Birch Island Property Owners’ Association

Spring 2009 Newsletter

Spring is here and we’re all looking forward to another wonderful season on Birch Island. The Birch Island Property Owners’ Association (BIRPOA) is once again planning for 2009. Projects such as the Birch Island Branch Library, trail maintenance and marking, the marina bulletin board, rights of way to common trails, the loon count, keeping on top of township and provincial issues affecting Birch Island cottage owners, the annual dock Trash to Treasures day, the annual general meeting, etc. are all on our list!! We hope you'll consider volunteering to lend a hand with any one of these projects and attend the annual general meeting/get together in August. Please check the marina bulletin board regularly to keep on top of Birch Island activities and events.

Birch Island Web Site

Don't forget the birch island web site www.birchisland.info is a great source of information and a place for your content. The minutes of the 2008 AGM are posted on the website and we hope you read them prior to the 2009 AGM. There is a Bulletin Board area on the home page which BIRPOA members can use for advertisements, announcements etc. Just email your notice to John Curley at jpcurley@gmail.com.

Loon Count and Platform Building

Chuck Laudermilch is continuing on with the loon count in 2009. In the 2008 there were 4-5 chicks and approximately 24 adults on the lake. Anyone who wishes to help with the loon count is urged to call Chuck Laudermilch at 613-359-1078. Loons should be counted at least every three weeks for a total of 4 to 5 times during the summer season. Each count requires a two to three hour time commitment. The first count is generally done the first week in May. We've been blessed with a stable loon population supported by a relatively healthy Sand Lake. Lets all be vigilant in our efforts to preserve the ecosystem of Sand Lake and its loon population. The repair and construction of nesting platforms needs to be addressed in 2009! Many of the existing platforms are aging and falling into disrepair and new ones need to be built and installed this year. We do not want to lose our loons. Please call Bob Cavenagh at 613-359-5461 or e-mail cavenaghr@gmail.com if you can help.

Birch Island Branch Library

The Birch Island Branch Library, run on the honour system, is fully operational. Please take a walk along the trail (at cottage #57) and have a browse. A few more construction tasks need to be completed this year but they won’t affect library use. Your thoughtful donations of books, complete puzzles and games will continue to be welcomed. Volunteers are also needed for landscaping and library maintenance. Contact Bob Cavenagh at 613-359-5461 or e-mail cavenaghr@gmail.com and mention the library in the subject line.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Rideau Canal system was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2007. You may have wondered how this affected your cottage property. The quick answer is that it doesn’t, at least not directly, and it is cottage enjoyment as usual. The boundary of the World Heritage Site is the high water mark of Sand Lake – the water and land up to that point are owned by the federal government of Canada. The World Heritage Status doesn’t come with any new rules or regulations. For more detailed information check out Ken Watson’s Sand Lake Estates Newsletter article at: http://www.rideau-info.com/associations/slei/slei-news-2008.pdf

Boating License

This is a reminder that all boaters will need their boating license as of September, 2009. A good FAQ site is http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/faq_rules-en.aspx.

Television

A number of American TV channels have gone digital so you may not get the reception you got in the past. You would need a digital set or a converter in order to receive the channels.

Hydro and Tree Trimming

Two BIRPOA directors met with Hydro on April 20^th, 2009 to ask about the possibility of islanders getting a preferred rate. We will keep you apprised of the results.

Hydro will be trimming trees around the primary hydro poles and main wires. They may have started by the time you open your cottage. It is actually dangerous to have trees / vegetation come in contact with the high voltage wires and we have had some situations of small fires taking place. When you look around Birch Island you may notice where hydro has cut some trees – they don’t worry about how “pretty” they leave the area… but, as you know, any “unsightly” cut areas will soon regenerate.

Membership Dues & Budget

Fees this year are the same at $40. The cost of directors' and association insurance is the main cost item. Here's the budget for FY 2009 showing how your money will be spent.

Septic Tank Re Inspection Program

Sand Lake septic tank inspections will begin in third year of the Re Inspection Program.

Trails & Signage

1. Trail maintenance and signage will continue on in 2009. We have $500 set aside for trail maintenance and 2 firms have expressed an interest in the work. South Shore Road is a concern and secondary trails need work. Two more directional signs are on order and will be installed this season.

Dock Trash to Treasures Sale and Give-Away Day – Saturday, July 11th

Saturday, July 11^th is Birch Island’s Dock Trash to Treasures sale and give-away. Set your free or for-sale items at the end of your dock and tie on some balloons to alert browsing boaters! Items should be in good condition.

Remembering Dorothy Hare

Dorothy Hare passed away Feb 7, 2009 in her 95th year. She and her husband Ed of 74 years were active members of BIRPOA. They are fondly remembered for the help they gave other cottage owners. Their daughter Janet and her husband Bruce Forsyth took over their cottage many years ago.

Highway 15 Improvements

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) is planning for improvements to Highway 15 from 0.3 km south of Big Hill Road in the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands, northerly to 1.07 km south of Leeds and Grenville Road 42, a distance of approximately 23.58 km. The project components to be addressed in the study include:

• pavement rehabilitation;

• one new northbound passing lane located approximately 0.3 km north of Bush Road to 0.3 km north of Smiths/Franks Road, a distance of 2.28 km;

• one new southbound passing lane located approximately 1.3 km north of Sweets Corners Road to 0.5 km north of Back Street, a distance of 2.75 km;

• intersection improvements;

• drainage improvements;

• culvert modification and replacement;

• a review of illumination; and,

• road side safety improvements.

Initial public consultations were held in mid-February. A Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) will be prepared and released for review and comment. Upon completion of the study, a Design and Construction Report (DCR) will be prepared to document the results of detail design. Notification of TESR Submission and DCR Submission will be published in local newspapers.

A second detail design study and Class EA has been initiated for the improvements to Highway 15 from 1.07 km south of Leeds and Grenville Road 42 to 0.25 km south of Young’s Hill Road, a distance of 3.58 km. Due to geographic location, the two studies will be undertaken concurrently. However, the results will be documented in separate Transportation Environmental Study Reports and detail design reports.

Rights-of-Way

One of the BIRPOA directors knew he had a problem with his lot’s rights-of-way and realized it was a problem that many of us share – many of our deeds do not properly describe the rights-of-way we all should have to the common areas of the island, namely the pathways. Upon further examination it was determined that a little over 50 % of owners have no rights whatsoever, another group have some rights but is incomplete and the rest appear to have what is required.

There is a long history and explanation as to how this occurred. At this time, the BIRPOA Executive members are in discussions with Birch Island Estates Limited (the company that developed the island) and a local lawyer to determine how the situation can be rectified. Although the details are not yet finalized, we are negotiating to have corrections made to our deeds in an inexpensive “bulk agreement,” for those who wish to participate. All property owners will receive a letter describing the rights-of-way issue in greater detail in the near future.

Mark Your Calendar !!

Here are a few dates to keep in mind. Some are BIRPOA activities while others are taking place in the area.

2009 BIRPOA Executive

MEMBERSHIP – Please join!

Why join the Birch Island Property Owners Association (BIRPOA)?

Your membership dues help to:

• Disseminate valuable information to cottage owners

• Keep on top of issues affecting Birch Island, Sand Lake and area

• Maintain trails for enjoyable and safe use

• Ensure volunteers are covered by liability insurance

• Forge a sense of community

• It’s cheap! – dues for 2009 are only $40… less than a good bottle of scotch!!

Please provide your address if it has changed recently. Don't forget your email address as we'll keep you up to date via a fall email. Make cheques payable to BIRPOA and mail to:

BIRPOA

c/o Alice Howarth,

94 Birch Island,

Box 2

Elgin, ON

K0G 1E0

Name(s): __________________________ Lot #: _____________________________

Apt: __________________________ Street: _____________________________

City: __________________________ Prov/State: __________________________

Postal/Zip: __________________________

Cottage Tel: __________________________ Home Tel: __________________________

Email: ________________________________________________________________