Oxbow Lake Cottagers' Association

Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association Annual Meeting
Saturday, June 28, 2008, 10:00 am, Interlaken Fire Hall

1.Following coffee and timbits at 9:30 am, the President, John Scarfe, opened the meeting, welcomed and introduced the head table and Executive. 45 members were present. John commented on the past spring conditions, upcoming summer weather and wildlife sightings.

2.Special Guests:
a) Janet Peake, Mayor of the Lake of Bays sent apologies for not being able to be here.

b) Ben Boivin, District Councilor, touched on a number of issues. – The Muskoka area is excited that the G8 Summit will be here in 2010.
-Limberlost Road will be torn up from Hutchison Road to South Limberlost Road at some point this summer. Ben has requested later August and September if possible but was not promised anything given other road projects.
-With respect to the “Water/Sewer Taxation Issue”, Ben indicated that the long-awaited Treasurer’s Report was submitted to the District Councilors this week. This will go to the committee of Mayors Friday and will be a public document shortly thereafter. On July 19 at 9:30am there will be a public meeting at Dwight where your input can be provided. Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association should be well represented at this meeting. We need to get involved to be able to say how much we are willing to pay for. www.Muskoka.on.ca

The Commissioner of Finance has outlined a number of options in his report. The District will select the fairest option in their opinion. Debt for urban sewer and water is $91 million +. Three quarters of this amount has occurred since the Walkerton event. Ben has indicated his opposition to extending costs without valid reasons. He supports user-fees re maintaining the lagoons.

Question – Is it true that in Lake of Bays, Baysville is the only one hooked up – about 100 users?
Ben – Yes

Question – Will the Mayor and Councilor Marg Casey be voting to pass this?
Ben – You can’t tell how an individual will vote. Marg has indicated that the rural will receive some benefits if we support urban sewer and water costs.

Question – Other than being able to use toilets in Huntsville, what are the added benefits to us?
Ben – Marg Casey feels that (not upgrading water and sewers) it will adversely affect people downstream. Most downstream are on their own systems. If some don’t treat, the quality of water will be affected.

Question – Will there be a special levy? $100/year?
Ben – One proposal is $30/yr but this can set a dangerous precedent.

Question – What work has the District been involved in regarding environmental issues?
Ben – The report card gives a good overview – see the District website. More people are becoming aware of land trusts and submitting large parts of land. There has been a great deal of time and effort in recycling of garbage.

Jennifer Schnier, Lake of Bays Parks and Rec Coordinator, reported that the Ironman 70.3 competition is being hosted here Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. There will be 2000 competitors plus family and supporters. Billeting is being offered. Deerhurst is the staging site for a number of the competitions. The main competition includes a 2.4 km swim, 90km bike (really only 87km!) and running. Pros will go first, etc. with each racing in their own category. This is a great opportunity for business in Lake of Bays. With respect to traffic, there will be no issues for Highway 60 except for a three hour period that day: the area by Delta Grandview will be marshaled. Participants are made up of 20% international and 30% US, with 50 winners going to the world Triathlon in Florida. They are considering Muskoka for the international event also! See www.lakeofbays.ca for more information.
The paving of a section of road (2.3 km Dwight) is one of the undertakings involved ahead of time. Cyclists would have had to use Highway 60 if it was not paved and this is too dangerous. Jennifer feels this preparation will open the door for other corporate challenges (team building), other races and possibilities.

c) Ginny Burgess, our Township Councilor, was not able to be present but sent in a report that was read by Bill Wylie. Her Advisory Committee meets regularly and has reps from all lakes including Bruce Cameron, Ed McRobbie and Bill Wylie from our lake. See attached report.

3.Secretary’s Report
Motion – Lynda Arnold, Angie Heydon
That the minutes of the Annual Meeting 2007 be accepted as published. Carried

4.Treasurer’s Report
Motion – Lynda Arnold, Angie Heydon
That the Treasurer’s Report be accepted as presented. Carried

Motion – Claudette McRobbie, Bruce Cameron
That the final financial Legal Report be accepted as presented. Carried

Motion – Angie Heydon, Colleen Dodds
That the Association dues for 2008 – 2009 be set at $40.00 per cottage. Carried

5.The Camp – Building permits granted at the Township are being monitored. The Camp still has a septic system permit at this point for the point property.
The northeast corner of the lake outflow by the camp has an algae bloom already. Testing is needed. Marc Lichtenberg will look into testing.

6.Lake Stewards – Angie and Peter Heydon test the west side and Marc Lichtenberg the east side (started in 1999). Every 3 years the District of Muskoka does lake water testing and last year was our year. Phosphorus is key point being monitored and is tracked over the whole summer. Both the readings done by District and us show phosphorus levels have been going down and the water getting better. An additional test was for the dissolved oxygen, which supports fish life. We are in good shape with a healthy lake. Ecoli testing was 2 years ago and both times 0 or a miniscule amount of no concern. Keep up the good work!

Everyone needs to be aware that their own system is working properly. The good quality of our lake is due to the upgrades of our septic systems.

FOCA – check out their site for valuable information on cottaging.

7.Huntsville Lakes Council – Tonia DiSabatino
We pay $35 for membership and presently there are representatives from 20 lakes with 25 reps. HLC deals with water quality, roads, watershed, environmental issues, resources for cottage issues and provides lake related articles for the Huntsville Forester. Check out their site, which gives info on how other lakes are doing. There are monthly meetings on the first Saturday of the month. Let Tonia know if you would like to attend with her. Some of their jobs recently have been standardized buoys for lakes, the pesticide issue for hydro cuts. Coming up this summer, they will be hosting a bbq at Robinsons. www.huntsvillelakescouncil.org

8.Roads – Ed McRobbie reported on his discussions with Tom Brown, Roads Supervisor, from Lake of Bays. Our roads have been graded and west arm has received dust control. Ed has emailed a list of corrections to be addressed this year. He will continue to work with Tom on keeping our roads up. West Oxbow will receive some gravel this year.

9.Summer Activities

• Sunday, June 29, 2008 – Fireworks show by the Singletons at dusk.
• Friday, August 1, 2008 – 12 noon Oxbow Lake Golf tournament at Grandview Executive Course – Bruce Cameron organizing. To sign up or inquire call 705-635-3278.
• Saturday, August 2, 2008 – 5:00 Oxbow Lake Social at the Vigmonds (1118 East Oxbow Road ) with Sharon Vigmond and Claudette McRobbie and Diana Leicht organizing. $15/person, adults only, call John Scarfe for tickets – 705- 635-1249
• Sunday, August 3, 2008 – 1:30 Oxbow Lake Regatta at the Oxbow Lakeside Community Club. Angie Heydon will be coordinating. Everyone is welcome. Canoe race, kayak race (new), tug of war, games and refreshments.

10.Fire Department – Congratulations to Murray Arnold as the new captain of Interlaken Fire Station 50.

NEW BUSINESS

11.District of Muskoka –
a) With respect to the “Water/Sewer Taxation Issue”, Ed McRobbie reported on concerns over proposed tax increases and downloading of costs to upgrade urban sewers in Huntsville to rural residents throughout Muskoka. Debate continues over the District’s excessive debt and the fact that Development fees, and this includes water and sewer, are under-charged with only 18% covered by the developer/owner. Sewer and water lines are put in that not all residents are hooking up to. Lagoon maintenance is logical for us to have to contribute to. Any fees passed on set a dangerous precedent for the future. Thank you to Ed who has continued to write letters and has been diligent in his vigilance on this matter.
The July 19th meeting at 9:30am at the Dwight Township offices is a very important meeting. Members of the Executive will be in attendance. Feel free to forward your concerns to any of the Executive if you can not attend yourself.

Most cottage associations, including our own, have expressed serious concern over the proposed downloading. The Huntsville Lakes Council shares this position. Our Association has also written to the District chair expressing our concern and our desire to be heard once the proposal has been made public.

Motion – Bill Thomson, Bill Wylie
To adopt the contents of the letter from our President to Gord Adams, District Chair outlining our ongoing concerns with respect to the proposals for funding of water and sewers in Muskoka and requesting a copy of the District Treasurer’s Report as soon as it becomes available and that we be added to the agenda for the following Council meeting so that we might address our concerns to Council. Carried

b) With respect to the appointment/election of the Chair of the District of Muskoka, Bill Wylie reported that the Chair, presently Gord Adams, is appointed by 30 people (District members). We have no say in who that chair is. As a democracy we should be able to elect this important person. The filling of this position is under discussion concerning the methods used to select the chair.

Motion – Bill Wylie, Bill Thompson
That the membership of the Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association support a process that permits the election of the Chair of the District of Muskoka by the electorate as a whole and not by appointment by members of the Regional Council. Carried
(This will be forwarded to Marg Casey, Ben Boivin, Janet Peake, Ginny Burgess)

12.2008 Election of Directors and Executive for Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association
Motion – Don Fowke, Lynn Brown
That nominations be closed. Carried

Motion – Lois Emerson, Murray Arnold
That the 2008 – 2009 slate of officers as presented be accepted. Carried

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
• Member at Large – Diana Leicht, Kristin Jenkins
• Directors – Bruce Cameron, Larry Barber, Bill Thomson, Jim Vigmond, Bill Wylie

For Appointment

• Lake Stewarts – Angie and Peter Heydon
• Roads Supervisors- Ed McRobbie, Bruce Cameron, Jim Vigmond
• Sinclair Advisory Reps – Bruce Cameron and Ed McRobbie
• Huntsville Lake Council Rep – Tonia DiSabatino
• FOCA Rep – Angie Heydon
• Regatta Marshall – Angie Heydon
• West Oxbow Cottage Sign – Ian Goodhand

13.OTHER
a)Can the list of Association members with names, phone numbers and fire number be available to the membership? After some discussion indicating concern and mixed feeling, this was tabled.

b)Buoys perhaps need to be larger in some areas on our lake. HLC have dealt with buoys for other lakes. Tonia will request costs from them for the Executive to consider.

c)The President, John, thanked everyone for coming and he also thanked the Executive and appointed members for their work and efforts on behalf of the Association.

14.Adjournment
Motion – Angie Heydon, Murray Arnold
That the meeting be adjourned at 12:20 pm. Carried