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LAKE GASTON ASSOCIATION

Minutes (approved) Director’s Meeting – April 7, 2010

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

Visitors: There were 22 guests and two press; Bill O’Neill Lake Gaston Gazette/Observer and Della Batts Daily Herald. One of the guests was Greg Ayscue candidate for Warren County Sheriff and he gave a short candidate presentation.

Carl Barkley became the newest LGA member by joining at this meeting.

Executive/Director Attending:  Doug Hughes, Linda Hedgepeth, Jack Saunders, Moira Underwood, John Cataldo, Patrick Dempsey, Quinton Qualls, Fred Kneisel, Ralph Domach, Barbara Burgdoerfer, Vernon Wilson, David Duxbury, Ron Skow, Bill La Monte

Guest Speakers:  Jack Saunders, LGA Director (On Preserving Our Lake Investment)

• Stated that our habits have a long term effect on the lake.

• Stated that our habits have a long term effect on the lake.

• Stated that in certain coastal areas there is a requirement for at least 75% of a commercial or residential building site surface area to be porous to assist in storm water runoff problems.

• Stated that in certain coastal areas there is a requirement for at least 75% of a commercial or residential building site surface area to be porous to assist in storm water runoff problems.

• Stated that Dominion Power is responsible for the Shoreline Protection Plan on Lake Gaston.

• Reported that part of the problem with trying to sell a house/property today is that 1) comparable values are not valid, 2) lenders are far more stringent, 3) property is appraising lower than its previous values. She also reported that it used to take 30-45 days to complete a sales closing and now it takes a minimum of 60-90 days.

• There were numerous questions from the audience and press. Some were:
  In response to a question on property owners being able to do things on their lake-front; Jim Thornton (Dominion Power) advised that residents cannot do anything that would affect the lake without Dominion approval in writing.

• Mr. Thornton also advised that people do not own land to the water, only to the “Flood Zone” level which is 204 feet on Lake Gaston and 217 feet on Kerr Lake.

• He also advised that in a “Flood Control” situation, Lake Gaston could be raised to 203 feet (this would put most docks (public & private) under water.

• That from March 1st to May 15th Dominion can regulate the lake from 199-201 feet depending on the amount of rain or water run-off affecting the lake.

Secretary's Report: Bill La Monte presented the March 2010 Minutes for approval and the Board approved them.

Treasurer’s Report:  Jack Saunders presented a current budget and the Board approved it.

Committee Reports:

Marketing:  Bill LaMonte

• Reported over 60 businesses have joined the LGA.

• Advised all that the LGA would not participate in the Roanoke Rapids Home Show due to a conflict with the Warren County Candidates Forum.

• Reemphasized that the motivation behind the business memberships is to try and help lake area businesses get exposure through the LGA Bulletins and Web-site. Mr. Hughes interjected that this, along with providing them all other LGA benefits and information, is a great deal for any business.

• Advised the first event the LGA will have an information booth in is the Roanoke Rapids Home Show on 17 & 18 April.

Planning & Development:  Jack Saunders

• Reported he covered everything in his guest speaker presentation, except.

• Reported that the Northampton County property revaluation is in progress.

Lake Environment/Aquatic Weed:  Vernon Wilson

• Reported that N.C. is hurting for monies that would be used for weed control in lake waters. That Lake Gaston is only getting $75,000 for weed control and various waterway counties will only get $ for $ matching funds until the money runs out. Matching funds for Lake Gaston must come from the three N.C. Counties.

• Attended a meeting involving uranium mining in VA and its possible effect on our water and the Virginia Beach area. VA. Beach provided $437,000 for a study to determine if uranium mining run-off ‘could affect’ Lake Gaston and the water it provides to the VA. Beach area.

• Stated he attended Roanoke River Basin Area meetings that discussed the fight to prevent the Inter-Basin Transfer of anymore lake area water.

• Stated the latest survey results showed about 1,600 acres of submerged vegetation, of which 1,477 is hydrilla, an increase of over 200 acres since the 2008 survey. Most of the hydrilla increase is in the ‘west end and flats area’ of the lake.

• Advised that the Technical Advisory Group to the Stakeholder Board has recommended adding 7,347 more grass carp in the lake, but someone has to come up with the $5.00 a fish cost.

• Reported that tests have shown that grass carp have a 20-30% mortality rate and that they stay within 1 ½ miles of where they were introduced to the waters.

Safety:  John Cataldo

• Explained the “Reverse 911/Code Red” and how it works in the county.

• Is waiting to hear from Home Owner Associations about starting Neighborhood Watch programs.

• Stated that the Brunswick County new jail funding is still in the county budget.

 Membership:  David Duxbury

• Reported that as of December 1st there were over 400 members who had not renewed, but as of today, that number was down to about 140.

Government Relations:  Ron Skow

• Reported the first political forum was held in Halifax County with a modest turn-out

• Stated the next forum is Warren County on 17th at Longbridge Fire Company, and the final will be Northampton County on 24th at Roanoke/Wildwood Fire Department. There will be 10 candidates at the Warren County Forum and 13 at Northampton.

• Stated the Warren County Budget Hearing schedule can be found on the W.C. web site and it has been emailed to the Warren County members.

Nominating:  Barbara Burgdoerfer

• Barbara was introduced as the new nominating committee chairperson. She gave a brief presentation on volunteerism and the need for LGA members to get involved.

Executive Director:  Moira Underwood
Moira’s complete report can be found on the web site. Here are a few of the items she was involved in for the last month;

• Assisted in planning & implementing all phases of the candidate forums, to include press releases.

• Extensive work on developing the new web site.

• Responsible for the April-May Bulletin being published on time.

• Collected and disseminated all information concerning the cell phone survey which had 78 responses of which 53 said cell phone service around the lake was NOT good.

Old Business: 

• President Hughes reminded all committee chairs that their inputs for the new web pages changes must be done by Friday 9 April.

• President Hughes presented Bruce Johnson with an LGA Certificate of Appreciation for his outstanding work leading the volunteer weed survey team and with informing citizens of the weed problems on the lake.

New Business: Doug Hughes