FROM "THE THUNDERBIRD", October, 2002,  VOLUME 36, NO. 4

E-Mail Lake Seneca Property Owners Association

Wastewater & Long Range Planning - Linda Earhart (419) 485-4206

With all of the new housing starts we have had this summer, we've certainly kept the Williams County Health Department busy with perk tests and inspections.   Be sure to have your septic systems checked to avoid any sewage problems.

I received a call from Mr. Ray Saneholtz, of Feller, Finch and Associates.   If you remember they were the firm we dealt with for our sewer project back in 1996.  Ray said he knew that our plans were on hold right now, but that the U.S.D.A. is again issuing grants (money not paid back) for up to 50% of sewer projects and 0% interest loans for up to 40 years.  He thought it would be prudent for Lake Seneca to make an application and get our name on their list.  They already know us because of our dam loan.  He said it takes anywhere from 4-6 years for them to get to groups on the list.  If we are not interested at the time, we simply tell them so, but a least our name is there to be considered.  The Board will be making the decision on whether or not to apply at our November 14th meeting.  Please let me know your thoughts.

As chairperson of the Long Range Planning Committee, I would like to begin having monthly meetings so that topics can be addressed that are of concern to our community.  With Board members changing every two years it only makes sense for us to look to the future so that Lake Seneca can remain a vibrant place to raise children and enjoy life.  Last March a group of us met to prioritize topics that L.S.P.O.A. residents felt were important.  Some of these have been taken care of, while others have not.  I would like to meet on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10 am in Arrowhead Lodge.  In this way those of you who work during the week or live elsewhere can still participate.  I realize that Saturdays are family time, but I plan for these meetings to last only 1 hour!!  Please mark Saturdays, November 9th and December 14th on your calendars.  Join us!  Progress cannot be achieved by only a few.

Building & Grounds - James Wheeler (419) 485-8009

No report this issue.

Public Relations - Gregg J. Snyder (419) 269-2400 {day} or (419) 666-1109 {evenings}

I would like to thank Linda Earhart and Rita Mercer for all their hard work with the Ohio Lake Communities Association who had their fall meeting at our Lake on Thursday, October 3, 2002.  Thanks also go out to everyone who volunteered to prepare and serve the foods; to all who baked the wonderful desserts; the tour guides who gave tours of Lake and Dam.

This was my first meeting with the association and I was very impressed with the ideas that were presented.  I was extremely pleased with the favorable comments coming from this association regarding our Lake.

Thanks again to everyone for all of your help.

Dredging & Conservation - Ken Ducat (419) 885-3255 & Gregg Snyder (419) 269-2400 {day} or (419) 666-1109 {evenings}

As of this writing, dredging is starting to wind down.  We are currently working in three cove areas on the South side of the Lake.  This was an experimental dredging project and the first time we have worked away from the West end of the Lake and the sediment pits in that area.  The experiment has gone well and will be useful in next year's dredging operation.  We hope to conclude dredging by early November.  We then plan to do all necessary maintenance on the dredge to get it ready for next season.

We would like to thank our dredge operators, Bob Ely, Larry Mercer and Kim Shaffer and the Maintenance Department for all their help with the dredging operation.

Security - Larry Wiles (419) 485-3467

I want to send a very "Big Thank You" to a few hard workers who in 90 degree heat, for two days, who didn't get anything but a cold drink, what a good job they did when we seeded the new dredge pit over by the bridge.  Again "Thanks to Courtney Earhart, John Cook, Tom Thompson, Kenny Durham, Matt & Mark Wiles (sons of Larry).

We had one mail box run over on the South side of the Lake.

There is a blue ATV with no muffler or flag.  You are speeding and making a lot of noise.  I AM LOOKING FOR YOU!

That's all for September.

Maintenance - Chuck Mossing

The maintenance department is winding down for the year and we expect to be laid in for the winter approximately November 15th.

Mowing was completed early this year and everything should look great going into the winter.  We have another employee, Willy Sobzcak that has been trimming brush along the guardrails and along several of the ditches around the lake, as you have no doubt noticed it is making a big difference in the way things look.

We have finally cleaned up an eye sore that has been present for several years which is behind and around the shop area.  The pole barn look large and you would think that all of our equipment could be stored inside, but it just does not work that way.

Salt has been ordered for this winter season but hope that we don't have to use the first pound of it on our roads.  In the next few days we will be putting in the stakes marking the roads for our snow plows.

We moved the slide at the beach out approximately 8 feet further into the lake so that the kids will come off the slide into deeper water.

The docks at the beach will be coming out of the lake and should be out before you read this newsletter.

Regulations Committee & By-Laws Revisions - Chuck Tank

Our committee completed the regulations review and we turned over the final draft to the Board of Trustees.

The final copy will be sent out to the membership prior to the annual meeting.  We will vote on it at the Annual Meeting.

Both Don Paugh and I wish to thank our committee for their dedication to purpose and patience and also many thanks for all the time spent and the late hours worked.

Special Thanks to:  Don Paugh, Jim Delcamp, Eldon Zimmerman, Jim Beggs, Bill Collins, Beth Shaffer, Kim Shaffer & Linda Earhart.  Norma Paugh for transcribing these revisions.  Thanks again for a job well done!.

Beautification Committee - Courtney Earhart (419) 485-4206

Fall is upon us.  The weather is mild during the day and cool at night.  Great for growing grass, doing yard work, and planting bulbs for next spring's enjoyment.

On Saturday, September 28th, the Beautification Committee worked on the flowerbeds at the front entrance, trimmed, weeded, and generally cleaned up in preparation for the Ohio Lake Communities Association meeting.  Thank you one and all.  Many hands made light work.

Congratulations to our Best Yard at Lake Seneca award winners.  Karen and Rick Biederman, 624 Seneca Drive, were chosen for August and Joan King and Ken Smith, 664 Seneca Drive for September.  We thank you for your efforts in making your home beautiful.  Plans are to continue this recognition beginning with May next spring through September.  Maybe you'll be the lucky ones next year.

The holidays will soon be upon us!  As you may know the Beautification Committee also sponsors a Christmas decorating competition in December.   The first place prize is $50 and the 2nd place prize is $25.  We hope this helps to pay for some of the electricity used by our residents.

Last year's winners were Ingrid and John Halderman and City and Kim Skinner.  We are planning on them being this year's judges.  Be watching the event signs at each entrance so you will know when judging is to take place.

The committee is doing something different this year for Christmas wreaths.  For a freewill donation, any member can come to Arrowhead Lodge on Saturday, November 30th beginning at 9:00 am until 3:00 pm to create their own wreaths.   We will have the frames, wire and greenery.  There will also be red bows available.  Beautification members will be there as well to help you create a holiday decoration for your home.  We also have some of nature's decorations that you can use.  Please bring wire cutters, gloves, and perhaps a glue gun for application.   Join us for something a little different this holiday season.

With Christmas also comes gift giving.  The Beautification Committee has Lake Seneca T-Shirts and sweatshirts in a variety of sizes and colors.  Fill out the flyer below and contact Larry Henry, shirt chairman at (419) 485-3478, with your order or check Rita's stock at the store.

Ohio Lake Communities Association Meeting - Rita Mercer & Linda Earhart

THANK YOU!!!   THANK YOU!!!

We would like to thank all Lake Seneca residents who helped with the fall meeting of the Ohio Lake Communities Association meeting, which was held in Arrowhead Lodge on Thursday, October 3rd from 9 am to 3 pm.

We appreciated the outstanding teamwork that was displayed that day.   We were able to be part of the meeting while much work went on behind the scenes.   From cooking to coffee making, from serving wine to serving lunch, from pie baking to pie cutting, everything seemed to come off without a hitch.  We has LSPOA members working from Clean-Up Day on Saturday, September 28th through early evening on the 3rd of October.  The day flowed along quite smoothly.  We have received many compliments on the day as well as the friendliness our guests experienced from our members.  We couldn't have done it without you!

We would especially like to thank Janice and David Bilton for hosting the wine and cheese party on Wednesday evening.  Also kudos go to Kenny Skiles and Chuck Tank for a great presentation highlighting our dam and its construction.  They had many questions and visitors to the dam to see it in operation.  Ralph DeShetler and Courtney Earhart also did a fine job of showing off our beautiful Lake Seneca form the water with boat tours.

To those of you who volunteered (and there were 42 of you), a thanks just doesn't seem like enough.  We've always known that Lake Seneca members are great, but it's times like these where it really shows!!