MLCA History

At 10:00 AM at the request of Dave and Judy Spafford, Larry Worth called a meeting of lake property owners to determine interest in the placement of fish shelters. Invited guests were Ron Theis fish biologist & Jack smith water specialist from the DNR. They recommended that the group incorporate in order to protect any one person against liability.

Motions were made to form a corporation and the steering committee officers elected were:

Judy Spafford – President
Frank Belec – Vice President
Richard Imm – Secretary/Treasurer

The name of the Assoc. was to be Moen Chain Lake Community Club.

Dues were set at $5.00 per year

A standing committee was then formed to study and find “navigational hazards” in order to place markers where regulations require them.

The last motion that was carried was to place canisters in each resort bar for tourists to contribute if they were interested in fish shelters. The slogan chosen to be placed in each bar near the crib donation container: “Your small change will make a BIG change in your fishing success”

Attorney John Priebe volunteered his services to help form the Corporation. Lee Bernstein recommended the formation of a “Lake Protective District, tax district/lake improvement” in order to be able to get insurance.

Monies collected from each lake would be spent in each lake from Moen to 2nd and 3rd lakes only. The group divided the chain into the “upper lakes” and the “lower lakes”.

Cribs were to cost $35.00 each and a plan to place 30 cribs was instituted. Maple tops and logs (30-35 per crib) anchored with rocks. The cribs were to be constructed by members. Logger Gene Wickham supplied the logs @ $40.00/cord. Dave Spafford donated the rocks and the brush was collected by member volunteers.

Letters were sent to each town board informing them of the formation of the corporation. The new corporation’s stated intent was “for the sole purposes of being able to mark the rock hazards to make boating safer and to place fish shelters in the lake to improve fish habitat”. The three town boards were hesitant to agree due to liability concerns. Pelican flatly refused, ultimately Stella and Pine lake agreed if cribs met regulations. A call went out to 4th & 5th lakes for interested individuals to support the endeavor with Pelican. Thompson and George were waiting the outcome of the request before making their decisions about crib placement. Initial attempts to obtain liability insurance were instituted and ultimately it was discovered that the townships would have to share the liability. However, if the cribs were constructed and placed according to DNR specifications, liability would be minimal if at all.

After much wrangling with the townships, permission was granted and the group decided to place markers and cribs without insurance. The original bank account was started at First Financial and ran from $250 to $500 the first year.

It was moved by Gene Ziegenbein and seconded by Larry Worth and passed that the Club go ahead with channel marker and crib placement. A picnic was planned at the Spaffords in June and a dance at Pine Valley in July.

There was a meeting of the MCL Community Club at Birchwood Lodge, Emmett Lawonn was the presiding president and Judy Spafford was the Secretary/treasurer. (The lake activities the MCL Community Club and its officers between the 1984 efforts to form a corporation and place cribs and channel markers and 1991 meeting remains a blank. There is no record of formal incorporation or further meetings). There was controversy concerning the use of monies and the placemen of the cribs. A review of crib installation during 1989-90 was presented and the “proven justified”.

A review of a DNR fish census revealed that a sufficient number of walleye and panfish were present in all lakes. A discussion to plan the planting of small and large mouth bass followed and was approved. Monies raised at the meeting totaled $700 for that purpose.

The water draw down agreement from the chain between the DNR and the WVIC was to go the federal arbitration. Officers elected: Fred Radke – President Mrs. Radke – Sec/Treas.

Moen’s Lake Chain Community Club, President Fred Radke presiding.

• Much discussion about more cribs, fish stocking, no wake markers between 2nd & 3rd lakes, no improvement of the boat landing but placement of a garbage can is OK.
• Labor day weekend was decided to be the best time for the annual meeting
• A newsletter was sought.
• Elected: Bill Yonker, Pres., Don & Kathy Groskopf, Sec/Treas.

A meeting was held at Birchwood Lodge. An explanation was offered as to why Fred Radke resigned as president. The current officers were confirmed. The members agreed to have the “foul language” under the Hwy C bridg painted over, a garbage can placed at the public landing and the construction of a pier there voted down. A newsletter was requested.

A letter from Bill Yonker to Judy Spafford is on file. Bill Yonkers resigns as President of Moen Lake “Association” refuting questions about the monies used for fish stocking and channel markers. Discussions were held on more cribs, more fish stocking and the possible construction of a panfishing pier was approved but no site or action taken.

In a letter to all members of the MCLCC, L. Worth announced the resignation of Bill Yonker and Kathie Groskopf in April,1993, leaving the Association without officers. The “checking account at Valley Bank has been closed and a cashiers check and cash totaling $711.40 was deposited in M & I Merchant’s Bank”.

L. Worth was asked about the fish stocking that was supposed to have taken place and reported that Fred Radke, who was president at the time, purchased 1,450 large mouth bass from White Pine fish corp. costing $1,500 and were planted in Moen, 3rd lake and 4th Lakes on Nov. 6 1992. Of 28 original markers, 8 were missing or damaged. Larry had acquired donated materials from Musson Brothers and Eckert Wrecking Inc. and was repairing and repainting them. Joel Ohman welded all the pipes.

No meetings for two years because of the officers resignations.

• Larry Worth was nominated for President and Barbara Worth Sec/treasurer by Norm Zaffron.
• Dues were raised to $20.00.
• Bob Goodin offered to print the newsletter.
• Dave Tutaj offered to place channel -markers between 4th and 5th lakes the following June.
• 28 members attended.

50 members attended the meeting called to order by president Larry Worth. Insurance cost was to high and the subject was tabled. Russ Bishop moved and Paul Neville seconded, that flashing lights be placed on one side of channel markers. The motion was later rescinded due to many objections. Reflective tape or paint was approved.

President Larry Worth opened the meeting held at the Moen lake Campground. 80 paid members attended. Treasurer Barbara Worth reported a balance $1,537.87. Liz Richmond was elected secretary.

• Moved and approved that lights be placed on rock markers.
• Rory Hust was thanked for painting the underside of the bridge (obscenities)
• Fish planting was discussed as well as cribs
• Incorporation papers were now available from John Czarnezki (UW-Ext) and were approved.
• Joining OCLRA and WAL was discussed. “Lake Leaders Handbook” was purchased from the UW-Ext.
• John Spry asked about dredging the narrows between Moen and 2nd lake
• Russ Bishop suggested that grappling hooks be made to remove deadheads from the lakes
• Weed control was discussed – WAL grant?
• Picnic buffet served by Carol Berkebill at the Campground.

Certificate of Incorporation was granted to MCLA by the State of Wisconsin. The corporation is non-stock and non-profit Ch181.

 An “employer identification number (EIN) was assigned by the Department of the Treasury, IRS.

 President Larry Worth officiated.
55 paid members attended (prior year 88) with mailing list of 152. Fish planting costs reported, discussion at the next meeting. Corporate insurance was discussed.

Wally Kunde moved and Tom Cutler seconded that the chain adopt the same jet ski regulations as Two Sisters Lake in Newbold. The hours would be 11:00AM to 5:00PM, with no wake within 200 feet for piers or shore. The motion was defeated. It was reported that the Town of Pine Lake has declined the use of Oneida County off duty officers to patrol the lakes. Carol Berkebill invited the Association to hold the fall meeting at the Campground and enjoy one of her delicious picnics. The Association would purchase the first keg of beer.

Meeting held at Moen Lake Campground and Resort with a picnic after. President Larry Worth reported that there was $2,611 in Treasury. Questionaires were distributed, those not returned will be deleted from mailing list. The DNR recommended that no more cribs, fish stocking be pursued. Dredging the narrows between Moen Lake and Second Lake will be researched. Members did not want more muskies planted in lakes

President Larry Worth reported $2,823.24 in the treasury.

• Members asked to sign a lake zoning form and send it in
• Zoning was discussed heatedly and the members thought a representative of the MCLA should attend zoning meeting if a specific issue arose. (Abandoned car started it).
• 152 questionnaires were sent out asking if the person(s) wanted to remain on the MCLA mailing list. 42 responded yes, 3 no.
• A discussion of whether or not signs should be posted to keep boaters out of weed beds.
• A discussion on “no wake” sings in the narrows between Second and Third Lakes was held. The two Muskie challenges were singled out as one reason. Larry Worth, Lloyd Richmond Gene Campbell and Wally Kunde offered to check with the DNR.
• Wally Kunde was elected President, Joel Ohman, Vice President, Bob Wilkins, Treasurer and Liz Richmond, Secretary.
• No wake markers again discussed. Specifically, the muskie challenge participants ignore the narrows, etc. Discussions with the sponsors will be undertaken

(Kunde letter of invitation sent prior to the meeting)

• Oct.’97 1,500 walleyes and 500 lg. Mouth bass stocked in lakes. More Bass later this year.
• Meetings have taken place with the DNR @ marker placement and lake patrol. Need to co-ordinate with all three townships.
• Members voiced concern about Jet skis. Many are to close to shore lines and thee narrows between 2nd and 3rd lakes should have a “no wake” restriction.
• A pier was purchased from Boom Lake for the public landing. Stella townboard approved it’s use.

Letter of introduction/invitation from President Kinde was mailed ahead of time.

• Discussion continued on the possible placement of “no wake” signs. The DNR supports them between 4th and 5th lakes.
• Speed is not controlled on navigable rivers.
• Indians shocked and speared walleyes on Moen this spring. 156 fish were taken.
• Officers remained the same.

President Wally Kunde Liz Richmond Sec.

• The Bylaws could not be found so a committee of John Huhn, Tom Cutler, Wally Kunde, Bob Wilkins and Liz Richmond was formed to write them.
• A report by L. Richmond on “no wake” markers was followed by lengthy discussion.
• It was moved and carried to spend $1,000 on Perch stocking. W. Kunde was to go ahead. (This was carried out in April, 1999)
• A lengthy discussion followed @ lake patrol

Wally Kunde called the meeting to order.

• Elected: G. Moyer, Pres. Bob Goodin, Vice Pres. The Wilkins remained Sec & Treas.
• Crib need was a major discussion.
• The completed fish stocking was discussed.
• Pelican and Stella town boards did not pass the “no wake” ordinances. Stella said that the Association would have to have a $50,000 liability insurance policy.
• The absence of bylaws was discussed, no volunteers.
• The officers remained he same.

Wally Kunde officiated. (G. Moyer moved out of state)

• 800 Lg & Sm mouth bass stocked
• “no wake” signage discussion
• Bylaws needed. No volunteers.
• Elected: Greg Moyer - President, Bob Goodin – Vice Pres, The Wilkins remained Sec. & Treas.
• A family donation if $225 in the memory of Rich Mehl was accepted and slated for fish stocking @ 2nd lake.
• ,200 perch were stocked: 1/2 @ Hwy C bridge and 1/2 in 5th Lake in October 1999
• Some issue of a crib in 5th lake that needed to be removed?
• A map of the crib locations on the chain was presented by L. Worth
• L. Worth offered anyone on the chain could launch at Birchwood
• DNR to do lake survey on the chain in October, 2000
• Lake grants were discussed.