Oxbow Lake Cottagers' Association

Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association Annual Meeting
Saturday, June 30, 2007, 10:30 am, Interlaken Fire Hall

1.The President, Bill Wylie, opened the meeting, welcomed and introduced the head table and Executive.
A moment of silence was held in memory of John Forrest, Robert Bell and Patty Arbuthnot. 45 lake residents were present.

Bill commented on last year’s big storm where many families helped to clear our road, a real community effort. Power was lost for a week in a lot of cases. Hydro had a big job and did it well. Bell telephone was a different story. They did not seem to be concerned about our situation, either in storm or regarding cell service and high speed internet. They are not responsive to our needs. This was also confirmed later in the meeting by Colleen Dodds’ daughter, Darlene Kingstone. They have had ongoing problems and many issues in dealing with them.

2.Special Guests:
Janet Peake – Mayor of the Lake of Bays came for a brief time and had to leave early for other commitments.

Ben Boivin – District Representative, reported that they would be continuing #8 reconstruction. The top end will be sealed, starting at Interlaken. He also reported that there would be brushing and trenching both sides of the road down to #60 this year and they would finish reconstruction next year right to 60. The OPP will be patrolling smaller lakes and were on Oxbow yesterday. Ben had never heard of the change in lot designation to ‘green space’. He will look into it. Fire lot numbers are a building department issue. Ben now has email!

Ginny Burgess – Township Councilor (Bella Lake resident) – Her Advisory Committee aim is to have reps from all lakes – Bruce, Ed and Bill are Oxbow Lake Reps. The Advisory meets every two months. Ginny welcomes direct contact with her if needed. There has been no CAO in the Township office for the past couple of months.

Bruce Cameron reported from Ginny’s Advisory Committee that the land tax will increase 5.3%, and the next Advisory meeting will be August 20, 7pm at Burgess’ home. There is a $2500 cost to register a lake plan. A Lake Stewartship plan instead is possible. He also expressed concern over a possible snowmobile in our lake, a boat in the lake over the winter. All cottagers have to be responsible for what happens at their cottages. Bruce introduced Gary LaChance as a new cottager on our lake.

Hunting on Sunday has changed to allow firing of rifles to hunt during hunting season. Residents were not consulted on this issue. If given a chance, we would have expressed our concern.

3.Secretary’s Report – The minutes appear on our lake website with a notice of this sent by email to members.
Motion – Lynda Arnold, Angie Heydon
That the minutes be accepted as presented. Carried

4.Treasurer’s Report – Overall the general account is in good shape.
Motion – Lynda Arnold, Barb Barber
That the Treasurer’s Report be accepted as presented. Carried

Motion – Lynda Arnold, Jim Vigmond
That the Association dues for 2007 – 2008 be set at $40.00 per cottage. Carried

Motion – Lynda Arnold, Angie Heydon
That a donation of $100 be made to the Fire Hall, Station 50 with thanks for the use of the facilities for our Annual Meeting and also for their continuing service to the community. Carried

5.Oxbow Lake vs Olympia Camp
-Bill reviewed the past year, the decisions of the court in our favor (the building permit must be rescinded) and the cost awards. We were past the deadline to submit our objections to the tent platforms and so this was not recognized by the court. The septic system was never challenged by our association. Our lawyer Marshall Green was excellent.
-There is still concern of the activity on the point. We have told the Township of our concern regarding the use.
-Ian McLean reiterated our issue was with the useage of the property/tent platforms/ building permit. Although 16-18 campers have use of the property, he feels there is still potential for larger tents and other unwanted issues.
-The Camp does not have use of the road allowance for building a road on it to the peninsula property.
-A letter to the township was written by the President to ask them to rewrite the bylaw to clarify the legal non conforming clause so others would not have to deal with what we had gone through.
-Bill Thomson said we need to ask the questions before us now of the Township and the new Planner.
-The Executive will follow up in liaising with the Township, and exploring what other Rules and Regulations exist pertain to commercial activity on the Point.
-With respect to our legal fees, the Association has kept the Legal Fund separate from the General Association funds. There is still a small outstanding balance left to be paid. Suggested donation $50-75.00 per cottage would cover the balance.

Motion – Lynda Arnold, Bill Thomson
Be it resolved that $2400 from the Association excess funds to date be designated towards the outstanding legal fees. Carried (1 opposed)

Motion – Lynda Arnold, Bill Thomson
Be it resolved that excess funds from the 2007 – 2008 Association General Account be designated towards outstanding legal fees. Carried (1 opposed)

Motion – Lynda Arnold, Jim Vigmond
Be it resolved that within one year after the legal fees have been paid in full, all records of donors be destroyed to protect the anonymity of those donors. Carried

6.Lake Steward – Angie Heydon
Water quality monitoring
Good news: Spring phosphorous levels in Oxbow Lake have been monitored by volunteers since 1981 and remain steady within the acceptable range for our type of lake.
In 2007, Oxbow Lake is one of about 70 lakes chosen at random by the District of Muskoka for more in-depth monitoring. In addition to spring phosphorous, components include: sample for base chemicals, dissolved oxygen readings, shoreline land use surveys, terrestrial forest plot establishment, and benthic macro-invertebrate sampling.

Lake Plan – The results of the Lake questionnaire show that we have a shared vision on this lake. With the present bylaws there is the means to enforce the protection of our lake.
Angie conducted a raffle of the donated Environmentally Friendly products with the funds going to the legal fund. (Bill Wylie won the raffle!!)

Muskoka Water Web – District of Muskoka does intensive monitoring and Oxbow is up this year. Shoreline survey, chemicals present, creepy, crawlies, etc are monitored in the lake. So far so good, we are in good shape, partly being at the top end of the water shed and also due to our own environmental efforts. Keep up the good work!

FOCA – These fees were increased slightly. Be sure to check out their website www.foca.on.ca

Huntsville Lake Council needs a rep from our Lake. Tonia DiSabatino volunteered.

7.Roads – Ed McRobbie
No capital funding is available for re-gravelling this year of the Oxbow Lake Roads. The removal of rocks on the East and West Oxbow roads will likely be completed in the fall. The dust control was applied to West Oxbow road June 30, 2007.

8.Summer Activities
§Friday, August 3, 2007 – Oxbow Lake Golf tournament 12:00 noon – Call Bruce Cameron 635-3278 to sign up.

§Saturday, August 4, 2007 – Hospital and Station 50 Fund Raiser Pig Roast – hosted by Tasso Lake Cottage Association ($20 adults, $10 children, under 5 free). For details call Shane Baker 635-1202

§Sunday, August 5, 2007 – Oxbow Lake Regatta 1:30 pm – on the shores of Oxbow Lakeside Community Club (formerly Oxbow Lodge) – Angie Heydon is coordinating, and looking for your help with the activities.

§Saturday, August 11, 2007 – Oxbow Lake Social – one week after the August long weekend. Claudette McRobbie is coordinating the food. Location will be at the Arnolds, 1367 West Oxbow Lake Road. Tickets will be $15/person and are available from the Arnolds, Camerons and McRobbies!

9.Interlaken Fire Department – Special thanks to Station 50 for the use of the hall for our Annual Meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

10.Artist of Limberlost – Sue Hartman

This is the first year of this special tour organized by 8 artists with guest artists – August 18 – 19, 2007. It is a small tour of 20 km to be able to fit it all in. There will be a $100 gift certificate drawn for one of the visitors.

11.The President thanked Jeff Drouillard and Karen Nasmith for their past service on the Executive.

Proposed 2007 – 2008 Slate of Officers for Election
-Past President – Bill Wylie
-President – John Scarfe
-Vice President – Jim Vigmond
-West Arm Rep – Bruce Cameron
-East Arm Rep – Bill Thomson
-Secretary/Treasurer – Lynda Arnold

For Appointment
-Directors – Bruce Cameron, Larry Barber, Bill Thomson, Jim Vigmond, Bill Wylie; – Lake Stewarts – Angie and Peter Heydon; – Roads – Ed McRobbie; – Member at Large – open

Motion – Gary LaChance, Murray Arnold
That nominations be closed and the 2007 – 2008 slate of officers be accepted as presented. Carried

At this point the new President, John Scarfe, assumed the chair.

12.Lori Wood proposed and volunteered to put together Oxbow lake cottagers’ stories of their cottage experiences for all to have. She has enjoyed sitting and listening to stories of the happenings on the lake. Send her your stories or email them to the secretary, Lynda Arnold and she will pass them on.

13.Thank you to our outgoing President, Bill Wylie
Ed McRobbie expressed the grateful sentiments of all for the direction that Bill Wylie, as President has given to the Association over the past few years. He worked very hard for all of us and we thank him for all his efforts. Bill was presented with a plaque and a standing ovation acknowledged this appreciation by all present.

Thanks was also extended to Barb Barber for providing coffee and Timbits for the meeting.

Adjournment at 12:15pm
Motion – Angie Heydon, Jim Vigmond