:  Results being compiled. Will post on website & bulletin board when received.
• Esmann Island Pond_Sandpit – Responses _ SurveyMonkey
• Rock/Sign Committee:
  • Susy Apel ordered the trees to plant around the rock.  3 of the trees are on backorder and will arrive in spring. (Thank you to Susy for getting those ordered!)
  • Maple Tree did arrive and is planted. (Thank you Bill Allyn for getting it in the ground!)
• Land Committee:  No updates to report at this time
• Brennan Dredging:
  • Doug H. filed Proof of Insurance
  • Brennan started their work this week. Transport Boats are at North Boat Ramp.
  • Doug H. will remind workers to park in the extra trailer spots on common ground rather than in boat ramp area.
• Second Street Boat Ramp:
  • Chris Miller needs to reconfirm with Jeff Friedlein about cost and timing of pipe repair. Need to confirm what the repair really entails, how long it would take and how much it will cost.

• Mailbox:
  • Some discussion reopened on the location of mailbox on Timberline.
  • Contacting PostMaster and looking into issue more.  Requested that when people shovel or blow snow around mailbox, please be aware of neighbors’ property and be careful not to cause damage.

• Tree Trimming—
  • Chris mentioned letting Alliant Energy clean up the interior road trees next to their power lines then take a look at what is left to cleanup. However, we realize there will be more to trim.
  • Gary Moser is contracted to trim trees on the back road.
  • Bob Gilkes made the suggestion of having the cable company to trim up along their lines as well.
  • Chris brought up to add to the annual meeting agenda a reminder to the island membership about keeping trees/shrubs trimmed back out off of the roads.

OCTOBER 24—TREE TRIMMING WORK/CLEAN UP DAY!

Meet by the Island Building.   TIME: TBD **Will post when confirmed

                  Call Chris Miller (319) 533-2281 if you are interested in helping out!!

MEMBER REMINDER:  Please trim back low hanging branches and shrubs etc. that encroach from your property in the roadway. They cause sight line hazards, scratch vehicles, and cause drivers to swerve in order to avoid them.

• Grass Mowing Bids:  Ad will be placed in the Guttenberg Press for 2016 bids.
• Snow Removal:  Board will contact and confirm snow removal pricing from Friedein.

New Business:

• Budget Proposal 2016:
  • Doug Hintzman made a motion to use the same budget as was adopted in 2015. Chad Williams 2^nd the motion.
  • If there are Discrepancies or changes needed, they will be made at the first meeting in 2016.
    • Areas of possible adjustment:
      • Garbage fees
      • Insurance costs
  • All board members approved. Motion carried.

• Doug Hintzman made a motion to have Dave Wagner continue preparing the Association Income Tax for 2015. Doug will contact Dave to confirm.
• ADDENDUM: Greg Apel resigned from the Board effective 10-13-2015.  Since this is last meeting of year, position will be filled at 2016 Annual Meeting.

Next Board Meeting will be held April 16^th, 2016 at 8:00 am.

Motion made by Doug Hintzman to adjourn at 8:54 a.m.  2^nd by Chris Miller. Motion approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Laurie Helling

Secretary

OCTOBER 24—TREE TRIMMING WORK/CLEAN UP DAY!

Meet by the Island Building.   TIME: TBD **Will post when confirmed

    Call Chris Miller (319) 533-2281 if you are interested in helping out!!

To Esmann Island Members:

This summer, residents have recently reported an increase in skunk/ raccoon families being near/around homes.  The board has sent out memos and reminders about garbage being placed in cans with secure lids or hung up high, in hopes of curtailing some of the nighttime activities by these animals. The Board reached out to the DNR for any input/assistance in managing this issue.

Please see reply below from Michael Griffin, DNR office.

———————————————————————————————————————-

On Esmann Island you are surrounded by a National Wildlife Refuge.  It is one of the greatest places to live in the United States.  I know you know this as well.  There are sometimes conflicts with being in that area between wildlife and residents.

I think your memo will go a long way to helping with the problem.  Skunks and raccoons will “den” in garden sheds and under old foundations.  Raccoons will forage for any easy meal.

• Curtailing outside feeding of cats and dogs will also help.
• Containers for garbage to making it harder for these wildlife groups to access garbage will also help.

Skunks eat a lot of grubs in yards. The June bugs you have become accustomed to in the summer hatch from a grub in your yard.  Skunks are very adept at digging these out and eating them.

• Treating a yard for grubs will discourage skunks from digging in a yard because you are eliminating the food source.
• Cleaning up around out buildings and plugging holes will discourage them from “denning” in those areas.

I have attached a list of Nuisance Wildlife professionals who can be contacted to trap and remove nuisance Wildlife.

I have also included the local Conservation Officers on this email.  They are Burt Walters and Jerry Farmer.

I would encourage the Cabin owners Association to contact local trappers during the upcoming season to allow access to the Island and harvest raccoons and skunks during the trapping season which begins November 7.

If an animal is causing concern for health or safety to a home owner he or she may dispatch that animal and dispose of the carcass but may not keep it.  The home owner should contact the Local Conservation Officer to let them know.  Burt Walters’s phone is 563 880 0108, Jerry Farmer’s phone is 563 880 0422.

Mike Griffin

MICHAEL K GRIFFIN  Mississippi River Wildlife Biologist

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

P 563 872 5700 |C 563 357 1736 | Michael.Griffin@dnr.iowa.gov

206 Rose St. | Bellevue IA 52031

It’s that time of year again.  Due to frost going out we are closing roads to heavy equipment, large trucks, etc. to protect the roads.  We will post when it is OK to allow these once soil stabilizes.

Garbage dumpster will be in the same location at the Island’s south end as in prior years.  There will be no garbage pick up at individual residences.

Thanks for your help in maintaining our roads.

Let’s  hope for a nice spring.

**NOTICE**

ESMANN ISLAND CLEAN -UP DAY

MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2014

Please have all items at curbside by 7:00 A.M.

WE WILL NOT PICK UP:

batteries      tires      corrugated cardboard

lawn trimmings or yard waste      fertilizers

wet paint      oil      toxic materials      poisons         

TV’s or appliances

bricks      cement chunks      or blocks.

Demolition, construction, and reconstruction will be handled at the discretion of

HAWKEYE SANITATION, INC.

800-858-1138

Last months minutes said next  Board meeting was to be 9/13/14 that was incorrect.

Next meeting will be Saturday 9/20/14 at 8:00am

REMINDER— 

The River Park Cruisers are sponsoring their annual car cruise in Guttenberg this weekend.  By early afternoon the downtown area will be filled with cars of all makes and models. 

Also, the Shepherd Gallery and Creativity Center will have music in the courtyard and a car artist who will do portraits of cars. 

Finally, Saturday will be the last day to sign up for the $40 gift certificate available for island residents.  Stop in and see the gallery and creativity center.  It is a great place to spend time on a cool or rainy weekend (or weekday).   

Just tell them your are an island resident and you can sign up with your phone number.  The drawing will be on Monday, Sept 15 and the winner will be notified by phone. 

Read all about the center on the website… www.guttenbergcreativitycenter.com

Thanks To Tom and Cindy Lynch for the reminder

From: Janet Ott [mailto:jott@claytoncountyia.gov] Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 8:23 AM To: dave_wagneracct@msn.com Subject: FW: flood wall repairs and porches

Dave,

After our phone conversation yesterday, I sent an email to Asia asking about the sea wall repairs.  Below is her response.  As I stated, I think everyone who has property on the island needs to contact the DNR before any project is started.

I also double checked about porches.  Yes they too may need permits.

From Asia – The screening the deck/porch does need a permit as it increases the floor space of the building. If foot print increases by 25% then it will require a permit. The best is to just apply for the permit.

I’d appreciate it if you could pass this information on to all of the owners out there. Those doing riprap work need to see if they have a permit which allows maintenance. If they do not have any permit they need to apply for one ideally before they start the project.  In the case of some that are already done, it will have to be after the fact, but one is needed.

Thanks for your help with this.

Janet

Just one more reminder that crossing work is set to start Tomorrow. Here is schedule.

lsland  Road-Replacement of Railroad Track Crossing Schedule

Starting the week of July 7th Monday: 7:00 AM-to 5:00 PM, L-1/2 of the crossing will be open all day Tuesday: 7:00 to 2:00 PM COMPLETELY CLOSED

One lane open after 2:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM to Noon CLOSED Thursday: 8:00 AM to Noon CLOSED

Noon Open for use Friday: Open as usual if weather does not delay schedule

Reminder: with the smooth surface remember to Stop and Look for trains at the crossing.

Emergency lnformation: Call 911

Should an ambulance be needed call 91L. A vehicle on the river side will take the medic across to enable patient care. The railroad crew will place a temporary crossing for the emergency vehicle if needed. The emergency vehicle will then proceed to the patient.

There will be a fire truck on the island side.

lsland Road-Replacement of Railroad Track Crossing Schedule

Starting the week of July 7th Monday: 7:00 AM-to 5:00 PM, L1/2 of the crossing will be open. All day Tuesday: 7:00 to 2:00 PM COMPLETELY CLOSED

One lane open after 2:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM to Noon CLOSED. Thursday: 8:00 AM to Noon CLOSED

Noon Open for use Friday: Open as usual if weather does not delay schedule

Reminder: with the smooth surface remember to Stop and Look for trains at the crossing.

Emergency lnformation: Call 911

Should an ambulance be needed call 91L. A vehicle on the river side will take the medic across to enable patient care. The railroad crew will place a temporary crossing for the emergency vehicle if needed. The emergency vehicle will then proceed to the patient.

There will be a fire truck on the island side.