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LAKE GASTON ASSOCIATION

Minutes (approved) Director’s Meeting – December 2009

Lake Gaston Baptist Church Littleton, North Carolina - 9:30AM, First Wednesday

Mission: To identify lake issues affecting our membership and pursue resolution with the responsible organizations.

Location:         Lake Gaston Baptist Church

                        Littleton, North Carolina

Convened BY: President Doug Hughes

Pledge of Allegiance:  Led by President Hughes

Prayer:  Presented by Mr. Drumgoole

Member and Visitor Introductions and Comments:  There were 19 guests plus two members of the press: Judith Forrest Littleton Observer and Mary Lou Stimson Lake Gaston Gazette

Director/Executive Attendance:  Doug Hughes, John Cataldo, Jack Saunders, Moira Underwood, Vernon Wilson, John Boyle, Ron Skow, David Duxbury, Laura Kolb, Fred Kneisel, Barbara Burgdoerfer, Ralph Domach, Clarence Drumgoole, Bill La Monte

Guest Speaker:  Paul “Skip” Stam, N.C. House Minority Leader

• Stated there are two issues on tax policy. The first being “how much money is there to spend” and the second is “how do you structure how the money will be spent”.

• Stated that the state was advertising a $4 billion gap (deficit) between the money available to the state and how much more the state planned to spend. He stated this was a trumped up deficit to get people in line with the state’s budget plan and potential tax increases and new services taxes. The reality showed there was only a $1.2 billion gap between planned spending and projected income.

• Stated that 80% of sales taxes were used to support budget increases.

• Reported that N.C. corporate taxes are the highest in the South-East. This is causing corporations to move their operations elsewhere. He also said that N.C. Sales taxes are the highest of any of the surrounding states.

• Stated that there is a means to lower taxes by “broadening the tax base”. That is to find other taxable entities (Ex: taxing various services).

• Stated that for the last 5 years there has been an 8-10% spending increase by the state. This cannot continue because the taxable possibilities cannot support such increases.

• Allowed that federal law allows for deducting income taxes from either sales tax, or income tax, but not both. Most persons opt for the income tax deductions.

• Remarked that N.C. borrowed $1.2 billion to compensate for unemployment payment shortfalls. The state doesn’t repay this money. The employers do so by way of their contributing to the unemployment tax.

• Reported that 90% of the House Bills are enacted/passed/rejected by way of a bi-partisan vote. The other 10% is strictly along party lines. There were several audience questions. Some were:
    ~~ What about the “Fair Tax” (a National Tax to replace state taxes): He said there was little chance of getting this bill through because it takes away state controlled taxes (income) and that it would take 10 years for a Fair Tax system to work.
    ~~ What about the water issues in regards to Lake Gaston: He said he was not familiar with the way Lake Gaston is used, but that the state needs to “tighten up” its water protection for N.C. waterways.
    ~~ What’s the state doing about the school systems within the state: He stated that N.C. schools are pathetic. That they don’t test against a “national standard” and that the salary system is designed to keep mediocre teachers and not reward, or lose quality teachers. He also stated that the Teachers Union is against “Charter Schools” even though they are public schools.

President Hughes thanked Mr. Stam for attending the meeting and his presentation.

Director Input: There was discussion about ways the LGA and the public can support KIPP and get the message of their success and needs out to the public. The LGA Directors will examine these questions at a later time.

Treasurer’s Report:  Jack Saunders provided a present accounting of the budget and the proposed 2010 budget. The Board approved the 2010 budget.

Committee Reports:

Marketing:  Bill LaMonte

• Reported that there are now over 60 businesses (General Membership to be covered by David Duxbury in Membership) in the LGA and that he was happy with the Marketing strategy and the work of the committee.

• Reported that the Toy Drive for today was in-coordination-with the LG Chamber of Commerce and that the Toy Drive was to help the John 3:16 Center (about 2 dozen toys were brought to today’s meeting along with a couple of checks.)

• Solicited for an annual project that the LGA could start and call their own.

• Reported that he is working on getting State and Local Emergency Services to the March meeting to talk about Major Emergencies and Homeland Security and how the lake ties into these events.

Planning & Development:  Jack Saunders

• Jack and others set up a meeting with the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) to discuss potential future activities in baseline water quality at Lake Gaston and they are waiting for the CWP to provide some recommendations.

Lake Environment/Aquatic Weed:  Vernon Wilson

• At their November committee meeting they discussed the spread of LYNGBYA alga (that black slimy stuff) in pockets of the lake and some coves where LYNGBYA has not been found before. He also said they have found the alga in 18-20 feet of water.

• Stated that water levels have fluctuated between high and low points, but low levels have not been reported below the allowed 199 foot level except for brief periods of less than 48 hours.

• Reported that Kerr Lake Dam has dumped over 7 feet of water in recent days.

• Reported that the ‘Friends of Lake Gaston’ did not get the grant they applied for for water testing equipment, but that DNR will lend one for use during the 2010 season.

• Advised that this years volunteer testing for weeds has been completed, but the testing started too late in the year. Results will be provided by N.C. State next year.

• Even though the press is reporting increased levels of mercury in Large Mouth Bass. This is not new and every lake in N.C. has that problem, but what is new is mercury being reported in Walleye.

• There are many means for mercury to develop in a waterway, but two of the primary ones are the ash from coal plants and composting leaves and weeds in the water.

• Stated that Hubquarter Creek has a very bad increase in new hydrilla, and Smith Creek had a large increase in hydrilla after treating for two years and then not treating this year.

• Evidence shows the grass carp are doing a good job of hydrilla control at the entrance and in the vicinity of Pea Hill Creek.

NOTE: Grass carp have a 40% mortality rate in their first year of stocking.  He thanked everyone who worked on this year’s survey.

Safety:  John Cataldo

• Reported there will be a Safety Council meeting on January 9th at the Eaton Ferry Grocery & Grill. This meeting to include members of all Emergency Services in the five counties around the lake.

• On February 12th there will be a Neighborhood Watch meeting that will include at least two Home Owners Associations from each of the five counties. The purpose will be to ascertain what help the LGA can provide to HOA’S to reinvigorate their Neighborhood Watch Program.

 Membership:  David Duxbury

• Reported the five county tax letters to recruit new members is doing well.

• That so far 548 2009 members have renewed.

• That for 2009 only 119 didn’t renew from 2008 to 2009. Our lowest level in years.