PLCA Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

The PLCA Board Meetings are open to lake residents and the public to discuss the future restoration of Puslinch Lake. They are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7 Holly Trail, Puslinch ON. at 7:00 pm. Parking is available in front of the building.

PLCA Board Meeting - Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - 7:00 pm PAW, 7 Holly Trail

Chairperson: Brian Riehl – President - present

Executive: Donna McKenna – Vice-president -

Sarah Hammell – Treasurer - present, Doreen Tschanz – Secretary - present, Donna O’Krafka –Director of Communication – present

Directors: Russell Hurst – Township Councillor - present, Neil Bhapkar – North Shore -, Paul Wyszynski – Bayview – present,

Adrian O’Driscoll – Rhodes Road - present, Kevin Axt – Clergy Lane -, Kathleen Zymerman – McCormick Point - present

Jody Lipke – Irish Creek - present, Jeremy O’Krafka – Eagle Lane - present

Non-Voting Participants:

Dave Taliano – Dredge Company –, Dana – Rhodes Road - present, Art Zymerman – Past President - McCormack Point - present

Jenn Pasha - present, Steve Divine - present

Meeting to order at 7:03 pm

Lake resident, Jenn P. introduced her friend Steve Divine who has a company, Weed Free Waters. Steve is local and is familiar with the lake. He gave a description of his machine being amphibious with multiple abilities to remove – weeds, silt by dredging, raking, cutting. Raking peaked interest. He offered to do a couple of properties for free as a demonstration. Normal cost is $3000 per 8-hour day. Multiple properties are cheaper. Any needed permits would be obtained by property owner. Not sure if any are needed.

Brian has a meeting with GRCA rep Tina Weltz on April 16 and will ask if permits would be required.

Motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting on November 2023 was made by Kathleen Zymerman; 2nded by Sarah Hammell.

Big Island – the Heritage Foundation rep Catherine Wisniowski, contacted Brian to say that the stewardship expired and that they wanted the PLCA to continue doing this. Lorne Wallace was the former steward and thus a new one is needed. Dana of Rhodes Road will ask her brother Dave who runs his dog Luna on the island.

Financial Report – Sarah Hammell

Sarah obtained GIC’s as discussed at a previous meeting for $75,000. She has an accounting firm helping her and handed out

her reports. She is pushing for 100% donation from residents if only $50 and more.

Fundraising – Donna O’Krafka & Kathleen Zymerman

Donna McKenna is still in Florida,

Donna O’Krafka thanked Councillor Hurst for his free printing of the Home Tour posters and brochures. A committee meeting will be held at the end of April. Neil Bhapkar has the Eventbrite set up.

Donna O’Krafka has set up ads in the Puslinch Pioneer for $254.25 And Wellington Advertiser with 25% for 157.70.

Echo Foundation Report – Adrian O’Driscoll - The committee needs more specific details for drafting a proposal.

Water Taking – Councillor Hurst - No update

Dredging – Brian Riehl

Brian asked Dave Taliano if he would dredge for a commitment of $150,000. DAVE REPLIED NO UNLESS THERE was shoreline dredging.

Discussion: The pit has very little room for more sediment. Adding more sediment increases the cost of removal. McCormick Point residents have had enough with the pit noise and mess.

Reward kills weeds which sink, decay and make more sediment. Decision: Dredging is Finished

Pit Rehab

A committee for this is needed to devise a plan. Dave remains to screen sediment with his land equipment. Possible people for the committee are Larry Hackbart, King Garrett, Don Hunt, Art Zymerman, Adrian O’Driscoll who knows a landscaping company.

Weed harvesting -Brian Riehl

Brian asked if the board wants weed harvesting info to compare pros and cons. A suggestion arose to draw from the donors to decide who gets the free trial work from Weed Free Water. Sarah will ask Jenn to lead this plan.

Adjourn motion by Donna O’Krafka at 9:15 pm.

Next Meeting - May 8, 2024 @ 7 PM. @ PAW, 7 Holly Trail - rescheduled to May 15th

Actions

1. A date needs to be chosen for the PLCA AGM.

2. Councillor Hurst will get an update on the Water Taking concern.

3. The Echo Committee will get more specific details to draft a funding proposal from the Pit Rehab committee once it is formed.

4. Sarah Hammell will ask her neighbour Jenn to lead the plan for free shoreline work by Weed Free Water.

5. A pit rehab committee will form and decide on a plan for rehabilitation.

6. Dana C. will ask her brother if he would be steward of Big Island.

7. Brian Riehl will meet with Tina Weltz, the land analyst at GRCA on April 16.

PLCA Annual Meetings

PLCA Board Annual General Meeting

Wednesday June 12th at 7pm at 7 Holly Trail in Bayview.

Each year at our PLCA Annual General Meeting, the vote for Board members takes place. Everyone is welcome to attend this yearly event. Are you interested in the Lake’s future? Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for June 12. Discussion on Financials, Fundraising, Water level concerns, Remediation plans for the pit, and Weed management. It is also an opportunity for any vacant Board or Executive position(s) to be filled if required. If you are interested in applying for an open position on the Board contact one of the individuals below..

Nominations committee chairperson Kevin Axt: 519-658-1134 or keva@xplornet.ca Donna McKenna: 519-574-1717 or oldmarina@aol.com Adrian O’Driscoll: 519-239-9032 or adrian_odriscoll@yahoo.ca

Annual Town Hall Meeting

The PLCA’s Annual Townhall Meeting was held at the Hespeler Legion, 26 Schofield St. at [H] Cambridge on April 13, 7-9pm. 2023

Lake residents are welcome to hear about and discuss on various topics of interest ie: Lake Restoration program, financials, PLCA community event plans/updates. A Q&A follows. ZOOM is available for those not able to attend and/or those who prefer to stay at home. Zoom was first used in 2023 for the Annual Town Hall meeting. Alicia Amundson was the lucky prize winner of an original 16 x 20” acrylic painting.

THE 2024 PLCA BOARD MEMBERS

Brian Riehl | PRESIDENT * briandriehl@GMAIL.COM

Brian is our current President since June 2022 and had also served on the board as the PLCA Treasurer for 10 years. His interests are enjoying good wine, & RVing when they can get away. Brian & wife Tracy enjoy their 6 grandchildren and they all love the lake!

ART ZYMERMAN I PAST PRESIDENT * AZYMERMAN@OUTLOOK.COM

Art has been the PLCA president twice while serving on the Board for 19 years+. He previously held positions as Vice President and Treasurer. His interests are water skiing, snow skiing, football and family.

DONNA MCKENNA * VICE PRESIDENT * OLDMARINA@AOL.COM

Donna was elected as Vice President at the 2018 AGM. Her main interest is for the rejuvenation, restoration and support of the lake. She generously donates her time and resources to all lake events to help raise funds for the lake restoration. Donna’s hobbies include working on her “She Shed” designs, doing antique window displays and pulling grape vines in the laneway to make home-made wreaths.

SARAH HAMMELL | Treasurer * hammellfamily@yahoo.ca

Sarah Hammell is our PLCA Treasurer for the board. Sarah lives on Clergy lane with her husband of 20+ years, Cliff. They have 2 children who love to boat, fish and water ski on Puslinch lake. Sarah is nicknamed the flag lady because she invented and produces the PLCA donation flags; a way to unite our community towards the lake conservation efforts. The Hot pink 2024 flag is the eighth year of the donation flag campaign.

DONNA o’KRAFKA * EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATONS * okonthelake@hotmail.com

Donna was born and raised on a farm on road #34 right here in Puslinch. In 2004 she and her husband Larry moved to Puslinch Lake in the Bayview area. She started helping Jack Ward with the lake newsletter (Reflections) in the summer of 2005, and 19 years later, is now the Editor. Donna makes most of the flyers, brochures etc. for any upcoming events on the lake. Her hobbies are gardening in the spring/summer, painting in the cold months and taking pictures of her surroundings anytime.

DOREEN TSCHANZ I RECORDING SECRETARY * DTSCHANZ@mail.com

She has served on the Board for 26 years and is one of the original five founders for the PLCA. Doreen is in charge of managing the Norman Doud Estate and boarding stables located at #6637 Conc.#2. Her interests include horses, photography, ski instruction and her 2 sons Al & Terry and the family.