President’s Message – Bruce Bassett
My home sits approximately 100 feet (straight up) from Deer Lake and each day as I look out of my living room window, I am in awe of the beauty of our lake. This time of year – October and November – is especially beautiful with the lake reflecting the mountains, the trees, and the sky. The brush and trees around the lake radiate the reds, golds, and tawny browns of Fall and remind us that Winter is not too far away.
Fishermen are alone with their thoughts as they glide quietly along in pursuit of arm length rainbows and Macinaw.
Breaking my train of thought, I am forced back to reality and the goals we and our directors need to accomplish this year and next. Our September board meeting set forth some of these goals such as: How to fix East Deer Lake Road; continuation of the water quality studies; Exchange of Directors with Loon Lake at meetings with the hope we can work together in solving problems that are common to both lakes. Placing new signage around our lake with rewards - speed limits - warning sighs - no liter signs, as well as refurbishing the existing signs.
We always welcome your comments and suggestions and appreciate your input.
I would like to finish by thanking everyone who participated in the fall clean up.
Membership Committee – Floyd Stewart
As of October 31, 1996, there were 423 paid dues. We believe that over the years your Association has made a big difference in the quality of life around the lake and we need your support both financially and physically in order to carry out more projects. DLPOA is one of the best lake associations in the State. Lets keep it that way.
Emergency Services – Gerry Block
Many thanks to everyone for a safe summer season. We now face the months of home fires. It is time to check the chimney and wood burning stoves for any repairs and cleaning that needs to be done. Many of us have switched to gas or propane heating systems. These heating methods also need a yearly safety check. When was the last time we checked the smoke detector batteries or the fire alarm system? Please take the time now to do those tasks.
As a member of your fire department, I am asking everyone to assist us in devising a method for a quicker response time to emergency calls. Addresses are not enough. Our mailboxes are not numbered. or worse, are several blocks from our homes. We respond to the information given to our central dispatch officer. Think for a moment, "What would I say if I needed to call 911?" We all assume that everyone knows where we live. Not so. We have so many hidden roads in our community and the roads don’t always correspond to a given address. REspo9nse time is vital in an emergency situation.
It is time to adopt a fire hydrant. Please clean the area around the hydrant of debris and growth and snow pileup. Thinks to all for your help!!
Legislative Committee – Don Stragis
The recent budget shortfall of $600,000 in Stevens County has been resolved with temporary cuts across the board for all county services in order to bring the budget in balance for the remainder of 1996. According to our commissioners, sales tax revenues are down 15%, tourism is down significantly, state cost share payments to the county were less than expected as well lower payments from timber receipts. The 1997 budget is now in final preparation.
The critical areas plan for our county has been submitted to county officials from committee and is currently being reviewed with public meetings to be announced shortly. This plan is the start of growth management planning for our area.
No changes in the status of the shoreline act with Steven County awaiting direction from the Dept. of Ecology.
Fire district commissioners have been responding to the DLPOA board in reference to our recent concerns and we appreciate their interest and look forward to a good working relationship in the future. Fire and EMS responses have been increasing by 10% per year with fire accounting for 35% of calls and EMS for 65%. The district fire budget is at $515,000 yearly.
Road Committee – Jack Low
There is mixed news about the Deer Lake roads for the coming year. On the positive side, county road engineer Jerry Bryant says that paving and improvements on Wanakawin and Cedar Bay roads will be done by next summer. In addition, the county will try to improve East Deer Lake Road by installing some culverts to alleviate drainage problems.
On the negative side, the flooding last spring wiped out finds that were set aside for improvements on North Deer Lake Road. We also just learned our grant for improvement and paving Southwood Shores Road was turned down, but the county is planning improvements on Garden Spot road. (This is just like a roller coaster ride.)
Progress is slow, but at least it’s moving. Your constructive calls and letters do help. The number to the county road department is 1-800-606-4548.
Water Safety – Mike Phillips
All is quiet on the front. The waterfront hat is. It was a busy summer for the waer deputies. They put in approximately 300 hours combined time patrolling the lake. The time was split between the two wave runners and the patrol boats. 175 hours were on wave runners and the balance between the county boat and the DLPOA boat.
Doyle Knight reports there were no accidents this summer. What a great way to end the 1996 season on the lake. Doyle said citations written came to a total of $400. The warnings that were issued would have amounted to $3500 if they had been tickets instead of warnings. Most of the citations and warnings were for no registration, no life jackets, and going too close to buoys, docks, and other boats.
Just a reminder to all boat owners that the yearly registrations all come due in June on boats.
Water deputy supervisor Jim Caruso and Sargent Dean Westerman are quoted as saying that the boaters on Deer Lake are the most law abiding boaters in Stevens County. This is probably due to the fact that we have patrols on this lake longer than any of the other lakes.
A HUGE thank you to Kawaski Motor Sports for the loan of wave runners to help patrol the lake. They were a big help. Many thanks to those who gave time and effort to keep our waters safe!