Board Members Present: Jane Root called the meeting to order at 8:00am. Members present were: Jane Root, Nikki Lynch, Gail Scherr & Kevin Thie. Absent were: Josh Geistkemper, Andrew Phelps and Tim Ahlers. Also Absent: Laurie Helling, Sect.
Minutes:The annual meeting minutes required one correction; Julie Thie was listed as Joyce Thie. Motion to approve with correction was given by Nikki Lynch & second by Kevin Thie. Minutes approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
- Treasurer report and balance sheet were reviewed.
- Waiting for the bill for the road sealcoat project at approximately $100,000.00, per Terry Denner.
- Next, a Certificate of Deposit (CD) will be purchased at Fidelity Bank & Trust. Josh Geistkemper is now the VP and he already banks at Fidelity and so the bank paperwork for him will be easy.
- Per Helen Schwietert, Treasurer, still waiting to receive approximately $5500.00 in member dues. Once all payments are received, will move forward with the CD. Motion to purchase a CD was made by Gail Scherr, seconded by Nikki Lynch.
Bills Presented: Just monthly bills presented and approved for payment.
Building Permits:
- No new permits submitted. Chris Miller or Mike Burke will talk to Gary Youngblood regarding a road deposit for his seawall project.
- Jane will contact Jeff Freidlein to discuss road deposit whenever he is hired to work on Esmann Island.
Reminder-Building Committee members are: Chris Miller, Steve Lampe, Kent “Doc” Rolfe, Mike Burke *Permits & building plans need to be checked by 2 Building Committee members prior to being presented to Board and signed off by building committee members after completion for final board approval.
Property Ownership Changes: NOTE: If property is sold or changes hands between family members, it is very much appreciated if the Board is notified so we can keep current information for our records and correct mailing of annual dues.
- No new property changes at this time.
Road Report:
- Terry Denner: Road bill should arrive this week, approximately $100,000. He will discuss with 2 homeowners (VonHandorf & Gaul) their portion of the bill. The Abel Island ‘shared entrance’ may be on the Esmann bill. If so, we will collect their share.
Boat Storage Committee: All trailers are in, and the building is full through September. Gail Scheer recommended a building clean-up when the trailers are removed. We will follow-up with this end of September.
Landscape/Beautification:
- Flagpole Update: Mike and Gail Scherr to donate one of the flagpoles that are 25 ft and that does take down the donation amount. Total is roughly $8626.00 less the donated pole brings to $6126.00. So, donations are being accepted. Today a check for 50% of the cost was written to Lange Sign Company. Delivery and installation will take approximately will take place before Labor Day. The poles will need to be 8-10 Ft apart so they will be staggered around the rock.
- Teri Denner has also created a banner that will be hung once the board reviews. The electrical is still in question
OLD BUSINESS:
- Farm Lease. Check for 50% of the lease has been received but no contract has been received. Follow up to come. Discussion was had regarding what to do with the cropland and in the end the options are complicated and so for now, we will stay with the farmland as it brings in $3700.00 a year.
- Secretary position: Laurie to step down. She is willing to finish out rest of the year. Nikki Lynch has volunteered to take over temporarily. Per our bylaws, there is not a conflict between the positions of board member and secretary or treasurer.
- AED Update from Annual Meeting: Looking for ideas for where to place the units. Mary Eulberg did volunteer to have one on her home. Possibly Denner’s lower area (by north boat ramp) and possibly Bob Preston’s building (by south boat ramp). Now the decision will be if we are to purchase 2 or 3 AED units. No action taken.
- Weddings and events for the Pavillion/Pond area. Thinking a new committee may be necessary to pull together some guidelines. Alicia Hoffman wedding is scheduled at pavilion for June 12, 2021.
- 97 members completed the contact informational sheet, included with the ballot this year. Thank you to all who filled this out as it really does help with communication!
NEW BUSINESS:
- Friedmann Insurance representative, Scott DeSousa, will be on-site Tuesday, July 20th. Jane will give Scott an updated tour of Esmann Island. Anyone available is welcome to attend.
- The island speed bump will be placed in front of the REC sign by the pond entrance
- Kari Winders is working with the fire department to get the fire hydrant flushed out once the aerator is installed. Terry Denner will mark the Aerator. May need to dredge the pond again.
- Tree removal was bid by Brinks Tree service. Discussion held. At the North Boat ramp there are 3 trees that need to be removed. There is also a tree by 299 & 301 RVR that is half island responsibility and half owner responsibility. This will be removed but the trunk may stay to maintain the integrity of the road. Motion was made by Nikki Lynch and second by Gail Scherr to approve the tree removal at $3000.00 maximum, including clean up. One or two additional bids will be solicited before the job will be given.
- Doug Hintzmann presented a letter from Alliant Energy. The letter is posted on our office door. Alliant is in the Design Phase of mapping the island for underground utilities. Contact Alliant at 1-800-ALLIANT to quote underground connections from their poles to your home.
REMINDER: There was a concern with people keeping boats down at the North boat ramp for extended time. Winders, Denner and Zearley all have DNR permits for their private docks. The remaining shoreline is first come, first serve for short term loading/unloading. Maximum shoreline boat storage is 24-hours, not squatters rights for the season.
Our next meeting will be Saturday, August 18th at 8:00AM. Jane is not available. She suggests the meeting be an island drive-around to view our common grounds, roads, trees, potential nuisance situations. The treasurer is excused from this meeting. The secretary will take notes and follow-up with any necessary action. All members are invited to join this meeting.
Next monthly meeting will be held August 18, 2020. 8 am
Motion to adjourn meeting was made by Nikki at 8:50 and second made by Kevin. Motion passed.
Respectively submitted,
Nikki Lynch (on behalf of Laurie Helling)