GM REPORT FOR SPRING NEWSLETTER

By John Carney

Spring Report 2022

Now that spring is here, we will be into the summer season very shortly, work has begun to get all amenity areas in shape. As soon as the ice is off the lake one of the first areas to be started is the marina. During the winter months a new E – dock was built in the barn and when pieces were completed it was moved to the ball field. 

The ice was off the lake fairly early this year, so the Maintenance Department got a good and earlier start than previous years. They were interrupted by an April snowstorm, but other than that, the installation of docks went really well. The marina was open to start putting boats in on May 5, this is one of the earliest openings we have ever had. 

During the installation of the docks, J- Stairs were replaced by a contractor. Like all WLE assets there is a plan for their repairs or replacement. Over the years we have followed the reserve plan for the marina to replace docks and stairs. With the completion of J – stairs, we are now in very good shape with all stairs. Most of the stairs were built before the new building codes and were repaired and portions replaced over the years. All the new stairs that have been built are by the new building codes and have been inspected by the township inspector.

While putting in the docks, other amenity areas are opening, and once the docks are in, more of the crew is available to get other areas ready for the season. The campgrounds and beach convenience buildings were “de-winterized” and opened for use. The campgrounds opened the first week of May and Deer Lake convenience building opened for walkers. The pools are the next biggest project to get ready for the season, which both pools will be ready for Memorial Day Weekend. Once the above projects are completed for the summer season, then time can be spent getting the areas around the buildings in shape with cleaning up the landscape.

There are no plans of any major capital projects this year, we are focusing more on maintaining and improving on areas that we already have. Flowering Cherry Trees have just been planted at the entrance of Sections 4, 5 and 7. Flowering Crabapple Trees will be planted on the other side of the road soon.

One area that we are looking at, that once decided when it will be done and what will done, will be a potential capital project, are the salt & cinder buildings at the Maintenance area. They need to be replaced. We have been looking at other areas to relocate the buildings to and at the same time make more space available to move recycling to the Maintenance area. The Community has outgrown the recycling area at the Sewer Treatment Plant, so hopefully with some relocation of some items at the Maintenance area we can make a more efficient space for both the garage and recycling disposal.

The Sewer & Water Department has been very busy with isolating water leaks and infiltration into the sewer lines. Both of these routine jobs are very important to maintain good water volume and pressure to each home and to keep rainwater from entering into the sewer system to avoid overloading the Sewer Treatment Plant. 

The Sewer & Water Department in the last 2-years have purchased equipment to better serve the department in finding areas of infiltration in the sewer lines and clean the areas to prep for an internal repair. 

Brian Schan, Director of Water & Sewer, publishes his annual water testing report in the newsletter. This report has a battery of tests that are performed for a particular year. Besides those tests, drinking water samples are done on a weekly basis. In the spring and fall, Brian tests all 6 wells and 5 other areas throughout the community for iron and manganese. Iron and manganese are two minerals that are more easily detected by property owners because they can stain household fixtures and be noticed in the drinking water. WLE does treat for manganese, but not for iron. Manganese is treated by using a product called Seaquest at the wells. Chlorine is also used at the wells, which is mandated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to fight off waterborne diseases.  

Water testing will determine any high readings of something in the water that could make the water unsafe to drink and we would be notified by the DEP immediately. Iron and Manganese are considered more of a nuisance or cosmetic problem, but for manganese we want to monitor our readings to properly address the levels to know the amount of treatment needed. 

Brian will be putting the results of the testing he does twice a year for iron and manganese in the newsletter. If you have any questions about the samples or any question about the water, Brian will be happy to answer your questions.

The Annual Meeting is on June 11, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the MCH. Vote for the candidates by the ballot you will be receiving in the mail, it must be returned to the office by end of business on June 10, 2022. You can vote for the resolution by completing the proxy or you can vote only on the resolution the day of the Annual Meeting.