LAKE STRIKER NEWSLETTER
SUMMER/FALL 2009
WATER SALES
The Cites of Whitehouse and Troup continue to evaluate their water needs. They think they may have a decision made by years end as to what direction they want to go to secure water for their future needs. They currently have an option on 3.9 million gallons a day from Lake Striker. Each inch of water on the lake contains approximately 64 million gallons.
The District along with Stokes and Associates Consulting Engineers has secured a permit change from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to allow the District to sell water for municipal use as well as industrial use. The permit amendment process is quite involved and took about 18 months.
DISTRICT WEB SITE
Since February 1, the District has a new web site for those of you who have internet access. The address is www.lakestriker.com. You can find daily lake elevations there, previous days flood release (if any) from the spillway, lot plats, lake regulations, helpful phone numbers and much more information there.
NEW LAKE REGULATION ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES
The District’s Board of Directors recently approved a new procedure for enforcement of the lake rules and regulations. I wanted to take the opportunity to pass the procedure along to all the leaseholders along with the newsletter.
We continue to have some problems with compliance to the lake regulations. The areas we continue to have the most problems with are: pets being allowed to roam loose, lots not being kept mowed and clean, junk cars on lots, and improvements, including piers and boathouses, not being kept in good condition.
Following is an example of how the procedure will work.
In this example I will use a problem with a junk car on a lot.
Step 1: A letter by regular mail will be sent to the leaseholder who has the junk car and ask that it be removed in thirty days. The thirty day period is a legal requirement.
Step 2: If after the thirty period the car is not removed a certified letter will be sent to the leaseholder. This letter will state that the leaseholder has thirty days to remove the junk car or the lease for the lot will be terminated. They will need to contact me to let me know if the car has been removed.
Step 3: If after the thirty day period the car has not been removed, another certified letter will be sent notifying the leaseholder that their lease has been terminated and that they have thirty days to either remove themselves and any improvements they can from the lake lot, or correct the problem and pay a $100.00 lease reinstatement fee.
If the District does not get cooperation at this step, and the leaseholder does not correct the problem, or remove themselves from the lot the District will start eviction proceedings with the Justice of the Peace.
It is not the District’s intention or desire to terminate anyone’s lease. As you can see the procedure allows ample time for anyone to comply with the lake regulations. However, there has to be a procedure for those unwilling to comply when a request is made by the District for the lake regulations to be adhered to. The regulations are something that you agree to abide by in your Lease Agreement with the District.
The Board of Director’s has given me the authority as District Manager to use this process.
If you know that there are problems that you need to take care of please go ahead and do it now. The District will start inspecting the lots about a month after you receive this.
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE NEWS
Texas Parks and Wildlife have completed their fish and fish habitat survey of the lake. It should be available in late August. After it is completed I will post it on the website.
Texas Parks and Wildlife stocked the lake with 96,000 blue catfish in June. They expect they may grow to about thirty inches long in three years. Some photos are available on the website.
Texas Parks and Wildlife, District staff and three lake residents placed approximately 100 cedar trees in the lake near the dam in May. A special thanks to Joe Sorrells, Wayne Yeargain and Jim Mayo for helping.
ATV’S AND GOLF CARTS
The District has been having problems with people riding ATV’s in areas they do not have permission to ride them. The problem is largely in the managed timber areas around the lake. Quite simply, if you do not have permission to ride in an area you are trespassing. If District staff finds someone riding on District property the sheriff’s department will be called and charges filed.
We also have quite a few people riding ATV’s and golf carts on the county roads in the lake area. The District has no legal authority to prevent this. My only concern and the only reason I mention it is I think we have been very fortunate that no one has been involved in an accident involving a golf cart, ATV and a car. As you probably know, if you have lived here very long, some people drive too fast on the curvy, hilly roads around the lake. Be careful.
TIMBER SPRAYING
You may see a helicopter flying low around the lake area in late August or early September. The District will be having herbicide sprayed on some of our pine trees that have been planted for about a year. The small trees are facing competition from the brush, briars and vines that are growing along side them. The herbicide will kill these plants that inhibit the pine trees growth and allow the pine trees to grow at a much better rate. The areas sprayed will be along Highway 79 and along the north end of County Road 4255.
NEW SHOP/OFFICE
The District is in the planning stage of constructing a new shop/office. It will be across the driveway from the existing shop and office. If you have seen our office/shop facility you know that it is in need of replacing.
CLOSING REMARKS
It has been a privilege to serve as the Lake Manager here for a little over 8 years now, after working at Cedar Creek Lake for almost 21 years. The lake area here has changed quite a lot in that time. The overall appearance is much better than it was then. Newer larger homes are being built. Property values are increasing, which is a good thing except at tax time! We seem to have more and more permanent residents as time goes on. Even though we are in a rural area, we are almost like a small city. Let’s all work together to make the lake area an area that we can all be proud of to call home or spend vacation time at.