PITLC Minutes 03.10.26

Monthly Meeting Presque Isle Town Lakes Committee Aquatic Invasive Species Date: March 10, 2026 Time: 7:00pm Location ZOOM ONLY Next Meeting Date/Time: April 14, 2026 7:00pm Conducted by: Nick Williams Recorded by: Judy Ruch, Carlin Lake ATTENDEE INFORMATION Attended Name Lake Attended via Zoom or CC Behr, Fritz Lynx Lake x Benn, Eric Armour x Boyce, Joan Horsehead x Burke, Jeff Van Vliet x Burke, Jorja Van Vliet Eaton, Phil Oxbow x Eschenbauch, Al Town Board Liaison x Heilman, Bob Annabelle Higley, Catherine Vilas C. Invas.Spec.Coord Horswill, Bob Armour Lake x Kemnitz, Joe Crab Kenkel, Jeff Lone Pine Lewandoski, June Rosalind/Papoose x Lewandoski, Paul Rosalind/Papoose Logan, Richard Vilas Cty Supervisor x Mawicke, Ann Natural Lakes Zoom Host Meessmann, Jeff Natural Lakes Phillips, Carol Wildcat Phillips, Richard Wildcat x Pire, Tim Presque Isle x Plouff, Gary Frontier Lakes x Preston, Tom Katinka x Ruch, Bob Carlin x Ruch, Judy Carlin x Sisbach, Sarah Presque Isle x Vogt, Dave Annabelle x Walters, Lorine Horsehead x Weber, Cathy Logan Annabelle/Town Supv. Wierzba, Tom Big x Williams, Nick Crab MEETING MINUTES Topic/Subject Discussion Items Call to Order By Nick Williams @ 7:00pm Pledge of Allegiance Deferred Secretaries’ Minutes Approved as submitted Changes/additions to agenda None Intro of new members/guests Andy Sisler from Van Vliet Lake Treasurer’s Report/Budget Refer to Appendix 2, all accounts current Correspondence None 6. Old Business a. Grant Status: (Attachment 1) i. 2024 grants - all bills have been paid to White Water and Associates (WW). ii. 2025 grants - Carlin, Little Presque Isle, Lynx, Round and Wildcat have all made their lake contribution payments. iii. 2026 grant activity has started for Big, Papoose, Presque Isle, and Van Vliet. A professional services agreement has been signed with WW. The DNR is behind on paperwork so we have not received the first DNR payments (approx. $7500 each) for the grant funds for each lake. iv. Wilderness Waters Report: This report sums up all scientific data for all PI lake reports. This is a large effort and as the number of reports increases the work for WW to create this report increases. Ann researched the DNR Surface Water Grant guidelines and there is actually a grant to pay for the report revision. Unfortunately grants funds to do this revision will take away from the $50K grant allowance we use for Surface Water Grants. We will be looking into this during the fall grant submission. b. The Town Website and PITLC: Ann/NL Ann worked with the Town Clerk to update the name on the town website as well as to update the Lake Studies report. c. Electronic Storage of PITLC Material: The most current lake studies information is now on the town website and the library website. Financial reports have been created by Nick and Ann for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026. They will provide a monthly update to the PI Town Financial Committee for 2026 financials. The current month financial report will also be added to the PITLC minutes (Attachment 2) d. Volunteer Hours for 2025: Nick asked the PITLC representatives to forward 2025 volunteer hours for all volunteer activities in lake projects. Including all meetings attended, PITLC, lake association, DNR, etc. Only total hours are required. 7. New Business a. Walleye Restoration Project - At the February 12th PI Town Board meeting, Rand Atkinson presented a proposal requesting the town's support for his Walleye Restoration Foundation project, with a focus on Presque Isle Lake. Al Eschenbach noted that the Town's resolution supporting Rand includes a clause requiring approval from every governmental agency before any action is taken — Rand agreed to this condition. As of 3/6/26, Rand posted on his website that his egg and fingerling stocking proposal has not been approved by the DNR. PITLC supports the goal of creating healthy walleye restoration environments. Planned projects in the town require government agency approval before continuing. b. PITLC Distribution List – Per PITLC's operating procedures, PITLC membership is to be reviewed in the first quarter of the year. Ann will send the current list to all current members asking for confirmation of their membership for another year. Ann will also confirm current lake association president information. c. Sub-committee updates: i. Grant Committee: Nick and Ann - • 501(c)(3) Organizations as Alternative Grant Applicants - Ann floated an exploratory idea: lake associations with existing 501(c)(3) status could potentially apply for DNR lake grants independently, rather than all grants flowing through the Town. This could allow PITLC to spread its $50,000 annual grant cap across more lakes. Crab Lake, which has a 501(c)(3)noted their interest in this approach. The next step would be to contact the DNR to understand eligibility requirements for non-town entities. No formal action taken; this is exploratory and requires further research. • Lakes Without Public Landings – Currently the Town can pursue grants for lakes without public landings; however, those grant applications receive lower award points often putting them at the bottom of the award list. Last year the Town was awarded a grant for Carlin Lake, but in 2026 the Town was not awarded a grant for Lone Pine. Ann suggested exploring whether the town could contribute a modest amount toward these lakes to help qualify them for grants, supplemented by donations or fundraising from the lake associations. There is precedent for this approach with past grants for Round Lake. No formal action taken; more discussions needed. ii. Signage Committee: (Fritz B/Lynx, Dave V/Annabelle, Bob H/Annabelle): Due to the 2025 identification of Spiny Water Flea (SWF) in Lynx Lake, Bob Heilman checked other lakes with SWF to see what information is at the landings. Signage at Walton Lake in Lac du Flambeau was used as a template for the committee to design one for Lynx Lake. It would be an Alumocore sign and cost $30–$40. They have a quote for 15 signs at $355. Open discussion occurred for potential adjustments to the sign and where they should be posted. iii. Communications/Outreach/Education: (Judy R/Carlin, Dave V/Annabelle, Bob H/Annabelle, Jorja B/VanVliet): Judy provided a list of materials they use on Carlin Lake, per Judy (Attachment 3) Judy has ordered product, noting that the number of minimum shipping pieces is substantial. Most of it is free. Dave V has a couple items to add to the list. Nick reminded us that the Linda Rennhack Memorial Funds may be used for literature. Ann offered to create a PDF that would provide links to the materials list. Sarah Sisbach will follow up with Kathy Curtis regarding welcome materials for new lake members. iv. Invasive Rapid Response: Nick Williams and Paul Lewandoski will work on a procedure for reporting AIS. The goal will be to include the line of reporting and invasive: the individual reporting to their lake representative, then to PITLC and then to Cathy Higley or the Discovery Center. Also, a procedure for collecting a sample for investigation and testing. v. Volunteers are Needed. PITLC is always looking for volunteers on any lake to help with PITLC projects, if you are interested contact PITLC at pitlc54557@gmail.com. vi. Future Agenda Item: Paul Lewandoski said he will need to purchase supplies for the Oxygen measuring equipment. 8. Next Meeting 9. Adjourn April 14, 2026, 7pm. via Zoom Meeting adjourned by Nick Williams @ 8:35pm. Unapproved minutes WILL BE APPROVED AT THE NEXT MEETING. Attachment 1 – List of Active Grants by Year Lake Last Grant Award 2024 Grants in Process 2025 Grants in Process 2026 Grants in Process Annabelle 2023 X Anne 2018 Armour 2023 X Averill 2018 Beaver 2017 Big 2018 X Carlin 2025 X Cathaline 2016 Crab, Little Crab, North Crab 2023 X Dunn 2017 Horsehead 2023 X Katinka 2009 Little Horsehead 2023 X Little Presque Isle 2025 X Lone Pine 2009 Lynx 2025 X Mabel 2016 McCullough 2017 Morton 2017 Oxbow 2023 X Papoose 2016 X Presque Isle 2018 X Red Bass 2018 Rice Creek 2015 Round 2025 X Rudolph 2009 South Branch PI River 2017 Stateline 2017 Twin Island 2017 Van Vliet 2018 X Wildcat 2025 X Attachment 3 – List of Outreach Material available through DNR The attached is a request drafted by Carlin Lake for documentation for their lake association. These documents are available to order from the DNR. Go to the following link and search on the codes in the first column to see the documents available. https://widnr.widen.net/view/pdf/a2bvcnrfo3/AIS_ProductSheet.pdf I have been a member of the Presque Isle Town Lakes Committee for 20 years and developed the program for kids teaching the basics of CBCW. As invasives are ever encroaching upon our area, we are increasing our education through our town lakes associations. I would like the following items: WT-801 fold-out “Stop Aquatic hitchhikers - 200 WT-747 stickers. “ “ “ - 200 WT-830 stickers Don’t dump bait. - 200 WT-782 CBCW Watercraft Inspection Program. 50 WT-828. CBCW stickers 200 WT-745 EWM watch card 200 WT-752. Rusty crayfish watch card 200 WT-730 Zebra mussel watch card 200 WT-753 Spiney water fleas watch card 200 WT-759 curly leaf pondweed watch card 200 FH-930-ww. VHS watch card 200 WT-744. Purple loosestrife watch card 200 WT-996. Mystery snail watch card. 200 Book - Protecting Your Waterfront Investment. 10 @ $3 each