The monthly meeting of the Grand Lake Rec Club was called to order by President, Brad Fisher at Southshore Sportsman Club, with approximately 32 members present. President, Brad Fisher read the August minutes and Treasurer, Mike Metz read the Treasurer’s report
 
Financial Status and Expenses (Mike Metz, Treasurer)

• The current checking account balance is $14,480.69. The Trevor Mobley Foundation account holds $4,040.09
  • Recently paid invoices include $1,318 to Davis Welding and $3,943 to the Outdoorsman.
  • Davis Welding donated $1000 of their labor
  • The Outdoorsman donated approximately $1,750 in labor and also did not bill for winterizing the boat, totaling over $2,000 in donations for the year.
  • A $95 membership fee for the Celina Commerce Chamber was also paid.
  •  A fund of $4,000 is being held for lights and related supplies, as bills have not yet been received.
• The group discussed allocating funds from their current balance of $14,480.
  • Oil Derrick Rock
        – An estimated $5,000 is committed to placing more rock at the oil derrick for navigational safety. The project is planned for 2026, pending the state’s dredging of the Kozy DMRA to allow barge access.
  • Bike Path Paving
        – The group discussed contributing to the bike path paving project, which had a total cost of around $37,000.
        – We approved donating $4,500, an amount similar to what was raised during our bicycle poker run.
  • ADA fishing dock with a playground, shelter house, and restroom access to create a unified family area. 
        – Phase 1 which was a fishing dock, was completed a couple years ago. Phase 2.  playground, was funded in ’24 and installed in ’25. Phase 3: shelter house, fence, playground area stone, and concrete project budget was $43,000.With donations received from numerous organizations.       
        – The project is currently about $3,300 short of the funds needed for completion.
        – We  agreed to make a $3,500 donation to  complete phase 3 portion of the project.
    • -Phase 4 as more funding comes in will be catch basin, seawall cap repair, additional concrete sidewalk towards restrooms, concrete pad next to shelter house for loading  unloading, and landscaping.
    • If you are interested in donating please reach out to the Rec Club or LIA
• The dredging on the West Bank is complete, total dredging to date is 207,000 cubic yards of material, and the disposal site is nearly full.
  • A new dredging site at the Sailboat Club is being prepared for next year and past DMRAs are being prepared to be used again in 2026.
  • With dredging slowing for the season, there is a proposal to shift focus to tree removal in the channels, a task that has not been done in about five years. 
  • There was discussion on using the boat’s sonar capabilities to locate and mark submerged logs for the removal crews, potentially starting in October.
  • Volunteers will be needed to help scan designated areas and mark hazards with orange balls to make the excavator’s work more efficient.
• The Harman’s treatment train is in the development and drawing phase, with a potential completion date of 2026 or 2027
•  The Red Wing project, located across from the Sailboat Club, is currently underway.
•  Once the Harman’s project is finished, all lake tributaries will be covered by a treatment train.
• Safety Island: the  floating dock built by Eric was damaged by a falling tree.
  • Eric has committed to repairing the dock once the trees are cleared. This is considered a fall project.
• A proposal was discussed to repurpose the old “Lost Weekend” barge, currently at Doss Landing. The idea is to strip the top off and convert it into a multi-use open barge for lake events like boat races and fireworks.
  • For the project to be feasible, the barge would need to be self-powered, and insured. A handful of annual events would be required to justify the effort.
  • The current condition of the barge is poor, with the top “falling in,” and it has been sitting for approximately 10 years. The group agreed to think about the idea and discuss it further at a later time.
• Lighted Buoys: Maintenance is ongoing, and members are encouraged to report outages. Issues with the sailboat club and duckfoot buoys were noted and addressed.
• Behm’s Point Lighting: The lighting may not be working, and trimming trees was suggested for better visibility.
• Dock Repairs: Recent repairs to the moose were completed successfully without needing cranes.
• Tree Removal: A tree at the end of the dock is expected to fall and is planned for removal after dredging is finished.
• Sonar Equipment: The system is operational, and 30-60 minute training sessions are available for members.
• First Aid Kit: A comprehensive first aid kit, costing around $380, was donated by Nick Katterhenry and will be mounted on the boat.
• All anticipated summer work on the boat is complete, with a more detailed breakdown and photos to be presented at the Christmas meeting.
  • The boat, originally purchased for $1,000 ten years ago, has been significantly upgraded over time due to heavy use.
  • It is scheduled to go to Davis Welding mid-winter to have protective struts added to the pontoons to prevent future damage. This is in response to finding holes in three of the four pontoons last spring.
  • The fire department recently used the boat and was very impressed with the upgrades. They plan to use funds from the Mobley Foundation to purchase and install red lights for the boat.
  • Users can get gas at Rustic, and the cost will be billed to the group.
  • Users must inform the group leadership when taking the boat out so it can be tracked, especially in case of a fire department call.
        – If any damage occurs, such as to the prop, it should be reported immediately. A spare prop, wrench, and pins are kept on board for immediate repairs.
• There is an ongoing issue with buoy lights malfunctioning, with reports of outages at the boardwalks and sailboat club.
  • There are approximately 25 buoys in total, and the group currently has two spare lights and extra batteries for replacements.
  • A need was identified for a more structured maintenance process, including volunteers to manage repairs and a better system for testing lights and conserving batteries over the winter.
  •  Members are encouraged to report any malfunctioning buoys via email to grandlakerec@gmail.com.
  • The group will need to order more red lights and other buoy-related supplies for the next spring, with an estimated cost of $1,000 to $1,500.
  • There is a plan to pull all buoys, bring them to a workshop for detailed inspection and repair, and test them at the state park before redeployment.
  • A chart will be created to document when buoys were installed and what parts have been replaced to better track maintenance history.
  • Members needing lights should contact Ryan directly but keep the group leadership (Mike and Amy) informed to track spending.
• Dave Faler: Park, Environmental, and Water Quality Updates
  • Lake Conditions: The lake level is at negative six and a half inches due to hot, dry weather. Toxin levels are at an all-time low for the period from 2009 to 2025.
  • USGS Stations: Funding cuts may impact some USGS stations that track lake levels, and groups are working to restore the funding.
  • The Fall Festival had its highest attendance since being started.
  • Several canal projects are underway, including work at Lock 23, the 40-acre pond spillway, and bank work.
  • The big culvert on the east bank is scheduled for replacement starting in March ’26.
  • The littoral wetland walls at Prairie Creek and Coldwater are in the design phase for rebuilding.
  • A new office will be built, consolidating three older buildings into one.
  • Marina Status: The recently emptied marina is in disrepair and will eventually be torn down, with no current plans for its replacement.
• LIA Fishing Derby: The event was a success with around 200 kids attending. Cousins of Youth Development donated 250 new cane poles. 
• MailChimp Upgrade: The club approved upgrading its MailChimp subscription for around $20 a month to allow for more frequent email communications with members.
• October Meeting was originally scheduled for Rustic Haven, it will now be held at Southshore Sportsman Club
  • The group discussed changing the format of their monthly gatherings at local businesses. To manage expectations, these events may be relabeled as “social gatherings” rather than formal meetings. The purpose is to support local establishments and discuss ideas informally, with formal decisions reserved for structured meetings. A suggestion was made to formally recognize corporate sponsors annually, possibly with plaques, to show appreciation and encourage continued support.
• Trevor Mobley Event: There was discussion about the future of the event, as attendance felt lower this year due to weather and a competing Buckeyes game.
  •  A suggestion was made to approach corporate sponsors, such as Heidelberg, to secure future funding and reduce the organizational workload.
• South Shore Sportsman’s Club Fundraiser
  • The annual “Fall Round” fundraiser will be held next Saturday to support the club’s community giving programs.
  • The event features games of chance, a silent auction, and two major raffles with prizes including an electric bike, a Henry Big Boy gun, and a catered party.
  • Shuttle service will be available from several local establishments starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Bayview Jet Ski Ride: Bayview is hosting a jet ski scavenger hunt on the 28th at 11 a.m.
  •  The event will involve finding locations and taking photos, primarily on the south side of the lake.
• A fall beach cleanup is planned for late October or November, after the leaves have fallen. An email will be sent out with the specific date.
• The group will coordinate with the state to help pull buoys. The timing will be determined based on when Dave plans to do it, which is typically before “Ducky days.” An email will be sent to organize a crew.