3/14/13
Council was back to talking about AIS. Monday night, it approved funds for the Lake Minnetonka Association to chemically treat for milfoil on Phelps and Gideons Bays. It also approved doing boat inspections at the Christmas Lake landing. Readers may view the meeting at: http://lmcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=7a935e95-dd8d-1030-b4c5-84d7a9c8f15d
Dick Osgood of the LMA spoke about the milfoil treatment program and ended by asking for $12,000, twice what the City has in the 2013 budget. It seems that the LMA's other sources of funds are less than in previous years and the expectation was the City should make up the shortfall. Council ended up authorizing $7,000, the same amount it authorized in 2012. If one listens carefully, several of the council members were leaning toward giving the whole $12,000. More of the let's spend even if the money is not there behavior at work.
This year the City is on its own to operate the Christmas Lake inspections, but does expect to get a grant from the watershed and appears to have a verbal agreement that the Lake Association will cover the balance of the expense. With this funding, the City's costs should be some staff time, the same as in 2012. This is good because the 2013 budget has no dollars for this inspection program.
How much should the City spend for AIS chemical treatment programs? One should keep in mind that directly benefiting on the two affected bays are about 40 properties in Shorewood.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Shorewood's checkbook is always open. This is why these people come back to us over and over again.
ReplyDeleteWe need to start saying "no" occasionally, especially if it is not in the budget.
The invasive species issue should be handled on a statewide or regional basis. I do understand the larger picture but this paying out for a handful of homes (who, by the way, can afford to live on the Lake) is nonsense.
Why not a surcharge on boat licenses statewide?
Ditto on annual dock rentals? And boat rentals?
How about an additional fee on the launch ticket?
And no more "free" at public launches. Is it not a widespread belief that its the lake-hopping that has brought invasive species to Minnetonka?
Just some ideas, none of which are new.
Absolute agreement with the post above. I'll go one step further and venture to say there is no stopping AIS.
DeleteThrowing money at this is a knee jerk reaction that buys a few votes, quiets some loud voices, and keeps another one or two employed. At best it is a short-term, myopic solution.
Invasive species are here to stay. After all, if you ask the indigenous people, most of us are the invasive species. And we ain't leaving.
The Zebra mussels should wipe out the food supply for the milfoil.
ReplyDeleteIt is unusual that our council NEVER seems to consider what the other cities are contributing and makes commensurate contribution. Consider the Senior Center by way of example.
ReplyDeleteAIS: How can anyone say that this animal or plant does not belong here; unless they claim to have God's blueprint for the earth along with a timeline? AIS is a man-made political concept, much like climate change. They are based upon the absurd notion that the climate and species should NOT change/move - when they always have changed and moved.
And with respect to our "indigenous people" or "native Americans" - there is no such thing. Genetic testing reveals that our "native Americans" are immigrants too. Wikipedia: "According to the most generally accepted theory of the settlement of the Americas, migrations of humans from Eurasia to the Americas took place via Beringia, a land bridge which connected the two continents across what is now the Bering Strait."
So now that we know they are just earlier immigrants, why do they get to open a casino while all other immigrants are denied that right?