GRANTS
Wadsworth Lewis Trust Grant: This grant request was submitted to the Lewis Trust on January 19 for the Dam Improvement Project. We received a grant of $500.
Thrift Shop Grant: We submitted a grant application to the Thrift Shop on January 30 for the Dam Project.
Richardson Fund Grant: A grant application was submitted at the end of February for the Dam Project.
CT Federation of Lakes (CFL): The CFL has funds for grants related to specific types of lake projects. After discussion, the Board felt that the new tarp needed at the spillway might quality for this grant. It was decided to apply for the CFL grant for this purpose.
As this tarp is needed irrespective of our receiving the CFL grant, a motion was approved for a contingency of up to $2,000 to buy and install a marine-quality tarp for the spillway in case we do not receive the CFL grant.
T.Mobile: It was noted that T. Mobile has $25M in grants available until 2026. The Grant Committee will review the specifications to apply for this grant.
LAKE MANAGEMENT
Treatment Permits: We are on a three-year permit cycle, and this year renewal permits are due. They have not yet been received. If receipt of the permits is delayed too long, we may need to contact our State representatives for help so that the our first lake treatment can be done as early as needed, or at least by the first week of April.
Geese: It appears that the swans are driving some of the geese away. Board members report that more geese have been spotted on the lake (or lakeside properties) than is usual in early March. New addling permits have not yet been received. Cathy Norgauer has applied for them.
DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
An update of our dam project was presented to the Board of Selectpersons (BOS) by Barb Hartman on February 28 with about ten MLIF supporters in attendance. The BOS had previously noted that they would approve our request contingent on their receipt of the STEAP grant. This grant application, done by the Town, is due in July and funded in late August or September. As the dam work may start before the STEAP grant comes through, the BOS agreed to put that sum in their Budget recommendations being forwarded to the Board of Finance.
Barb Hartman continues to work with the engineers to bring the project up to the shovel-ready stage. The final stage will be the construction phase. It is estimated that, based on multiple engineering reports, the full project will be in the $275,000 – $300,000 range. Haley-Ward hopes to finish the design by May and then apply for permits to the CT DEEP and the Army Corps of Engineers. MLIF would like construction to begin in the fall of 2024 but realize that this is an ambitious goal and construction may not begin until 2025.
MISCELLANEOUS
MLIF Annual State-of-the-Lake Meeting:
The MLIF Board decided that the Annual State-of-the-Lake Meeting will be Thursday June 6, 7:00 p.m. on Kitty Fischer’s deck. Zach from PLC will be invited to speak.
CT Federation of Lakes:
For anyone interested in attending the CT Federation of Lakes annual meeting, it will be on Saturday, April 27 at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut, Indian Rock Preserve, 501 Wolcott Rd., Bristol, CT.
Next Board Meeting:
April 2, 2024 – 7:30 p.m. at the CVS Community Room/strong>
