Commodore May 2017
Welcome the month of May and the spring winds. Actually, spring winds have been a little less than hoped for, but we still are havin’ fun. Racing is in full swing and we have Mother’s Day and Memorial Day social events coming soon. Come out and enjoy the fun at Eagle Creek Sailing Club.
This article was posted a few days late in order to wait for results of the May 10 Board of Directors Meeting. There was a very busy agenda to report on. It seemed important to use this article to talk about the significant work underway.
The Grounds Committee completed a significant assessment of all facilities to assess condition. This will guide capital and maintenance plans over the next few years. Overall, we see a need to accelerate maintenance in some areas. We are queuing up structural work on the lower shelter and upper shelter deck. The Emerald Ash Borer killed several ash trees that need removal. The L dock rebuild is nearly complete. We will likely purchase a new outboard motor for our second committee boat known affectionately as the aircraft carrier. Also, some picnic tables are in line for repair or replacement. Some lighting improvements are also in the works.
We have a punch list of additional improvement opportunities. In consideration of the maintenance opportunities, our Board approved an additional 15 hours of work credits in 2017 to be applied to 2018 dues for incremental work above the usual 15 hours. These apply to Harbormaster and Grounds work only. We want to fully support the volunteer spirit that does so much to improve ECSC. Look for a list of opportunities in the near future. We will also supplement with outside help as appropriate.
We also met with Citizen’s Energy last month about lake levels. Citizen’s is under contract with the city to maintain the dam and lake level. You may have noticed the average lake level has been higher the last few years. This has contributed to shore and seawall erosion. They now have a better understanding of lake level impacts.
One less popular item is the approval to increase initiation fees by $250 starting January 1, 2018. This fee has been stable for many years. Our facilities are at capacity and our capital improvement assessment has shown the need for additional funds in the near future.
Accelerating maintenance and capital replacement is a less fun, but important part of continuing the outstanding experience for members of ECSC. Sailing season is now in full swing! Be safe, have fun, and sail fast.
Larry Conrad
