FORT ANN — The Town Board is still grappling with the future management of the Hadlock Park District, as well as how invasive species will be removed from Hadlock Pond.
The park district, which serves residents who live on the pond, has run into some bumps after Joe Loszynski, the first and only park manager, resigned in October. On top of that, the Town Board is working to fix an aging weed harvester, which was the main method of removing the invasive Eurasian water milfoil.
The board met Tuesday, Nov. 27 for a special meeting, where several Lake Hadlock Association members were present.
Supervisor Richard Moore made a couple suggestions for how the park district could be run, including hiring another lake manager or having someone run the invasive weed harvesting program while hiring a scientist from the Darrin Freshwater Institute on an as needed basis.
“I don’t know, to find somebody who’s going to do what Joe did is going to be difficult,” Moore said, about Loszynski. “He lived on the lake, and that was a plus.”
Bill Bailey, president of the lake association, said the organization liked to have a lake manager.
Bailey said he was worried about harmful algal blooms. More technically known as cyanobacteria, harmful algae can be toxic and make people and pets sick.
While the pond has not had a toxic bloom, the lake association has collected suspicious looking samples and sent them for testing to the Darrin Freshwater Institute.
“What if it comes back toxic?” Bailey said to the Town Board. “That’s where you need someone to step in.”
The board and lake association members discussed having the person who has overseen operations of the weed harvester run the invasive species removal side of the program, though Moore said she had not been returning his calls over the last several weeks. Lake Hadlock Association members were going to reach out to the individual.
The board is hoping to make a decision on the district’s management at its upcoming board meeting.
The town also heard from Dominic Jude, vice-president of Aqualogic, during the meeting. Jude operates diver-assisted suction weed harvesters on various lakes in the northeast, and pitched his business to board members.
Aqualogic has created its own weed harvesting boat, which it offers to build for clients while providing a discounted diving and operating price. Without purchasing the boat, Fort Ann, through the park district, could rent one, though the labor costs would be more. For example, the boat would cost $44,000 with labor at $750 a day. Without its own boat, the park district would pay $1,250 a day. Jude recommended 80-90 days in a weed removal season.
Moore said the park district did not have the money for that, but he thought suction harvesting made sense and there was a place for it.
“We have a lot of decisions to make,” said Town Board Member Denny Fletcher.
The board’s next meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10 at the Town Hall.
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