August 26, 2020

This is a special-edition email sent to Lake Shamineau Lake Improvement District (LSLID) newsletter subscribers to remind them of:

ONLINE ANNUAL MEETING
AUGUST 29TH at 9 AM

letter to all lake property owners was mailed on July 31 using the mailing addresses on record with Morrison County. In this letter, there was an announcement of the Annual Meeting which will be held on August 29th at 9 AM. Note that due to COVID-19, the meeting will be held online. Bring your own coffee and roll and join us at the online meeting.

To sign up for the meeting, send an email to Fred Comb, at fred@homeinspectionsofmn.com to receive an invitation and instructions to join the meeting. The instructions for electronic meetings are also available on the website.

The agenda for the Annual meeting scheduled for August 29th at 9 AM is as follows:

  1. Welcome and Review of Code of Conduct
  2. Approval of the Minutes of the 2019 Annual Meeting
  3. Treasurers Report
  4. Review of 2020 LID Activities
  5. Review of Proposed 2021 LID Work Plan including High-Water Outlet Project Plan and Timeline
  6. Review of 2021 Budget and Establishment of High-Water Project
  7. Forum for Candidates Nominated for Director Positions
  8. Audience Questions and Comments
  9. Other Business
  10. Adjourn

Since the Annual Meeting will be held online and there will be no in-person voting, we have adjusted the deadlines to allow property owners to vote after the Annual meeting. Following are the voting deadlines:
  • Paper Ballots need to be postmarked by August 31.
  • Online voting will close on August 31.
  • Audited tabulation results will be available after 6 PM on September 8.

Following are recent questions that we have received from Property Owners:
  • When will the charges for Vote 4 (Establish High-Water Project) begin? The bonding will not occur for the Vote 4 amount until the project is shovel-ready with the required permits and approvals. The applicable charges for Vote 4 will not begin until 2022 and each property owner will be able to choose to pay it off in a lump sum, or it can be financed for 8-15 years.

  • Is the amount for Vote 3 (2021 High-Water Project) a one-time charge? Yes. The reference to Vote 3 as an annual charge means that it is not a monthly charge, but will appear on your property tax bill as the amount for 2021 payment. The cost items primarily for engineering, design and permitting included in this budget are one-time expenses. In future years, this budget item would decrease in amount and only include costs for electricity and maintenance. After the initial pumping period is over, this budget item will be substantially reduced.

  • Do I need to vote YES on votes 3 and 4 if I am in support of the current pumping project that would lower the lake nearly 3 feet to continue? Yes, Voting YES on 3 and 4 is needed to continue to move forward without delay. Vote 3 is primarily for engineering, design and studies and Vote 4 is primarily for construction. If either Vote 3 or Vote 4 does not pass, it would cause serious delays and possibly stop any possibility of a High-Water project altogether.

  • Is there funding included in vote 3 that could potentially help support other projects around the lake? Yes.

  • Why is the project cost so high? Note that the amount for engineering and construction is a preliminary estimate for the West Outlet project. As further design, survey, data collection and work with agencies is completed the estimates will be more refined, and we hope to be able to lower the estimates. The engineering firm will also use “Value Engineering” to keep the cost as low as possible. While the cost of the project is a lot of money, it is important to note the benefit of lowering the lake level to a more ordinary level which will enable our neighbors to again use their homes, cabins, and shorelines.  In addition, as the DNR has stated to us, unfortunately it is not unusual for projects such as these to be expensive and time consuming to work through issues.

  • Will there be competing bids for construction? Once final design plans have been drawn up and the project is shovel-ready, the construction plans will be sent out for bidding prior to the start of construction. This will be a competitive process and the construction cost could be less than estimated due to the conservative estimates that were included in the concept plan.

  • How is the fight going against Eurasian Water Milfoil? We have had the most success with Eurasian water Milfoil eradication since 2012 when it was first discovered. LSLID directors Rick Rosar and Bob Koll along with several volunteers have done an amazing job. Our surveyor, scuba divers and treatment companies have all commented that it is one of the best strategies they have seen in Minnesota. 

  • Will the lake be affected by the changes to floodplain mapping? The following answer comes from Morrison County: "The draft FEMA floodplain map shows portions of Lake Shamineau within the mapped floodplain. The maps are expected to be noticed in December 2020. This will begin the 90 (day) comment period. If the pumping project was established by then, that would be the time to submit the details of the managed water level in order for FEMA to redetermine the Base Flood Elevation for the lake. Since that will not be the case, there will be property that will be mapped within the floodplain. Since this is a newly mapped area, properties that are within in it will be phased into the full flood insurance premiums. So, the rate will ramp up over the years to get them to the level they need to be. The first year would be at the same premium as a house in the low risk area and then that would increase about 15% a year until it hits what the premium would be based on the actual elevations. The premiums based on actual elevations depend on the type of structure (basement or no basement), and how low that lowest floor is compared to the 1% elevation. So if pumping lowers the 1%, that means the lowest floors will be higher -relatively speaking – and the rate would be better. The rates are adjusted in one foot increments. When the pumping project is in place and operating, there are a couple of options to address the floodplain if the water level is maintained below what FEMA determines as the Base Flood Elevation:
  1. The operating level of the lake would become the best available elevation information and Land Services can work with individual property owners on Letter of Map Amendment submittals to FEMA if the elevation of their structures is above that level
  2. FEMA can be requested to re-study and remap the area based on the operating level of the lake. This is a lengthy process and comes at an expense which is borne by the petitioner. Costs include $7,000 fee to FEMA plus engineering expense to prepare required submittals."
If you have further questions about the floodplain, contact, Amy Kowalzek, Director, Morrison County Land Services, at amyk@co.morrison.mn.us
Let us know if you have further questions,

Thank you,

Bob Koll, Rick Rosar, Cindy Kevern, Fred Comb and Ardis Sandstrom
Board of Directors
Lake Shamineau Lake Improvement District (LSLID)
P.O. Box 394, Motley, MN 56466