2012 Important Dates/Events to Note
April 16 --- Board Meeting - 7 PM - DLYC - Members Welcome
May 21 ---- Board Meeting - 7 PM - DLYC - Members Welcome
June 3 ---- 4th Annual Diamond Lake Open Water Challenge -- Swimmers in the water from 8:00 AM until 1:00PM - for info or to register: http://www.swimdloc.com
June 4 ---- Aquatic Weed Control invasive weed treatment
June 9 ---- Annual Membership Meeting -- DLYC - 10:00 AM -11:45 AM - See You There!
June 18 -- Board Meeting - 7PM- DLYC - Members Welcome
June 22 and 23 -- Diamond Lake Garage Sale 9 AM - 2 PM and 9 AM - Noon
June 24 -- Boater Safety Class - Diamond Lake Yatch Club -- 8AM to 2PM -- Call the Cass County Sheriff's office at (269)445-2481 to enroll.
June 30 -- Annual Fireworks Display -- 10;30 PM -- Rain/Wind Date July 7th
July 16 --- Board Meeting - 7PM- DLYC - Members Welcome
Aug 20 -- Board Meeting - 7PM- DLYC - Members Welcome
Sept 17 -- Board Meeting - 7PM- DLYC - Members Welcome
Oct 15 --- Board Meeting - 7PM- DLYC - Members Welcome
Nov 19 -- Board Meeting - 7PM- DLYC - Members Welcome
2012 Membership Forms
April 20, 2012
A mailing was sent out today to all current DLA members with the forms and information to renew your DLA membership. Current memberships expire on May 31, 2012. Please take a moment to send in your 2012-2013 Membership. The form also includes the opportunity to contribute to the Fireworks Display.
Those who are not members, but are Riparian property owners on Diamond Lake will also receive forms with the opportunity to become members. Please consider joining DLA and supporting our efforts to preserve and improve the quality of our lake.
2012 Weed Treatment
April 9, 2012
Aquatic Weed Control will be treating the invasive weeds in early June. As required by Michigan law we will be giving members at least one weeks notice of the specific date of the treatment. Progressive A&E will be doing the survey of the existing invasive weed locations, most likely in May.
The maximum restriction after the treatment would be 1 day on swimming and 21 days on irrigation. Signs will be posted in those yards where the restrictions apply.
Walking/Bike Path Donations
February 8, 2012
Feb. 28th - Cass County Road Commission Millage Vote
February 5, 2012
Please be aware that in addition to the Michigan Presidential Primary vote on Tuesday, Feb. 28th the following Cass County Road Commission Plan for a millage levy will be on the local ballot. Each registered voter should prepare to exercise your American right to vote, whether you are for or against the Cass County Road Millage.
The following are facts, presented in the January 2012 "Edwardsburg Voice", concerning the Road Millage for Cass County:
1. A detailed plan for addressing Cass County's primary road system has been developed showing where the road millage money will be spent, (www.betterroadsforcasscounty.org), if the levy passes on the February 28 ballot.
2. Continued reductions in state and federal funding for roads are not expected to change in the near future.
3. The Cass County Board of Commissioners recently approved the Cass County Road Commission's request for placing the issue of road funding before the voters. This will be the second time in four years that the road commissioners have asked for millage.
4. In 2008, a request to levy ½ mill for primary roads and ½ mill for bridges failed by nearly two to one margin.
5. The current request is to levy 1 mill on taxable property for each of five years, from 2012 through 2016 to pay for primary roads and streets in the cities and villages.
6. A mill represents one dollar per $1,000 of taxable value, and would be expected to raise about $1.8 million in the first year. By Law, cities and villages would directly receive monies for the value of properties within their boundaries. The remainder, and estimated $1.6 million, would be directed to the road commission.
7. Based on the value of a median home, property owners would pay an additional $45 per year. The ballot language has two measures to ease the voters' concerns in the event adequate funds are once again provided to the road commission. The word "may" is used in the application of the millage so that if significant funds are restored at the state level, the millage would not be applied for that year. The Millage also would run for five years, ending in 2016, a mid-election cycle. Should the road commissioners want to extend the millage, they would be required to pay for a special election in 2017 or wait until the next regularly scheduled election, in 2018.
8. Funds from state controlled sources have been reduced 10% over the last eight years. In 2011 alone, funding was reduced by $501,189. Additionally, road construction and maintenance costs have risen 108% in the same time period. For instance, on average over the last eight years, the cost of re-asphalting one mile of road has increased from $32,000 to $82,000 per mile.
9. According to Pete Fournier, the appointed chairperson of the Better Roads for Cass County Committee, the road commission is trying to prevent future deterioration and preserve the primary road system while the politicians debate the funding issues. H noted that roads must be treated regularly to prevent moisture from entering the pavement and sub base and to continue addressing the greater loads from heavier traffic and equipment.
10. The Cass County Economic Development Cooperation has expressed a major concern that the deteriorating roads will negatively affect economic development in the county.
11. Cass County officials have taken notice of Governor Rick Snyder's recent statements on road funding in Michigan, particularly his comment that "investments need to be supported by revenue raised locally". "One way to ensure that new revenue has the biggest impact is to invest it in the highways and bridges that are most highly used", Snyder said in his recent commentary on the subject. He suggested that a new distribution formula for road funds be established based on road use and traffic. Fournier said that this implies that future state transportation funds will favor larger population areas such as Detroit and Lansing at the detriment of rural areas.
12. To address the financial crunch, the road commission has sold $895,234 worth of unused land investments and equipment since 2006. There is nothing else to sell to make up for the funding short fall, Fournier said.
So, based on the above facts, make sure you "VOTE" and let your voice be heard on this issue!!!
Happy New Year!
January 6, 2012
The Board of the Diamond Lake Association would like to wish all the members, their families, and those that use Diamond Lake for recreation, a Happy, Healthy and Safe 2012! In less than three months we will all be back enjoying our beautiful lake.