February 2026 Minutes
Dead Lake Association Board Meeting
Larry’s House
3:30 P.M.
February 23, 2026
Board Members: Larry Ewer, Stephanie Johnson, Carolyn Reynolds, Nicole Binczik, Trent Strandburg, Patty Matual, Mark (Guido) Matual, Lauri Thisius, Ernie West
Present: Larry Ewer, Nicole Binczik, Trent Strandburg, Ernie West, Guido Matual, Patty Matual,
Absent: Lauri Thisius, Stephanie Johnson, Carolyn Reynolds,
Guests: Doug Martin, Don Janes
Called to order at 3:43 by Larry Ewer
REPORTS
Minutes:
Motion to accept January 19, 2026 minutes made by Trent seconded by Guido. Motion carried.
Membership Committee
Ice Cream Social June 7 (Back up June 14).
Guido to put together membership postcards or single page letter to be sent in mid-March. Draft will be sent to the board by the end of next week.
Lauri to send Membership form that she came up with. If they don’t hear anything they will come up with their own.
Action items to add to the info sheet: dam, weeds, etc.
Treasurer’s Report
No report. Laurie absent.
Guido to start a spreadsheet.
Finance Committee
Trent has the minutes now to bring to UCB to get Trent and Sharon added to the UCB account.
Guido has received some tax forms. He will get those to Lauri.
Idea to keep the “books” local in the winter.
Need to pay for the weed rakes. Total $99.25. Motion to pay by Trent, seconded by Guido. Motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Vanguard Funds
Larry has the forms filled out and is ready mail. Forms will add Larry, Trent, and Lauri. And will remove Craig. Also add Larry as the “e-consenter”.
All three signers will have to consent to move any funds from Vanguard.
UCB attached to Vanguard? Not yet.
Once forms are completed. Funds will need to be moved from Mutual Funds to a Brokerage per Doug.
Newsletter – Next one March/April
Don Janes working on.
Trent to send Don the name and the photo from the fall contest.
MAISRC, RMB, COLA – Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Coalition,
Nothing to report.
Weed removal
Dead Lake did not receive any grant money.
Rules for Wild Rice. Per Richard Rupert (weed control company). If floating, no permit required. Otherwise, a permit is required.
Don to look into rules for wild rice further.
Idea from Trent to have someone from the DNR at the Ice Cream Social to answer weed questions.
Rock Markers
Loon Tour Viewing
Carolyn – rules regarding liability for people taking others on loon tours? Carolyn Absent
Next year annual meeting – August 22, 2026
Stephanie double checked? Stephanie absent.
Nicki to ask if we can have gambling again. Change to bingo?
Silent Auction?
Weed Rakes
Trent has picked up and brought today.
Website
Nicki to send Guido access again.
3rd party to do credit cards for membership sign up online? Guido to look into.
Shoreline Booklets
Stephanie has them. We still have a large box of them. We will continue to take them to Dead Lake events and any other locations we visit.
AIS Detectors
No update.
NEW BUSINESS
Directory
Does Guido have information needed to make a new one? Nothing to report.
Insurance
Ernie looked into. Unable to get answers.
Don to reach out to Star Lake to see if they have a policy. Also, will reach out to COLA.
Zoom
Non-profit cost is $6.66 per month. $79.92 for the year. Motion to buy zoom for a year made by Nicki seconded by Guido. Motion passed.
Guido to look into a microphone for the center of the table.
Water Samples
Trudell and Hatlivig have been doing. Anyone else?
Where do the tests come from?
When do we do it?
Where do we send?
How often?
Should we have a lead for AIS and water sampling?
Adjourn:
Motion to adjourn made by Guido, seconded by Trent. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 5:21pm.
Next meeting is March 23 at 3:30pm.