Lake Gerry Association
May 2024 Meeting
Unofficial Meeting Notes
Lake Steward Report –
We will be planning on meeting with Solitude Lake Management to see what they recommend for further remediation of lily pads and muck in the lake. We will be looking at various brands of muck reduction pellets and encouraging a do-it-yourself approach to treating the muck. We would like to put together a team of volunteers to help with the removal of the floating muck islands around the lake.
Pine Road work has been completed. (I’m not sure if this means Pavilion work or something else)
6 Beavers were removed from the lake last year. So far this year, the beavers have been causing a lot of problems chewing on docks and plugging up the spillway which needs to be cleaned out several times a week now. Due to low demand for beaver pelts, the trapper who helps us remove the beavers in Lake Gerry would like to be paid to do so in the future.
There are several ruts around the Charles Kelley Road pavilion from repair work that was done in the fall. These will be filled.
The Charles Kelley Road pavilion repairs have been nearly completed. The structure was straightened, secured, and painted. We are looking at better options for the surface within the pavilion as the current drainage stone is difficult to walk and stand on.
Signposts around the lake need to be treated and placed.
The Pine Road dock needs to be raised out of the water and placed back, likely due to muck.
Treasurer’s Report –
As of 5/10 – We have raised $9750 in memberships; 1 income property membership; $412 Lake Preservation; $305 Fish Fund; $182 Grass Carp fund.
We spent: $1925.22 on fish stocking last year thanks to a generous donation.
NYSEG bills last year totaled $346.34
Tree removal and spillway work totaled: $1740
Pavilion Repairs totaled: $9019
President’s Report –
We have been working with Solitude Lake Management since 2020 which included three years of lily pad treatments and muck pellet application. We are still within the 5-year permitting window from the DEC for herbicide treatment of the lily pads. To date, we have spent $29,370 on lake restoration with Solitude.
Our DEC permits are for the treatment of Lily Pads, however, much of the nuisance vegetation left on the lake is called Pond Weed which requires a different DEC permitting process and different herbicide treatment. This means a lot more money to address these needs.
An option that we began exploring last year was the purchase of a machine called a Water Bug from Weeders Digest. The Water Bug is an electric, radio controlled, floating weed cutter/harvester. The cost of this machine is much less than what we have currently spent on lily pad spraying. We could purchase a Water Bug and utilize it around the lake with the help from association volunteers. We will begin fundraising for this if deemed an appropriate solution.
In addition to the Water Bug itself, we will need a storage shed and insurance policy to protect it. To learn more about the water bug you can click on: https://lakeweedharvester.com/waterbug/#:~:text=Waterbug%20is%20a%20one%20of,shores%2C%20channels%2C%20and%20more!
We also discussed the usage of fountains to aerate the lake. There is some confusion on aeration and what that achieves for muck remediation. Most aerators simply move muck around the lake, likely onto your neighbor’s waterfront. They also consume massive amounts of electricity to run. Many years ago the Lake Gerry Association attempted to run an aeration system which was a complete failure and ended with a fire and destroyed equipment. What our lake likely needs is what is called micro-oxygenation to help facilitate the decomposition of muck and vegetation. This is a different type of system than a fountain.
This year we would like to address the beach and make it more usable and sustainable. The current situation is that every year we put sand on the beach and every time it rains it gets washed into the lake. We have had many very generous donations of sand and repair work done on the beach over the years; however, we need a more permanent fix. We are currently speaking with a landscaping company who believe they have a solution for the beach. We will get back to you with more information on their proposal.
It is going to be a busy week for Pauline, the LGA president. She will be meeting with the Town Supervisor, then reviewing our policies with the Insurance Agent to determine how our new guest-pass system affects the association’s insurance policy.
ATV’s – the Lake Gerry Association does not own Charles Kelley Road, therefore we cannot, as an association, make rules about ATV’s on Charles Kelley Road. HOWEVER, riding ATV’s on public roads is illegal unless they are properly registered. If you see anyone on an ATV driving over the speed limit, or acting a fool, call the police and report them. Photos are also helpful. We are working on obtaining some signs notifying the residents that ATV usage on public roads is illegal. We have also had significant damage from ATV usage by non-members, on Lake Gerry Association properties. ATV usage on Lake Gerry Association properties, roads and rights-of-way is prohibited.
Boats on Right-of-Ways – Two boats are allowed per member on a right-of-way. Each boat must have a current Lake Gerry Association Boat Sticker applied to the hull.
Dogs – If loose, causing a nuisance and/or causing you to be afraid you need to call the Dog Warden 607-952-6025 . If you are bitten by a dog you must call the Sheriff. All dogs must be licensed and vaccinated.
Website - I manage, maintain, and write content for the Lake Gerry Association website. I do this, so everyone living on the lake can stay informed about things going on around the lake. I also do this, to try to make the LGA officer’s life easier and save the association time and money communicating with membership. By utilizing the website for membership renewals and communication we create an audit trail that helps protect the Lake Gerry Association and its members. The website also provides membership forums where we can discuss various things that are important to our members. These member forums are private so you must be logged-in to see and participate in the discussion. Your membership data and contact data is also private and is not shared with other members. Like everything in life, sometimes something might not work right, or an issue will arise. Please reach out to me at contact@lakegerry.com and I’ll investigate the problem and try to get it fixed for you as quickly as I can. Please note that I try, but do not always, check that email account daily. It may take a few days to get your answer. I forward all non-website oriented emails to the association board members for them to address.
By-Laws -- This year is a by-laws year, meaning that we will be reviewing the by-laws with our attorneys, insurance companies and members. We are currently looking at removing much of the language pertaining to building and codes because those are not appropriate to be in our by-laws. Once we have the suggested by-law changes laid out, they will be posted on the website for discussion and then voted on in September to be implemented for the 2025 season.
Board Voting – This year is also a Lake Gerry Association Board voting year. All positions are open for new participants, and we want to encourage everyone to volunteer to get involved.
Derelict properties -- Last year we sent a delegation from Lake Gerry to the town to seek help addressing some of the derelict properties around Lake Gerry. A petition was generated to seek county help on addressing these health and environmental hazards.
Our next Lake Gerry Association will be June 9th.