Informational Meeting for By-Law Proposals
An informational meeting on LPA Board recommendations for revised By-Laws for the Association will be held Saturday, October 18, at 8 a.m. at the Lake Panorama National Conference Center. It will be held this fall based on requests by members who are seasonal residents and often gone during the usual February timing of such meetings.
       
       The meeting is tentatively scheduled at 8 a.m. to avoid conflict with football schedules.
       
       Watch your mail for an official announcement that will include the existing by-laws and proposed changes.
       

Rip Rap to Begin
Upper Basin Rip Rap will probably start sometime in late September and early October. The Rural Improvement Zone is funding the rip rap of not platted shoreline in the upper basin. The LPA and property owners will be funding their own work.
       
       

Late Summer Tickets Issued
Seventeen tickets resulting in fines and 3 warnings were issued on Lake Panorama in August and early September by the Lake Patrol.
       
       Five fines were issued for violating the “no wake” rule in the newly opened upper basin. Two fines were issued for other speeding violations in coves. All three warnings concerned upper basin wake rules.
       
       There were three violations for speeding after sunset, one for boating on the wrong side of the lake, one for boating too close and one serious violation of being over capacity.
       
       Three violations were noted for not having lights and one fine for not having the LPA boat sticker attached.
       
       The most serious land based violation was a $100 fine for illegally dumping household trash in the tree and brush disposal areas
       

Security Department Offers Seasonal House Check Services
During the winter months the LPA Security Department offers house check services for those snowbirds and second homers who desire. The service consists of two checks of the homes each week that include a walk-around to check for problems and a check of house temperature (from thermometers visible from outside).
       
       The fees are $45 per month or $200 for the season (November 1 to March 31.) Please contact Jeremy Bennett at the LPA offices for more information.
       

Goose Hunt Approved
Final details of the experimental goose hunt at Lake Panorama were hammered out by the Board at their August regular meeting.
       
       Member concerns about safety, late seasonal boating patterns, and control of hunting were the prime factors in the final hunt rules, which follow:
       
       The season will start on September 27th. From then until October 31st, the only times available for hunting will be from 30 minutes before sunrise to 9:00 a.m. After October 31st, the hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset will be allowed. The goose season will close on December 5. Duck hunting will also be allowed during the LPA goose season.
       
       LPA members and their guests will be the only hunters allowed. Guests will have to be accompanied by members and have the member’s signature on their hunting application. All hunters will be required to place a $50 deposit with the Association that would be applied to any rule violations.
       All hunters will have to show the appropriate licenses and required stamps, which will be photocopied for Lake records.
       
       Only portions of the main basin and the “upper basin” will be open to hunting.
       “Regulations will require the hunters to be at least 600 feet away from the shoreline on the north, west and east sides of the main basin,” said Jeremy Bennett, Security Supervisor. “There will be buoys marking that distance so there will be no question about where it is,” he continued. “Hunters will also have to have permission from private lot owners in the upper basin to hunt from their shoreline.” There are relatively few private owners in the upper basin.
       
       All birds harvested will have to be recovered, as state law also requires. All regular DNR regulations will apply.
       
       Temporary vehicle ID and boat ID tags will be supplied
       

Water Quality at Lake Panorama
A recent story concerning water quality at Lake Panorama in the Des Moines Register has raised some questions.
       
       Please see the September issue of the Lake Panorama Times for a more lengthy response.
       
       Selective tests in areas where geese have congregated are mostly likely the cause of the high bacterial counts noted in the story. Overall lake quality is good.

Dry Conditions Warrant Care
Be very careful with fall yard chores--especially burning leaves. Dry conditions have left much burnable material in prime condition for fires to spread. It is likely burning bans will be implemented in Guthrie County if conditions to not consistently improve.
       
       Please take care.