CORDRY-SWEETWATER CONSERVANCY
DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
April 2015
Chairman’s Comments by Jim Ray
While there are myriad issues that the board of directors and CSCD staff must deal with on a day-to
-day basis, there are two that tend to be of the greatest interest to the most freeholders, and for good
reason. Those are the conservancy district’s budget – particularly with regard to its effect on
property tax rates – and communication of information between CSCD and freeholders.
The process for developing a budget for calendar year 2016 will begin soon in earnest. Although no
numerical targets have been discussed yet by the board of directors, I’m certain all would agree that
we should create a budget that is as frugal as possible, while still allowing us to accomplish what
needs to be done to protect our infrastructure and make this a wonderful community. We were able
to construct a budget for this year that was about $42,000 less than 2014. We have already asked
each of the commissions, with staff assistance, to create tentative budgets for the areas they oversee. Those numbers will be merged, evaluated and adjusted, and there will be public meetings to
discuss the budget that is being considered. If you have a strong interest in the budgeting process,
and particularly if you have a background in dealing with such budgets, we would welcome your
direct involvement early in the process as a member of an ad hoc budget preparation committee.
While there have been focused efforts over the past couple of years to enhance our communication
capabilities, in order to share information more expeditiously with freeholders, we will continually
be looking for ways to improve. An old web site that was not particularly user-friendly has recently
been replaced with one that contains more, routinely updated information; staff members regularly
post information about infrastructure-related activities on a Facebook page; more information is
being shared via electronic mail and through text messages; directors communicate in person, by
telephone and via electronic mail with individual freeholders while staff members spend untold
hours doing the same. None of the directors or CSCD staff members is a communications
specialist, but we’re all trying our hardest. As part of our continuous improvement process, we’d
love to have any of you with professional or technical communications skills work with us. If you
have experience with web site development, marketing, professional writing or other related areas
of expertise, please consider sharing your skills.
Jim Ray , Chairman
Open Saturdays May 2nd thru end of August
Monday thru Friday
7:30AM to 4PM
Saturday 8AM to 12PM
June through August CSCD Board meetings dates will
move to Saturday mornings at the CSCD Office.
June 13, 2015
July 18, 2015
August 15, 2015
8:30am
8:30am
8:30am
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The Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District now has a
new text alert system. It will send up to 8 messages per
month with alerts and/or information to those who subscribe.
This could be from boil water alerts to meeting date/time
changes or cancellations. Message/data rates may apply.
There are two ways in which you can subscribe: from your
mobile phone you can text "cscd" to 97000 or you can go
onto our website at www.cscd-in.org and sign up from the
homepage.
Please like us on Facebook: Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy
District for information and updates about Commissions,
Board Meetings, Infrastructure, boil orders, road conditions,
and more!
The District has a new website!! It has the same URL
(www.cscd-in.org) but a new look. You will be able to find
meeting minutes for the Board and Commissions, the latest
news, calendar of events and more! Please take time to check
it out!
If a Lot Owner is selling or purchasing
additional lots, marrying lots, quit claiming
deeds, changing names on lots, combining
multiple lots onto one deed, that Lot Owner
will need to record it with the Brown County
Recorders Office and those documented
changes will need to be filed with the CSCD
Office.
Please report any changes of address, email
address and multiple phone numbers. It is
necessary to reach residents when problems
with Lot Owner’s property occur.
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By: Josh Hawley
Finally the winter grip seems to be loosened! As we say good-bye to the snow and welcome the
warmer weather we wanted to thank-you for the positive comments and even baskets of
goodies we received over the winter in regards to road clearing. We will assess our job and
look forward to improving more for next winter!
As spring rolls in so does the wet weather and wet weather means some muddy roads. Our
crews are working hard to keep gravel on the roads and potholes filled. The Roads Commission
is also looking at long-term solutions to some of the longer gravel roads. If you are having
issues on your road, don’t hesitate to call the office and let us know.
We are also going to be beginning several water projects including hydrant flushing, repair, and
painting; replacing the yellow valve markers; and continuing to replace old service lines. We
also still have a week each month that utilizes most of our staff for reading water meters; so we
are busy busy!
Work will also soon begin on several improvements at the beach area and the other offshore
park areas around both lakes; as well as the construction of a new basketball court! We are very
excited to be a part of all these great improvements for you, the freeholders.
Please keep in mind that until our seasonal, part-time help is hired we are still only a crew of
three trying to get these projects up and rolling as well as perform our daily tasks. We are
looking forward to finally getting outside and beginning to make some real, positive changes as
well as continue to update our infrastructure so that we are in a good position years from now.
Safe travels back to these beautiful lakes and here’s to a great 2015 season!
THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 MILES PER HOUR ON MAIN ROADS.
THE SPEED LIMIT IS 15 MILES PER HOUR ON SIDE DRIVES.
WATCH YOUR SPEED BECAUSE WE ARE!
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As the next step in our multi-year sediment removal plan, which calls
for alternating from one lake to the other from year to year, work will
soon proceed again in Cordry Lake. The contractor has already
begun to stage equipment and hopes to begin work in the next few
weeks. In some locations it will be necessary to ask lot owners to
temporarily remove their free-standing boat lifts to allow for
contractor access. Letters are being sent to several lot owners to that
effect. If you are one of those lot owners, not only will you benefit
from having sediment removed from your immediate vicinity, your
neighbors will also benefit as contractor access to their lakefront can
be accommodated. A list of the areas to be dredged is shown below,
and it’s possible that the contract may allow for additional coves to be dredged, as well:
CORDRY LAKE COVES - DREDGING IN 2015
COVE NUMBER
LOCATED BETWEEN WHICH DRIVES
G-1
Firebush/Elm Court
G-6
Ginkgo/Haw
H-2
Hemlock/Hickory
H-6.5
Hackberry/Hornbeam
I-3
Hoptree/Indian Cherry
I-4
Indian Cherry/Inkbrush
I-5
Inkbrush/Ironwood
I-6
Ironwood/Juniper
I-7
Juniper/Kingnut
I-8
Kingnut/Laurel
I-9
Laurel/Maple
I-10
Maple/Nettle
I-12
Maple/Nettle
J-1
Hornbeam/Heather Court
J-2
Heather Court/Heather
J-3
Nettle/Oak
J-5
Pawpaw/Cordry
J-6
Pawpaw/Cordry
J-7
Pawpaw/Cordry
Adjacent to East End of Dam
Lot AA 1
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Board Meeting
3rd Tuesday of each month
7pm
Clubhouse
Building Commission
1st Tuesday of each month
7pm
Clubhouse
Ecology Commission
1st Thursday of each month
7pm
Office
Security Commission
2nd Tuesday of each month
7:30pm
Office
Roads Commission
2nd Tuesday of each month
6pm
Office
Water Commission
2nd Thursday of each month
5pm
Office
Please welcome our newest Board members, Matt Petersen and Jerry Engle!
Matt Petersen took over for Quinn Hetherington for Area 3 and is on the Security Commission
and Jerry Engle took over for Fritz Gantner for Area 7 and is on the Ecology Commission.
Cathey Byers, who lives in and represents Area 6, has announced that she will be resigning
from the board of directors by the end of May this year. The board will be responsible for
appointing someone to fill her position until the annual meeting in January 2016, at which time
a special election will be held to determine who should fill the position until the four year term
to which Cathey was elected expires in January 2017. Although there are some questions
regarding statutory requirements for eligibility to fill the position, we hope to have those
resolved soon. In the meantime, if you have an interest in being considered for the position,
please notify the office.
Properly maintaining our dams is critical to the long term management and protection of the
two lakes. An issue has been identified with a portion of the concrete spillway structure about
halfway down the face of the Sweetwater Lake dam. An engineering consulting firm has been
contracted to thoroughly evaluate the damaged portion of the structure, determine the best
approach to repairing it, and prepare all the documents needed to solicit bids for performing the
repairs.
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As you know, the conservancy district has had rules in place for several decades that regulate
construction projects, watercraft use, fishing, water utility operation and many other activities.
We’ve indicated on several occasions during the past couple of years that an effort was
underway to revise and improve the language of the rules to eliminate misunderstandings and
reflect current needs. The effort has reached a point at which the various commissions have
been asked to scrutinize what has been assembled so far, in order to then create a draft
document that would be suitable for general circulation, evaluation and comment. The intent
always has been to provide ample opportunity for all freeholders to be involved in the process,
so we will continue to keep you apprised of progress on the project and notify you when a draft
document becomes available for consideration, as well as when open meetings will be held to
allow for freeholder discussion and comment.
Now that spring is here, those of you who enjoy fishing are undoubtedly eager to get out on the
lakes and begin fishing again. Please keep in mind that some new fishing rules were put in
place last year that affect the number and sizes of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill,
redear and crappie you can keep each day. For details about the rules, check with the office or
check the CSCD web site at www.cscd-in.org
If you already own a boat that is capable of holding ballast intended to create a large wake for
wake surfing or other purposes, this is a reminder that the use of such ballast is prohibited on
our lakes because of the potential for adversely impacting other boaters and for causing
shoreline erosion. Boats with ballast tanks are allowed on the lakes as long as the tanks are not
filled and the ballast system is rendered inoperable. If you own such a boat, you should have
signed an affidavit asserting that you will not use the ballast
system. If you are considering purchasing a new boat, you should
be aware that there is a temporary prohibition against allowing
any new V-drive boats on the two lakes, since those are the boats
that typically contain ballast systems.
As the weather warms up, construction work increases in the CSCD. The CSCD continues, as
it has for many years, to review ALL construction done in the CSCD. If you are planning a
project involving construction of structures on property within the CSCD,
check first with the Nick Johann, the Building Compliance Officer, to
determine if your project requires a permit from the CSCD which involves
approval by the CSCD Building Control Commission and the CSCD Board
of Directors. Discussion continues on improving and simplifying the
building application for freeholders and contractors.
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2015
CORDRY – SWEETWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISERS AND OTHER
EVENTS SCHEDULE
CSVFD GARAGE SALE
April 11(Pick-up/drop-off) 10 AM- 3 PM
April 18 (Pick-up/drop-off) 10 AM- 3 PM
April 25 GARAGE SALE
8 AM- 4 PM
CSVFD PANCAKE BREAKFAST
May 24
7:30 AM-11:30 AM
CSVFD FISH FRY
June 20
11 AM -7 PM
CSVFD FISH FRY
June 20
11 AM -7 PM
CONCERT AT THE BEACH
June 20
7:30 PM
(Rain date 27th)
CORDRY BOAT PARADE
July 4
8 PM
CORDRY-SWEETWATER TRIATHALON
July 11
8 AM
CSLOA FIREWORKS
July 11
DUSK
(Rain date July 18th )
CSVFD PANCAKE BREAKFAST
July 12
7:30 AM-11:30 AM
CSVFD PANCAKE BREAKFAST
August 2
7:30 AM-11:30 AM
CSLOA & CSVFD OX ROAST
September 5
11 AM-7 PM
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
October 4th-10th
CSVFD OPEN HOUSE
October 3
10 AM-3 PM
CSVFD HAUNTED FOREST
October 23 & 24
8 PM-Midnight
HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT HAYRIDE
October 31
6:30 PM
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The Cordry Sweetwater Lot Owners Association and the Cordry Sweetwater Volunteer Fire
Department provide valuable services to the freeholders of the conservancy district. Both are
not-for-profit organizations that rely primarily on voluntary contributions from freeholders for
their existence. Annual CSLOA membership fees currently support the clubhouse, the library,
the July fireworks, playgrounds, and EMT/ambulance and fire protection services. The
devoted, unheralded volunteers who staff both organizations can only stretch a dollar so far.
Consider that they must conduct several fundraisers each year just to remain viable. Imagine
what our lives at the lakes would be like without the services they provide. If you don’t
already support these organizations financially through membership or otherwise, please
consider doing so.
Many of you have received letters indicating that your property is on this year’s rotation for a
mandatory septic system evaluation. Because septic systems pose a significant potential threat
to the quality of the lakes if they begin to malfunction, it’s very important that you comply with
the instructions provided in the letter. There is an expense associated with the evaluation, but
it’s only required every 5 years, and the cost associated with allowing a septic system to fail is
orders of magnitude greater. Thank you for your cooperation in this important effort.
For After Hour Water
Emergencies, please call
(317) 306-0882.
It is that time of year to
please take the time to
replace the batteries in
your smoke detectors
and carbon monoxide
detectors.
The CSCD Water
Department asks that you
please not remove your blue flag placed next
to your meter pit as these are used to help
locate the meter. THA NK Y OU!!
It’s that time of year again to start looking at
sprucing up the yard. Be very careful how you treat
your lawn. Please do not use anything that will harm
the lakes. Make sure your fertilizer is phosphorus
free, since phosphorus promotes growth of algae
when it washes into the lake. The conservancy office
has information on a new organic liquid
lawn treatment which will not leach
into the water, and is safe for animals
and humans. Contact or come by the
office for information.
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The conservancy district has contracted again this year for a professional vegetation
management firm to conduct surveys of both lakes in early May, and again in June, and
determine herbicide treatment needs on the basis of those surveys. The goal of the treatments,
as outlined in the CSCD’s vegetation management plan, is to prevent an overabundance of
aquatic vegetation, but maintain enough of the plants to maintain an ecological balance in the
lakes. Protecting the long term health of the lakes is essential to their appeal to those who
might wish to own property in CSCD. Striking the right balance between too few and too
many plants, while trying to satisfy the sometimes competing interests of all the lakes’ users is
challenging. Nonetheless, CSCD strives to accommodate everyone’s interests and desires, to
the extent possible. You can review the CSCD Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan on the
website at www.cscd-in.gov
From a fire or medical emergency perspective, it is very important that you have your house
number displayed on your home or somewhere near the road so that emergency personnel can
quickly locate your home in an emergency. Also, check that your house number
on your home matches your warranty deed since on one occasion this was not the
case. The building rules require that your lot number is placed on your dock in a
visible location from the water. This is also important information for the boat
patrol should there be an emergency incident on the water near your dock that
needs to be reported to the deputies or emergency medical personnel.
Spring has sprung!! Time to do some spring cleaning. Reminder to help keep
your property values up by keeping trash and debris cleaned up and around your
property.
The marina will open beginning Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day
weekend. The marina hours are as follows:
Cordry Lake:
Wednesday & Friday 4 pm - 6 pm
Saturday 11 am - 7 pm
Sunday & Holidays 11 am - 5 pm
Sweetwater Lake:
Wednesday & Friday 6 pm - 8 pm
Saturday 11 am - 7 pm
Sunday & Holidays 11 am - 5 pm
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Your 2014 CSCD Board of Directors
Jim Ray, Chairman
317-502-7985
Herb Benshoof, Vice Chairman
317-501-6811
Anita Writight, Secretary
317-933-3234
Cathey Byers
317-878-5293
Chad Crimmins
Matt Petersen
Jerry Engle
Stacy Wethington
Conservancy Manager
317-933-2750
317-755-7855
317-809-6091
317-933-2893
[email protected]
Area 5
[email protected]
Area 1
[email protected]
Area 4
[email protected]
Area 6
[email protected]
Area 2
[email protected]
Area 3
[email protected]
Area 7
[email protected]
Please do not dispose of waste along the roads of the
Conservancy. Always deposit trash in trash receptacles.
Thank you for helping us keep our area beautiful!!
Cordry Sweetwater Conservancy District
8377 Cordry Drive
Nineveh, IN 46164
Presorted
First Class
U.S. Postage Paid
NINEVEH, IN
Permit No. 22
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