Board Meeting Minutes
Friends of Claytor Lake Meeting of the Board, August 14, 2008
Present: Ronnie Powers, Darla Jennings, Bill Cunningham, Dave Stevenson, Dean
Jackson, Mike Spraker, John Toothaker, Jeff Arnold, Jackson Beamer, Cheri Strenz,
Wes Billings, Larry Moore, Ranny Akers, John Johnson, Harold Lambert, Mike McLeod,
Dave Dobyns, Chris Meade, Bill Fintel, Tom Cole, Mike Burchette
Opening Notes. Ronnie Powers called the meeting to order and thanked MK’s for
providing the delicious Pizza & Salad for dinner. Beth Cade of the US Army Corps of
Engineers had intended to be at the meeting but was unable attend. Pulaski County
Manager Pete Huber also intended to participate in the meeting but was unable to
attend due to another commitment. The June Minutes were approved as written.
Executive Director Darla Jennings presented the financial report. The report was
approved unanimously.
Boating & Alcohol. Board Member and Officer in the Conservation Police Wes
Billings was asked to address questions regarding alcohol consumption and boating.
He stated the following:
•Title 4.1305 applies to drinking in public and can be found in full detail online.
•Alcohol within a boat is not considered drinking in public, but it is not recommended.
•It is against the law for the driver of the boat to be driving while under the influence
of alcohol.
•A blood alcohol level of 0.08 is intoxication.
•The Conservation Police is in charge of alcohol enforcement.
Officer of the Year Award Proposal. Wes also presented to the board the idea
of FOCL sponsoring an Officer of the Year Award--an annual award given to a
peer-selected officer for the example set. Thirteen officers work the lake. The
idea is for the award to be peer-chosen w/FOCL approving. It was expressed by
Board members that this was not a good year to initiate this award in that the
stepped-up presence of officers on the lake has not been seen as all that positive
in that the officers have been a little brusque and perhaps too aggressive in
checking on boaters. Some stakeholders, including members of the FOCL Board,
have been stopped multiple times in concurrent days--not for infractions but for
a check on the safety and qualifications of the boaters. It was pointed out during
the discussion that this award could help the officers find the right balance
between helping to strive for a safe lake and annoying stakeholders. A committee
was formed (consisting of John Toothaker, Dean Jackson & Larry Moore) to study
the proposal and make recommendations to the FOCL Board.
Wes also pointed out that the officers on the lake come from 12 surrounding (some
non-water) counties and better training on the best way to patrol the lake may be
needed. But in the interest of Boating Safety, Virginia Law has tightened down since
the passage of the new law and that’s why we’ve seen this increase in the presence
of officers. Charlie Mullins is the supervisor over this area and Clark Green is the
Regional Officer over the region. Supervisor Mullins can be reached at phone
number 276-783-4860.
Thanks to the BSA. President Ron Powers thanked Larry Moore, Boardmember
serving as our liaison to the Boy Scouts of America, for the dinner and tour of the
new Claytor Lake Aquatics Center on July 31, 2008.
Aquatic Restoration Project Update. FOCL representatives met at the State Park
Conference center with the US Army Corps of Engineers on July 22, 2008. In
previous cost estimates supplied for the project, the Corps had missed the cost of a
needed study of (Habit Evaluation Protocol at an approximate cost of $50,000). A
public meeting updating stakeholders on the project tentatively set for August or
September has been postponed to Oct or Nov. The board concurred that an update
on the project is needed.
A discussion of the First Annual Claytor Lake Poker Run was presented by Tom
Cole & Mike Burchett of Rock House Marina. The Poker Run was declared a big success
by those who participated. Forty-five boats participated with 120 hands played. It was
a great atmosphere and the weather was perfect. FOCL received $948 from the event.
The FOCL Board thanked Tom & Mike for the contribution to the organization and for
arranging and running such a fine event.
Lake Clean-up. The Clean-up operation is currently working the State Park and will
soon move to Hidden Valley. Twenty roll-offs of debris have been removed. This
number is a little short of our average but the clean-up crew has also removed 508
bags of trash--which is a significant number. It is estimated that 15 bags of trash
are equivalent to one roll-off, so this translates to another 34 roll-offs. In addition
24 tires and 2 hazmat items have been removed. Following Hidden Valley, the
Clean-up Crew will move to the Carol Metz property.
It was suggested that we have a community event for clean up similar to what the
National Committee for the New River does.
FOCL Board Member and AEP Representative on the Board Teresa Rogers reported
through Darla Jennings that $20,000 has been approved from AEP to support FOCL’s
clean-up efforts.
The Shoreline Management Committee has cruised the lake to study debris
management. It was pointed out that certain coves will remain debris filled as it’s
considered a natural ecological process. The Carol Metz property was pointed out
as a natural debris catch area. While cruising the lake, the devastation in the
hemlock tree population due to the wooly delgin insect was noted (it’s the white
powdery bug seen in the area). Hydrilla issues were not discussed during the cruise;
it was noted that bass fisherman do not regard hydrilla as a negative because it i
ncreases the habitat for fish.
Contributor Appreciation Day. Since it has been 6-7 years since we last had a
Contributor Appreciation Day, Dean Jackson suggested we have another. At the last
one, we christened the Miss Pulaski County. A motion was passed to set one up.
One man’s debris is another man’s structure...President Ron Powers introduced
to the Board Coach Harold Lambert, a well-known crappy fisherman. Coach Lambert
pointed out that fishermen do not approve of our clean up program because it
removes “structure.” Fisherman refer to natural debris in the water as “structure”
because fish use it as a refuge and it promotes fish habitat. He pointed out that
fisherman in general do not have the appreciation of FOCL as one might imagine.
Discussion ensued: It was agreed that FOCL’s goal is to promote a healthy lake and
that all Claytor Lake Stakeholders may not agree as to what constitutes a “healthy
lake.” But a lot of what has been done by FOCL up to this point in terms of clean up
is from a view to promoting a clean lake as perceived by property owners. It was
agreed that FOCL wants to do the right thing when it comes to the Lake and that
fisherman, and their thoughts, should be included in the pursuit of a healthy lake
and the FOCL Board welcomes their input and participation in our endeavors.
FOCL Vice President Jackson Beamer pointed out that if you have property on the
lake, debris is not considered “structure” but something that is unsightly and
dangerous and lowers the value of the property around the lake in that it inhibits
boating and swimming and makes human activity on the lake dangerous and
unpleasant. It was concluded that FOCL’s goal overall is to do the right thing; but
what that is, is not always clear. But ultimately the FOCL goal is a balanced view
of what constitutes a healthy lake.
Committee Reports. John Toothaker suggested that we create a more formalized
structure for the board meetings so that one committee is responsible for reporting
a month; it was noted that this approach could promote activity in the committees
and promote better communication within the organization.
The meeting was adjourned.
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