Oxbow Lake Cottagers' Association

Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association Annual Meeting
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 10:00 am, Interlaken Fire Hall

1.Following coffee and timbits at 9:30 am, the President, John Scarfe, opened the meeting at 10am, welcoming the 65 members present. A moment of silence was observed in memory of lake members who passed away this past year: Gesela Meier, Ed McRobbie and Bill Wylie.
John drew attention to the announcements on the handout including the recent multiple bear sightings. New cottagers were welcomed and introduced: the Conlons from the West arm and the Christians from the East arm.

2.Special Guests:
Ben Boivin – retiring District Councilor
•A Building Services Information Meeting will be held on July 19 at the Dwight Township Office and July 20 at the Baysville Arena from 7pm to 9pm outlining permit process and new bylaws regarding building.
•Copies of the Report Card on the Muskoka Watershed 2010 were passed out. There is an evaluation form to fill out once you have reviewed the report either on paper or at www.muskokaheritage.org/watershed . The report card information is based on the best scientific data available. Bench marks measure progress against the goals established. There are 20 watersheds in Muskoka with subwatersheds, each being measured. This enables change to be detected and addressed early before becoming a bigger issue. The water in all of Muskoka is well above standard. Ben outlined other details of the report.
•Best wishes were extended to Ben with thanks for his many years of public service.

Ginny Burgess – Township Councilor and candidate for Sinclair/Finlayson in the upcoming election
•Ginny thanked the members of her Advisory committee – Larry Barber, Bruce Cameron, and Ed McRobbie, and also Lynda Arnold in assisting in the distribution of information. Advisory group brings the concerns within the community to her attention.
•Ginny is a supporter of core infrastructure, in particular, roads. Gravel is long overdue and both East and West Roads will be brought up to standard this year with gravelling.
•High Speed internet is available through 5 towers with one more added by September. Jan Sirek from Tasso initiated this several years ago. Ginny continues to move this forward.
•She is looking forward to continuing these projects and expanding if elected in October.

Marie Poirer – candidate for District Council
Marie shared her background – a permanent resident in Lake of Bays, a land planner, a business woman, an environmentalist, who has worked for many levels of government. She has degrees in biology, sits on many committees in the community and plans to bring a balanced and common sense approach to the issues in the Lake of Bays, if elected.

Shane Baker – candidate for District Council (with apologies for not being here)
Angie read comments on Shane’s behalf. Focusing in four areas: fiscal responsibility, public safety, environmental awareness, and specific ideas for the future, Shane feels his experience as a successful business owner and serving in various capacities on a variety of committees in the community will serve him well if elected. He brings his previous experience as a Councilor on the Lake of Bays Township also and offers ideas and plans for improvement and implementation. A brochure is available for pickup with details and contact information (653-1202 or shanebaker@vianet.ca).

Dan Waters – candidate for Mayor of Lake of Bays Township
Dan is more familiar with south side of the township but looks forward to becoming acquainted with the north side if elected. He is a former MPP, and involved in variety of areas, including the snowmobile trails. He was raised in Muskoka, offers a varied background, and having owned his own business, and being a builder, he understands some of the problems in building on the water. For more details please visit his website: www.danwaters.ca.

Nancy Tapley – Township Councilor and candidate for Franklin in the upcoming election
Nancy sits on the Advisory Committee with Ben. Her particular interest is the Heritage Committee that she chairs. This committee offers Heritage plaques, the Doors Open Tour through grants and donations. Buildings with rich and varied history are ‘designated’ and efforts to preserve them made. There is a tax relief program for these designated buildings. Her family has been in the Lake of Bays since 1905.

Janet Peake, Mayor of Lake of Bays was unable to attend today because of a death in the family and sends her regrets.

October 25th, 2010 Election – Cottagers Voting Information
If you receive a property tax bill, you will receive the information to vote. Check out the details on the Lake of Bays website.

3.Special Presentation – Bruce Cameron
•With the passing of Bill Wylie and Ed McRobbie over this past year, the Lake Association wanted to recognize the significant contribution by them both.
•Bill served 9 years as the Association President and was one of the founding Directors at Incorporation. He led the Association during one of its most challenging times involving the successful legal action against Camp Olympia stopping their proposed expansion.
•Ed served 10 years as the Association President and kept the Association going and growing. He also served on the Elected Councilor’s Advisory committee from the beginning, continually addressing issues such as road maintenance by the township and taking the lead in the downloading of the sewer and water issues. Ed was also instrumental in getting the vote for the cottagers.
•An email from Tom Brown, the Township Road Superintendent sums it up: “… sorry about the loss of Ed and Bill and I wish that they could have seen the gravel added to the roads, it was partly because of their efforts that these roads stayed at the priority that they did…”
•Vivian Wylie and Claudette McRobbie were presented with a plaque in memory of their husbands, Bill and Ed, acknowledging their many years of service and significant contribution to the well being of our lake. It will be mounted on the sign board at the West Oxbow Lake Road entrance.

4.Secretary’s Report – Lynda Arnold
Our records have Annual Meeting Minutes from August 3, 1959 to date. Missing are ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70 and ’90, ’91. Anyone that can provide copies of these years, would be appreciated. Thank you.
Motion – Lynda Arnold, Angie Heydon
That the minutes of the Annual Meeting 2009 be accepted as published. Carried

5.Treasurer’s Report – Diana Leicht
Finishing her first year as treasurer, Diana expressed the honor and privilege she felt to work on the lake executive. She extended thanks to Bill Thomson in helping collect dues from East arm and to Lynda Arnold for the organized records she received as the new treasurer. Diana went over the income and expenses of the past year and the proposed budget.

Motion – Diana Leicht, Bruce Cameron
That the Treasurer’s Report be accepted as presented and that the Association dues for 2010 – 2011 be set at $40.00 per cottage. Carried

6.Lake Stewards and FOCA Rep – Angie and Peter Heydon
The complete printed report included in the handout package was summarized by Angie. Our lake is very healthy. Good lake environmental tips are included in the handout report and the materials that are available at this meeting.
There was concern expressed at the erosion on the shoreline of Oxbow Lake.

7.Huntsville Lake of Bays Council – Tonia Di Sabatino
Tonia is stepping down as chair of this Council but will continue as rep of our lake. Participation of the lakes in the area is encouraged. Issues addressed include property tax, erosion, the Lake of Bays Strategic Plan, bylaws re shoreline development, replanting and the enforcement of shoreline erosion and recovery. The more informed you become, the better for all. Check their website!

Tonia had two brochures available for everyone:
•Boat Smart – YOUR boating impact on the lake and respect for neighbors and the lake.
•Muskoka Watershed

8.Our Lake Roads – Bruce Cameron
After a grating there are many large rocks and chunks left behind. It is suggested that cottagers kick or move the rocks off, each doing their own section. The roads presently are as good as they will get for now. Gravel is scheduled for September or October.

Winter Maintenance – Lynda Arnold
Last year the township provided a grant to help with the cost of winter plowing for West Oxbow Lake Road. With other demands and priorities they were not able to keep this in the budget this year but we will not give up and will be pursuing it in the future.

9.Summer Activities

•Friday, July 30, 2010 – Oxbow Lake Golf tournament, 12:00 noon at the Grandview Executive Course – Bruce Cameron.

•Saturday, July 31, 2010 – Oxbow Lake Social, 4:00 pm – at the Vigmond’s, 1118 East Oxbow Lake Road – adults only – Tonia Di Sabatino is organizing the food.

•Sunday, August 1, 2010 – Oxbow Lake Regatta 1:30 pm – on the shores of Oxbow Lakeside Community Club – Angie Heydon is coordinating, and looking for your help with the activities. The Wylies will provide the medallions.

10.Buoys in the no-wake zone
The boaters through this area seem to be complying and all visitors and renters must be advised and reminded of this designated area where there should be no wake at all.
The letter of June 12, 2010 letter from Gary & Ellen Lachance was tabled due to the high costs involved in larger buoys.

NEW BUSINESS

11.2010 Election of Directors and Executive for Oxbow Lake Cottagers’ Association
Motion – Sheldon Sturrock, Claudette McRobbie
That the 2010 – 2011 slate of officers as presented be accepted. Carried

Officers: For Election
Past President – John Scarfe*
President – Jim Vigmond*
Vice President – Angie Heydon*
West Arm Rep – Bruce Cameron
East Arm Rep – Bill Thomson
Secretary – Lynda Arnold
Treasurer – Diana Leicht
Members at Large – Mary Lee Keefe*, Laurie Thomson*
Directors – Bruce Cameron, Larry Barber, Diana Leicht*, Jim Vigmond, Gary Lachance*

Officers: For Appointment
Lake Stewarts – Angie and Peter Heydon
Roads – Bruce Cameron, Bill Thomson, Gary Lachance
Sinclair Advisory – Bruce Cameron and Larry Barber
Huntsville Lake Council Rep – Tonia Di Sabatino
FOCA Rep – Angie Heydon
Regatta Marshall – Angie Heydon
West Oxbow Cottage Sign – Ian Goodhand

12.Other
•Date for Lake AGM
There was a request to consider a different date perhaps in August particularly for people coming from distances. The Executive will take this into consideration when setting the date and will aim to choose a time to maximize attendance. Today’s attendance was one of the largest in a few years.

•Swimming in narrows or out in the lake
If you must, have a boat with you (paddleboat, canoe, etc) – you may not be seen otherwise!

•Noise factor of seadoos on the lake
It was noted that some are really responsible and others that need to be more considerate. The Boating brochures attempt to address this and other safe boating practices.

•Theft and invasion of property
More recently there have been separate incidences around the lake of items taken out of a vehicle and garage doors opened but the alarm system scaring the intruder off.

•Lake Directory 2010
New this year, the last one was published about 10 years ago. Please keep the secretary Lynda Arnold updated on your contact information. These are available to Lake Association members upon payment of their lake dues.

13.Fireworks tonight! World class at dusk! Compliments of Singletons with an invite to come and see the assembly and packaging this afternoon. Our THANKS to them!!

14.Jim Vigmond, as the new President, thanked John Scarfe, outgoing President for all of his work, efforts and great leadership over the past 3 years.
Jim also commented on what a great group of volunteers we have and how fortunate our lake is!!

15.Adjournment at 11:30am.