Grand Rapids Pond

[wswatzell]

Hey Tazz, good to see your working on making this a reality... course I never doubted that you wouldnt. also happy to see your looking at other area's to race from. it would be great to see the fun run out there, but it would knock out some from being able to participate unless there is a way to get a daily IMPBA card...

neways... Wade give me a ring when you got a moment.... Tazz I'll be swinging by BFG soon

Cy,

Good to see you around! I'll do that Have you made any progress on the sport 21?

 

[Kevin Sheren]

We need to have another meeting the same day that the Roller Derby girls are there!
I don't know how the daily IMPBA membership works as it's relatively new. Maybe Kevin can answer that one. I do have an IMPBA form that I'll get a pile of copies of. It's a 2007 but will work for 2008.

Ron

There are NO DAILY memberships period and there has NEVER been . If you have any questions you can cal me.

 

[MarkScott]

Might not be any DAILY's, but there sure are some LIFER's!

:lol: :lol:

Hope this works out... Would love to run in town.. No issues driving down to K-Zoo, but by the time I get there, I've driven enough!

 

[Ron Olson]

There it is, right from the DD's fingers!

It could have been some wishful thinking or something from a brainstorming session on how to get new people to race.

 

[CySlyde]

Hey Tazz, good to see your working on making this a reality... course I never doubted that you wouldnt. also happy to see your looking at other area's to race from. it would be great to see the fun run out there, but it would knock out some from being able to participate unless there is a way to get a daily IMPBA card...

neways... Wade give me a ring when you got a moment.... Tazz I'll be swinging by BFG soon

Cy,

Good to see you around! I'll do that Have you made any progress on the sport 21?

nope... finally got a place where I can set up a paint booth though, so once I get a good day or two I'm going to do that... hope my paint and gun are still in good condition. the boats sitting out in the living room now so everybody comments on it. thinks it looks really cool.... pm me if you need my #

back to the topic. sucks they don't have a daily / trial membership... I just don't have enough time to warrant buying a yearly or whatever may be the lowest time amount.

 

[Tdevil]

The waiting continues. The information has been passed on to the powers that be at Grand Rapids Gravel. Just Saturday morning, Jim who runs the plant next door stopped me and assured me that the information had been forwarded to the appropriate person. If we don't hear anything early in the week, I will ask Jim to check on things for me.

Lake level is finally back down near normal where we could get at all of the brush and things to clean up the area. As I posted before, we do have the option of frontage on the property we lease, but it would require stairs and a fairly good size dock down to and by the water. We would much prefer to use Grand Rapids Gravel's property where no structures would be required.

We will make this happen one way or another, it may just take a bit longer than we all would like.

John

 

[waltr]

John,

Thanks for the update.

As you can tell, we're all eagerly awaiting the good news. (I hope)

With the nice weather and the upcoming busy race schedule, boating fever is in the air.

And the Flint SAWs are next weekend!

 

[Tdevil]

John,Thanks for the update.

As you can tell, we're all eagerly awaiting the good news. (I hope)

With the nice weather and the upcoming busy race schedule, boating fever is in the air.

And the Flint SAWs are next weekend!

Talked with a decision maker at GR Gravel late last week. Sounded like things are moving in the right direction. He is going to call us back to set up a time to come out and look things over and have us show him what we are talking about doing. He mentioned his greatest concern was the insurance and seemed to be satisfied by the copy of the policy that we provided.

The visit should happen in the next few days. In addition, the lake is finally back down far enough that we could get at the base of the brush to start clearing things out once we have an approval.

Keep your fingers crossed, it is sounding positive.

John

 

[waltr]

Awesome!

That's some great news.

Things are still lookin up

Give me a shout when and if you need anything.

 

[Tdevil]

Still working to get the person who gives the approval out to see things. We left another message yesterday. Jim, the plant manager next door, gave us the impression Monday night when we chatted with him that everything appears to be a go. The individual just wants to see first hand what we have in mind, but doesn't have a problem with boats on the lake.

Hope to have a decision by the end of the week!!!!

Hang in there,

John

 

[waltr]

John,

We're defiantly still hanging in there.

My fingers have been crossed for so long, something good has to happen.

Thanks for keeping on top of this and if you would like for me to run up for the meeting, just LMK when.

Thanks again,

Walt

 

[Tdevil]

John,We're defiantly still hanging in there.

My fingers have been crossed for so long, something good has to happen.

Thanks for keeping on top of this and if you would like for me to run up for the meeting, just LMK when.

Thanks again,

Walt

Uncross your fingers and give me a drum roll please. The word is in and we are good to go.

Reg was out today and looked things over. When he left he said the only thing he wanted to do was to check with the DEQ about clearing the area. He told us he would be back to us early next week.

We were pleasantly surprised to get a call from him yet this afternoon. The only restriction is that as we clear the area, we can not pull anything up by the roots and have to leave the ground cover on the shore/hill area.

So, bring it on!!!!!!

John

 

[waltr]

AWESOME!!!

Let's go racin boys!

John,

That's FANTASTIC news!

We'll take a ride up tomorrow afternoon and get this ball rolling.

 

[Ron Olson]

Too cool. We shouldn't have any problems with the DEQ but I don't know if there will be any issues with the DNR. If need be I can check with the Plainwell office on that.

I'm on vacation next week so I'll be free for the Memorial Day weekend if we want to get rolling on getting the site cleaned up.

Let me know what to bring. I don't have a lot of equipment (thanks to my kid) but can load up a lawnmower and I have some little tree saws.

 

[waltr]

Too cool. We shouldn't have any problems with the DEQ but I don't know if there will be any issues with the DNR. If need be I can check with the Plainwell office on that.I'm on vacation next week so I'll be free for the Memorial Day weekend if we want to get rolling on getting the site cleaned up.

Let me know what to bring. I don't have a lot of equipment (thanks to my kid) but can load up a lawnmower and I have some little tree saws.

Ron,

GRG already invited the DNR to the party.

Their only request was that we don't cut out the roots for erosion purposes

 

[Ron Olson]

I've been dealing with the DNR for a good 20 or so years as I had to get regatta permits for Bass tournaments then for the Fun Run. As long as there are no buoys in the water we don't need a permit but as soon as those are put in, we do.

Usually a 30-day lead time is required to get the permit but they've gotten mine back within a few days. It doesn't cost anything and we can get one that's good for the whole year but we got one for Allegan Lake from May until late October back when we ran up there.

 

[waltr]

Ron,

We won't need a permit to put buoys in a private pond that's not and won't be open to the public. They already know and

we're good to go.

 

[K Bultman]

Has anyone asked if they will allow a moterboat for boat retrieving. This is must have for me. There is to much time wasted rowing and trolling moters are also slow.

 

[waltr]

OK gang,

We're good to go on the cleanup part of the pond thanks to John. It's in need of a good cleanup and a bunch of trimming to say the least. I'm heading up there later on this afternoon if the weather holds up and a few evenings after work during the week also. Next weekend we can plan on the "Big Cleanup" and what ever might need to be done. The pit area is a little steep, but I'm not sure if we can do anything with that but have longer legs on one side of your bench

With some luck, we should be able to splash boats the following week.

We're working on finalizing all of the insurance paperwork now.Once I get the paperwork back, I'll rush it on to the IMPBA to have Grand Rapids Gravel added to the IMPBA policy. Once the paperwork comes back here. We can fire them up, but not until.

That'll give us time for a good cleanup. All help is welcome.

Now everyone take note........ This IS an IMPBA approved and insured pond. They pay the insurance bill with membership fees.That means, no valid IMPBA card, no play. NAMBA cards will also be welcome. There will be NO acceptions. No one is going to ruin this pond for us if I can help it!! Sorry

So, if you don't have a valid membership card, get one now. You can go to the IMPBA web site for a copy under IMPBA forms and voting.

http://www.impba.net/

There is a stack of membership forms at the Battlefront R/C building too. Don't delay!

We're also working on membership forms for the South west Michigan Model Boat Club that will also include a discount to use the pond. The membership fee for the club will be only $10.00 and we'll see how it goes from there.I'll have them with me next week and if anyone wants to e-mail me at [email protected] I can send an application also.But, it will be a couple of days.

As far as a retrieval boat, I have a just about new 10'4" Lowe John boat that I will leave there for all to use, not abuse.

We have access to a motor, but security issues will somehow have to be dealt with. For the boat, we'll have to cement in a couple of poles to chain it to, but the motor?

We have a a few sections of floating dock to use if we need it and also have a great buoy system to install that I'll be working with Kevin to acquire and will be left out full time for all to enjoy.

We have to get out and do some actual measuring, but our goal is for a full 1/3 mile oval. We hope! We also have access to a transponder timing system if it all works out too.It'll know if you jumped or not

Gang, I'm EXCITED!

I hope you are too and also hope to see you there one day.

Walt

616-836 0003

[email protected]

 

[waltr]

Turns out to be a day of trying to get the gas powered trimmers started that have been sitting for more than 6 years.

Won't be making it up today. But A few of us are planning on Tuesday to begin the clean-up.

And it looks like I need a day for a new rtimmer too. I just broke mine.Dang!