5006 Panorama Drive
P.O. Box 157
Panora, Iowa 50216
(641) 755-2301
Fax: (641) 755-3810
info@lakepanorama.org
Revised Covenants Are Adopted Board Members re-elected Boating Safety Course to Be offered at Boulder Beach Boating Safety Course also Offered ONLINE Road Work Precedes Seal Coat Rural Improvement Zone Bidding Rip Rap project Giving Member Input --Here are some ways Photo Opportunities Here Come the Projects for 2003 Enterprize Starts its Fourth Year
The LPA membership has approved the revised covenants and restrictions that were presented for their vote at the 2003 annual meeting.
The measure passed 409 yes to 91 no. The main changes in the covenants.
Some significant changes include:
1. Old square footage requirements for homes built on different lot classifications are being changed to a minimum of 1200 square feet of finished area for homes on all lots. This reflects present building trends.
1200 square feet was the minimum finished size of A lot homes.
2. Adopted setbacks for future homes is increased ten feet from 25 to 35.
3. An 1800 home limit is adopted for the LPA compared to the 3500 home limit in the original documents. Currently there are just over 1700 property owners. (and about 900 homes)
With less than 1800 total members at present, it is not anticipated that the 1800 home limit will be a problem, especially since some lots are unsuitable for building and some memberships.
The increased setback was proposed to help provide variety and additional space in front of homes. The LPA Board has the power to grant variances for extenuating circumstances.
Only one home in the last several years was under the 1200 square foot size limitation.
Paul Buchanan was elected to his first full term as a LPA director at the LPA annual meeting, April 26. Buchanan had served the remainder of the term of Lois Kriebs, who had resigned. Dan York was elected to his fourth term as a director.
Dick Burroughs was the other candidate.
Sign-up is needed for the Boating Basics course to be taught by the Coast Guard Auxiliary on May 17. The three-hour course will be held at Boulder Beach at 9 a.m. Completion of the course and successfully completing the exam will qualify youth under 18 to operate personal watercraft in Iowa. All Boaters are welcome if signed up. There will be some "hands on" instruction.
Lake Panorama rules prohibit solo operation of personal watercraft by those under 16. The new Lake rules require that a youth under 16 have the boating basics certificate in order to operate a personal watercraft, EVEN IF ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
Taking the course and passing the exam may even reduce boat insurance rates. Please check with your agent.
If you can't make this course, you may study the "Boating Basics" booklet and send in the mail-in test in the back.
A limited number of booklets are available at the LPA office or may be obtained from the Iowa DNR.
A boat safety course that can be used to obtain certification for all boat operators and that will qualify youth under 18 to operate personal watercraft is available online at
http://www.boat-ed.com/ia/ia_internet.htm
The LPA maintenance department is preparing several streets for new seal coat this year. Ditch grading and road bed improvements have to be completed before the seal coat is applied.
Streets that will receive seal coat for the first time are Chuck's Hill, Wilson Road, Chapman Road, Mason Drive, Guthrie Lane, and Canfield Drive(part).
Seal Coat work will be done when road preparation and the weather permit.
The Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) will be receiving bids for rip rap in the upper basin of the lake at its May meeting.
The rip rap project is expected to take two years. The RIZ will be providing funding for unplatted shoreline. The LPA will pay for LPA owned lots, and private property owners will pay for their properties.
The Upper Basin of the lake will be opened for "no wake" boating around July 1. The dredge and its support equipment are expected to be out of the upper basin and working the upstream portions of the lake to the Fansler bridge after that time.
1. Vote on issues and for board candidates that represent your views. If you don’t know—ask.
2. Write a letter. If you have a beef or a suggestion for the long-term or what you see as significant concerns, write a letter to the Board in care of the LPA office. It will be distributed to each board member.
3. Send an e-mail. Today’s technology is amazing. General e-mail can be sent to lpa@netins.net or you may link directly to individual board members through the Association website at http://www.lakepanorama.org Board members can now be found in the departments section.
4. If you have questions – you can always call the LPA office at 641 755 2301. Staff is available to help with issues. Red Lowe, general manager, and his staff can assist and take your comments and questions.
5. Volunteer—The LPA board has several committees of volunteers that have input into board policies. Water Safety, Par 3, LPN and building codes are now the main committees that provide input to the board. Contact the board or a board member to offer your services.
Digital pictures or prints of the Lake Panorama area make excellent contributions to our website. If you have a pic and would like to contribute it for use on the home page or in the photo album--panorama pix-- just e-mail or send the pic to the office at P.O. Box 157, Panora, Iowa 50216 or by e-mail to randy@lakepanorama.org. We can give you credit for your photo or not--it's up to you! We thanks the contributors to our website pix.
Projects slated for the 2003 season:
New Restroom at Boulder Beach
A new restroom facility will be built at Boulder Beach. The old restroom is still in good condition, but is often overcrowed and overwhelmed on busy weekends. The new facility will offer more room and better maintenance opportunities and provide for future growth in beach use.
Seal Coat
Plans for the annual seal coating program will be finalized as soon as streets are evaluated follwing the spring thaw. Almost 18 miles of streets will be surfaced or re-surfaced with asphalt oil and pea rock.
Drainage Work
Ditch improvements are needed in several areas to help drain off rain water effectively. This work will mostly be done this fall.
Dam Work
Although the main spillway and concrete work is done, several smaller projects are slated to improve safety for dam personnel and to meet guidelines of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Water
The capacity of the Lake water system storage needs to be evaluated. Ways to increase that storage capacity will be explored. Possibly an additional water tower will be constructed in 2004 or 2005.
The Enterprize, the LPA debris collection boat, has started its fourth year of operation on Lake Panorama. The boat picked up a load of floating debris brought in to Burchfield Cove by the heavy rains on April 30. Over 300 loads of material have been removed by the Enterprize over the previous three years.