Peppermill Lake District Board

The purpose of this meeting is to bring all Lake District citizens up to speed on our lake and district business. While we have always encouraged individual members to get involved and state their opinions, our board meetings, hearings and even our Annual Meetings are very lightly attended. As a result, many on the lake are not aware of district efforts or policy. Unfortunately, in this country, public participation and open discussion are the key elements to effective government.

We believe that this low level of citizen participation also has opened the door to mischief. A series of private complaint letters--distributed selectively to a fraction of our members (not most of the board)--have emerged, indicating a bewildering misperception of our lake district, its management policies, lake biology, past DNR practices and even our volunteer efforts. Peppermill Lake suffered from these same harmful practices a few years ago. We resolved those problems in a neighborly way by getting everyone fully informed and involved. We know that completely open discussion is the only way to eliminate misunderstandings, hearsay, incomplete information and also distortions. So, while the issues (chara, harvesting, no-wake, chemical treatment, lake management plan details, etc.) have been addressed repeatedly since 2001, we feel we must do so again.

So, in the next few days you will get an official announcement from the Peppermill Lake District Board urging you to attend this Lake District Special Meeting. At the meeting we will hold an open lake citizen discussion on three main issues:

1. Chara on Peppermill Lake: History, impact, management, options
2. Lake Management Plan: Purpose, development, revisions and implementation
3. Proposed Lake District Budget: Overview, voting, process for approval and
possibility for amendments at the Annual Meeting

We also will answer any other questions that may have come from second hand sources or due to possible incomplete communications on our part. If you have major questions, you simply must attend this meeting and share your views. If you support our efforts, your voice is equally important. If you do not attend, we assume that Peppermill Lake management is not important to you or that you have another obligation that is more important.

If you absolutely cannot make it, you can still contribute by sending written comments (to P.O. Box 406, Oxford, WI 53952, to be received by July 29,or by e-mail to any Lake District Board member) that will be read to the group and made part of the discussion-so there is no excuse. Of course, anonymous comments will not be considered. To help everyone get up to speed, in-depth information on the meeting topics will be posted on the district website at www.peppermillake.com by July 25 (click here after 7/25) .

Some Notes on the July 31 Special Lake District Meeting
1. A digital projector with a laptop computer will be available if you would like use them to present data or other information. Bring your files on a CD or USB Flash Memory. Microsoft PowerPoint will be installed for your use. If you have information to display, try and come early to install the files.

2. The meeting will be conducted based on Robert's Rules of Order,Newly Revised, which attempts to make sure that everyone has a fairopportunity to contribute. Basically, those attending will be expected to speak (a) to the issue being discussed, (b) by taking turns, one at a time, (c) only after being recognized by the presiding officer (d) in the order in which they seek recognition and (e) a second time on an issue only when all other members also have had the opportunity.

3. The District board and the DNR are always interested in your personal experiences, and want you to provide them. But it must be recognized that personal observations on something as complicated and continually changing as a lake ecosystem may vary among individuals and may not stand up to more thorough or careful examination. To make good decisions we need first-hand observations that are consistent or common among several observers. If opinions are cited, they should be written opinion of expert authorities.

4. On each of the agenda items, we will start with a short presentation by a board member who is familiar with the topic or who may be in charge of a committee related to the topic.

Mark your calendars now!
See you soon,
Barbara Anderson
Secretary - Peppermill Lake District