GLPOA Spring 2007 Newsletter

The Golden Lake Property Owners Association serves the interests of owners of shoreline on Golden Lake and the Bonnechere River below Tramore Dam, as well as others who have an interest in the well-being of our lake and river. The Association works for the common good of all members, and the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of life on the Lake and River.

The Association attends to such environmental matters as water quality, shoreline integrity and boating and swimming safety. It speaks with a common voice on behalf of its members to all levels of government and works with other organizations on issues that may contribute to the health, pleasure, comfort and security of its members.

If you are one of the roughly 750 property owners along the Lake and River, we urge you to join us as a member so you can learn more about our activities and add your voice to our ongoing conversation.

Waterway Markings Update

People in the area will know, only too well, that we are in a no-service zone. This issue has been raised at earlier GLPOA meetings by members. To address this, your executive, led by Vice-President Kevin O’Connor, has been working with service providers, including Bell Mobility and Telus to raise awareness of this serious inconvenience. We are pleased to report that certain progress is being made. There have been ongoing meetings and calls and even site visits in the region illustrating that these companies are indeed aware of our needs. To facilitate this process, the Highway 60 Cell Phone Task Force is collecting data through a survey to quantify the need for cell phone service and measure usage potential to service providers. Stay tuned.

The project to construct a new, up-to-date toilet facility at the boat launch site at Deacon Bridge is now completed. The project, initiated by the Golden Lake Property Owners Association (GLPOA) and managed jointly with the Township of North Algona–Wilberforce (NAW), received FedNor funding through the Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation. Matching funds and in-kind support are being provided by the GLPOA and NAW.

Bryan Fraser and his staff did the work on the structure, while the technical details of construction were under the supervision of GLPOA director Weldon McEachen. Day to day activities were managed by NAW Road Superintendent Harvey Reckzine and GLPOA president Dave Lemkay.

Of the four main boat launch sites on Golden Lake and the Bonnechere River, the Deacon Bridge site is clearly used the most. Large and unobstructed space for parking of vehicles and boat trailers makes Deacon a popular launching site for boaters and fishers visiting the waterway. The fact that there have been no toilet facilities available at this high-traffic site is what prompted the Township and Association to seek funding for improvements. In the application for funding to Community Futures and in the partnering agreement between the Township and Association, environmental integrity of the waterway was given highest priority.

This is another project undertaken by the Golden Lake Property Owners Association on behalf of its members since it was incorporated. It nicely ties in with the waterway marking project that was completed in the summer of 2006.

We are “on course” to deliver a Canadian Coast Guard accredited course and test as a co-operative project with members of the Inter-Lake Committee. In that vein, notices are going out through Round Lake POA Newsletter in addition to this newsletter, of the sessions at Killaloe Public School.

Dates will be one or two weeknights before and after, including Saturday, July 7, depending on the expression of interest. The cost has been set at $35.00, which covers a four-hour session of instruction, the written test and the issuing of a temporary certificate on site. The official, permanent license is mailed directly within two weeks. Final details to be announced at the AGM on June 2.

The Walleye ban was lifted on January 1 as planned by the OMNR. Notices were distributed to local media and area notice boards. Here are details specific to Golden Lake:

On Golden Lake, a five-year closure of the walleye fishery ends and a 50 cm minimum size limit, and a catch and possession limit of two walleye (under a sport fishing licence) and one walleye (under a conservation fishing licence) take effect. The season will run from the third Saturday in May to March 31. This will increase angling opportunities while protecting species.

Firewood often contains insects and plant diseases. Cottagers or other visitors who bring firewood from home may accidentally spread those diseases that threaten the health of our forests. The Asian longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer are of particular concern. They are both recent arrivals to Canada and without natural controls here.

The emerald ash borer is currently believed to be confined to southwestern Ontario and southeast Michigan, where it has killed millions of ash trees. The movement of firewood has been the main culprit in its rapid spread in both the U.S. and Canada over the past year. As a result, a quarantine has been imposed which prohibits the movement of firewood from Essex, Lambton and Elgin Counties, the municipality of Chatham-Kent, and from the U.S.A.

The Asian longhorned beetle has been found attacking hardwood trees between Vaughan and Toronto. Both insects can be easily spread in firewood, which may look normal, but still be infested with the insects.

If you have questions call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at 1-800-442-2342 or go to www.inspection.gc.ca

Dave Lemkay, President – Tranquility Bay Drive
Kevin O'Connor, Vice-President – Hawkins Drive
Bill Clark, Secretary – Island View Drive
Weldon McEachen, Treasurer – McMillan Road

The local directors and zone reps are your link to the Association. If you need information, contact your local rep or director. Please note that these positions may change slightly after our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, June 2.

Zone 1	Golden Lake Village & Pikwakanagan	Director: Howard Bernard	Rep: Grace Kuiken
Zone 2	Island View Drive	Director: Bill Clark	Rep: Kate O’Hara, Leslie Moore
Zone 3	Hwy 60, Mundts Bay	Director: Norma Bailey, Doug Yourth, Kathy Lampi	Rep:
Zone 4	McMillan Rd, Goldfinch Dr.	Director: George Wilcox	Rep: John Finn
Zone 5	Deacon, McNee Drive, Browns Rd	Director: Carolyn Letters	Rep: Gary Yeldon, Bill Cooke
Zone 6	L'Escale, Great Heron, Harrington, Black Point, Kranz Rds.	Director: Gail McPhee	Rep: Ken Kruger, Nicole Dubreuil
Zone 7	Hawkins Dr, Nein-Mar, Bob's, Sheedy, Sleepy Hollow Lns, Skelly Lane, Bonnechere Rd	Director:	Rep: Norm Edwards Terry Ryan
Zone 8	Billena Way, Lynch-Reid, Richards, Cedar Beach Lns, Golden Mile, Golden Lyn McSearsull Way	Director:	Rep: John Visser, Roy McGrath,
Zone 9	Rocky Point, Tranquility Bay	Director: Cairine Cybulski	Rep: Dave Lemkay
Zone 10	Tramore Rd, Bonnechere River, Boyle, Eady Lns. White Church Road area	Director: Bill Gardiner, Susan St Jean	Rep: Malcolm Warnholtz, Glen Henneberry, Michael Johnson

In its second year the Association maintained the level of the previous year with just over 350 signed-up members. The rolls from three neighbouring townships indicate about 750 property owners on the Lake and River. Members are encouraged to renew when their zone representative comes calling.

Alternatively, the $20.00 annual dues can be mailed to The GLPOA. Although it is a modest amount, our membership dues fund important work that the Association does for us all.

Our goal once again this year is to attract new members. You can assist in this challenge by promoting the good work being done by many volunteers on behalf of everyone who shares the attachment to our beautiful lake and river.