Group votes to approve lake district study
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Milfoil gathers at the shoreline of Lake Bomoseen on Monday. Cassandra Hotaling / Rutland Herald |
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By Tom Mitchell Staff WRITER - Published: July 28, 2009
CASTLETON — Members of a private lake group have voted to look into possibly forming a special purposes district on Lake Bomoseen that could levy fees on boats and docks to help pay for a chemical treatment of the Eurasian water milfoil weeds in the lake.
At their annual meeting this past weekend, members of the Lake Bomoseen Association voted 67-11 in favor of exploring the possibility of forming a special services district, or water or fire district. The entity would have taxing authority to help pay for finding solutions to the lake problems, said those at the discussion held before the vote. The vote was advisory, but LBA directors will likely take the issue up at a future meeting.
As the vote was called, LBA member Jim Losneck presented petitions with 327 resident and lake-user signatures stating opposition to the formation of such a district. The petition referred to the chemicals for such milfoil treatments as poison.
In discussion leading to the vote, Donald Surdoval of Ledgemere Point, representing the LBA water quality committee, noted the lake has a variety of problems including invasives such as Eurasian water milfoil, zebra mussels and at times water chestnuts. A past survey conducted by the group on possible action focused on the issue of using an herbicide to treat Eurasian milfoil in the lake.
The water quality committee developed the idea for the lake district based on one on Lake George that raised fees on boats and docks to pay for sheriff patrols on the lake, officials said. So far, LBA officers have released limited information about the proposed fee concept to their members.
Losneck said in talking to property owners at Lake St. Catherine he learned that the use of chemicals there had not been effective against milfoil in the long term. He expressed concern that if fees were put in place on the lake by a district to pay for a treatment, they would not end.
In response, Joseph F. Mauro, a Ledegemere Point property owner, said he understood from an officer of the Lake St. Catherine Association that treatments of Eurasian milfoil have worked there. "They are pleased with what has happened with the control of Eurasian milfoil," he said.
Referring to the existing district on Lake George, Trip Wescott, a property owner on Route 30 north, said the Adirondack mountain lake has not used chemicals for control of invasive weeds. "(The) thrust of discussions I have heard here has been chemical control," Wescott said, adding that he felt the focus on chemicals had polarized the discussion.
Wescott said he felt there would be legal liability from putting a "poison" into the lake. He also raised the question of what legal ramifications may exist in terms of using the lake after a treatment.
"Many people, including myself, drink the water," Wescott said, questioning how people who drink the water cannot use it for a long period of time.
Citing the group's use of Lake George as a potential model, Jack Tolnes, a property owner on Johnson Spooner Road, said he understood there are many problems on Lake George including the impact of high taxes. "They cannot afford to keep their homes any more," Tolnes said.
In their proposal for a special district, members of the water quality committees have given examples of possible fees that could be charged. They suggested $7.50 could be assessed for a season pass for a dock or $25 for a boat up to 17 feet. The fees could produce annual revenue of $140,000, the committee said in a report.
Surdoval cited the potential for a boater bringing a vessel to the lake with water chestnut attached as an example of a lake issue a special district could address. As it now stands, there would be no one at the access to inspect and pull off the plant, he said. Creation of a district could provide a funding mechanism to pay for staff to check boats for invasive species, he said. Other members expressed support for the idea.
State legislators may support the idea of a lake district if it becomes clear the community wants it, Michael Rosen, LBA president, said. The Legislature would have to approve its creation.
tom.mitchell@rutlandherald.com
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