News from the Board of the
Lake Shamineau Lake Improvement District
As a subscriber, you are receiving this edition of the Electronic Newsletter for the Lake Shamineau Lake Improvement District (LSLID). The LSLID Board of Directors issues a periodic newsletter to provide updates on LSLID activities. Check out our website for detailed information, announcements and documents.
Message to Subscribers

To Lake Shamineau Property Owners, Neighbors and Friends:

We hope this newsletter finds you all healthy and safe. With the recent overwhelming approval of the High-Water project, please know that the LID Board of Directors continue to work long hours to determine a solution. The Board is working on a West Outlet project that, if approved, could be constructed as early as summer of 2021, and will reduce the water level down to the Ordinary High Water Level over an approximately 3 year period. See below for an update on project activities.

There has also been recent action with the House and Senate approving the bonding bill in the legislature. While we remain hopeful that the High-Water Outlet Project will receive funding from the DNR Flood Mitigation Funds, it is unfortunate that attempts by Rep. Kresha to earmark Lake Shamineau as a direct recipient in the Grant funds was defeated. This means that we will be in competition with other projects seeking DNR grant funding. We are also disappointed that legislators continue to receive contact from property owners that are raising objections. See the article below under Board updates for more information.

Also note that an Informational Session on Floodplain Mapping will be hosted by the LID and Morrison County, online on October 29th at 6 PM. The link to the session is: https://bit.ly/3dupOj3 and the phone number for call-in participation: 651-964-6838 ; Conference ID: 655 106 894#. The link to the session will also be posted on the website and will be sent via email to newsletter subscribers. See article below on Floodplain Mapping for more information.
Annual Meeting Results
As previously reported, the four budget questions were all approved in the August voting. With 231 property owners voting, the following were the results:
  • Vote 1: Non-Project budget of $30,000 received 84% approval;
  • Vote 2: AIS budget of $30,000 received 88% approval;
  • Vote 3: High-Water Pre-Construction budget of $265,000 received 77% approval; and
  • Vote 4: Establishment of a project to construct a High-Water Outlet at an estimated cost of $3,350,000 received 74% approval.

With regard to the results for the election of Directors, the two incumbents, Fred Comb and Rick Rosar received the most votes for the two seasonal seats. In addition, Tim Rice was elected to the permanent resident seat. We all want to welcome Tim Rice to the Board, joining Rick Rosar, Fred Comb, Bob Koll and Ardis Sandstrom.

The Annual meeting was held online on August 29th at 9 AM. There were approximately 75 computer sessions joining the meeting. The LSLID presentation and Houston Engineering's presentation as well as a recording of the meeting is available on the website. Following are some of the items discussed at the meeting.
  1. Review of 2020 LID Activities
  2. Review of Proposed 2021 LID Work Plan including High-Water Outlet Project Plan and Timeline
  3. Review of 2021 Budget and Establishment of High-Water Project
  4. Forum for Candidates Nominated for Director Positions
  5. Audience Questions and Comments
The next Annual Meeting will be held on August 28, 2021.
Fall 2020 Island
Board Officers and Committees

At the September 29th LID Board meeting, the Board of Directors reviewed and updated the Board Officer positions. The following assignments were approved:

Chair – Rick Rosar
Vice-Chair – Bob Koll
Secretary – Ardis Sandstrom
Finance/Treasurer – Fred Comb
Director – Tim Rice

In addition, several Board Committee Assignments were approved:

High Water Project (HWP)
Rick Rosar, Ardis Sandstrom
Bonding/Financing
Fred Comb, Tim Rice
Emergency Project
Rick Rosar, Ardis Sandstrom
Grants – Flood Mitigation
Fred Comb, Rick Rosar
New Grants and Funding
Tim Rice, Bob Koll
Website
Rick Rosar, Ardis Sandstrom
Communications
Rick Rosar, Ardis Sandstrom, Bob Koll
Bylaws
Fred Comb, Ardis Sandstrom
AIS – Control, Morrison County AIS Partnership Grant Program, Ambassador Program
Rick Rosar, Bob Koll, Ardis Sandstrom + LID Member Volunteers
Legal Liaison, Insurance
Rick Rosar, Fred Comb

Also at the Sept 29th meeting, the LID Board approved contracting with Cindy Kevern, past LID Board Director, to act as the Administrator for the Board. This provides the opportunity to utilize her expertise and experience, and having an administrator will allow the Board to complete tasks more effectively. Examples of tasks that Cindy will complete at the direction of the Board are facilitating meetings, assisting with the High-Water project and the DNR grant, completing the newsletter, communications, and other assignments.  
High-Water Project Update

There have been many activities and tasks completed over the last several weeks on the High-Water West Outlet Project:
  • There have been continued discussions and progress has been made with the Todd County landowners along the proposed route to discuss flowage easements.
  • Board members attended a recent Fawn Lake Township meeting to discuss the project and flowage through their area. The meeting went well with many good questions and conversations.
  • Houston Engineering has been working on route detail and documentation for review with landowners. In addition, they are now completing a delineation of wetlands due to impending cold and freezing weather.
  • Information is being prepared for submission of a petition request to Todd County for approval of the use of Ditch 41.
  • There have been several meetings with the DNR to keep them informed of the project and to seek input. In addition, a letter of support has been provided by the DNR regarding the LID High-Water Project. The letter is posted on the website.
  • Houston Engineering has completed a geotechnical review, developed preliminary design, as well as a concept plan and summary report which is also located on the website.

Emergency/Temporary Pumping

The Emergency Task Force, the Lake Shamineau Association, and the Lake Improvement District Board have worked on a combined effort to complete an emergency pumping project. Members of the task force are made up of LSA Board members, LSLID board members and other property owners around the lake.

The project temporarily pumps water out of a pond west of Aztec road, through a force main and then south to the ditch along the east side of Highway 10 (see picture below).

This project does not remove water directly from the lake, but it is hoped that by removing water adjacent to the lake, it will provide some relief to property owners and optimism that water is finally moving away from our area. Since this project is removing water from a pond, and not directly from the lake, it does not require an expensive filter to protect against the infestation of Eurasian water milfoil that exists in the lake.
Emerg Project Pipe
Updates from the Board of Directors
Legislative and DNR Grant Update

There was recent action at the legislature approving the bonding bill. The Board and other property owners have been in contact with Rep Kresha, and he did offer amendments to fund the Lake Shamineau project directly. While the amendments were voted down, funds continue to be within the bonding bill for the DNR Flood Mitigation Grant funds. Lake Shamineau is on a list of projects with the DNR and we remain hopeful that we will be able to obtain further grant funding through the State Flood Mitigation Grant.

We are also very thankful to the DNR for receipt of $65,000 in grant funds that have helped to offset 2019 High Water Project costs. In addition, we anticipate that the LID will also receive approval in the next few weeks for and additional $52,000 to offset costs for the next project steps.

Floodplain News

You may have heard that FEMA is in the process of updating floodplain mapping and it is anticipated that Lake Shamineau will be within the mapped floodplain, which may require some property owners to purchase flood insurance. We have received word from Morrison County and the DNR that the updating of FEMA floodplain maps for Morrison County will be delayed until sometime in 2022. This will give landowners more time to elevate their structure prior to the implementation of the new maps. In addition, if construction of the the High-Water Outlet is in process, it may assist in reducing flood insurance premiums or removing some properties from the floodplain.
US Army Corp of Engineers

One of the property owners on the lake recently contacted the Board regarding Section 205 Grants through the Corp of Engineers (COE). The LSLID Board has been in contact with the St. Paul District to learn more about the program as authorized by Section 205 of the 1948 Flood Control Act. The first step toward receiving aid is conducting a study which may take up to one year to fund, and up to another year to complete. Studies also require that the project be economically justified (eg. the benefit received is greater than the cost), and must be environmentally acceptable. While we are continuing to work and move forward on the West Outlet project in a timely manner, we will stay in contact with the COE to determine if there is funding available.

County Board

The LSLID Board recently attended a Morrison County Board meeting to provide an Annual Report to the Board of Commissioners. At the meeting, the Board provided an update on:

  • The 2020 LID Activities, including the result of the 2020 Annual Meeting;
  • The 2021 Work Plan; and
  • An overview of the High-Water West Outlet project.

In addition, the Morrison County Board approved the 2021 LID Budget including the non-project budget, the AIS budget, the High-Water Pre-Construction budget, and the establishment of a project to construct a High-Water Outlet. A copy of the Status Update is on the website.
Floodplain Mapping Informational Session
October 29th at 6 PM

An Informational Session will be hosted by the LID and Morrison County.
The Informational Session will be held online on October 29th at 6PM.
The link to the session is: https://bit.ly/3dupOj3.
The phone number for
call-in participation is
651-964-6838 
Conf ID:655 106 894#.
A link to the session will be posted on the website.
A Message from the LID Board
The Board would like to welcome Tim Rice as the newest addition to the Board of Directors. Tim brings vast management and executive experience as he is currently the President/CEO of Lakewood Health System, a rural private non-profit integrated healthcare system located in Staples. Tim and his family previously shared a cabin on the lake with his brother prior to moving to their lake home in 2013. Tim has had experience in dealing with complex issues that will assist the LSLID Board with the projects and challenges ahead.

Cindy Kevern has retired from the LSLID Board, but will continue to help serving as the Administrator for the LID. Along, with many project management and communication tasks, she will continue to be the editor of the newsletter.

If you know of someone that would like to be added to our newsletter subscriber list, have them send a text to 22828 with the message LAKESHAMINEAU or send an email to LSLIDBD@gmail.com. You may want to add this email address to your white list to ensure that you will receive future newsletters.

Please continue to let us know your comments and questions. We welcome your input.

Rick Rosar, Bob Koll,, Fred Comb, Ardis Sandstrom, and Tim Rice
Lake Shamineau Improvement District Board of Directors