A Message from the President
By Bruce Howlett, President
Summer is approaching, high lake levels are receding to normal and the ducks are tending their nests on the shoreline. Your directors have been busy over the winter with various issues pertinent to our association lakes.
Those members who have access to the Internet and who log onto our LWRA website have read updates on some of the issues that are being addressed. For those of you without access here is a brief overview of two issues.
Peiper severance;
Divisional court case will be either in October or December of 2008, depending on whether the opposing lawyers of the parties can agree on a date. The court will decide whether or not the second OMB decision should be overturned and the severance denial stand.
A big thank you goes out to those 55 residents of Waseosa who have contributed to the, Save the Lake Fund, to cover legal costs relating to the Peiper severance. We are still accepting donations, so send your cheque to our treasurer.
Town of Huntsville draft Zoning By-law
A submission was made by your directors relating to zoning changes. These will be incorporated into the new by-laws.
On May 23/08, we conducted our annual benthos survey, that is bugs that reside in the lake bottom and contribute to assessing a lakes water quality, and I want to thank the eleven volunteers who assisted in counting the creatures.
As of this date we have 44 LWRA paid up members. Just a reminder that dues must be paid by the AGM date to qualify for exercising your voting franchise.
Lord and Partners Products
For years we told you to buy environmentally friendly cleaners, now we're going to help. Lord & Partners is a local manufacturer of bio-degradeable industrial/ commercial cleaners, government "Eco-Logo" certified to ISO standards. Buying in case lots, we negotiated to bring these to you at wholesale prices: $12 per litre bottle (all in). The products we are offering are:
Apple Safety Bowl - a safe bathroom cleaner
Hair and Body soap - rapidly bio-degradeable liquid
Multi-Clean - general purpose scouring liquid cleaner
Super Green - all-purpose natural cleaner/degreaser.
For more information on these products, call Bill Somers at 705-788-2015, email secretary@lwra.net or see our website To order, send your choices and a cheque or money order payable to the Lake Waseosa Ratepayers' Association to us c/o 21 Cottage Lane, RR#3, Huntsville, On. P1H 2J4.
Membership
By Cam White, Membership Chair
I recently heard of a local resident who was quite interested in the Fish Committee, but figured he couldn't join because he doesn't live on the water. The LWRA exists to benefit all residents in this area, not just cottage owners. Our charter specifically includes residents of the "backlots" in the area. We are a Ratepayers' Association, not just a lake or cottagers' Association. Let me reiterate: you don't have to live on the water to join in and participate in our activities!
Help is required to contact everyone on the four lakes - Jessop/Jingo, Ripple, Palette and Waseosa -- who are not members of the LWRA or who have not renewed their membership this year. With 2 or 3 volunteers we can cover everyone during July and August. Please call Cameron White at 788-7800.
Upcoming Events:
The AGM will be Saturday July 12, 2008 at the Jones place (844 N. Waseosa Lake Rd). 9:30AM sharp. We have a full slate this year: Scheduled guest speakers include Steve Sholten, a fish biologist from the MNR who will speak to us about our lake trout, how they may affect our lake, and an upcoming survey to check on their current status. Also joining us this year will be Kelly Mathews, the new Director of Ontario Camps and Youth Programs for the Canadian Diabetes Association, who will update us on Camp Huronda's expansion plans. We will need at least one new director this year! The Board would really like to see someone from a back lot, Ripple, Palette or Jessop Lakes. (Since Sandy resigned, the current board members are all from Waseosa.) The Board of Directors meets approximately once per month and conducts the day-to-day affairs of the LWRA. If you might be interested, contact one of us for more information about this rewarding position.
Speaking of volunteers, Fun Day needs a new chair. Responsibilities include organizing the events, assigning tasks to the volunteers, ordering the medals and trophies. Provided someone steps up to the plate, Fun Day will be at the Hamiltons, 858 N. Waseosa Lake Rd., Sat. August 2 at noon. Finally, the Corn Roast will be Sat. August 30 at the West Residence, 1346 S. Waseosa Lake Road.
Pleasure Craft Operator Card
Dwayne Verhey, Secretary
By September 2009, all persons must hold a "boat licence" to operate any powered craft (including a sailboat with a motor or a canoe with an electric motor.) The LWRA will be offering a course aimed at helping you pass the PCOC test at Sunday July 27, 2008. Starting at 10 AM at the home of Bill Somers on Palette Lake (70 Hunt's Road). The fee is $45.00, BUT the LWRA will discount that to $25.00 per person for our members and their families. The price includes the test and card. By "family", we mean the people who regularly visit you and will be operating a power boat on one of our lakes (Ripple, Palette, Jessop and/or Waseosa). Expected duration is 4 1/2 hours, including a 1/2 hour lunch break. Coffee, soft drinks, water and donuts or muffins will be provided, but bring a bag lunch. Registration will be limited to twenty people.
You do NOT have to take the course to get your card. You can study the material on-line starting with Module 1 (of 5) at http://www.safetyafloat.ca/train.php. There is no cost to challenge the test unless you pass. The fee is $25.00 BUT, the LWRA will discount that to $15.00 per successful person for LWRA members and their families (as defined above). We will not be setting specific dates for challenging the test. You can arrange that at your convenience by contacting either Bill Somers (705-788-2015, dison@vianet.ca) or Dwayne Verhey, (705-788-3693, secretary@lwra.net) directly. Bill is on Palette Lake and Dwayne is on Waseosa.
Note that new regulations require you to present photo ID (for those over 16 years) or a birth certificate (for those under 16 years). Please remember to bring your ID to the course or test!
Navigation Buoys
Bill Somers, Huntsville Lakes Council
The Huntsville Lakes Council, acting on behalf of Mary, Fairy, Vernon and Waseosa lake associations have successfully secured support from the Town of Huntsville for this project. Council passed the $8,000.00 line item, providing us with the funds to purchase Coast Guard approved navigation buoys for installation on these four lakes. The Town of Huntsville will own and insure the buoys and the lake associations involved will continue to maintain them and put them in and out each year in the designated locations. We expect delivery around the first week in June. This is a bit late but we had to wait for budget finalization and approval.
Wireless High Speed Internet Radio Towers
Those of you following this topic will know from our website that there will soon be either one 200' tower or up to three 100' towers installed in this area to provide service. The sites have not been determined yet and we have been asked to provide input as to possible sites. A 200' tower requires guy wires extending out 180 feet from the base, a 100' tower is free-standing. Neither will be painted or illuminated to reduce visual impact. Ideally they need to be located as high as possible for maximum range and near a source of electricity. If you can suggest a site or have other input for this decision, please contact Dwayne or write us with your thoughts so we can formulate our response.