Announcements

The LVIA Board of Directors meets at 7pm on the second Monday of each month.  All Lakewood Village members are welcome. 

We encourage you to attend.  Please contact Marv Miller for meeting details.

Shrink Wrap Recycling- March 2024

White Lake Township is once again offering Shrink Wrap Recycling bags. Bags can be purchased for $7 at the Township Treasurer’s office.   This program was suggested to the township last year by a concerned citizen. It was very successful, and over 200 bags were recycled. Plastic film (e.g. shrink wrap) and bags are not recycled by GFL (even if you put them in the recycling bin).

"Dr. Shrink" is a program being used at marinas around the state and is growing into communities like ours where there are hundreds of boats being wrapped for winter storage.  The $7 cost covers the Dr. Shrink bag, and shipping to the recycler on the west side of the state. This is NOT a government program, and it is NOT a tax. All of the money is passed through to Dr. Shrink who uses the material to make TREX composite decking.

Please recycle your shrink wrap rather than sending it to the landfill. It is easy to do and well worth the $7. Bags must be dropped off next to the Township Hall dumpster (by the Police Department) prior to Memorial Day to make the shipping date.   Below are a couple of links for reference.

White Lake Twp Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02cNY...

Recycle Used Shrink Wrap Covers - Dr. Shrink (dr-shrink.com)

Thanks,
Steve Woodard
2nd VP External Affairs LVIA

Background on Boat Corrosion - March 2024

Summary

The article below describes the reasons for corrosion of boat surfaces.  Some people have questioned whether the use of aquatic herbicides for invasive weed control contributes to accelerated corrosion.  Chemical control of aquatic plants and algae is a common and necessary activity but is highly unlikely to contribute to corrosion of boats due to the rapid dilution and short-lived nature of these treatments.

A more likely reason is “galvanic corrosion”, which is caused by dissimilar metals used on a boat.

The hull of a boat is commonly aluminum, which carries a negative charge, whereas propellers and other boat parts are made of materials that carry positive charges. Water (even freshwater) carries enough electrolytes to create conditions for galvanic corrosion.

A common way to minimize the corrosive effects on boats is to utilize sacrificial anodes made of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium. These anodes absorb the galvanic charges and corrode first, which protects the more valuable metals such as the boat hull or propeller.

The complete article follows.

By Brett Bultemeier - University of Florida

Corrosion or fouling of boat surfaces has been a problem for as long as boats have been used for travel or leisure. From wood decay and barnacle growth on ancient vessels to corrosion of metal on modern boats, there are a host of issues that can damage the integrity of a boat hull. It is not just seafaring vessels that have to contend with corrosion and fouling; many freshwater boats are also subjected to these forces. 

Particularly with the advent of newer materials and disparate metals used in modern boat manufacturing, the process of corrosion continues to be a major problem. Some have questioned whether the use of aquatic herbicides for invasive weed control contributes to accelerated corrosion.

Management of invasive aquatic species (particularly plants and algae) is both necessary and common for many waterbodies throughout the United States. This is often accomplished with the intervention of chemical control (herbicides and algaecides) to remediate these problematic invaders. However, this has led to the common misconception that these chemicals directly cause corrosion or pitting. Though it is possible for these chemicals to be involved in that process, this article will discuss why that is unlikely in most circumstances.

Modern boat hull and propeller construction involves the use of different types of metals that can act as either anodes or cathodes, with negative and positive charges, respectively. The basic formula for a working battery is that electrons from an electrolyte solution (acid for batteries) flow from the anode to the cathode. For those who have seen the corrosion old batteries can cause, this is similar to the galvanization that can occur in boats. 

The hull of a boat is commonly aluminum, which carries a negative charge, whereas propellers and other boat parts are made of materials that carry positive charges. Water carries enough electrolytes (even freshwater) to create conditions for galvanic corrosion. Though saltwater is more commonly associated with this process, freshwater has enough dissolved minerals and particles with a charge to cause corrosion as well. Furthermore, stray current in the water, from powered boat docks or incorrect boat wiring, can further add to the corrosive forces acting on boats in freshwater.

A common way to minimize the corrosive effects on boats is to utilize sacrificial anodes made of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium. These anodes preferentially absorb the charges and corrode first, which protects the more valuable metals such as the boat hull or propeller. This can either be passive or induced (with electricity), but the key piece is that these anodes MUST be in the water in order to work. A boat that is partially submerged in the water will not be effectively protected if the sacrificial anodes are out of the water. If an induced system is at work, then power must be provided, so anodes need a power source.

Alternatively, storing a boat completely out of the water will halt the corrosive process. The sacrificial anodes will wear out with time and need to be replaced. As with any system, proper maintenance and routine checks of the system will keep them functioning at their best. If caught early, damaging corrosion can likely be stopped.

Sometimes aquatic plant and algae management is blamed for causing corrosion of boats in the area of treatments. Although it is true that in their undiluted form these chemicals can be corrosive, these chemicals are greatly diluted into a spray tank before being even further diluted into the lake water. 

Once in the treated water these chemicals are found at very low concentrations, as low as a few parts per billion and even at their highest only a few parts per million. Furthermore, these low concentrations are short lived in the environment due to rapid dilution away from treatment site and environmental breakdown/sequestration. 

This short-lived, low concentration introduction of charge particles to the water is very small compared to the conditions that exist naturally in the lake. If all lakes were pure deionized water, then perhaps these chemicals would be a significant contributor to long-term corrosive action, but in lakes as they exist now, their

contribution to enhanced corrosion is insignificant.

Many people believe that herbicides and algaecides have negative effects on their boat surfaces after they observe a chemical treatment taking place, become concerned about

their boat, check the hull and find corrosion. It is likely that the corrosion was already there but went unnoticed until the boat owner checked the hull in response to seeing the weed management operation. If corrosion from herbicide and algaecide treatments were common, the boats used to apply the treatments would quickly corrode during the

treatments, which is not what happens.

Galvanic corrosion is a common problem for modern boats, even in freshwater systems, and requires constant diligence and maintenance. The use of sacrificial anodes is critical to help protect the valuable metal parts of a boat such as the hull and propeller. Therefore, these anodes must be kept in the water, checked routinely, and constantly energized (if relevant), in order to be effective. Storing the boat slightly out of water such that the anode is not submersed is a common error that can lead to lack of corrosion protection.

Chemical control of aquatic plants and algae is a common and necessary activity but is highly unlikely to contribute to corrosion of boats due to the rapid dilution and short-lived nature of these treatments. Diligent maintenance and routine inspections of the boat and the protective processes (i.e., sacrificial anodes) are the best tools to fight corrosion of boats.

For more in-depth reading see the following websites:

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/articles/marine-corrosion.asp

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/sacrificial-zincs.asp

AERF

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation

 Lakewood Village Improvement Association

Year 2024 Annual Dues

 Please be advised that the mandatory annual dues of $335 per lot for 2024 are due and payable as of January 1st.

Payments that are not received by March 31, 2024 (which is a 90-day grace period) are subject to an additional $33.50 late fee per lot.  An additional $33.50 late fee per lot will be added every 6 months thereafter until the dues are paid.

Please return the bottom portion of this letter with your payment in order to assure that your account is credited properly.

Thank you.

L.V.I.A. Board of Directors

Please return this portion, with your payment, to:

L.V.I.A.

c/o 1231 Duckwood Ct.

White Lake, MI  48383

Name:

__________________________________________________________________

Address:

__________________________________________________________________

Lot #s:

__________________________________________________________________

Amount Enclosed:

__________________________________________________________________

Stanley Park, Parks & Rec Update February 2024

For the Stanley Park / Parks & Rec interested neighbors, a few milestone decisions were reached at the February 24, 2024 WLT Board Meeting.

The information will be in the minutes of the next board meeting in March, however, if someone wants to view the YouTube video of the meeting, it can be found here.  February 20, 2024 Board of Trustees (youtube.com).  The Parks & Rec items start at the 1hr 7 min point in the video.

The key items regarding Parks & Recreation:

• The Parks & Rec millage expired at the end of 2023.  The board has decided to ask for a renewal and restoration of the 0.3 mill millage on the August 2024 Primary election ballot.  Key point to note is all of the money collected from this millage would be for the benefit of White Lake Township parks and recreational resources.

• After many years of planning, a contract for $653K was awarded to Fonson Construction to build the Triangle Trail, which will go down Elizabeth Lake Rd. from M-59 to Teggerdine to M-59 and back to Elizabeth Lake Rd.  This trail is anticipated to connect with future trails at Stanley Park and on the future Civic Center campus.

• Due to the high cost of construction now, and anticipated later, the Township decided to issue bonds of $2.7M to cover the cost of the Triangle Trail and the Stanley Park Phase One Development.  The Parks and Recreation millage proceeds will be used to service the debt and also provide the resources for maintenance of the parks.  There are currently funds in the Parks & Recreation Budget that have been earmarked for these projects, but it will not leave any balance for future development if the millage is not approved.

Stanley Park

• The contract to complete the Stanley Park Phase One Development project was awarded to STE Construction.  The project was originally estimated to cost $1.5M, but the decision was made to pave the entire road from Elizabeth Lake Rd. to the parking lot area near the lake.  The award was for $2.0M to cover the cost of the development and the additional paving.  A $500K grant was received from the Federal government for this project in 2023.

Best Regards,

Steve

Thanks to all that responded to our survey. 

The No Soliciting signs are up! 

Based on community response to our earlier survey about No Solicitation in Lakewood Village, we have installed signs at all three of the entrances.

White Lake Township has a Solicitation ordinance. The following is a link to the ordinance on the Township website.

In a nutshell, the purpose of the ordinance is to protect the public from crime and unwanted solicitation. Solicitors must have a solicitation license to engage in solicitation within the limits of the Township from the Township Clerk. The license allows for the Township to do criminal background checks.

Quoting the ordinance: Sec 32-3 – Solicitation in general. “A person shall not call upon, go upon the property of, or in any way disturb the occupant of a building to solicit, whether residential or commercial, if that building or property has displayed on or near the front door or front window of the building, or at the entrance of the building or property's subdivision or condominium, a sign with letters at least one inch high stating: "No Solicitors," "No Soliciting," or substantially equivalent language.

Bottom line, if anyone solicits in the subdivision, they would be violating the ordinance, and the police could issue a ticket.

Will this stop all solicitors? I seriously doubt it.  However, if there is a solicitor that is causing concern for any reason the police can be called to address the concern.

What about contractors?  Contractors will probably continue to distribute fliers as they have in the past, but they should not come onto your property to do so.

What about school fund raisers?  Technically, that is considered solicitation, and they would need a license to do so. I recommend Lakewood Village residents utilize our Lakewood Village Facebook pages to announce fund raiser activities and let the residents respond to participate.

Questions about the ordinance should be directed to the White Lake Township Clerk.

Sincerely,

Steve Woodard

LVIA – External Affairs

Pontoon Pitting Update Dec 2023

At our November Board meeting a resident had a concern and questions about pitting on his pontoons and the use of copper sulfate in the lakes as being the cause.

Anyone that has a concern or experienced pitting on their pontoons can take some precautions on their own to help prevent this from happening.

Pitting can be caused by several different factors:

1. 1. Galvanic corrosion can be caused by a stray electrical current in the water from the boat itself, or on shore power.

   2. Contact with dissimilar metals.

   3. Possibly chemicals used in the water for algae treatment, (however this is in a very diluted form).

Two preventive measures are:

1. Installing Sacrificial Anodes to the pontoon.

2. Installing a battery cut off switch when boat is not in use.

I have had very good results using both methods and it has stopped the pitting process on my pontoons.

The website for the anode has bolt on style (which can be mounted to the bracket on a pontoon where a depth finder or speedometer would typically go).  They also have ones that can be hung over the side of the boat when you are docked.  This is the link for a Magnesium Anode: https://boatzincs.com/zhc-2-mg/

The Battery Switch description is: 12V 24V 48V Battery Disconnect Master Cutoff Switch for Marine Boat RV ATV UTV Vehicles, Waterproof Heavy Duty Battery Isolator Switch (On/Off), and the link is: https://a.co/d/ayBGaZ8

Thank you,

Corey O'Higgins, Water Resources 

Young Road Explosion Update Feb 2024

EGLE posted a new update regarding the Young Road oil well explosion testing and remediation.  Please scroll to the bottom of the EGLE page using the EGLE link below for the Feb 9 update.  The text of the Feb 9 update is copied below for your convenience.  

In addition, White Lake Township (WLT) has provided an update from Fire Chief John Holland.  That update is included at the end of this message.

All EGLE updates: White Lake 29 CPF incident (michigan.gov)

EGLE February 9th Update:

• Results of the 1/22/2024 sampling in the excavated areas by Global Environmental and 3rd party laboratory analysis indicate:

  • No Hydrocarbon Indicator Parameters were found above laboratory detection limit in any of the collected samples and are all below Part 201 Residential Soil Cleanup Criteria.

  • Chlorides were detected at low levels at several locations, but all samples are below Part 201 Residential Soil Criteria for Residential Drinking Water Protection Criteria.

• Global Environmental conducted research on the fire-fighting foam used during the incident and found documentation from several studies that PFAS compounds and breakdown chemicals associated with PFAS are not found in the brand of fire-fighting foam used. Samples of the source material have been collected and are being analyzed to verify the claims in the studies. Additional analysis is being completed and the final laboratory report is expected soon.

White Lake Township (WLT) published an update from Fire Chief John Holland dated January 26th. Please scroll to the bottom of the WLT web page to find the Jan 26th report.

Here is the conclusion from the report:

“Conclusion: Based on the information provided by the on-scene investigators, it is their opinion that the fire originated at the north side of the property, in the area of the storage container(s). The exact ignition sequence at this time is undetermined, however the investigators concluded that there was no sufficient evidence of criminal activity as it pertains to the origin and cause of the fire.

Should additional information become available, the investigators reserve the right to evaluate that information as it pertains to the origin and cause of this fire.

Other Comments. The damage to the storage containers is consistent with the application of sufficient heat energy, provoking vapor expansion, resulting in the witnessed - post fire explosions.”

This is the link to the WLT website: Young Road Oil Well Updates | White Lake Township MI (whitelaketwp.com)

Sincerely,

Steve Woodard

2nd VP, LVIA

Young Road Explosion Update Dec 2023

The following is an update on the Young Road fire from Rik Kowall, Supervisor, While Lake Township.  A complete report follows after his update.

Steve Woodard, 2nd VP, LVIA

Dear Residents of White Lake,

The Township would like to provide an update regarding the explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on the evening of Friday, November 24th at an operational oil well off Young Street, west of Bogie Lake Road and south of M-59. For those who may be wondering, this well has been operational since 1995.

The site is currently being cleaned up by its owners under the supervision of the State of Michigan and led by the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

There are no underground storage tanks, vessels, or pipelines at this site. All storage was above ground in a specifically designed containment berm and the containment berm operated as designed. The clean-up will be the first step in this process and once the site is clean, this will allow for a thorough investigation.

White Lake Township takes this event very seriously and public safety is our goal. Results may take some time but once the investigation is complete, we will share that information with the public.

The operation and licensing of the well is the responsibility of EGLE.

Thank you,

Rik Kowall, Supervisor

White Lake Township 

Young Road Explosion Update & Response 

Nov 2023

The following is a complete set of information about the recent gas explosion at the Young Road facility.  Several people in Lakewood Village contacted Rik Kowall, WLT Supervisor, EGLE from the State of Michigan, and Oakland County Health.  Our thanks go to Kathleen Crawford-Claes, Mike Zack, and Steve Woodard (LVIA Board) for their initiative and diligence in finding out the facts of this event.

The summary of facts at this time are:

• There is a large crude oil storage tank on the north end of the site.  Apparently, it exploded and caught fire.  The spillage was contained in the containment berm, which was designed to contain catastrophic events such as this, and it did its job.

• The fire and resulting explosions occurred at the tank containment area. The well was not in operation at the time of the incident and has not been damaged.

• A blanket of foam was used to smother the fire.  The foam is a new foam and does not have PFAS in it like used to be the case many years ago.

• Oakland County Health Department Environmental Health Chief of Special Programs Mark Hansel is aware of the concerns, and they were notified today the foam used by firefighters DOES NOT contain PFAS.  They are continuing to look into long term monitoring from EGLE.

• The lower portions of the liner (below fluid levels in the containment) are intact and holding fluids.

• The incident will not require the well to be plugged and abandoned.

• There has been no indication of surface water impacts.

• The operator, Hound Resources, began mobilizing equipment on Saturday, November 25th, to begin removal of fluids and to address the potential environmental impacts associated with the incident.

• Hound Resources will be responsible for all environmental work needed at the location and has already begun cleanup operations.

• The tank battery location will undergo complete remediation with confirmation samples being collected to verify that the area meets regulatory standards.

• If Hound Resources does plan on producing the well again, they will have submitted facility plans and receive approval from the Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division (OGMD) of EGLE prior to rebuilding the facility. 

Detail

The following reports are from conversations with Rik Kowall, WLT Supervisor, Jason Stilger, EGLE, Chloe Morey, EGLE, and Mark Hason, Oakland County Health. 

Update from Supervisor Kowall

November 24 at approximately 10:23 P.M. there was an explosion at the Young Road oil well. The White Lake Fire Department is working in conjunction with the State of Michigan to investigate the event. More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

From: Stilger, Jason (EGLE)

To: Mike Zack, LVIA

Thank you for reaching out and assisting your community with information gathering. Please see my responses below:

1. Did the explosion happen at the well head or at the oil storage tanks in the containment area?

The fire and resulting explosions occurred at the tank containment area. The well was not in operation at the time of the incident and has not been damaged.

2. Will this require the owner to plug the well and abandon?

The incident will not require the well to be plugged and abandoned. The tank battery and equipment will need to be demolished, remediated, and waste properly disposed. It will be an economic decision for Hound Resources to move forward with rebuilding the facility for future production. If Hound Resources does plan on producing the well again, they will have submitted facility plans and receive approval from the Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division (OGMD) of EGLE prior to rebuilding the facility.

3. If abandonment is required will any original residual well drilling cuttings from the containment pit be removed.  I am sure there is a lined pit there somewhere.

At this time, no plans on well abandonment have been disclosed to EGLE. The OGMD does have location documentation for the containment pit and will ensure the operator follows regulatory requirements if plugging occurs.

4. Adam stated that the system has a dual liner system for secondary containment.  Was that damaged?

As the investigation moves forward, there appears to be some discrepancy on the dual liner/tertiary system for the containment area. The top portion of the liner was heavily damaged in the fire, but it appears that the lower portions of the liner (below fluid levels in the containment) are intact and holding fluids. As fluids and equipment continue to be removed, we will be able to further investigate the condition of the remaining liner and/or tertiary system. 

5. Is the owner conducting any immediate cleanup of debris?

The operator, Hound Resources, began mobilizing equipment on Saturday, November 25th, to begin removal of fluids and to address the potential environmental impacts associated with the incident. Hound Resources have recently changed their cleanup contractor to address the remediation at a faster pace.

6. Do you think a soil, surface water, and/or groundwater investigation for residual chemicals is warranted?

The tank battery location will undergo complete remediation with confirmation samples being collected to verify that the area meets regulatory standards. Additionally, the secondary containment area has three existing monitoring wells to monitor groundwater quality at the containment area. These wells can be utilized to verify that no impacts are a result of the incident. Additional soil and groundwater investigation may be warranted based on site conditions we encounter during the remediation phase.

There has been no indication of surface water impacts. There were very minimal impacts observed immediately adjacent to the containment area, but there have been no observed impacts outside of the fenced compound. I was on location today and inspected the wetlands and surface water south of the facility and found no observed impact from the incident.

7. Since the property as we know it has changed hands many times would the current property owner complete any environmental work if needed or would the State use its contractors to conduct any work?

Hound Resources will be responsible for all environmental work needed at the location and has already begun cleanup operations. The OGMD will continue to work with the contractor to ensure the cleanup, sampling, and testing requirements are done to the satisfaction of the department.

Please reach out with any additional or follow-up questions.

Thank you,

Jason Stilger

Area Geologist

Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Jason,

Thank you for your thorough detailed response.  I look forward to any additional information you can provide in the upcoming weeks as to the progress of Hound’s cleanup actions.

Kind Regards,

Mike Zack

MAHLE Industries Inc.

Steve Woodard’s notes from a phone call with Rik Kowall on 11/28/23 @ 9:17a

SW: Please confirm, is the facility an oil well or a gas well or something else?

RK: The facility is an oil well, however, on a deep well it is quite common to also have an amount of methane gas that comes out as well.  They have ways of managing that aspect of it.

SW: Do we know what the cause of the explosion was?

RK:  No, at this point it is like a plane crash, after the fire was extinguished, the site needs to be stabilized and cleaned up before the investigation into the cause begins.  It could be quite some time before it will be known what the cause was.  EGLE, ATF, Oakland County, WLT Fire Department and the owners will all be involved in the investigation.

SW: What burned?

RK:  There is a large crude oil storage tank on the north end of the site.  Apparently, it exploded and caught fire.  The spillage was contained in the containment berm, which was designed to contain catastrophic events such as this, and it did its job.

SW:  Was foam used to extinguish the fire?

RK:  Yes.  A blanket of foam was used to smother the fire.  The foam is a new foam and does not have PFAS in it like used to be the case many years ago.

SW:  Is EGLE involved?

RK: Yes, they were notified immediately of the explosion and the fire.  They have been on site and are overseeing the cleanup and will be involved throughout the entire process.  The owners (Hound Resources) Oakland County and the ATF agency are also involved. 

SW: Was there an underground container?  Was the explosion underground?

RK:  No, the news about the underground container explosion was something the TV News reported, but that was false.

SW:  Lakewood Village is very concerned about contamination of the groundwater and the lakes from this event.  What is happening to abate any possible contamination?

RK:  It appears that the containment berm at the facility did its job containing the contents of the exploded oil tank.  Everything was above ground, there is little evidence of groundwater contamination from the explosion.  EGLE is on site to make sure it is cleaned up to minimize any surface runoff.

SW: Will you continue to provide updates on WLT Facebook?

RK:  Yes, as the information on the effort progresses, he will post updates on Facebook.

From Kathleen Crawford-Claes
 

I hope the following helps to calm some concerns anyway as it did for me.

I have made multiple calls to multiple different agencies regarding my concerns about water contamination from the recent explosion. I was concerned as I work in healthcare and know clean drinking water is vital.  Here is what I was able to find out along with my sources from where the information was gathered:

I contacted Oakland County health department environmental health spoke with chief of special programs Mark Hansel they are aware of the concerns, and they were notified today the foam used by firefighters DOES NOT contain PFOS they are continuing to look into long term monitoring from EGLE.

I spoke with representative from EGLE - Chloe Morey who gave resources to report concerns about water contamination.  Chloe gave me the website to report drinking water/other water contamination concerns which is found through google - office of clean water advocate where a form can be completed for notification/update

on water results/findings.

On that same website was a number to call for the pollution emergency alert system (PEAS) I called that number and was forwarded to EGLE “disaster” site professional individual Jason Stilger.  He reported initial indications as sent out by city notification shows that the oil/brine in the containment system (which is an impermeable liner) did its job in containment.  He also reports there was damage done to the well but there are multiple monitoring wells near the tanks that check and monitor ground water immediately around those tanks and those wells have been sampling the ground water 2x/year since the facility was built and those monitors do not show any contamination at the present time.

In regard to firefighter foam, he reported to me yes, they did use foam to put the oil fire out however all canisters used were left at site which show no PFOS was in the foam they used. They are following up with the companies that make the foam used to further look into what the foam used contains, quantities used etc. the fire chief from Oakland county notified me if any oil did happen to get into the system (which is highly doubtful at this time but unknown long term) an individual would be able to see and smell the oil in the water.

EGLE will be continuing to monitor ground water for contamination and will be continuing to look more into the Foam used by firefighters to see if any of the components in that foam would or could be problematic as time goes on. Individuals can have their drinking water tested if wanted but all reports from all individuals spoken with currently report no contamination would be present at this time if any it would be later.  Water testing for PFO’s can be done on a county level but to do water testing for VOC’s that would have to be done on a state level as it requires special equipment that the state lab would be able to test for not the county lab.

END OF REPORT

Results of the L.V.I.A. Annual Meeting Vote

The Lakewood Village Improvement Association held its Annual Meeting last night.  Here are the results of the voting on the three ballot items:

1. The 2024 Budget was approved: 214 Yes, 10 No

2. The proposal to amend our bylaws was defeated: 96 Yes, 134 No

3. The Board members for the next three years are:

·        Bill Groholski, incumbent

·        Mark Lammert, incumbent

·        Marvin Miller, incumbent 

·        Denise Terry, incumbent

·        Steve Woodard, new

Dave Zabinski (incumbent) will finish the last year of Ed Lively’s term.

Thanks to all of the candidates for their interest in Lakewood Village and their willingness to help us make Lakewood Village a Great Place to Live!

The Annual Meeting slides are posted on the home page of LVIA.net.  Please take a moment to see the 2023 Accomplishments, 2024 Budget, Communications Update and Plans for the Future.

Respectfully,

Lisa Rizk,

Secretary LVIA

SAVE THE DATE

LVIA Octoberfest Saturday, September 30, 2023

Join us for a "fun-for-all" day-long event and celebrate our great Village as we enter Autumn.  Adults and children are welcome throughout the day.  All proceeds go to LVIA improvements.      

At 11:30am, bring the kids to the pavilion for Pumpkin Painting and Games. 

At 12:30pm, Ice Cream Social- Horseshoes & Pickleball courts will be open at this time! 

50/50 tickets will be sold throughout the day to raise money for our Lakewood Village.      

Prizes donated by our sponsors will be awarded throughout the day and a grand prize at 9pm.

At 5:30pm, bring a Dinner Dish to Pass, plus a Dessert Challenge and Chili cook Off – Only a $5 donation to vote and taste all of them!  Prizes will be awarded!  

Then dance the night away to our wonderful night of music and stay warm by the Bonfire.  

Enter the Raffle bring a log for the Bonfire and a dish to pass and meet your neighbors!

2022: A Huge Thank You to Our LVIA Road Crew!!!

Please take a moment when you have a chance to stop and say Thank You to the people that offered their time, talent and a bit of brawn to Do Something about what was becoming a dangerous situation in the neighborhood.

There were a lot of folks that called OCRC. OCRC confirmed, in my multiple calls with them, that they were receiving information from folks in LVIA regarding the issue.  Part of the problem with the OCRC inability to respond to our request is the overcapacity situation at the Asphalt manufacturing facilities that are running 7 days/week in an effort to supply all the new + road repair work that is happening at this time.

We needed to do something, and we did.   What a beautiful job the teams did….(I Promise I will not submit your names as I am sure OCRC would love to have folks of your talent on their team)

Another incredible achievement for a 2 Hour project!

Thanks To:

Tom Bingham, Terry Crossett, Phil Dimmer, Jim Deren, Brian Lovejoy, Marvin Miller, Lee Ponoushek, Mike Scally, Brian Sinkoff, Ercel Skaslin, Theresa Stinson, Dave VanRemortel, Ed Walters, John Wenk, Steve Woodard.

THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FROM OUR ENTIRE HOA.

          Lakewood Village Goose-Swan Update  July 1, 2021 

A meeting was held on Thursday, June 24 to discuss what to do about the aggressive behavior of mute swans towards geese and humans.  This is a summary of that meeting with actions for 2021 and 2022:

Issues

1)      Feeding the waterfowl.  PLEASE DO NOT FEED the waterfowl.  It is unhealthy for them and increases the pollution in our lakes, especially where they are fed.  There are serious problems when humans and waterfowl interact.  See the article in LVIA.net for more info.

2)      Harassing the swans.  PLEASE DO NOT HARASS the swans.  They will remember the harassment and assume that all humans will harass them.  This leads to serious risks for children and adults.

3)      Disturbing the nests and eggs.  PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB existing nests.  This is illegal.

Natural Balance

1)      Living on a lake means that we share an ecosystem with plants and wildlife.

2)      Swans and geese compete for the same territory.

3)      Male swans want to drive away geese to ensure their cygnets are safe.

4)      1-4 pairs of swans will keep the goose population down without any interference from humans.

Facts

1)      Mute swans are not native to Michigan.  Permits can be obtained to remove them.

2)      Trumpeter swans are native to Michigan.  Permits cannot be obtained to remove them.

3)      The swans on Neva and Brendel lakes are mute swans.  Mute swans will compete with Trumpeter swans and drive them away.

5)      Male swans will protect their cygnets until they fledge and fly away (around week 2 of July).

6)      Swans remember all sources of food and all sources of harassment.

2021 Recommended Actions:

1)      Do not feed, harass, or disturb the swans or geese.

2)      Try to avoid the swans if possible. If one approaches, idle your watercraft and wait, do not charge the animal.  The swans will stop being aggressive as soon as their cygnets fledge (about July 14).

3)      Identify and report all nests and harassment to a Water Resources Board member.

4)      We will not take action against the swans this summer.

2022 Recommended Actions:

1)      In late March-April we will encourage the swans to nest away from canals on Brendel.

2)      A permit will be secured to remove mute swans in case they become too numerous.

Hoped-For Results:

1)      Mute swans will continue to keep our lakes free of Trumpeter swans.  Mute swans are controllable, Trumpeter swans cannot be removed under Michigan law.

2)      Mute swans will build future nests away from canals, reducing the need to remove them.

3)      We will not have to pay to remove swans or geese and we can all enjoy our beautiful, natural environment in Lakewood Village.

Please discuss these points with your neighbors.  We all have a role in the solution.

If we each do our part, we can have a great neighborhood with wonderful lakes full of wildlife.

Please do not feed the waterfowl

Dear LVIA Members, 

Recently, a Lakewood Village resident asked about the risks of feeding waterfowl. The information below is from an official New York state bulletin posted on the internet, with an additional link below. It is well written and factual, not opinion. 

The Lakewood Village Board does not support feeding of waterfowl. 

We take this position because migratory birds are wild and need to preserve their instincts to survive. The Board asks you to get involved and ask your neighbors to support our position. Here are our reasons for asking Lakewood Village residents to not feed waterfowl: 

1) Feeding them creates unnatural ways for them to get food, and the food given to them is far less nutritious than their natural mixed diet of aquatic plants, natural grains, and invertebrates. 

2) Feeding them creates a single location for food. This increases competition for food, depresses their natural instincts to look for food, and can lead to the spread of disease at the area of feeding. 

3) Excess nutrients in ponds caused by unnatural numbers of waterfowl droppings can result in water quality problems such as summer algal blooms. Note: Lakewood Village has been fighting algae blooms for the last few summers at an added cost to our water Resources budget. Where waterfowl congregate to feed, E-coli counts can swell to levels that make the water unsuitable for swimming. 

4) Waterfowl can rapidly become conditioned to, and dependent on, handouts.  Fed ducks and geese behave differently.  They become more aggressive and eventually lose their wariness of humans.  Some will even attack children attempting to pet them or feed them. 

5) Feeding attracts birds in unnatural numbers, beyond natural food and water supplies, and frequently in numbers beyond what people will tolerate.  Grassy areas such as ball fields and beaches can become unsanitary and unusable. 

6) Feeding alters normal migration patterns of waterfowl by shortening or even eliminating them. Ducks, reluctant to leave in the winter, may not survive sudden cold. 

Please support us in our efforts to make Lakewood Village a beautiful place for humans and wildlife. Please do not feed the swans, geese, or ducks. Their lives and the beauty of Lakewood Village depend on it. 

Thank you, 

The LVIA Board 

The complete article from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation follows. Read on to explore this issue and decide for yourself whether you want to continue feeding waterfowl.  Here is the link.

Join the Lakewood Village mailing list!

The Board wants to keep you informed on all current and upcoming events.  We keep an email list  so that we can tell you about:

• Water treatment on our lakes

• Updates on the the progress of Stanley Park

• Upcoming events like Easter Egg Hunt, Summerfest, Octoberfest, and others

• Reports from Water Resources, Parks & Rec, Architectural, and other committees

• Activities that require one-time help, like park cleanup and support for major events

 The Lakewood Village email list is private.  The names are never shared or sold.

If you would like to add your name to our email list, especially if you want to volunteer for activities like park cleanup and event support, fill out the form below (cut and paste into your email message), and send it to Marv Miller. 

Name:

Email:

Street Address:

I am interested in (check any that apply)

• ___ Water Resources information (lake treatment schedule, waterfront cleanup, etc.)

• ___ Parks & Rec information (how to reserve the pavilion, pickleball times, etc.)

• ___ Updates on Stanley Park

• I would like to volunteer to help with  (check any that apply):

o   ___ Summerfest

o   ___ Octoberfest

o   ___ Easter Egg Hunt

o   ___ Park cleanup(s)

o   ___ Special Project support

•           ___ Other: _______________________________

• ___ Share my email address with other Lakewood Village members (default is "no")