After rain and contractor delays we have some progress on wall projects several homeowners elected to do. It will likely take a few weeks to finish the walls. The lake water levels will return to somewhat normal levels after a few rainstorms.
Lake Drop in March 2015
We’re going to be dropping the lake levels to provide homeowners along the lake an option to repair or replace their lake wall. We will also have an engineering company inspect the lake and overflow at this time. The current target is 3/18/15 and will remain lower for several weeks. If you have any questions or concerns contact the trustees.
Annual Meeting Minutes 2011
November 11, 2011
Jim Harris called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., introducing the trustees. Jim Harris, Jim Gruenewald, Roger Feltz, Chuck Toedtman and Carel Reynolds were present.
Communication Report – Carel Reynolds
Thank you to all who served on committees for the Fall Party and Holiday Decorations. We are truly grateful to the residents to step forward and organize activities. Our preferred method of communication is via email and the website but we need more residents to provide email addresses. Please pass this information along to your neighbors and let Carel know if your information in the directory changes so we can keep you informed. Note that all information is kept strictly confidential unless permission is granted. It was suggested that we mail a single page to all homeowners on why we need their email address and then post a sign at the entrance when something new is posted to the website.
Finance Report – Chuck Toedtman
Chuck reported on our current financials.
Homeowner comment: How much is set aside for the lake?
Response: Per the indentures, $10,000 but that is not nearly enough by today’s standards.
Landscape report – Roger Feltz
Roger reported US Lawns hade been hired as our new lawn service however they have become difficult to work with as there is too much turnover. Homeowners have reported that they dump weeds in the lake and woods and that they blow the cut grass into the lake. Roger will continue to work with them as we are under contract.
The playground set has been repaired and stained but we need input from the actual users if anything needs to be addressed or if abuse occurs.
The sprinkler system in the playground has been updated and Roger thanked the homeowners who water the cul-de-sacs and the area south of the entrance.
The small sign by the lake has been painted, however the 2 large ones need replacement at a cost of approximately $5400. One homeowner offered to contact someone to bid the job.
Lake Report – Jim Gruenewald
Jim reminded everyone that February 2012 would be Dougherty Lake’s 40th Anniversary.
The lake aerators have helped but we cut ourselves short by using 2 instead of the 3 that were recommended. Chemical treatment is always needed as a result. There have been 3 replacements since originally installed. In 2010 we switched to Missouri Pump. He recommended a shorted fountain because it would do a better job.
Homeowner comment: The aeration has done a great job prolonging to need to dredge again. We wanted a fountain so we installed a larger aerator to make up the difference. What is better and stronger? Why did we remove the fountain as that was not what the homeowners wanted?
Response: Jim responded that another aerator (bubbler) would be stronger. The fountain did not provide enough gallons per minute. The bubbler’s make more noise but the newer ones are quieter. He asked if everyone wanted to go back to a fountain. The majority said no.
Homeowner comment: That type of decision needs to be handled in a parliamentary way. We should wait and schedule the vote on a future date. Motion was made that we postpone the decision until we have a clear explanation and vote at that time. Motion carried.
Homeowner comment: When will be have to dredge again? We must keep up the health of the lake as the smell can be very bad.
Response: Jim stated that Des Peres uses a system of grasses that help. We were misguided by adding the grass carp. He suggested we plant grasses to help. We could add another aerator but we have a very shallow lake. Although electricity would be higher with a 3rd aerator, it would cut down on chemicals.
President’s Report – Jim Harris
Jim asked homeowners to consider Bittersweet Woods access although he understands that a vote would be required. The area has been dramatically improved and also connects to Phantom Forest. Some homeowners feel the path to access this area is unsafe. The trustees voted to obtain a proposal from Des Peres and Brad Schmitt provided a verbal one, stating that an easement would be necessary to proceed. Doug Harms has no comment at this time. If we receive a written proposal, we would forward it to all homeowners for approval.
Homeowner comments: Why would you contact Des Peres when we previously said we do not want it? Our children need to feel safe and this would cause more traffic than we already have. The fact that we have only one entrance to the subdivision is very important to our safety. Any easement would open us up to the general public. We all bought into Dougherty Lake because it is private. Why would we want to change that? If maps of the area show the trail, everyone would come. Signs would not help as we already have them and see non-residents using our lake. An easement would be permanent and out of our hands. The trustees should not even pursue this. The current path is fun, and truly like walking through the woods. It was suggested that we call our Alderman and ask him/her to get Des Peres to take care of it.
Response: It appears the majority present does not want to pursue an easement and since we do not have a formal proposal the trustees will report back when and if they receive a written proposal from Des Peres.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Annual Meeting Minutes 2010
Jim Harris called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m November 11, 2010, introducing the trustees. Jim Harris, Jim Gruenewald, Roger Feltz and Carel Reynolds were present, Chuck Toedtman was absent.
Lake Report – Jim Gruenewald
Jim reported that we have had numerous problems with the large aerator and that we needed to find a reputable company to help service, remove, store and/or replace them. He noted that we decided to hire The Pump Shop after much investigation. We will also investigate a new company to fix the lights in the cul-de-sacs, which run under the street.
- Homeowner comment: The north monument light is out.
Jim reported that recent work on the garden beds caused the outage but that he would get it repaired. - Homeowner comment: How are the aerators working now?
Jim stated that they have a limited life span and that the Otterbine system ended up being a poor design as they are hard to repair. When replacement is needed, we will look into another manufacturer. - Homeowner comment: Can we fix the look of the fountain?
That is very expensive. We have looked into adjusting it the best we can. The algae is controlled more with the aerator and chemicals.
Landscape report – Roger Feltz
Roger reported that Symmetry handles our landscaping and that the hot summer was tough on the begonias. We are also on the 3rd account manager at Symmetry which does not make it easy. We will cut back on the amount of mulch that is added. The entrance gets watered daily and the playground was 3 days a week. Because of the heat, we switched that to every day in July which caused a tree to die from too much water. We will investigate upgrades to the sprinkler system in the park. Cedar Treatment repaired the Des Peres Road fence and Roger cleaned up the underbrush. We also asked Symmetry to keep the mulch away from the fence. We planted a new maple tree in the playground. K&G Landscaping is trimming trees, and needs to address those along Des Peres Road. The black fence around the dam has also been repaired.
- Homeowner comment: It appears the landscape weed-whackers damaged the fence and suggested we plant lower plants so as to not block the sign.
President’s Report – Jim Harris
Jim reported that our budget is on track but we need to plan ahead for projects this year. Lake and landscape projects are on hold for now. The run off from Four Winds Farm is a real problem but we can not do anything about it.
- Homeowner comment: The cedar fence by the lake on the east side needs to be addressed.
- Benches in the park were just power washed. Symmatry suggested removing the natural grasses or moving elsewhere and plant grass instead.
- Homeowner comment: The playground equipment looks great and stressed it is important to keep it repaired and remove the cover in the winter.
- Homeowner comment: Can you explain the rip-wrap along the Beaver Dam side of the lake?
The Corp. of Engineers recommended adding the rip-wrap when the lake was put in. Now they say we should replace it so we are thinking we would include it in the next lake dredge project. - Homeowner comment: Are we responsible if the wall fails?
- Yes, and the homes below the dam would be devastated. Insurance would be very expensive so we must stay on top of it.
- Homeowner comment: What about connecting Dougherty Lake to Bittersweet Woods at the park?
- The conservation department offered to widen and improve the trail if we would allow them to connect to us, but we need to get a better understanding of what they propose. Once received, we would present it to the entire subdivision for approval.
Communication Report – Carel Reynolds
Thank you to all who served on committees for the Fall Party and Holiday Decorations. We are truly grateful to the residents to step forward and organize activities. Please make sure you let Carel know if your information in the directory changes so we can keep you informed.
Election of Trustees
Terms have ended for Jim Harris, president and Carel Reynolds, communications. No nominations were made so Jim Gruenewald motioned that we retain Jim and Carel. Motion to retain passed unanimously. It was suggested we try to mentor homeowners through committees to replace trustees in the future.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.