Big Clear gets the All Clear at AGM

Photo: Terry Kennedy updated BCLA members about the ongoing work of the Friends of Arden at the BCLA AGM

President of the Big Clear Lake Association (BCLA), Theresa Smith, led the association’s Annual General Meeting, which took place at the Kennebec hall in Arden on July 14.

Terry Kennedy, co-chair of the Kennebec Lake Association and chair of the Friends of Arden (FOA), was invited to speak and updated the group on the community improvements the FOA have accomplished to date, along with their future plans.

Central Frontenac Councilor Jeff Matson spoke to a number of concerns that members had raised and reported that Central Frontenac Council is currently involved in the process of having a bunkie removed from the beach at Big Clear Lake. One member, who was concerned about the contents of a hot tub being regularly dumped into the lake, was informed that Quinte Conservation would be looking into the matter.

Next, wearing his firefighter hat, Matson reported that $6000 was spent on improving emergency vehicle access to Blue Heron Ridge Road on Kennebec Lake. He also reminded members that the fire department is happy to look at roads and private laneways for those wanting information about how best to improve emergency vehicle access to their properties. “There is a lot cottage owners can do themselves to improve access on laneways, like clearing brush around the corners to improve visibility and making sure your civic numbers are clearly visible,” Matson said.

The yearly elections saw the return of Theresa Smith as president, with Heather Wilkins returning as treasurer and Linda Descarie volunteering to be secretary (the first time the association has had a secretary for a while).

In the treasurer’s report Heather Wilkins reminded members to label all portable items around their properties, like gas cans and boat motors, so that if they are ever stolen and retrieved, the OPP will be able to return them to their rightful owners. Cottagers were also reminded to leave any crime scene untouched so that officers can properly investigate. One member brought up the issue of the waste site closure on Thanksgiving weekend, which is inconvenient for cottagers packing up to leave that weekend. Councilor Matson was asked to look into that issue. Members also passed a resolution to buy one of the $100 shares to help the Arden Legion get its roof repaired.

Other subjects touched upon were the regular appearance of foam in the lake, which Wilkins looked into and reported is a natural and normal occurrence. Regarding the overall health of the lake Wilkins reported that while the BCLA is behind other lake associations as far as doing regular studies and tests, recent tests show that the lake continues to remain clear and very healthy. In actual fact it is very close to being drinkable, though she did not recommend drinking lake water due to the possibility of contracting beaver fever.