BIG SANDY LAKE ASSOCIATION MEETING- MARCH 13, 2009

Meeting called or order by Vice President Mark Johnson at 8:40.

Board Members Present: Bob Griefzu, John Sturner, John Merboth, Karen
Trembley and Neal Sampson.

Guests Present: Mark Anderson, Vern Awes, Dan Guida, Brian Napstad.

A change was made to the Feb. 2009 minutes, the sentence will read
"Interns for boat ramps, summer 2009 will be discussed at the March lake
association meeting." Motion was made and seconded to approve minutes
from Jan. 2009 and Feb. 2009.

John Merboth reported 299 folks have joined the association with 38 new
members.

Vice President Report: Mark Johnson spoke with Jim Krezowski regarding
ROPE; there will be no changes to the lake level at this point. We need to
stay on top of this.

The annual meeting will be held at the Big Sand Bar on June 27th, 2009.
Checks for the Lake Association will be held until Dan Branson returns. It
was so moved the annual budget be on the agenda for April. Expenditures
for 2008 will be addressed at the April meeting for our 2009 budget
purpose.

Motion was made and seconded to accept Mark Anderson as a board
member, motion passed with Mark Anderson being our new board
member. There was discussion to appoint board members from the
volunteer list if possible. We will have two more board positions open. Bob
Griefzu will check with a volunteer from the membership form.

Bob Griefzu will also check on BSLA hosting a community meal in July if
that month is available. Mark asked who would be able to attend the Rivers
& Lakes Conference in Rochester. John Sturner and Jim Krezowski will be
going. Check the Minnesota Waters Web site for the itinerary and signing
up for this conference.

A motion was made and seconded to hire a DNR intern for the boat
landings. The pay would be $12.00, weekends between opening fishing
and Labor Day. It was asked if the Lake Association could generate a bill
for the intern. Neal S. will talk to Heidi regarding the DNR intern.
We need articles for the July newsletter; we will need to send out in June
due to the annual meeting.

Remember to keep your time sheets current, January, February and March
will be turned in at April meeting.

Guests comments:
Vern Awes agreed using the volunteer list to potentially find a board
member. We still need to have people volunteer.

Dan Guida reported there could be cut backs due to the budget cuts. Dan
does have help putting out buoys. Dan will have Sheriff Turner write an
article for our July newsletter. We would need this article around the 1st of
May; John Sturner will be in touch with Scott Turner.

Rick Brueschwitz….spoke on Big Sandy Lake Walleye issues. Some of the
things Rick spoke of were: Is mortality too high, stocking was re-evaluated,
growth is slow, spawning stock biomass is low, appropriate regulation may
be difficult to implement. What is planned: to evaluate age distribution of
spawning stock, conduct special gill net assessment, determine if issues
are primarily conservation (spawning stock) or quality (angler catch to
small). Review….have proposal ready by November 2009. In the April
newsletter Rick will have an article on points discussed at the board
meeting.

Ron Smith: There were 100 votes and Nancy K. won for another term.
Levies should be the same as last year. Clean up day will be May 2nd from
9 to 2.

Brian Napstad: reported a new bridge on the Prairie River will began this
summer. Hwy 65 construction will possibly begin this summer. The budget
is big news for Aitkin County; much of our money is channeled through
state funding. The Shoreland Rules are still moving along and by summer
we should have a good feel for the new rules.

Other committee Reports had nothing to report at this time.

Meeting adjourned.

Don't forget the April meeting will be April 17th….News letter at Karen's
house on the 16th of April at 1:00.
Neal S. will pick up newsletter from McGregor printing.

Treats for April….John Sturner

Karen M. Trembley, secretary