2021 COMPLETED WMLCRID PROJECTS

Here are the improvements implemented during 2021 :

1. DISTRICT ASSESSENT & COMMUNITY INPUT - - All District staff regularly assess the District Processes. Additionally, public input is continually collected from our passionate residents, lake users, lake volunteers, and past board members. We have looked at how things have been done in the past, at how well they are working now, and how we might improve things going forward. This written list you are reading now is the ongoing fruits of that labor (although not in any particular order). This list is regularly updated with the most current info. Staff will be pursing the big ticket items, while at the same time getting after some of the "low hanging fruit" ideas that are easy and less expensive to accomplish.  ONGOING UPDATES
2. MEMBERSHIP SOFTWARE - - Currently, all of our membership data and details, plus cash accounting is accomplished via 12 separate Excel Spreadsheets. Also, our ability to send emails to all 3,400 members is greatly hindered by our email provider (frontier), which limits us to 87 addresses per distribution list, and limits us to only 18 distribution lists total. Both of these systems are insufficient for the District's needs. With this in mind, we are seeking Membership Software solutions (similar to HOA software) that will allow us: to manage membership accounts, to easily send out email blasts to all members, to allow members to sign up for district events, to accept for online payments for District Items & Services, to print out daily cash handling reports, and to manage the accounting of District Revenue. RESULT - - We have determined that HOA software will be too expensive and that Constant Contact (CC), which focuses on the email sending, will also suffice as the District Database (with only a few work-arounds) & will give us the functionality that the District Needs. Additionally, Staff has learned that CC also can host the District website as well (no additional fees). Migrating the website from the current provider to CC will save the District some expenditures. DONE
3. WMLCRID PROJECTED BUDGET POSTED ON WEBSITE - - With a new County Finance Director, some clarification regarding the budget was needed. RESULT - - Staff has clarified the District Budget with the county. Note: the District experience substantial savings in expenditures for both 2020 & 2021, meaning that the District has a healthy reserves in place to be applied to projects. The District will continue to also pursue savings in expenditures. The District's "Projected" Budget is posted on the website  DONE
4. BOAT DOCK FLOAT REPAIRS - - We need to purchase additional dock floats to replace the floats that are failing on the "rental" dock.  RESULT - - While the purchasing process for these four floats proved to be tedious, once received staff was able to install the new floats, removing the sag and bringing the dock into proper structure.   DONE
5. CONSIDER A WET MOORING - - We have a request for one Wet Mooring (Really, it is a "remote anchorage"), where the boat is anchored to a float out away from the dock, and the boat owners must paddle out (or swim) to their get on their boat. RESULT - - We have implemented the wet moor, on a trial basis. It seems to be working, and it is wonderful to see a sailboat on the lake. The mooring location is on the edge of our no-wake zone, so that it does not interfere with boating traffic. We will likely not do a second one of these as there really isn't the space.    DONE
6. BUOY WEIGHTS REPLACEMENT & CABLE REPAIR - - Over the winter, several cables came free, mostly due to rusting out. While the roaming buoys have been retrieved, we do need to make up some new weights. RESULT - - Staff has replaced the broken cables with proper cables, and positioned the buoys in their proper location.    DONE
7. RE-DO PARKING LINES - - Similarly, some of our parking lot lines are wearing thin, and we are looking to replace them. The lines are done with approximately 1,000 feet of exterior rope, which costs a bit. Additionally, the rope causes a trip hazard in the locations were the ground makes even a little valley, causing staff to have to patrol the lines for places need to be staked down. Staff is concerned for visitor safety.  RESULT - -  Staff was able to implement a painting method by which we lay down liquid paint (via a sprayer) as opposed to an aerosol. The cost of the paint is much less than the rope. Staff is able to re-apply, as needed every 3 weeks or so, during the times (midweek) when there are only a few (or no) visitors. This means that there are no additional staff costs for painting, as it gets done as a part of staff's normal maintenance and patrol duties. Also, should the painting method prove cumbersome down the road, staff can always switch back to the rope/strap method of noting parking lines.   DONE
8. CONFERENCE ROOM - - The District could use a place to a facilitate small in-person meetings, for up to 6-80 folks.  RESULT - - Staff was able to created a small conference room at the front of the office building. There is a medium conference table and chairs to accommodate the small in-person meetings      DONE
9. WEATHER STATION - - Staff regularly receives requests from District Members (who are living elsewhere) wanting a way to be able to know what the "weather" is up at the lake. They have expressed interest in knowing temperature, wind speed, rain totals, etc.  RESULT - - Staff has purchased and installed a weather station, and connected it to our website so that anyone can know the weather at the lake.  DONE
10. STAFF SHIRTS - - It is important for WMLCRID staff to be readily identified by lake visitors. This allows visitors to know who to go to for any issues. It also allows visitors to know that it is staff approaching them (when needed) and not so strange person. Currently, the district has vests (that say staff on back) for staff to wear for this purpose, however, staff finds the vests to be quite cumbersome.  RESULT - - The District has put staff into tee-shirts (or a polo) that carry the WMLCRID Logo on the front and say "staff on back". All of the shirts are the same color, so that visitors can easily spot who is staff and who is not.  DONE
11. KAYAK RENTAL (RG) - - There is a desire from many lake visitors to rent kayaks from us. The District would like to provide this service, and the revenue gained should help offset other projects. RESULT - - We have received approval (County & Ins Provider) for the user liability waiver agreement, and have the rental form in place. We have modeled our rental fees after the set-up at Fools Hollow Lake. Staff is having a local metal smith build a small a-frame structure that will hold up to 6 boats (3 each side) for strong security and easy access for staff to rent out the boats during the summer months. During the off-season, the boats will be stored in the maintenance shed, and can be accessed as needed. The kayaks are also available for rent during the off-season, by appointment. Currently, we are working with the two single kayaks we have, and can purchase more as needed (such as double kayaks and paddle boards).   DONE
12. CARR CIRCLE ADDITIONS - - Staff is considering the following additions to Carr Circle, based on public input and staff assessment. We want to add some benches/tables next to the playground, for parents to use while their kids play. We are also looking into installing two disc golf holes on the east side of the park, which will provide adults/teens with a recreation amenity. There will be basket one going out, and the other coming back in, and staff will create two "fairways" (super short weeds).  We are also looking into painting lines on the cement outdoor basketball court. We also want to trim up all the overgrown juniper trees on Carr Circle Park (East-Side Half).  RESULT - - This summer, staff added a picnic table in the shade between the playground and the b-ballcourt. Staff also painted lines on the b-ball court, both free-throw and 3-point lines. Staff has attempted to purchase the two disc baskets, but all companies have them on backlog due to the supply chain issues affecting our country. Staff will make this purchase once they are available, and install once received. DONE
13. REGULAR NEWSLETTER - - We are interested in communicating better with our community. One way to do that, is to produce a regular newsletter. This document would be available in hard copy (@ strategic neighborhood locations), & also available digitally (website, Facebook, etc.).  RESULT - - Starting in July, Staff has been producing a new newsletter every month and a half (or so).   DONE
14. REGULAR FACEBOOK POSTINGS - - We are interested in communicating better with our community. One way to do that, is to better utilize social media. Currently, our Facebook page is our strongest option. We can build up the page as a place to go for the latest info.  RESULT - - Staff is committed to posting district updates regularly. In addition to posts about the work being done at the lake, we would also like to highlight the History of the Lake (i.e. throwback Thursday), and perhaps include some punny lake humor (i.e. funny Fridays).    DONE
15. GRANT FUNDING - - We will continue to pursue Grant Funding for both the small & major recreation amenities and services.  ONGOING
16. SWIM COVE LINE MARKER - - Each year, staff has an issue with boats (kayaks and paddle boards) entering the swimming cove. The no-boats rule exists to keep paddles away from swimmers heads. The swim cove is marked with three singular white bouys. When confronting them about need to stay out, boaters often state that they just didn't know where the line for the cove actually is. This is partly due to the no-wake zone (also with singular white bouys) which is around the dock area and also directly next to the swim cove. Basically, we have SOME white bouys that are ok to go past and OTHERS that are not.  RESULT - - To help clear this up staff has purchased aquatic rope and 20 small red bouys which will outline the swim cove for our lake visitors. The swim cove line will be tied to the three white bouys and will stop a few feet short of the shore line. These swim cove markers will be installed in the spring after the water is done freezing for the winter.  DONE (STAFF WILL INSTALL IN SPRING)
17. SIGNAGE PROJECT - - Staff has identified some needs for additional signage. Primarily, there is a need for a 5mph/WatchForKids type of signs as visitors often move too quickly through the parking lot. Additionally, there is a need for some more rule "reminder signs" along the beach and dock areas: Pick up after your dog, no public dumping, no drones, etc. The Reminder Signs serve the purpose of informing visitors of the pertinent rules that apply to using any area of the lake property. Staff does verbally speak to the placard owners about the rules, but then those District Members might have guests who have never heard the rules. Last Year, we installed Reminder Signs with the primary rules. Since then it has become evident that some additional rules need highlighting.  RESULT - - Staff has designed, purchased, and installed the signs.  DONE
18. VACATION RENTAL PLACARD HOLD PROGRAM - - Our current District Placard system requires that renters pay a refundable $25 deposit, which they can receive back once they are done renting that property. This process was put into place for the typical rental, lasting a year or so, but it still works for those 3-Month or even 1-Month long rentals. An issue arises for those properties where the owners are offering their property as a vacation rental, for 1- Week or 1-Weekend. These property owners have trouble hanging on to their placard as renters lose them or take the placard home, leaving the property owner to pay for the replacement. Many of these property owners have asked for us to hold onto their placard and collect the $25 deposit for them. While we have done this for a few folks, the quantity is increasing such that we want to set up a yearly fee for this "hold your placard" program.  RESULT - - The program has begun with a new form that puts the info we need, where we need it. Additionally, we have put those placards (that we hold on to) in a location that is quickly reachable and next to the new forms for the program. The implementation of the fee will start next year.   DONE
19. SCRID CONVERSATION REGADING WATER LEVEL - - This past winter, we did not receive the rain that we needed to fill the lake. The Silver Creek Irrigation District (SCID), owns the lake and the land it sits in. WMLCRID has an agreement to keep the lake level between the 13ft Mark & the 0ft Mark (as noted on our boat ramp) between Memorial Day & Labor Day. We currently pay SCID $60k each year ($5k/month) for this privilege. The issue this year, is that we are starting out with a low water level, where as in the past, we would be completely full by the middle of May.  We need to stay in conversation with SCID about how they can maintain the water level of our lake.  RESULT #1 - - There were productive meetings between WMLCRID, SCID, and the County regarding this issue. SCID is very concerned about going below the 0 mark. The current contract states that SCID may take the lake lower than agreed upon, but it does not state what the proration would be, should that happen. The meetings held, were fruitful in finally defining what that proration would look like (25% reduction for every foot below). Additionally, staff would use the last THU of each month as the measure for payment.  RESULT #2 - - The lowest water level recorded was -1.5ft bXelow, however, due to a Flash Flood event in late July 2021, the water lever rose vertically 15 ft in 12 hours, and another 3 ft in the next 12 hours. Needless to say, we are no longer in danger of going below the 0 mark that has been agreed to. Staff will continue to have regular conversations with the SCID board and staff.    DONE & ONGOING