Beach Nourishment Committee Meeting

Minutes Beach Nourishment Committee Meeting May 21, 2024 Meeting called to order by Sandy Boyer 6:35 P.M. at OD town hall Attendees: Sandy Boyer, Bruce Boyer, John Lawicki, Allan Halline, Paul Panther, Michele Bonneau, David Schneider, C.J. Jackson, Scott Kingan; No additional online attendees present. Minutes approved from the April 16th meeting. Update on Litigation from Scott 1. Save the Dunes (STD) is contesting the designation of the ordinary high-water mark (OHWM) at 581.5 ft above sea level and at a recent meeting produced a witness to support their argument. After discussion with our attorneys and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, they feel that our designation of 581.5 as the correct OHWM conforms to Indiana statute and that we are on solid footing. The next meeting with STD will be on June 12th to see if the 581.5 mark stands. There was additional discussion about when the next OHWM will be determined. 2. Federal case. Efforts continue to move forward in relieving the Town from any mitigation. Currently, attorneys are checking to see if the State of Indiana will accept the Army Corps recommendation to dispense with mitigation. 3. Reconciliation- discussions with residents involved continues and no final resolution has been reached. Update from Sandy 1. EZ Beach Steps Installation and Fundraising Sandy updated the committee on the cost estimates received from EZ Beach Steps which will include materials and installation for accessways 6, 7, 9, 12, 16, and 17 along with design specifications for each access stairway. There was some discussion about design modification to reduce costs and these discussions will be held outside of our meeting to facilitate the process. There was much discussion about how to secure funding for these steps and the Committee decided to focus primarily on installation of these stairs at Access #7, #9, and #16. Confidential discussion with individual homeowners to support funding is ongoing. A fundraising effort for beach stairs will start this coming Memorial Day with a booth at Kratz Field where information will be handed out and residents asked to contribute tax- deductible donations. Allan will set up a tent and table. Donations can be made by cash or check at the Memorial Day event or at Town Hall and a ledger will be kept ensuring  that donors will receive a tax-deductible letter confirming their donation amount from the Town Treasurer. Donations by credit card can also be made at Town Hall. The Reserved Parking Space at accessway 18 silent auction will proceed utilizing the website Give Butter which does not charge a fee for charitable organizations. Will try to fill out the online forms and get this set up by Memorial Day. The starting bid will be $250 and increments will be set at $25. A decision on when to close the auction was not made. Once the winner has been determined, Dave will set up a marker designating the spot near access 18 for the winner of the auction. 2. Fundraising for Litigation Letters will be sent out soon requesting $1,000 from litigants in the Federal lawsuit and also sent out to all Ogden Dunes residents asking for $200 Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM Next meeting June 18 Respectfully submitted Allan Halline