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Ten Mile Lake Association

Newsletter

Spring Edition, 2007

Bruce Carlson's New Book: "Beneath the Surface"

By Marty McCleery, E & E Committee

Dr. Bruce Carlson, Chair of our Environment and Ecology Committee, has just published a new book, "Beneath the Surface,"* now available for your reading, enjoyment and analysis. Dr. Carlson takes readers to a side of Ten Mile Lake that few have experienced first hand.

The book explores the inner working of our very own Ten Mile Lake in Cass County, MN. It is an intimate study complemented by elegantly detailed images in pencil, ink, and water-color by illustrator Bruce Granquist. We learn how the physical characteristics of TML affect the plants and animals within it and how the various forms of life inhabiting the lake interact.

Dr. Carlson explores the dynamics of the lake as they shift from day to night and season to season. He shows anglers how to hone techniques to heighten fishing success. It's a must-read for every Ten Miler. The book is available at Swanson's store in Hackensack.

*Published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, 345 Kellogg Blvd, W, St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 (www.mhspress.org).

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From the President's Desk

By Al Griggs, TMLA President

Once again, it is great to see open water when I look out on the lake, after many months of ice and snow. And once again it is great to see the friendly faces of summer residents returning to Ten Mile. Except for a cold snap in March, the winter temperatures were quite mild for Minnesota. Even so, the lack of snow cover did result in some septic system freeze-ups, particularly with systems that had little or no use for some period of time.

Arthur’s No More: Some changes have occurred in and around TML: where Arthur’s once stood is only a bare field and a “for sale” sign. The DNR folks at Bemidji have assured me that they have NO interest in the site for a public access, Most of Arthur’s 33 acres are across High-way 371 and south of Ten Mile with very little lake front-age. (However, the DNR remains interested in putting a second public access on Ten Mile, somewhere!)

Work On County 71: After many years, County 71 from County 50 to County 6 is being paved this summer. Heavy equipment is on site and limited access signs are posted. I am told that Cass Co. would like to complete the project this summer, if possible, so we can expect heavy activity and probable delays on this road.

Intralake Classification: Earlier this spring, several of us attended a DNR seminar describing their recently developed program to identify and quantify environmentally sensitive lakeshore areas. This is an outgrowth of Cass Co.’s Intra-lake Reclassification program. TML is a pilot lake in this program and the seminar described the preliminary evaluations of Ten Mile. The protocol, initially developed at Bemidji State University, involves mapping the lakeshore into 500’ by 2000’ rectangles with the short axis parallel to the shoreline and the long axis extending 680’ into the lake and 1320’ on shore, The rectangles overlap, except at the shoreline, Each rectangle is evaluated for aquatic vegetation, marine life, fish, spawning areas, water depth, bottom characteristics, animal species, bird life, frog and turtle counts, etc, and an accumulated score is assigned, The scores enable a semi-quantitative assessment of the environmental sensitivity of each rectangle. All of our bays scored high on environmental sensitivity. If utilized appropriately, this work will provide a sound basis for defending lake classifications.

Conservation Easements:   Members of the Conservation Easement subcommittee met with Fitz Fitzgerald of the Minnesota Land Trust to show him the seven TMLA-owned properties that may be suitable for Conservation Easements. He suggested that perhaps a “blanket” easement could be developed to include all the properties. I hope we may have a CE or CEs in place before the year is out. In addition, the Lois Deer property, (half  a mile of shoreline abutting the southwest portion of Lundstrom’s Bay) remains a strong and very desirable candidate for a CE. We urge Ten Milers to consider CEs to protect their lands. The TMLA Board has earmarked $10,000 for the TMLA easements (to cover surveys and other costs) and the Cass Co. Environmental Services Department has set aside $100,000 in grant moneys for CEs on a first-come, first-served basis.

A Gifting Policy: Our Gifts subcommittee has established the ground rules for a TMLA Gifting Pamphlet, and Tom Cox has prepared a written draft as a good starting point for this Pamphlet. We hope to complete the work on the pamphlet this summer. With increased land values, inflation, and developmental pressures, gifts have become an ever more important part of our discretionary funding, particularly with regard to maintaining and defending the relatively pristine quality of our lake. Land gifts are equally appreciated.

No Hiram Planning Action:  Unfortunately, the Hiram Township Board has disbanded their Planning Commission until further notice. This action followed a vote at the Township Annual Meeting to approve a budget submitted with no PC funding for 2007-8, and a second vote which defeated a motion to provide subsistence funding for the Planning Commission until the revised Cass County Land Use Ordinance is in place.

Subdivision Ordinance: More recently, the Cass Co. Commissioners defeated a revised Platting and Minor Subdivisions Ordinance which would have prevented Minor Subdivisions (e.g., 5-9 lots)  from flying “under the radar.” The existing Ordinance exempts these minor subdivisions from County Planning Commission scrutiny, public hearings, and notification of surrounding land-owners except those immediately adjacent. Fees are also substantially lower. Probably 80 percent of new plats have come in under the existing minor subdivision rules. The development community strongly opposed the revised ordinance and the Commissioners listened.

Land Use Ordinance: The Cass Co. subcommittee charged with developing the revised Land Use Ordinance 1116 covering CDs/PUDs will meet at the end of May to establish ground rules for public hearings on this revised ordinance. They will hold hearings during the summer. Then the full committee will meet to make final modifications to the revised ordinance. This will then be presented to the County Commissioners for approval. The revised ordinance, while not perfect, is a substantial improvement over the existing ordinance in that it specifies CDs abutting water to have two tiers, one riparian and one non-riparian. The riparian tier can only have one building unit per each 100 yards of usable frontage and one dock, and must have at least 400 feet of frontage. The non-riparian tier must have a lake access of not less than 50’. This access may have a boat launch and a small structure. The revised ordinance comprises 100+ pages, so it has lots of complexities, I urge you to look it up on the Cass Co. website at www.co.cass.mn.us and become familiar with it. We really need to get the attention of Cass Co. officers and Commissioners on this one.

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Fishing Chatter

By Bob Horn, Chair, Fisheries Committee

2007 FISHING OPENER:  This year, the weather and the fish cooperated. According to resort owners and others, the walleye bite was good. Lundstrom’s Bay and Long’s Bay were active. Overall, most people caught fish ― and more big ones than normal. Rumor has it that Kent Hrbek* was fishing for crappies in Lundstrom Bay on the Thursday before the opener.

FISHING SURVEY:  140 Ten Mile residents sent in their responses to the fishing survey included in the Fall 2006 Newsletter. Thanks to all who took the time to complete the survey! The Fisheries Committee will review the responses and report the results in the summer Newsletter.

DNR NETTING RESULTS, 2006:  DNR has not yet completed the analysis of the TML netting process last summer. However, the preliminary result for the numbers of walleye per net was very encouraging.

NORTHERN PIKE REGULATION:  The ten-year experimental regulation for northern pike will be evaluated by the DNR this summer. DNR will then hold a public meeting this coming September to take comment on whether the 20-inch regulation should continue or be changed.

DON’T DUMP THOSE MINNOWS!  A recent Minnesota Conservation magazine (Jan-Feb 2006, page 49) strongly recommends that any unused minnows in your bait bucket NOT be released into the lake. The purpose of this admonition is to reduce the risk of spreading heterosporis. (Heterosporis is a newly identified parasite that infects fish muscle tissue. It does not kill the fish or infect people, but makes the fish unattractive for eating. The parasite has been identified in Lake Ontario and in several lakes in Wisconsin and Minnesota . – from “Fishing Wisconsin,” a website of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.) A good idea would be to give your leftover minnows to a neighbor (make sure the neighbor does not toss them in the lake) or bury them in your garden. They make good fertilizer.

FIERSTINE RECOMMENDS:  The Fisheries Committee met this spring with Harlan Fierstine of the MN DNR to discuss some of these issues. When asked, “What can the residents of Ten Mile Lake do to create a good environment for fishing?” his response was

1.    Encourage everyone to practice “Catch and Release.”

2.    Create a buffer zone at your lakeside to provide a good natural habitat. This will prevent erosion and improve water quality.

* Minnesota Twins famous former first-baseman and fisherman.

 

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Weekly Coffees Need Hosts!

Both the men’s and women’s coffee hours need hosts for many of the coffee dates this summer. Can you help by volunteering your home for a coffee?

The men’s coffees are held Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. , May through October. Women’s coffees are Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. , June through September. The association provides mugs, and signs to put out directing coffee-drinkers to your house. The host provides coffee and doughnuts and a place to gather.

If you can help, sign on to the TML Website (www.tenmilelake.org) and check out the coffee schedules to see what dates are available.

 

Then send an e-mail to the webmaster to indicate the date you have selected (geoff@geoff-cox.com). If you need advice (amounts of coffee and doughnuts, for instance) call one of the earlier hosts or almost any officer of TMLA.

 

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From the Notebook

by Jim Schwartz

WE ARRIVED APRIL 26, a day ahead of ice-out, just in time for the "blossoming" of the midge season, a mosquito-like insect that is among the peskiest of the many bugs inhabiting this area. A no time in our memory have they congregated in the huge, dense masses they did this spring. And, as far as we can tell, non of the birds around at this time of year seemed interested in making a meal of them. Fortunately, the bugs' stay is brief: two or three weeks and they're gone.

WE NEVER GROW WEARY of renewing our acquaintance with the creatures that make this such a special place: the chipmunks that have overwintered successfully, the lone beaver that swims pas our cabin every spring, the pileated woodpecker that continues its pile-driver assault on our tree stumps, the downy woodpeckers that seem downright grateful for the replenished suet feeder, the nuthatches and chickadees that awaited our sunflower seed refills. And, at length, the return of hummingbirds: May 12, essentially right on schedule. It's a comforting and reassuring pastime.

AN EARLIER THAN USUAL appearance was made by those cottony, thread-like seed carriers that cling to window screens and are the bane of anglers who like to troll for their quarry. The wispy filaments wrap around fishing lines, forming a white ball just above the bait and, in my experience at least, are a virtual guarantee that nothing will bite.

SHORELINE FOAM often is a source of concern for some lake residents. Not to worry. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says that, in most instances, what we see is natural. It's created by a combination of organic compounds, such as decomposing plants and animal that, because of wave action, become mixed with water and air to form foam. When it collects on a downwind shore, the spectacle may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it's harmless, says the MPCA.

THE RUSTY CRAWFISH, an undesirable invasive species, is now in the Boy River chain and likely will spread from lake to lake. One negative impact of the creature is that it can displace native fish populations. Research in Wisconsin suggests that a control measure that seems to work is to encourage and maintain a healthy population of bluegills, a natural predator of the unwelcome visitor. The lead researcher says that "if the predator population density reaches some critical abundance, they'll eat every crawfish they see."

THE FRESHWATER SOCIETY, dedicated to educating people of all ages about our most precious resource (water), does so in a variety of ways. One is to ask "Did You Know" questions. Here is a sampling: American use five time the amount of water that Europeans use. Leaving the water running while you brush your teeth can waste 3 gallons fo water (at 3 gallons a minute). Cutting one minute off your shower time can save about 700 gallons of water per month. Freshwater animals are disappearing five times faster than land animals. In a 100-year period, an average water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about 2 weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere.

I MENTIONED THAT ICE-OUT occurred on April 27. That's a full two weeks later than a year ago, and interrupts a trend toward earlier break-ups in northern tier states that has been charted by climate watchers. According to the researchers, almost 80 percent of the lakes studied are thawing two weeks earlier, on average, than they did 100 years ago. And, according to the data, the total number of days that the nation's lakes are frozen is decreasing, some by as many as 21 days. Here is the ice-in, ice-out record for Ten Mile lake since we began keeping data 20 years ago:

wpe8.jpg (62062 bytes)

SHOULD GARBAGE DISPOSAL units be used in lake residences? The answer is "no." Septic systems are not able to digest and properly treat such large quantities of organic waste. Also, forget septic system additives. They can do more harm than good.

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News from the Environment and Ecology Committee

By Bruce Carlson, Chair

Although the E & E Committee won't have its first 2007 meeting until early June, individual members have been quite active throughout the winter and early spring.

TMLA Website

One of the priorities of the Committee is to make important information about the state of the lake available to all interested parties through postings on the TMLA Website. Once on the Website, click on the committee section and from there to E & E.  You will find the following:

    1.     Hazardous waste disposal information

    2.     A map showing areas along the shoreline affected by swimmers' itch

    3.     Lake water temperature data for many years

    4.     Secchi disk readings for many years

    5.     Water quality summaries based on our annual testing program

Spring 2007 Lake Water Testing

On May 12, Ken Regner and Del Hogen braved strong winds and 50-degree temperatures to do the first lake water testing of the season. As of this writing, results are not yet in. One of the components of the spring testing program is sampling sites of drainage into the lake, mainly along the west side. Because of the construction program on County Road #71 this year, the patterns of swamp drainage into the lake are likely to be significantly changed. The E & E Committee will monitor this to be sure that undesirable substances don't enter the lake.

2007 Well Water Testing

The annual well water testing program will be continued this year. The testing date is Saturday, July 14. This is a valuable service, and the cost is minimal. It is a good way to make sure that your drinking water is safe.

New Members

The E & E Committee is always open to new members. Many of our activities are heavily dependent upon volunteers, and while we have been blessed with a number of folks who regularly contribute significantly to our functions, with more volunteers we could accomplish more tasks more easily. You don't have to be an ecologist to join. The main qualification is an interest in maintaining the quality of the lake that we all love. If you would like to find out more about the committee, please contact Bruce Carlson at  brcarl@umich.edu  or in the summer, call at the cabin (218) 675-5580.

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The Once and Future Ten Mile Lake Inn

By Brad Putney, Resident Director

 

In October of 2006 a piece of Ten Mile Lake history and tradition was lost, as Arthur’s Restaurant served its last entrée. In November of 2006 the building was razed and the site was cleared. At the present time the property is listed for sale.

Three Ten Mile Lake residents, Stan Kramer, Don Sarles, and Brad Putney, have formed a team with the goal of rebuilding the Ten Mile Lake Inn. We have prepared a business plan with financials, and shared it with a few potential investors. Our plan calls for a small group of investors to form the equity portion of a venture to buy and rebuild the Inn . Presently we are seeking additional potential equity partners, and would like to meet with those interested parties.

 

Many of you can recall coming down the lake in the boat and seeing the iconic restaurant sitting on top of the hill at the end of the bay. The new Inn will be built to take full advantage of the lake view and the sunsets. We have met with architects to create a classic lodge style restaurant and bar with a large deck overlooking the water. The kitchen will be state of the art, with the ability to produce a menu second to none in the north woods.

If you would like to examine the business plan, and learn more about the new Ten Mile Lake Inn, please contact Brad Putney, at truenorth@tds.net. Let’s bring back our favorite gathering place.

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Private Well Owners: Have your Well Water Tested Regularly!

By Marty McCleery, E & E Committee

More than 400,000 households in Minnesota rely on private wells as their source of drinking water, but many are not tested regularly for things like bacteria and nitrate that could make their owners sick, say State health officials. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) estimates that at any given time, as many as 25 percent of private wells in Minnesota have detectable levels of total coliform bacteria, an indication that some surface contamination has gotten into the well.

People assume their well will always give them pure drinking water. And for the most part, if wells are constructed and maintained properly, they should provide a reliable and safe source of drinking water for many years. But wells do grow old and deteriorate or become damaged, and that’s usually when problems occur.

MDH Recommendations

MDH recommends that private wells be tested once a year for total coliform, an indicator of bacterial contamination. Nitrate tests are recommended every two or three years – more often if nitrate has been detected previously in the well, or if an infant under the age of six months will be consuming the water.  Appropriate maintenance procedures and regular testing are still important, especially for shallow wells. Seasonal cabin owners who shut down and start up their system each year are more vulnerable to coliform contamination.

Getting Your Well Tested

Newer wells will typically provide safe drinking water for many years – with relatively little maintenance – as long as they have been built in compliance with the State well code, using modern construction techniques. However, getting your well tested is a relatively simple process. Your Ten Mile Lake Association provides a well-testing day (held annually, and scheduled this year for Saturday, July 14, 2007 on the North & South shores), and the local community health department may provide testing services. Commercial (or private) laboratories providing water testing services are usually listed in the Yellow Pages under “Laboratories – testing.” You should check to make sure the laboratory is certified to perform the tests that you want. Log onto MDH's Test Your Private Well Water Web page for a listing of MDH-certified laboratories. The laboratory will provide directions for collecting and submitting water samples for testing. The cost for analysis is usually in the range of $10 to $35 per test.

Testing for Coliform Bacteria

To detect possible problems with bacterial contamination, health officials rely on a test for total coliform bacteria. This test detects a broad group of bacteria that are used as a general indicator of possible contamination problems ― even though they don’t usually cause disease themselves. Coliform bacteria are present in the wastes of warm-blooded animals and found in the soil, but usually not more than a few feet below the soil surface. When they’re detected in well water, it means that surface contamination may have entered the well. It also means that disease organisms – from human or animal waste – may be present.

From a health standpoint, any detectable level of coliform bacteria in drinking water is considered unacceptable. The water will need to be boiled at a rolling boil for at least one full minute before using it for drinking or cooking ― until the well can be disinfected with chlorine and retested. Alternate sources of safe drinking water, such as bottled water, can also be used. In some cases, more elaborate steps may be needed to fix the problem ― including repair or replacement of the well.

Persistent problems with bacterial contamination are most commonly seen in older wells – especially if they haven’t been properly maintained or are damaged. Contact a licensed well contractor to have the well inspected and perform any needed repairs.

Testing For Nitrate

Nitrate in wells is a health concern primarily for young infants, in whom the nitrate can be converted into nitrite in the digestive tract. The nitrite then interferes with the ability of the baby’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in methemoglobinemia – or “blue baby syndrome.” If levels of nitrate exceed the current health limit of 10 milligrams per liter (as nitrogen), infants under six months of age should not consume the water. Nitrate contamination can be the result of agricultural runoff, improper use of fertilizers or failing septic systems. Deeper wells are generally less susceptible to nitrate problems.

Help Is Available

People with concerns about well water contaminants ― or other well-related issues ― can get advice from MDH, their local health department, or their local licensed well contractor. Well specialists are available to answer questions at MDH district offices in Bemidji (218/755-3820), Duluth (218/723-4642), Fergus Falls (218/739-7585), Marshall (507/537-7151), Rochester (507/285-7289), St. Cloud (320/255-4216) and the Twin Cities (612/215-0811).

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Septic System Survey Complete

by John Alden, Watershed Coordinator

With significant help from the Initiative Foundation, the Ten Mile Lake Association has completed its survey of all the septic systems surrounding the lake, in order to accomplish the goal spelled out in our strategic plan: to evaluate conforming and non-conforming septic systems around the shores of Ten Mile Lake.

This last segment of the survey, covering septic systems on the north shore of the lake, cost a total of $10,500. The Initiative Foundation, under whose tutelage the Association developed its Long Range Plan, contributed $5,000.00 toward this effort. The Association provided the rest of the funding.

Joni Tulenchik, a licensed site evaluator, provided the onsite field work evaluations, as well as the final project report, completed in November 2006.

Her findings in this segment of testing showed 186 systems in compliance, 21 systems not in compliance, and six sites with no onsite system. Cass County will help to follow up on the survey by notifying property owners who are not in compliance, and offering them low-interest loans to bring their systems into compliance.

Maintaining effective, well-functioning septic systems is one of the most important ways we protect the waters of TML. With the completion of this final segment, the Association has evaluated all the septic systems around the lake and seen that non-conforming systems are brought into compliance. At some point, we will want to do another round of surveys. We will all benefit from the protection thus provided.

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Adopt-A-Highway Needs Help!

by Sharon Peterson, Adopt-A-Highway Committee

 

OK, TEN MILE LAKERS, LISTEN UP!

The Ten Mile Lake Association is responsible for keeping the roadsides around our lake free of litter, including Upper and Lower Ten Mile Lake Roads from 371. Our name is right out there on the road signs saying we are responsible. A lot of old duffers have been attending to road cleanup for many years. (You know who you are ― you are all heroes and saints!) It is time for more of the younger folk to pitch in and help out.

As of this writing (May 23) many of the faithful volunteers and others have already been out to clean up sections of the highways surrounding Ten Mile Lake. Volunteers include not only those who are members of the committee but also "walkers."  This group, many of whom are anonymous, are people who either just decided to take a stroll with the purpose of picking up litter from around their stretch of road or are regular walkers who periodically take the time to pick up litter they encounter. We all benefit from this effort and are grateful for it.

If you would like to join this community of heroes and saints, please call me, Sharon Peterson, at 675-6052. You will get some lovely exercise, meet your neighbors, and do your neighbors a favor!

 

The Cass County Highway Dept. reminds us of the seriousness and prevalence of methamphetamines within Cass County . Should anyone see any inordinate amount of products used in the manufacture of meth dumped along the roads, we are reminded:  Do not touch the material!  Immediately contact the Cass County Sheriff's Dept. at 547-1424. 

Multiple products may be involved in methamphetamine manufacture, including

cold tablets

solvents

cleaning fluids

kitty litter

Pyrex or Corning dishes

coffee filters

propane cylinders

pails/buckets

and more. (I can provide you with brochures that Cass County has provided for identification of items.)  Patrolling the highways is an excellent way to spot any meth activity in our immediate area.

 

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Baptism of Jonah William Anderson at Ten Mile Lake

By Jill Ripkin Andersen

Jonah William Anderson was baptized in the waters of Ten Mile Lake on August 13, 2006 .  It was a mystical morning with a light fog and rain pitter-pattering on the lake.  The ceremony was outside under a white tent on the front lawn of the Ripken cabin.  Jonah’s grandfather, Pastor Peter Ander-son, waded into the shores of Ten Mile and baptized Jonah with the water from the lake.  Jonah’s big brother Eli (3) and cousin Kieran (5) sang a heartfelt rendition of ‘Jesus Loves Me’ during the ceremony.

Jonah is the great, great grandson of George and Anna Benesh who built their cabin on the Plainview shore of Ten Mile Lake in 1935.  Great grandparents, Bill and Francis Ripken, spent over 50 wonderful years at the cabin.  Jonah’s great grandparents, Angus and Mable Lamont, also had a cabin at Ten Mile Lake on the south shore.  Jonah’s grandparents, Jim and Pat Ripken built a cabin on the south shore of the lake in 1967.  Jonah is a 5th generation Ten Miler.

Attending the ceremony were parents, Jed and Jill (Ripken) Anderson, great grandmother, Mable Lamont, great grandparents, Jim and Pat Ripken and Peter Anderson, great aunt and uncle, Roxy and Steve Ripken, aunt and uncle, Bryan and Anita Ripken and cousins, Kieran and Braden Ripken.

Jonah is baptized by his grandfather,
the Rev. Peter Anderson

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Coming: The Ten Mile Lake History Book

By Lorraine Stromquist, Chair, History Committee

 

   

 

The History Committee is happy to report to the Association that we expect to complete and publish the Ten Mile Lake History Book this summer. We have sent the draft to the printer, and hope to make the finished book available to you by the Annual Meeting.

The Committee has worked extensively on the project over the past several years. With the help of many Association members, we have completed a book which provides many past and present TML family histories, with pictures, and many related articles.

 

 

The book includes details on lake development, fishing and other lake activities, business ventures, once existing schools, the Ten Mile Lake Association, and more. Committee member Tom Cox has been instrumental in editing and assembling all these many pieces.

A number of persons locally have expressed great interest in the book. We will bring you information about pricing and how to order the book as soon as the printing becomes final.  

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The 4th of July Boat Parade on Ten Mile Lake

By Deb Hamilton, History Committee

As far back as I can remember we’ve had a boat parade to celebrate the 4th of July on Ten Mile Lake. I don’t know when the tradition started but it’s one we have followed each year come sun, wind or rain. When my brothers, Clif and Bob Hamilton, and I, along with our good friends Mary and Cathy Vilipski, were growing up in the 1960-70’s the boat parade was the highlight of our summer! We would make a colorful sign to post at the LeMars’ North Shore Store, announcing to all that the 4th of July boat parade would begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. in Long’s Bay. We were convinced that if we hadn’t reminded everyone, there would be no parade.

07-05-24 No Shr Boat Parade.jpg (221981 bytes)We would get up extra early on the 4th of July to make sure our pontoon was decorated in red, white and blue crepe paper, streamers and flags. Up and down the beach we could see our neighbors getting their boats ready too. Around 10 a.m. we couldn’t wait any longer so we’d head down to Long’s Bay to join the rest of the boats lining up for the parade behind the Cowdrey pontoon.  The parade started way down at the south end of Long’s Bay near Bromley’s Supper Club (most recently Arthur’s) and continued along the north shore to Park Point at the mouth of Flowerpot Bay .  As we passed by the docks, people would cheer, ring bells, honk horns and greet us with “Happy 4th of July!”  During the late 60’s and early 70’s Chev Adams presented a special treat to the children of each boat.  He owned the Collegiate Manufacturing Company in Ames , Iowa and threw us all stuffed animals as our boats went in close to his dock.  In the 1970s the factory burned down but Mr. Adams still had special red and blue 4th of July pennants made for everyone that next year.

Over the years, the 4th of July parade has become a Ten Mile Lake tradition.  Boats from all over the lake gather in Long’s Bay and the parade still begins promptly at 10:30 am even though there is no longer a store to post our sign.  Some boats are fully decorated along with the people riding in them while others show their 4th of July spirit by waving an American flag.  Everyone is welcome and the number of parade boats has increased to around 65 the past few years.  Memorable boats include Mr. Godbersen dressed as the Statue of Liberty, Ivar Siqveland Sr.’s steamboat and the wonderful 1993 fighter jet fly-over during the parade. 

Last summer the south shore held their first annual 4th of July Parade with over 60 boats participating. The parade was a great success. Please decorate your boat, grab your American flag, and join your fellow Ten Milers at one of this year’s 4th of July boat parades.

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The History Page - Old Maps

By Lorraine Stromquist, Chair, History Committee

     Past history stories and pictures of Ten Mile Lake itself and of the shore around it abound in the Ten Mile Lake History files. As you know, they have been compiled and put into a history book that will soon be available for publication and sale. The stories tell of family histories at the lake, lake development, activities, schools, roads, and much more. Some of the files show certain old maps. Although the files on maps are sparse we do have a few old maps that are interesting. These maps show changes made to our Ten Mile Lake area.  

LOTHROP

A December 1895 map of the then existing City of Lothrop, located north of Hackensack and just east of Ten Mile Lake, shows a plat layout of lots, streets, and alleys plus their sizes and shapes. The plat is certified by a County Surveyor and dated January 15, 1896. According to the map, Lothrop had two stores, three or four restaurants, a bakery, a drugstore, two barber shops, two hotels, seven saloons, and one school. Reportedly its population was over 1000. It was a thriving city which has vanished.

RAILROAD TRACK ROUTES

There exists in our files a map showing railroad track routes and predecessor roads of our area. The data are based on an index map of Northern Pacific Railways in Minnesota, June 1917, and the Railroad Commissioner's Map of Minnesota, 1930. It shows that in 1897 there was a road passing from Brainerd to Bemidji, and lists Lothrop as the one city along the way. During 1901-1907, that route was extended north from Bemidji to International Falls. The road south from Brainerd to the Twin Cities was already in operation in 1877.

TRAILS

One old pencil sketched map shows routes or trails from Old Agency Bay to Hackensack. It shows Ten Mile Lake and Lothrop along the way, outlines railroads from 1896 and a wagon load trail from Old Agency Bay to Brainerd.

OTHER OLD MAPS

In his book, "The Naming of Ten Mile Lake," author John Stahler shows several interesting old maps. Among them is a Nicolet Map, 1843, which illustrates many lakes including Ten Mile Lake. Also included are roads of Central Minnesota as they existed in 1873, plus a road map circa 1921 which shows that Lower Ten Mile Lake Road did not go through to the highway in 1921. An Old Agency Bay trail map from sometime in the past shows a known trail from Agency Bay to just north of Ten Mile Lake, and a probable route to bring it as far as Upper Ten Mile Lake Road. This history book is in our files.

A new book, "Beneath the Surface, " by Ten Mile Lake resident Dr. Bruce Carlson, has several outline maps of Ten Mile Lake which illustrate distribution of North American beavers, ranges of the common loon, dense schools of ciscoes, and more such maps.

People do love to look at and study maps of all kinds. Maps provide a good deal of information and pleasure. If anyone of you has an old and/or interesting map that could be donated to the history committee or copied and given to us for our history files, we would appreciate the additions.

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TMLA Gifting Policy

By Tom Cox

Introduction

Grateful for the generosity of past donors and wishing both to encourage giving and to provide prudential guidance for future donors and for the Association, last summer the TMLA Board appointed a committee to create an Association Gifting Policy.  In the fall the committee presented its proposal to the Board, which approved the new policy in December.  Soon the Board will publish a Gifting Policy brochure to provide TMLA members with background on giving to the Association and Gifting Policy details

Background

In the mid-1980s, forward-looking Ten Milers Lloyd and Mildred Sundin asked then-President Jim Schwartz how they might make a substantial gift to the Ten Mile Lake Association.

Wishing to support the Association’s goals in the long term, the Sundins stipulated only that their gift be tax deductible, that it be prudently invested, that only the income on the investment be used for Association purposes for fifteen years following the date of their gift and that after fifteen years, the principal become available for Association purposes.

The TMLA had been incorporated under Minnesota law since 1952, and had re-filed its Articles of Incorporation in 1981, but it had never been tax-exempt.

Jim Schwartz consulted the Board of Directors, which approved the Sundins’ stipulations and applied for tax exempt status.  The IRS granted the Association 501(C)(3) status in 1985. Shortly thereafter, the Sundins made a $50,000 gift to the Association.

The Sundin Legacy

From its beginnings in 1952 the Association had relied on membership dues[1] to fund its programs and pay administrative costs. The Sundin’s gift was the first of its kind.  Returns on the investment supplemented dues income to the Association, which then could fund more sophisticated lake monitoring, water quality testing and other programs which have contributed significantly to the preservation and improvement of the lake and its environs.

Inspired by this pioneering gift, and by the evident value of the Association to the lake and its residents, others have made major gifts, both of money and of land, since the Sundins’ 1985 donation. Many special gifts made possible the purchase of the ecologically sensitive Anderson property in Kenfield Bay in 1998, the debt on which was retired in 2003.

Subsequent major gifts:

·   2005:    Bequest of the Vela Devoe Estate

·   2006:    Richard G. Garbisch Conservation Fund

Also, a number of families have gifted the Association with parcels of land, including:

·       Bailey’s Shores, a gift of Ray Bailey. Two parcels, 12.65 acres, 900 Ft. of Shoreline in Long’s Bay.

·       Boone Point Road Outlots, a gift of Ray Bailey. Two lots, 49.3 acres, no shoreline.

·       Owre Property, Kenfield Bay, a gift of Rod and Dorothy Owre. 5.69 acres, 500 Ft. of shoreline.

·       Roby Property, Robinson’s Bay, a gift of Opal and Cecil Roby.  1.8 acres, 500 Ft. of shoreline.

·       Pierson Outlot, Hiram Loop Road, a gift of Katherine and John Pierson.  1.33 acres, no shoreline.

The James W. Schwartz Environmental Preservation Fund (JWS EPF)

In addition, over the years many Association members have made smaller, special contributions over and above their annual dues.  These have fallen into one of several categories:

·       Memorials ― Gifts given in memory of deceased Ten Mile residents. Some memorial gifts have been designated for specific purposes.

·       Designated Gifts ― Special gifts given for a designated purpose, such as the purchase of safety buoys, the construction of the Birch Lake outlet structure, etc.

·       Undesignated Gifts ― Gifts over and above the annual dues amount but not designated for a specific purpose.

Recognizing that many TMLA members were routinely giving over and above the amount of their annual dues, and that fiduciary duty required that any of these funds that were not spent should be prudently invested, in 1998 the Board of Directors established the Environmental Preservation Fund.


The purpose of the Environmental Preservation Fund is “to endow preservation activities impacting Ten Mile Lake, including research, education, lake management, emergency response to environmental threats, and protection of environmentally fragile areas” (Association Bylaws), including purchase of ecologically sensitive shoreland.

In its 1998 Annual Meeting the membership named the fund in honor of Jim Schwartz, a quarter-century key Association leader (an incorporating member of the Association, a long-time Editor of the TMLA Newsletter, a multi-term Chair of the Environment and Ecology Committee, a nine-year member of the TMLA Board, President of the Association from 1984 to 1986 and a long-time hands-on volunteer in the TMLA environmental protection and education program).

Thus the Fund became the James W. Schwartz Environmental Preservation Fund (JWS EPF). Since the Association Bylaws were amended to this effect in August, 2004, TMLA policy has been to deposit all undesignated gifts and bequests directly into the JWS EPF.  Annual distributions from this fund may be no more than ten percent of the value of the fund as of July 31 of the previous year. Distributions of more than ten percent must be approved by two-thirds of all of the members of the Board of Directors.

In significant ways the Sundin’s1985 gift has provided the foundation upon which Ten Milers have built an environmental and educational program second to none. Over the years, gifts both large and small have helped the Association not only to preserve and improve the quality of the lake and its environs, but also to become one of the leading Associations of its kind in the state.

The Ten Mile Association Gifting Policy

Since it was established in 1998, the JWS EPF has served the TMLA well, and it remains the Board’s depository of choice for contributors’ finan-cial gifts.  However, recognizing that other types of funds may be more appealing to some contributors, upon the advice of its Gifting Committee, the Board has adopted a Gifting Policy designed to provide additional alternative ways of supporting the TMLA’s long term goals:

I.    Occasional and Annual Gifts Over and Above Annual Dues Payments

·   Memorials (Designated and Undesignated)

·   Other Designated Gifts

·   Other Undesignated Gifts

II.   TMLA Endowment Fund (New)

III.   Named Endowment Funds (New)

IV.  Land Contributions

V.   Conservation Easements (New)

VI.  Bequests

When it is published, the TMLA Gifting Policy Brochure will spell out the details of the policy to which this article is offered as a brief introduction.

[1] Annual TMLA Membership Dues were $10 in the early years. They have been $15 since 1991, $25 since 1999 and $30 since 2002.

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Watercraft Operators Training - Thursday July 5

by Don Harris, Lake Safety Committee

The Lake Safety Committee urges all Grandparents, Parents, and Teens to mark their calendars for Thursday, July 5, 2007 for Watercraft Operators Training for youths ages 12 to 17. The training course will be offered from  8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Hackensack Community Center . The course will be taught by the Cass County Sheriff's Water Safety Officer. The Hackensack Lions Club will provide snacks and lunch. 

Please note:  Minnesota Law requires  that youths ages 12 to 17 must have a Watercraft Operator’s Permit to operate a boat with a motor larger than 25 horsepower. 

The course will include the State test and a hands-on session with the sheriff’s deputies on Birch Lake .  Please call Don Harris, 675-6285 or Jerry Mills, 547-1164 to register your child. 

Thanks to parents’ and grandparents’ interest and support, over 218 youths and 4 adults have been trained to date. Keep 'em coming!  Parents and Grandparents are welcome to attend the training along with their children.  

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Revised: October 09, 2008 .

This site was created and is maintained by G. Cox.

Ten Mile Lake Association, Inc. P.O. Box 412, Hackensack, MN 56452