The Ericson Lake Corporation Board of Directors met on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. in the Gary Laughlin home.

PRESENT:   Buhl, Laughlin, Smith, Wadas,  Belz, Haase, Krohn,  Lantis, Armstrong, Watson

ABSENT:   Claus, Kortus

Wadas opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Roll Call roll call. Minutes of the November 19, 2011 meeting were approved as printed.

Buhl gave the treasurer’s report showing a balance of $8004. in savings  and $15,064 in the Dam Repair account.  MOTION BY WATSON, SECOND BY LAUGHLIN TO PAY THE CURRENT BILLS TO:  NAPA, ($453.66), M&M ($318.85), KROHN FOR DUES PRINTING AND POSTAGE ($91.56), A PAYMENT OF $5000 TO ROGER FRAHM AND TO PAY FOR THE GOLF CART ($4000) WHEN THE BILL COMES; MOTION CARRIED. 

MOTION BY HAASE, SECOND BY WATSON TO PAY KIRKHAM MICHAEL $1596 (WHICH WILL BRING THE AMOUNT PAID TO THEM EQUAL TO 51% OF ENGINEERING FEES FOR GEOTUBE REPAIR)  WHEN THE NEBRASKA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST TRANSFERS THE MONEY INTO THE ELC ACCOUNT; MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS: 

• Bids for the Geotube Failure Repair, KM-1106227 were received from Jeffres Excavating ($84,321.45) and Frahm Constuction ($48,723.25).  The main difference between the two bids was for the cost of recycled concrete.  MOTION BY WATSON, SECOND BY HAASE TO AWARD THE GEOTUBE FAILURE REPAIR TO FRAHM CONSTRUCTION; MOTION CARRIED.  Both entities will be notified of the decision.
• Krohn handed out a summary of amounts due and payments made concerning the Lake, and expressed concern about incurring more debt before the current bills have been paid.  So far, the ELC has paid out $72,387 and has committed to bills of $115,000.  This amount due does not include JEO’s estimated $190,000 for spillway repair.
• There have been forty members pay their dues so far, and several have also paid their 2012 pledges.  Pledges are payable at any time.
• MOTION BY LAUGHLIN, SECOND BY LANTIS TO AUTHORIZE WADAS TO HIRE MIDSTATES ENGINEERING AND TESTING OF KEARNEY FOR THE REQUIRED SOIL SAMPLING FOR CLAY FILL FOR THE EMERGENCY SPILLWAY REPAIR; MOTION CARRIED.  The test will define if there is enough clay, where it is, and its compaction.
• Wadas gave an update on the dam apron repair being done by Frahm Construction.  Ten loads of crushed concrete were dumped below the apron, and Frahm will work on the south side in the spring. 
• Carol Hiser of Grand Island, representing the Nebraska Department of Revenue Charitable Gaming Division went over the guidelines concerning the Golf Cart Raffle and answered questions.  Watson will be the ELC’s contact, and Claus and Wadas will also put their names on the separate Raffle Account at Ericson State Bank. 

The 24 sponsors of the golf cart are:  Ryder-Rosacker-McCue & Huston (Grand Island),  Anonymous, Ulrich Gravel (Ord), Grocery Kart (Ord), Sandstone Grill (Burwell), Ron & Mary Levander (Albion), Cornerstone Bank, Ericson State Bank, Molt Manufacturing (Spalding), People’s Service (Spalding), GreenLine Equipment (Albion & Spalding), Helena Chemical (Albion), JEO, Moews Seeed, Nebraska Central Telephone Company, Spalding Irrigation, Sapp Brothers Petroleum (Elgin/Bartlett), Beaver Bearing (Albion), Wagonhammer Ranches (Albion & Bartlett), Ord Veterinary Clinic, Nelson Furniture (Grand Island), Wayne and Bev Buller (Ericson), Jeffres Sand & Gravel (Burwell), and LaRue Coffee (Omaha).  In-kind sponsors are Sack Lumber (Ord), Frahm Construction (North Loup), Eakes Office Products (Grand Island), and Cabelas.

• Wadas gave an update on the Wetlands Reserve Program-when all of the paperwork is completed, a decision about signing up will be made.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Wadas would like input about a Mission Statement for the Ericson Lake Corporation.  Borrowing from the 1979 documents of transfer is:  Preserving, maintaining and improving Lake Ericson, together with its ecology, wildlife and natural resources.
• Wadas would like to have an open house and entertainment at the Lake on June 30-the same day as the Annual Meeting.  The BBQ would be open and the golf cart drawing would be held later in the afternoon.  Fireworks would follow at dusk.
• We need everyone’s help for voting in the ‘We Hear You America’ Reader’s Digest sweepstakes.  More info can be found on our website lakeericson.com.  The address for voting is:  http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com, and enter Ericson or zip code 68837.  Ericson is currently in the top 20, and eighteen places are awarded cash prizes.  Wadas and Claus will present the info on KNLV 1060 AM Radio on Tuesday, January 17.
• Steve Wunderlich will place his name on the ballot for election in June.
• Wadas gave the county permission to cut trees on the road-side of the county road north of the lake.-they will dump and burn them in the Lake’s tree dump. 
• Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District asked permission to dump tree stumps.  They will chip the small branches for use at the lake.

OPEN FORUM: 

• Anyone wanting to receive email updates concerning the Lake should get their email address to any board member.
• Wadas has paid $100 dues to the Ord Chamber of Commerce.  They may be of some help in obtaining grants for the Lake.

Next meeting will be held on February 18, 2012 at 9:30 am.

Meeting adjourned at 11:40 am.

Respectfully submitted by,                 Cheryl Krohn, Recording Secretary