Hi Lone Lakers! Summer is in full swing on Lone Lake and a lot is going on around the lake. With the 4th of July coming up, I’ll highlight the week’s events.

• Thanks to our Aitkin County Aquatic Invasive Species grant we will have county inspectors at the public landing inspecting watercraft from June 29 to July 8. Tell your friends how to keep our lake clean.

• The Lone Lake Triathlon is July 4 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the beach. The VanSlooten family organizes this yearly event and it is open to everyone. It features a swim, bike and run competition for females, males and teams with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category receiving medals. Compete or come out and cheer them on.

• The Lone Lake boat parade is on Saturday, July 7. The Wagenknecht family, last year’s pontoon competition winners, will judge the pontoons, docks and run-abouts. Please put your Lot # on the front of your boat or dock so you can be identified. We are holding the parade on Saturday, July 7 because the LLPOA board felt that most Lone Lakers will be up for that weekend.

Switching gears to environmental matters, LLPOA actively participated in the Aitkin County Planning Commission’s June 18th review of the mining operation in the gravel pit adjacent to Lone Lake. Before the conditional use hearing was conducted, LLPOA spoke with Mark Ritter, who was applying for the permit, about residents’ and the association’s concerns with the operation of the gravel pit. Ritter expressed an understanding with our issues and vowed open cooperation with the association and residents.

He said he will alert the association to any major projects and impending crushing operations so that residents can plan accordingly.

The six areas discussed with Mark Ritter and also with the Planning Commission were:

1. The intended depth of the mining not to interfere with the water table and springs around Lone Lake and any tangential effect it might have on the lake.

2. That the expansion area of the pit meets the standards set by the local, county, and state regulations and statutes as stated in the application.

3. The number of days of operational crushing and hauling.

4. Hours of operation and days during the week. Most common concerns are noise, dust and vibration.

5. Assurance that other materials will not be brought into the site for crushing.

6. Request of prior notice so that residents can plan accordingly.

The LLPOA did not oppose the granting of the five-year permit, which allows mining and crushing to occur up to six days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., standard for the county. Ritter assured the association that there will not be a hot plant on the site, that crushing will be on a limited basis and rarely on weekends and none on holiday weekends and prior notice if any large projects are awarded. Ritter is well known to many of us on the lake and he wishes to maintain a positive relationship with his clients on Lone Lake. The LLPOA feels that this is the best we can do and having an open line of communications with Ritter is a positive step for residents and the association.

Let’s finish with a few words about this year’s membership drive. We have 16 teams helping with the membership drive this year and many will be trying to finish their calls by the end of Independence Day week. It has been more difficult this year to find people home so welcome the callers when they come a ’knocking on your door. Dues are $25 again this year and if you wish to donate an additional $45 to cover a three-hour shift of AIS inspections that would be great.

We would especially like to recognize JoLeeAnn and David Smith for their generous donation. JoLeeAnn wrote, “I have sent a donation of $750 to support the AIS boat inspection initiative. It's not much, but we just want to let ya'll know that even though we can't physically be there, we appreciate the efforts and the outcome of those efforts when we come to our property.” We look forward to JoLeeAnn and David becoming more active once they retire in a couple of years! So, if you would like to make a donation you can do so when the callers come around or now you can pay online using PayPal for your dues and making donations at www.lonelake.org.

Thank you for your support of the Lone Lake Property Owners Association and we’ll see you on the lake!

Steve Frasier, LLPOA President