2022 COMPLETED WMLCRID PROJECTS

Here are the improvements implemented during 2022:

1. DISTRICT WORKPLAN - - 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. CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS - - Currently, the only types of payments we can accept are cash or check. Staff has worked with the County to be able to take credit card payments (and eventually accept online payments). Now that the software decision has been implemented, staff will move forward with a credit card payment provider.  RESULT - - Staff secured the Square Register System, which allows the district to take all forms of credit/debit card payments. This system allows staff to link a District Member Account to each purchase. This system will also provide a cash register function and cash management system making it easier and quicker for staff to complete a transaction.  DONE
3. DISTRICT RETAIL SALES (RG) - - With the addition of credit card purchasing, along with new cash flow software, the District can benefit from offering some retail sales for items, such as: kid's fishing poles, sun hats, sun screen, frisbees, etc; as well as simple concessions like: sodas, icecreams, snacks, etc. Each item would have a percentage mark up, over its purchase price. RESULT - - Staff has implemented the simple concessions & retail sales, which are now sold out of the office building located at the lake entrance.   DONE
4. 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 - - Staff has installed an additional two tall white buoys bringing total white buoys to five. Staff also installed 500 feet of aquatic rope stretched between each of the white buoys, with 5-6 small red bouys between each buoy.  DONE
5. SCID AGREEMENT RENEWAL - - The Silver Creek Irrigation District owns the lake and the bowl (land) that the lake sits in. The lake water is used for agriculture downstream. There has been a longstanding agreement between WMLCRID and SCID, to keep the lake at a certain level for recreation in exchange for WMLCRID paying the cost of SCID's electric bills for them to turn on the wells during the summer.  This agreement was due to come to a close in a couple years, and so a renewal needed to be negotiated.  RESULT - - The Navajo County Staff & WMLCRID Staff have negotiated a new renewed agreement with SCID.    DONE
6. LAKE ALGAE SITUATION - - In Late July & Early August, the lake experienced an extra bright highlighter blue bloom of lake algae. This is the first time staff recalled seeing such a color, so the District took some important steps in response.  We tested both the algae water, and the regular water (where there does not appear to be algae). The result of the test showed that the algae is toxic when ingested (watch your dogs and small kids). The results of the test also showed that the non-algae water is perfectly safe to swim and recreate in.  While we were testing the water, we closed the beach to all swimming and bodily contact.  You can see the steps we took, and the test results, at the following link: https://www.wmlcrid.org/wmlcrid-about-us/lake-water-testing/.  In the end, the algae turned out to be the same algae we have always had, only this time it had more nutrients to feed on which resulted in the bright color.  That bright color was gone later that same day.  In reality, our lake algae can be present one day, and gone the next.  Please do not ingest the algae when it is present (& watch your dogs and small kids). Kudos to staff for their quick response to this algae bloom situation.  DONE
7. CHANGE STATE STATUTE TO ALLOW A LOCAL BOARD - - Since the creation of WMLCRID in 1993, the Navajo County Board of Superviors has served as the "Board of Directors" for the Lake District.  There is a desire among the White Mountain Lakes community members to create a board made up of community members who actually live in the Lake District.  RESULT - - Thanks to the effort of County Staff and Supervisor Whiting, the State Statute has been passed by the AZ legislature and signed by the Governor. The process to change the board structure will take some time to implement.  DONE
8. CARR CIRCLE ADDITIONS - - Last year, the District was able to paint the basketball lines (free throw & 3 point) on the cement basket ball court. The District also moved a bench to park, located between the basketball court and the playground. This year, 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. Staff will install Tee Pads to indicate the beginning of each hole, which creates two "fairways" (The area between the Tee Box and the Basket).  RESULT - - Staff has purchased the two disc baskets and will install once received. Staff will also create and install Signage for each hole. The signage will aslo show some "how to play disc golf information. DONE
9. EXTRA PLAYGROUND BARK - - When the District installed the Playground at Carr Circle, there was extra bark that needed to be stored. The extra bark was intentional as it can be used to refresh the bark in the playground as needed. The bark is a fake bark made of rubber from recycled tires. It is in two very large "bags", approximately 5ft by 5ft by 7ft tall. A community member volunteered their property, where many things are also stored, for the district to store the bark. As it has been several years now, it is time to move it to a district-owned location. It is likely that the bag material may have deteriorated (via weather/sun) beyond the ability to lift it, however the bags are still sitting on pallets, so staff is hopeful. As for using the bark, the current playground bark could stand to be "refreshed". Additionally, staff has identified the potential need to put bark under the swings (which are outside of the playground borders). This would require first installing a border around the swing area, prior to installing some bark there. By meeting these two bark needs, staff expects that most (if not all) of the extra bark will be utilized. If not fully utilized, this would greatly reduce the amount of extra bark that we need to store.   BORDER IS DONE
10. 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 - - District Staff produces a new newsletter every month and a half (or so), for a total of 6-8 newsletters per year.   DONE & ONGOING
11. 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 & ONGOING