President’s Letter
Dear Member
Bears
As Ed has reported to you, we have what appears to be a bear family at Indian Lake Estates! The bears have been observed by the Hennigs, Campbells and Hairs several times in the last few days. They damaged the Campbell’s bird feeders. Adult bears are LARGE.
PLEASE be aware of these animals, their habits, and take steps to protect your property. Excerpts from several web sites are included to assist you in planning response to our “visitors”.
http://www.bearsmart.com/becoming-bear-smart/home
Bear Smart at Home
Although watching a bear feed in your yard can be an exhilarating experience, it almost always leads to trouble eventually. Making sure your home and yard are bear-proof is an essential part of making your community safe for both bears and people. Here’s how:
- Keep your home bear-attractant free. Don’t attract bears to your property with garbage, bird feeders, fruit trees and berry bushes, gardens, compost, dirty barbecues (grease cans or drip trays) or pet food.
- Don’t stockpile garbage and recycling in large quantities and store it indoors or outdoors in bear-proof containers . If your community has curb-side pick-up, don’t place it outside until just before pick-up.
- Bears can and will climb through open windows and doors. Consider keeping them closed and locked during bear season, especially if you know there is a bear in the area.
- Use specially designed bear deterrents – remotely triggered lights, noisemakers, and sprinklers – to discourage bears from entering your property, especially while you are away for extended periods.
- If you encounter a bear in an urban area, remain calm. Give the bear plenty of space and an easy escape route. If it’s a black bear, make lots of noise to encourage it to leave; if it’s a grizzly bear, remain quiet and slowly back away. (Click here to learn how to tell the difference.) Call your local conservation/wildlife officer and report your bear sighting.
- Keep the whole neighbourhood safe by encouraging your neighbours to follow BearSmart practices, too.
- Join your local BearSmart organization. Click here to see if there is one in your community. If not, consider starting your own .
http://www.bearsmart.com/becoming-bear-smart/home/bear-deterrents
“Being good shepherds of bears involves making [your food, your pet’s food, the bird feeder, the garbage can] unavailable to bears, but it goes further than that. It also involves learning enough to know that it’s okay to be ‘top dog’ to a bears. It doesn’t ‘insult’ a bear to be put in its place; this happens to them most days with other bears, already. Not letting a bear graze in your front yard isn’t ‘harassing’ it; it is merely asserting your personal space, something bears totally understand. You don’t have to like bears to do these things; understanding
these simple principles can help keep them out of your way, as well as saving their lives.”
Anne Braaten,
biologist, North Cascades National Park Service Complex
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Dam Repair Project
The most pressing matter facing the community is the dam repairs. In April the State expressed concerns that we had not begun the repairs and they were concerned about animal dens in the face of the dam. Repairs had not begun because our engineer (Terry Allen) was in the process of amending the original plan based on input from contractors that have inspected the dam as part of their bid process. The amended plan has been submitted.
Below is a summary status report from the Dam Committee chair, John Pappas, to the Board as of May 1:
I spoke with Laura Herbert, the author of the Notice of Deficiency dated April 22, about the spillway repairs. She told me that the latest addendum prepared by Terry Allen is through their process and is in Raleigh being reviewed. She expects that we will hear from them late this week or next. With regard to the repairs, I told her we are concerned about the July 18 deadline and wanted to hear about the addendum before we start. She told me that as long as we are making progress, NCDENR will work with us on the date.
I also reported that we had taken care of the groundhog on the back of the dam and that we will continue to monitor the rodents burrowing into the dam. We have a critter removal company that will keep the dam clear of rodents.
The Committee is moving forward while consulting with experts to attempt to develop a plan that will solve the seepage problem with the smallest outlay of capital possible. As conditions warrant you will be updated.
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Roadside Maintenance
A Canada goose flew over Indian Lake Estates recently. Different residents perceived the sight differently. Some hoped the goose would land in one of our lakes so their beauty could be admired. Others hoped the goose would bypass our community since their presents could cause a mess in yards.
Who was right and who was wrong? Neither one since each person’s opinion was based on their own perception. This observation is presented to introduce a discussion that is taking place in our community. As with the geese there is no correct answer. We as a neighborhood need to come to a consensus on the issue of roadside maintenance that takes everyone’s perceptions into account. Not an easy chore.
At the last Board of Directors meeting Aleta Tisdale made a presentation during the Community Speaks portion of the meeting. She expressed her concerns about the methods used to maintain our roadsides. Mainly that the trimming was too extreme and was taking away the beauty of natural growth. Among her suggestions were:
- Continue to trim back shrubs and trees that obstruct visibility.
- Limit the trimming of ferns and wildflowers along the roadsides with particular emphasis on not disturbing the banks.
- Recommended not trimming this spring and see what the results are. Exception would be to keep the ditches clear of growth that will impede the flow of water.
- She presented a list of other members that agreed with this approach. Her list included “Goodfellows, Tyler Allen, Bartols, Susan Sciullo, Pipkens, Bob Gibson, Hobbs, Austin, Fran Gould”.
Using her recommendation as a starting point, I have been working with Robb Bennett (Roadside Maintenance Contractor & ILE resident) to implement a plan to test Aleta’s request. For now, only growth that effects safety or protrudes onto the pavement will be trimmed. The Board will be evaluating the results and will address this issue again at the June BOD meeting.
What the Board needs is feedback from you concerning the appearance of the roadsides. What is your vision of a properly maintained community? Don’t forget that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. BUT please, let’s not get a chain mailing started. Communicate with me. I will relay your feelings to the Board. Since Aleta’s presentation there have been several emails expressing feelings and suggestions which is fine. But some emails have included disparaging comments about persons which is uncalled for!! Please be positive and if you
have opinions about how some of the “garden” area maintenance should be performed come out and assist instead of criticizing from afar.
Final points for clarity:
Robb does not take instructions for members of the community. He has been instructed to only change his activities after discussing it with me. Robb is the only person to give his employees instruction. They and their actions are his responsibility.
Property owners may maintain the right-a-way attached to their property.
In closing, if we work together we can develop a roadside maintenance program that can take all of our viewpoints into consideration.
Don’t forget the goose is not just messy nor is it just beautiful.
Everett Bedenbaugh
President, Indian Lake Club, Inc.
president@indianlakeclubinc.com
(m) 864-980-3349
(h) 864-543-3757
(ILE) 828-862-6432