NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING - JUNE 25. 1983. 7:30 p.m. LOON LAKE SCHOOL, LOON LAKE, WASH.
As customary the ANNUAL MEETING should have a representative guest attendance of Stevens Co. Commissioners, Stevens Co. Sheriffs Dept., Washington State legislaturers, Loon Lake Fire Dept., Deer Lake Fire Dept. Inland Empire Big Game Council, in addition to your elected Officers and Directors of your Deer Lake Property Owners Assoc. and each will be asked to share their ideas and thoughts with you, particularly on matters of significance to Deer Lake. Each presentation will be followed with questions from the floor. Our ANNUAL MEETING is an open forum so no one is inhibited in expressing their thoughts on the many timely matters that confront us as Deer Lake property owners. As elected Directors of DLPOA, we have performed too well, or at least too many of you think so. The reason I say this is your unquestionable consent to let us act as your representative without full input on your behalf.
We do not see near enough of you at this meeting or thru out the year. We are in a period of continual change (CHANGE does not always mean progress), however change is the opposite of STATUS QUO. To make a change necessitates an action or decision on someone's part. These actions or decisions may be made at the national, state, county or local level. Some of these decisions could well be detrimental to your best interests, or in your best interest if you can be instrumental in its formation. Most things do not happen in sequence, that is the first decision triggers many actions in sequence one after the other. Most times each issue must be studied and decisions made on the merits of the available information and input from our members. Thus the ANNUAL MEETING is an open forum to hear and consider the many issues before the board at this time or that have been acted upon this past year.
Those items on the agenda besides standing committee reports are:
1. Stevens Co. comprehensive Plan. Deer Lake provision for Zoning-Update.
2. Shoreland Management Act of 1978, or better yet AQUATIC LANDS ACT of 1983.
3. Election of officers for next year, and directors for next three year term.
4. Open discussion on up coming water quality studies.
5. Dates of proposed wood cutting.
Plus many more items of concern and information.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
This notice gives the official call to members of the Deer Lake Property Assoc. of the ANNUAL MEETING to be held Saturday, June 25, 1983 at 7:30 p.m. at the Loon Lake School building in Loon Lake, Washington. This meeting is for the purpose of election of officers and members of the Board of Directors and to consider any business which may regularly come before the membership.
DEER LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC.: Nominations to be presented to the membership by the Nominating Committee; Les Schneider, at the June 25th ANNUAL MEETING for your deliberation and election are:
Directors; Three year term. Vote for four.
Further nominations will be open from the floor during Annual Meeting with election to follow. You must be a paid up member to vote.
DEER LAKE PLANNING COMMITTEE: Members are Ed Sweet, Dave Nixon, Don Kenny, and Ted Maxson.
In 1981, this committee presented a set of recommendations to the Board of Directors, requesting that the waterfront properties and the watershed area adjacent to Deer Lake become a SPECIAL ZONE with its own building codes. Deer Lake is a land locked basin with runoff into the lake. There is no entrance or exit. This means the lake must be able to handle its own wastes, etc. The ZONE would include Deer Lake contiguous lands, that is all the drainage area into Deer Lake from the crest of the hills and mountains which water, by gravity force, will flow into the lake, plus one mile of flat lands to the west. In addition to Stevens County planning ordinances, specific recommendations were adapted and submitted to the Director of Planning for Stevens County. Some of the more important recommendations are:
1. Single family dwelling no more than two story high.
2. No issuance of building permits until sewage disposal system is installed and approved by authorities.
3. No building permits issued unless lot size is larger than 7200 sq. ft.
4. Twenty foot setback from high water mark of lake.
5. County also requires five foot sideline set in from next lot.
6. Any secondary structures other than docks have a minimum setback of five feet from high watermark, (boathouses, etc.)
7. Existing elongated lots if subdivided include no more than two lots within first 710 feet from high water or any fraction thereof.
8. No newfills or retaining walls within five feet of high water.
9. Major land developments requirements:
A. All sewer and water systems to be installed in entirety and certified. No septic tank systems. All sewage shall be exported out of established Deer Lake zone before permits issued.
B. All roads shall be provided before building permits allowed and shall be asphalt surfaced.
During the time since, the county authorities have passed a general comprehensive plan of county wide significance. After a recent restudy of the 1981 plan of DLPOA the Board of Directors of DLPOA voted to resubmit the original proposal with but minor changes for adaption by county officials. If approved a public hearing and procedures would of necessity take place before final formal adoption.
However all lots presently plotted, as we understand it will fall under a grandfather clause exempting those structures from above provisions. If lots are not improved now, when the county accepts this Deer Lake proposal they become subject to new regulations. Many of these provisions already are in the county wide plan, consequently are in effect now.
DEER LAKE FIRE DEPT.:The last C.P.R. class was held at the Deer Lake Fire Dept. station, April 10. Approximately 18 people attended. Loon Lake personnel conducted the meeting.
We now have the added benefit of the availability of a helicopter for emergencies in the Deer Lake, Loon Lake areas. The helicopter, called LIFE BIRD is based at the Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, and takes approximately 20 minutes for the trip to these areas. It also covers areas in Washington, Idaho and Montana. It can land at the Loon Lake school and the Deer Lake Fire Station, and other spots are being considered. The helicopter has a paramedic, registered nurse, and a pilot aboard. It also has all the equipment aboard that's required. How fortunate we are to have Life Bird at our disposal.
REMINDER: Deer Lake Fire Department's annual pancake feed is July 10, at the fire house.
LOON LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT: Spokane County has an Emergency Medical Service Board. The purpose of the board is to govern Emergency Medical Service, which includes, the medical laws to be followed, licensing, funding, grants, etc. Stevens County is in the process of forming their own board, and the people concerned have had a couple of meetings in Colville, and more are planned to finalize the details. We will have more about this later.
The Deer Lake and Loon Lake Fire Departments are now holding their meeting together and alternating between stations. They feel more valuable training will be gained by all the personnel. Sounds like a great idea.
Recently, the fire commissioners furnished the Loon Lake and Deer Lake Fire Department's with new jumpsuits which are used on their fire calls.
MEMBERSHIP: June 1983 is the beginning of a new membership year. We collect dues-$12 a year - effective yearly. Although our membership is growing - 330 - we must continually encourage all property owners to belong. Our growth rate is 10 per cent or so each year and the dues are held in interest bearing bank accounts until your Board of Directors votes to expend money on your behalf and then only to benefit our purpose for existence of "the protection of the environment of Deer Lake," so that those who are to follow us will be able to share the same beauty and quality of life that we cherish at Deer Lake. Now that is a pretty broad statement but this past year we gifted the Deer Lake Fire Dept. $500 and the Stevens County Sheriffs Dept. -$4500 - more in the Newsletter on this - $100 fisheries, $850 Newsletter communication, $1000 water quality testing and evaluation. We are not yet broke by any means, but you can see that this is about two years of your dues that have been spent to directly benefit all property owners. Your Board meets monthly except for July and December.
Other benefits of belonging: larger numbers of membership gives our group greater representation and strengthens our legislative committee, when it attempts to resolve issues and we need legislatures assistance in improving laws. Even our weekly or monthly contact with Stevens County officials are enhanced by our numbers. The more members, the more talent that we collectively have and the more we are to accomplish or to help others accomplish.
The approach we have always taken with Stevens Co. and our elected legislatures is "what can we as a group do to help you." This is exactly the same underlying thought that we extend to our members, thus we encourage and value your input. A second benefit then is the open forum type meeting that we conduct, monthly and at our ANNUAL MEETING in June. In past years we have had 80 to 100 members present or less that 1 /3 of our membership. Where is the other 2/3 of members?
You have a chance to become involved monthly but this June 25th is a special chance to come to the ANNUAL MEETING and hear the issues and renew old acquaintances, ask questions, offer ideas and/or simply set back and watch democracy in action. Please post the meeting notice insert as your reminder. . .
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER AT DEER LAKE, REMEMBER THE LAKE WILL BE ACTIVELY PATROLLED BY WATER SAVETY DEPUTY AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTY. READ UP ON YOUR BOATING ORDINANCES.
NEW SHERIFF'S BOAT: This spring your Directors approved an allowance of up to $4500 to purchase a boat adequate enough to satisfy the Stevens C. Sheriff's Dept. for a patrol boat. This elevated the use of our Special Deputies personal boat when the demands of his family were in conflict. The boat was purchased and a special year to year lease was made with the Sheriff's Dept. The boat has all the proper identification insignia, siren, light, safety equipment, etc. and was launched in time for fishing season. This boat will be on display at our Annual Meeting on June 25th for those curious. This is another example of DLPOA's efforts to better service our members and help insure a safer recreational activity this summer.
POLLUTION: This spring in many of our local papers, a picture and article appeared on Newman Lake and the verified presence of potentially toxic algae growth. This has to be a warning to all residences of Inland Empire lakes, Deer Lake included, that this could happen to us. What a frightful experience to see DANGER signs posted at access areas and resorts that it could even be harmful to your pets and also to you.
YES it can happen at Deer Lake unless we take precautions. We have a tremendous amount of affluent that naturally flows into the Lake from the cattle ranch in the Narrows, to the idiot with the red dump truck dumping truck loads of dirt over a retaining wall into the lake (next to the yellow cabin in the narrows), to the intentional and now continual pumping of the Toule Swamp into the lake The brown, brackish swamp water coming through the pipe into the lake was supposed to be suspended as was reported to DLPOA at our January Directors meeting by Mr. Roger Ray of the Dept of Ecology At the request of DLPOA Board, Mr. Ray further stated that permits would have to be issued following impact statements to the D.O.E. in order for pumping to be allowed this year. A time frame was given for compliance after which no permits would be granted.
We now see the pumps are going again, and upon inquiry to the D.O.E. no permits have been issued and a violation exists. Typically of burocracy nothing seems to be done. The problem was referred to Olympia for further determination. How soon this will be resolved remains a mystery to us. It is shameful that almost all of us are pumping our drinking water from the lake, and this is allowed to happen. Even the nutrients from the swamp and silt and dirt fosters algae growth. Amazingly, water samples last fall still indicated Deer Lake has a marvelous capability of cleansing itself. How long this continues we don't know. We have a committee under chairmanship of Jerry McBride along with Wes Wagoner, who have spent much time this past year searching for a solution. Even including renewed efforts to consider a sewage system around the lake. At two separate Directors meetings, engineers have made presentations to the Board on feasibility, procedures etc. This will continue to be studied.
In the meantime your board has approved the spending of up to $1000 for water sampling (at our May Board meeting) and gave the go ahead to establish a minimum facility laboratory to test water samples from Deer Lake. Equipment will need to be purchased and a location to be found. We are fortunate that our fisheries expert, Wes Wagoner, has considerable talent and knowledge in chemical analysis and has agreed to spearhead this effort.
ARBOR DAY: Clean up will not be organized this year. However Les Schneider, a DNR employee, reports that DNR allows open burning without a permit this year. Fire to be no larger than 10 feet in diameter in a bare spot, one pile at a time. One must be in attendance at the fire with a shovel or in some cases, water, in case of emergency. Likewise the county dump is open from Sunday thru Thurs. Until we have time to properly organize, it would be nice if we were all good Samaritans and police the area around our cabin, entrance road and/or county road this month. Thereby maybe we can accomplish a LITTER pickup without formally organizing it. Thanks for your best effort in advance. One of our main concerns was the removal of abandoned docks, logs, rafts, and the like from the shoreline. If you concur with the potential danger that exist and have said items on your beach and want it removed, call Bill Paton, 233-2348 and we'll try to arrange a work crew. No set charge, but if you want to donate to DLPOA I'm sure it would not be refused.
MOTIVATION is when your dreams put on work clothes.
BOAT ORDINANCES: All Resorts have an ample supply of Stevens County boating ordinances, also available at the June 15 Annual Meeting. However let me excerpt some for you in my own words to save space.
Sec. 3: Property owners may put buoys out as Restricted areas but they must be approved by County Sheriff's Dept. The code calls for certain size and color, and distance from shore. It is against the law to tamper, deface, molest or damage any marked buoy or floating dock.
Sec. 4: Operation of motor powered craft. Like an automoblile, you as driver are responsible and are negligent if not operated in prudent manner. Speed for present conditions are a common violation. Under influence of liquor or drugs is another.
Sec. 5: Age of Operator. 10 years or under with direct adult supervision - 16 years and under unless 10 H.P. or less except direct supervision of adult operator.
Sec. 6: Operation of motor powered craft as to time, place, and manner. No motor powered craft shall be operated within swimming area or within 50 feet or buoy marking swim area or 50 feet of any swimmer, within restricted area (orange and black buoy) in excess of 7 mi /hr or towing any person or skier or while towing skier or person unless in addition to operator you have one person 10 years or older in constant observation. YOU MUST PULL SKIER IN COUNTER CLOCKWISE DIRECTION along shoreline with exit and entrance into a ski area the same way.
Sec. 10: Disposal of Refuse-No dumping of garbage, sewage, litter, cans, etc. from any boat into water.
Again I recommend you get your own copy and read up on the ordiances. Deer Lake will be heavily patrolled by Stevens Co. Sheriff's Dept. More so with the permanent boat being on the lake.
WOODCUTTING: Boise Cascade again has assured us of the privilege of cutting wood under the same conditions as last year, which rules will be distributed when you check in at the gate. However we have not firmed up the exact dates, consequently I would suggest that if you are interested that you call Mrs. Inga Lord, DLPOA Director at 233-2735 and she will add your name to the list and in return call you with time and place ... THANKS
NEWSLETTER: If you received this Newsletter and you are not a paid up member, take a second look at the content and activities your association is involved in. This is your only free NEWSLETTER this year. As members we will receive at least three per year to keep us up to date. However, on this mailing 1100 Newsletters are going out to members, associated members, and friends of DLPOA.
We must continue to look at saving costs. If you sell your lake property, please notify us so we can remove your name from our list. Likewise help us out by advising us of the new owners name and address so we can solicit them as members as well as keeping them informed. Call Eleanor Paton with this information 233-2348 at Deer Lake, or mail to Rt. 1, Box 588, Loon Lake, WA 99148.