05-09-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 9, 2011 • 7:00 o'clock p.m. (LMCD REPORT, Continued) the decreased city levies and to address equipment replacement. Court fines have been monitored over the past few years and it is expected that they will come in approximately $7,000 more than expenses. The LMCD will also be conducting a license and permit fee assessment this year. AIS management shows a levy increase from $80,000 to $90,000. The estimated year -end reserve fund level is expected to be around 33 percent. The LMCD will be receiving a DNR grant for the EWM harvesting program of $32,800. The EWM harvesting program budget is $94,000, which includes project management time. AIS prevention programs consists of $30,000, which is primarily spent on watercraft inspections. Nybeck indicated it is his opinion that the Board will look at other ways to spend a portion of that money other than watercraft inspections. McMillan asked if there are any changes that can be made to the harvesting program. Nybeck indicated the oldest harvester was purchased in 1999. The useful life of a harvester is estimated to be about 15 years. The herbicide treatments will be looked at to see whether they are truly cost effective. The LMCD may have to do another fundraising drive to raise money for equipment. New harvesters are approximately $180,000. Even with the $20,000 transfer, the LMCD does not have the money to purchase a new harvester. • Dennis Walsh, Orono resident, stated originally the goal of the LMCD was to eradicate evasive species and now it has evolved to management. Walsh commented from watching some of the guys hired to perform the inspections, it looks like there are drunken sailors all over the place and that the management of the program has not been very good. The LMA had to bring the LMCD into the herbicide treatment. People feel the boat inspections are a joke since the boats participating in the fishing tournaments are not being inspected by anyone. Walsh stated the whole way the LMCD is set up with each city getting one vote is really not fair since some cities do not have very much shoreline. Orono has a lot more shoreline than most of the other cities. Walsh stated in his view that should be changed. In addition, the LMCD should look at what needs to be accomplished and should set realistic goals. Walsh stated the LMCD should eliminate some of these programs and put the money where it needs to go. Nyberg stated the reason for the change from eradication to management is that in the AIS world, eradication of milfoil really does not exist since the experts do not feel it can be eradicated and has to be managed. McMillan commented it is difficult to eradicate milfoil and that she is not sure what the costs would be to chemically treat the entire lake on an annual basis. The harvesting program is like cutting grass and it is a way to help with boat navigation. McMillan stated in going forward with the'harvesting program, communication with the public will be important since the public is questioning what the right solution is and a lot of research and thought still needs to be done. Nyberg indicated that one of the goals of the strategic plan calls for the assessment of the herbicide treatment at the end of the five years. Nyberg noted that Carman's Bay had one year where they did not have treatment. The AIS task force will be conducting the assessment of the chemical treatment. Nyberg noted in total $350,000 is being spent to treat five bays. Page 9 of 17