New LPA owned lot sales policy effective July 1
New minimum prices on LPA owned lots are effective on July 1, 2007. All prices are subject to appraisals and no sales will be made for less than the appraised price.
       
       "A" Lot minimum price is $150,000. LPN golf course lots are $35,0000 and all other lots are $25,000. There is no longer any pricing variance for lots acquired that are joined to existing property.
       
       The LPA will receive offers at the LPA office. $1,000 earnest money is required to make an offer. After appraisal, the person offering will have up to ten days to accept or reject the price as established. Earnest money will be applied to the puchase price. The full policy statement is available at the office.

Board Develops Funding Proposals
The LPA Board continues to work toward a capital improvement and financial reserve funding proposal. Staff had been directed to prepare a fact sheet on preliminary proposals discussed over the last several months. The proposal, which would require a vote of the membership will continue to be worked on for presentation to the membership through various means this fall.

New Tree Cutting Rule soon to be implemented
The LPA Board has passed a tree cutting restriction that is meant to reduce the number of trees removed on developed lots.
        The rule, which will go into effect after one more readings and approval, will limit tree removals to half of the canopy cover on the lot involved. A number of removals are allowed automatically--access, building area and construction zone, places for septic fields, etc. The proposal allows a property owner to cut more than half of the trees, if a tree planting restoration plan (to re-establish canopy cover) is approved and is completed within a year of cutting. The rule leaves the option for the property owner to request a variance where necessary to allow for an amount of clearing over 50%. The only fines imposed is if the property owner does not establish and follow a plan or get a variance in the allotted time.
       
        The intent of the plan is primarily to encourage property owners to think through the process and minimize tree removal to achieve their purposes or replace trees in a timely manner. The greatest concern of the building codes committee, that recommended the rule, was the unsightliness and erosion problems caused by indiscriminate tree cutting, particularly along the lakeshore.
       

600 loads
Debris from the major storm events so far in 2007 has totaled over 600 truckloads. The debris boat Enterprize has picked up a large proportion of the total. The rest has been picked up on a log by log basis by crews working from LPA boats. One of the proposals that may be included in the Capital Improvement Plan to be shown to the membership this fall is a logging barge that would enable LPA crews to pick up logs and large sticks much more quickly, with fewer workers, and with more safety.
       
       

Panorama Days Coming in August
The local annual Panorama Days celebration will be held in Panora again this year August 3-5. Although there won't be a parade this year due to road construction, the celebration will be moved to the Guthrie County Historical Village and Waterworks Park on the southwest side of the City.
       The LPA will again sponsor a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. on Friday August 3 at the Lake Panorama Marina. The local Ski Team will be presenting their annual show at the marina on Saturday afternoon, August 4. There will be day long entertainment at the Historical Village, with performances by bands, dancers, a drill team, a car show, Bingo, concessions and more. Panorama Days is sponsored by the Panora Chamber of Commerce of which the LPA and LPN are both members.

Seal Coat Work Planned
About six miles of seal coat will be applied on Lake roads this summer. The maintenance department will prepare and renovate street areas that have been deteriorating before the contractor completes the work.
       
       Cul de sacs are not chip sealed by the contractor, but by the LPA maintenance crew. These areas are too small to for the contractor equipment. Crews will do those areas that fit within the amount of materials in the LPA budget.
       

LPN Open House on July 14 for new Fitness Area
The LPN, in cooperation with the Clover Ridge Interval Owners Association (time-shares)has a joint project of an exercise room in the lower level of the Conference Center. The room will have a number of fitness machines for the use of LPA members, Time Share members and the general public. An open house will be held on Saturday July 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. Representatives of the fitness equipment firm "Push, Pedal and Pull" will be on hand to demonstrate the new equipment.
       
       Fitness enthusiasts, those needing to shed a pound or two, and those who just want to try something new should call the LPN at 641 755 2080 for more information.

Beach Water Quality Information

       The LPA tests water at all three LPA beaches every Tuesday from May 1 to September 30. The waters are tested for bacteria that indicate possible disease organisms in the water. The procedures and criteria for testing are the same as the Iowa Department of Natural Resources testing of State Park beaches. If testing at a beach exceeds the Iowa DNR limit for safe swimming, the beach will be posted "swimming not recommended" signs and announcements. The information is available on the website homepage events announcements weekly and is also posted at each beach and the marina store.
       
        High water flow that includes silt laden water is almost always very high in bacterial content. If tests on Tuesday indicate safe swimming and a storm event causes muddy water before the weekend, the beaches will still be posted "swimming not recommended." If you have questions about beach water quality, please contact the office.
       
        Also, conditions at one beach do not necessarily reflect conditions at another beach. Results can vary due to local conditions or wildlife present.