Posted 9/8/20

By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

At its Aug. 25 meeting, the Lake Panorama Association board of directors voted unanimously to allow Friends of Lake Panorama to begin raising funds for a dog park.

The idea of a dog park on LPA property has been discussed off and on for nearly a decade. In April 2019, Friends conducted a survey to gather input from LPA members on possible future projects. The Friends board met June 24, 2019, reviewed and discussed the survey results, and approved several action items.

One action item dealt with the possible development of an LPA dog park. While a dog park didn’t rank as high in the survey as other projects, there was strong support from a segment of the LPA membership. For that reason, the Friends board decided to recruit volunteers to serve on a dog park task force to study location, design, costs and rules.

By early September 2019, a seven-member task force had been assembled. Julie Tibbles served as chair. Other members were Roger and Mary Hansen, Sherri Miller, Ann Appleseth and Karen Hanson. Representing Friends on the task force was board president Jan Reinicke. Susan Thompson, Friends executive director, assisted the task force.

One part of the task force’s research included a 15-question online survey conducted in November 2019. About 100 people took the survey, with 75 people saying they and their guests would use a dog park. Another nine said they needed more information before deciding.

At its June 22, 2020, meeting, the Friends board received the dog park task force report and voted unanimously to endorse the project and advance the report to the LPA board. The Friends board also agreed to manage donations to this project.

The LPA board reviewed the dog park proposal at its July meeting and gave final approval at the August meeting. The cost of the dog park plan developed by the task force is $50,000. All funds will need to be raised with support from dog park enthusiasts and dog lovers, as LPA will only be partnering with in-kind contributions such as running a water line.

If the needed funds are raised, the dog park will be located at the corner of Sage Trail and RV Road, near the east campground and across the road from holes 12 and 13 on the Lake Panorama National golf course.

A 6-foot-high chain link fence that is 650 feet long and 155 feet wide will encircle the park. There will be two sections, one for small dogs and one for large dogs, with chain link fence dividing the two areas. The property currently is planted to soybeans, so funds will be needed to improve the seedbed and establish turfgrass.

A single entrance will be protected by a keyless lock. Once inside this gate, users can choose a gate to either the large dog area or the small dog area. A concrete slab at the entrance will be covered with a steel roof structure.

Crushed rock will be used to create a 5-foot-wide walking path along and under the fencing to provide a weed barrier and keep dogs from digging. A small gravel parking lot will be adjacent to the park.

Amenities inside the park fence included in the $50,000 cost estimate are four benches, four stations where bags for dog waste would be available, and two domed waste receptacles. A dual station pet fountain placed in the fence line between the two sections would make it possible for dogs to access drinking water from either side.

The facility will be open to LPA members and their guests. The entry code will be available to members and guests of members by calling LPA security or the LPA office, and will be changed periodically. Signs will be posted for responsible use, with volunteers helping decide on these rules as fundraising is underway. One rule already determined is all dogs must wear a tag showing they are up to date with state-required rabies vaccinations.

Because Friends of Lake Panorama is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit charity, all donations are tax deductible. Donors of at least $500 will be recognized on a sign at the dog park, plus on the Friends website.

Checks made payable to Friends of Lake Panorama can be mailed to P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donors should include a note or designate on the check funds are to be used for the dog park. More information about the dog park and other donation options are available at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Playgrounds continue to be Friends’ priority project

By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times  

While the LPA board of directors recently approved fundraising for a dog park, the Friends of Lake Panorama’s priority project will remain new playground equipment at Boulder and Shady beaches until that $70,000 goal has been reached.

The Aug. 1 Beach Ball raised nearly $30,000, which was a huge boost to the playground project. There already was $25,000 in the bank received from donors since this fundraising effort began in November 2019.

The Beach Ball increased visibility of the playground project, with another $3,000 in direct donations received since that event. Another $12,000 is needed.

In late July, the Friends board of directors voted to order the play equipment for Shady Beach. Once the remaining $12,000 is raised, the Boulder Beach equipment will be ordered. The Friends board hopes to reach this goal before the end of 2020, since a price increase on the playground equipment is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021.

All donations are tax-deductible. Checks made payable to Friends of Lake Panorama can be mailed to P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donors should include a note or designate on the check the funds are to be used for the playgrounds.

Donors of $500 or more will be recognized on signs erected near both playgrounds and on the Friends website. More information about the playgrounds and other ways to donate is available at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Posted 9/8/20
The 26th annual Irv Gerlich Memorial Ryder Cup was held Aug. 14-16 at Lake Panorama National. This event has been held every year since 1995 when it was started by Gary Soreide and Jim Scherbring.

This year 76 members of LPN participated in the event. Every year two captains are appointed by the previous year’s captains. This year Dave Greiner and Teddy Hawley were the two team leaders. They drafted the two teams and established the match-ups for the competition, which took place over a three-day period.

The first day was better ball competition, the second day was a combination of best shot and alternate shot. There were 38 individual matches the last day. The winning team was led by Captain Hawley with a close score of 39.5 to 36.5.

An employee shootout was held Friday night, with the winning team being Dave Greiner and Corey Welberg. A second shootout Saturday evening featured the best 12 net and gross scores from the Friday competition. The winner of that event was Bill Douglass and Richard Duzenberry.

Captains for the next Aug. 12-14, 2021, Irv Gerlich Memorial Ryder Cup are Jim Koch and Tristan Monaghan.

Posted 9/8/20
We thank Lake Panorama resident Christopher Duree for his photos of Panorama hummingbirds.

Have wildlife photos to share? Send to shane@dmcityview.com and look for them in this publication.

Posted 8/11/20
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times


Lake Dogs
Jack and Jill
21 months
Cockapoos
Owners: Wade & Lea Sundeen

Jack and Jill are half-brother-and-sister, with Jack being the “brother from another mother.” Ironically, they were born on the same day, and they rule the roost. They love playing fetch all day long with their favorite ball.  And they love boating, swimming, kayaking, riding on the hydra-bike, and of course, jet-skiing.

Cove Cat
Vonzell, aka Miss V
15 years
Owners: Diane and Duane Apling

Vonzell was rescued as a kitten from a barn in Virginia and has grown into the princess she always knew she was meant to be. She likes watching the wildlife outside her window, stretching out in the sunshine and naps. Her pet peeves are car rides to the vet and not getting enough attention from her “staff,” Diane and Duane Apling.

Panora Pets is a non-profit rescue consisting of several volunteers like Tim Randall and George Jones, providing shelter and services for cats in need in the Panora area. Stop in and visit the beautiful kitties and hopefully take one home. Through contributions from the community and beyond, P.E.T.S maintains its dedication to animals in need. 

Posted 8/11/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

In 2012, Tammy Deal was having an Arts and Crafts style bungalow built on two timbered lots near Helen’s Cove when she noticed an abundance of deer in the area.

“I knew I was going to need to work with nature if I wanted to keep the deer from ruining my landscaping,” Deal says. “I started researching native prairie plants and found a couple companies on the Internet where I could order bare root plants. I planted some in the fall of 2013, and, to my surprise, they came up the next spring.”

Her next step was to connect with two Iowa State University senior landscape design students. Together they created a landscape plan to surround her new home with a variety of native plants, and she continued to add new plants to match the plan.

Five years ago, Scott and Becky Rolfes moved to Lake Panorama. Scott had just retired, after spending the last 40 years as a natural resource specialist with the Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Lake, working mainly to establish native plantings.

In retirement, Scott started his own business — Scott’s Native Landscaping. Deal tells the story of being behind a pickup and seeing a bumper sticker with his company name and phone number on it and snapping a picture for future use. She hadn’t gotten around to calling Rolfes when they met while playing pickleball with others in Panora.

Since then, Rolfes has been helping Deal refine and expand her native prairie landscape. Each fall, Rolfes mows down the prairie flowers and grasses that have grown throughout the summer, then burns the remaining mulch.

“Especially when a prairie is being established, it needs to be burned annually,” Rolfes says. “The flowers always bloom brighter the next year.”

Deal built her house on a “B” lot, and later purchased a nearby “A” lot, which gives her water access on Helen’s Cove. The two lots combined cover 38,000 square feet, giving her plenty of space to experiment with native plantings.

“In the front of the house, there are more tallgrass prairie plants and flowers. There is greater diversity, with perhaps 40 to 50 plant species there,” Rolfes says. “As you move toward the south side and back, the trees mean less sunshine, so the types of plants there become fewer.”

Deal and Rolfes are restoring an oak savanna between her house and waterfront dock, reached by a winding path through the woods.

“I like knowing some of the oak trees there were alive when Abraham Lincoln was president,” Deal says.

A savanna involves grasses growing under large trees, with the trees spaced further apart than would be the case in a forest.

“These naturally occurring landscapes were along the Raccoon River where the prairie met the forests associated with a river valley,” says Rolfes. “These very open forests, or savannas, were dominated by burr oaks and other trees that are most tolerant to prairie fires. Remnants of the oak savannas are all around Lake Panorama.”

Some native plants were in the area where large burr oaks stand on Deal’s property, but there was too much shade for them to thrive. Selected trees have been removed to allow more light to reach the ground. This area will be burned for the first time this fall, which will help eliminate shrubbery, poison ivy and other undesirable plants while encouraging native plants to grow.

“Native prairie plants require minimal care while still being visually attractive,” says Rolfes. “You remove weeds and apply mulch in the spring. No chemicals are used, which makes it perfect for use around the lake. Once you get native plants established, there isn’t much to do.”

The wide variety of plants and grasses attracts a wide variety of insects and butterflies. But what about the deer? Deal and Rolfes say deer still browse on native plants, although they avoid some. Even if deer like a plant, they don’t kill it because the seeds fall out and new plants grow.

Deal clearly is enjoying learning about and growing native plants.

“There are so many resources available. I think it is interesting and fun,” she says. “But it may take some getting used to for people who are accustomed to more conventional landscaping.”

Posted 8/11/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

As with many things, COVID-19 forced a change in the way the 2020 Lake Panorama National Junior Golf School operated. Because of the need for social distancing, two sessions with three weeks each were offered, and no final event was held at Panorama West.

Young people ages 5 to 17 are eligible to attend the school. This year there were 37 participants, with 19 in the first session the first three weeks of July, and 18 in the second session the following three weeks.
During the school, juniors learn full swing, pitching, chipping and putting fundamentals along with golf etiquette and rules of golf. Participants are divided into three age groups and rotate between the putting green, chipping area and driving range. At the end of the hour, the juniors head to Spikes to choose a free drink.

The school was led by Michael Kleinwolterink, LPN pro shop manager. Assisting were Gary Babcock, LPN head golf professional, plus several past and current players from the Panorama High School boys golf team — Will Babcock, Dylan Douglass, Kolby Shackelford and Ryan Klinge. David Van Ahn, coach of the Panorama boys golf team, also volunteered his time for the junior golfers.

The Junior School has two sponsors that have supported the school for many years — the Lake Panorama Association (LPA) and Guthrie County State Bank (GCSB).

“LPA and LPN are proud to support junior golf,” says John Rutledge, LPA general manager and LPN director of operations. “We view it as our opportunity to grow the game of golf. There’s nothing better than seeing two or three generations of golfers enjoying our Lake Panorama courses.”

“Guthrie County State Bank is proud to continue our investment in the Lake Panorama National Junior Golf Program,” says Mike Underwood, GCSB president and CEO. “Over the years, we’ve witnessed the commitment of the LPN staff to this program. These dedicated golf professionals and staff ensure the junior golfers not only learn golf technique, but, more importantly, they learn course etiquette and the professional demeanor the game of golf requires. We believe these skills are transferrable to many aspects of life.”

Sponsorship funds made it possible to give each junior golfer a cloth backpack, a $10 LPN gift card and a certificate for a free round of golf at Panorama West.

Posted 8/11/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The ownership of Lake Panorama Realty in Panora has changed hands. Effective July 13, Bob Nevitt sold the real estate company to Kane and Dee Powell. Nevitt will continue to own and operate Nevitt Real Estate in Perry.

The Powells have lived in the Lake Panorama area since 2000.

“We have raised our five children here and enjoy living in a small community,” says Dee Powell. “The opportunity arose for us to acquire Lake Panorama Realty, and it was the logical progression since we have been in the residential and commercial building industry for so many years.”

Kane Powell will continue to run Paradigm LLC, his building and electrical company. Dee Powell, who earned her real estate license earlier this year, will manage the day-to-day operations of Lake Panorama Realty.

In addition to Dee, the Lake Panorama Realty team continues to include Julie Wykoff as managing broker and John McDermott and Lee Anne Howe as sales associates.

Lake Panorama Realty is independently owned by the Powells and located at 505 E. Main St. in Panora, next to Guthrie County State Bank.

The Powells say they are looking forward to sustaining and growing the reputation and standing that Lake Panorama Realty has built over many years.

Posted 8/11/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

When the Middle Raccoon River rises because of heavy rains or snow melt, it doesn’t just bring more water to Lake Panorama; it brings debris. For many years, LPA staff and members would spend days, or even weeks, tracking down and removing debris from the lake after a heavy rain.

Attempts to stop debris at the upper basin began in 1990 with the development of a structure to keep debris from entering the lake. Various improvements to both the type of structure and the placement have been made since then with increasing levels of success.

Improvements also have been made in the equipment designed to remove debris from above the trap, as well as throughout the lake if the trap fails or isn’t in place. Such was the case this spring, when the lake still was covered in ice, and the trap hadn’t yet been deployed. A surge of water as the ice went out brought debris into the lake.

In June 1999, the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) purchased a new trash skimmer, to skim small logs and branches from the lake. In 2009, a special-order utility barge was a joint purchase between LPA and RIZ. A boom mounted on the barge accommodates a grapple attachment to remove logs from the water.

A new and larger debris skimmer was delivered to Lake Panorama July 17. RIZ purchased the $400,000 piece of equipment, which will replace the skimmer LPA purchased more than 20 years ago. The original skimmer will be retained and serve as a backup or as a second unit for large events.

Mike Monthei, LPA maintenance supervisor, says the new debris skimmer is bigger, faster and holds more debris.

“When the gates on the front open, it is 16 feet wide,” says Monthei. “It will gather debris on a conveyor belt system that moves it to the back of the skimmer for storage. Once it is full, we will back it up to an elevated conveyor on shore and unload the debris into dump trucks.”

Monthei said the old skimmer could hold one small truckload of material, while the new one will hold three times that amount.

“The speed of this skimmer on the water is important, especially when there is a debris event in Burchfield Cove. In the past, debris coming in that way would scatter all over the lake before our old skimmer could even get there,” he said. “This skimmer is must faster in the water.”

LPA’s goal is for the boom at the north end of the upper basin to hold debris upstream, giving the maintenance staff time to collect and dispose of it before it gets into the lake.

Posted 8/11/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Courtney Allen has a long history at Lake Panorama. He was a stockholder in Mid-Iowa Lakes in about 1965, bought his first lot in 1969, and traded it in 1971 for the one where his home now stands north of Sunset Beach. He and his wife Dilma, who he has been married to more than 65 years, built their home in 1980 and moved here permanently in 1984 when they sold their home in Urbandale.

Allen’s 93rd birthday was June 25. He has been playing in the Thursday morning men’s league at Panorama West for many years.

“I thought it would be fun to have a party for myself with my best friends, many of whom I have played with for years,” Allen says.

“I worked it out with the gals in the pro shop to have plenty of coffee, and I supplied lots of bakery products. I also said I would pay for any ice cream, candy and pop for anyone else who played the course the rest of the day,” he says. “Everyone was surprised and helped me celebrate my new age with good cheer.”

Allen is from Massachusetts and Dilma from Curacao. After college, he went to work for HyLine Poultry Farm in 1950. He stayed there 21 years before starting his own company, Sunnytime, Inc., in 1971. He sold that business to Cargill in 1987 and moved to Minnesota to operate the total egg operation until he turned 65.

The couple retired and moved back to enjoy their Lake Panorama home. It was badly damaged by a tornado in 2014, but they rebuilt it and are enjoying life there.

“We love Guthrie County and all its people,” Allen says.

As for his birthday, Allen said, “You can quote me as saying it was the best birthday I have had in years, but I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Posted 8/11/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

On July 9, the usual Lake Panorama National women’s league night turned into a Rally for Tori’s Angels. The result was a donation of $4,903 being presented to the foundation, which provides financial support to Iowa children with life-threatening medical challenges.

This is the third year for this event. The evening included a nine-hole, four-gal best-shot tournament. Great weather led to 44 players for the event, and games on most holes led to a low score of 29 for the winning team. Winning team members were Kathy Moline, Shanell Wagler, Shelby Lewis and Maggie Armstrong.

The foundation’s namesake is Tori Heckman, who had life-saving heart surgery in 2011 at the age of 5 after several other heart surgeries. The foundation recently accepted its 71st child for assistance.

After golf there was a silent auction and a presentation by Tori’s grandmother, Jackie Wicks, of Panora. She talked about Tori turning 15 years old, current children sponsored by Tori’s Angels and the challenges the foundation has faced this year with fundraising because of COVID-19. In 2019, Tori’s Angels took on 22 new children. So far in 2020, four children have been approved for sponsorship, and seven fundraising events have been canceled due to the virus.

 Money raised at the LPN women’s league July 9 event included the purchase of donated silent auction items and a freewill donation bucket. The rest of the funds collected were from individual donations. LPN women’s league leaders say they’re already planning for the fourth annual Tori’s Angels fundraiser sometime during the 2021 golf season.

Donations can be mailed at any time to Tori’s Angels Foundation, 4677 Panorama Drive, Panora, Iowa, 50216.

Posted 8/11/20
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times


Lake Dog
Gracie
9 months old
Petite Goldendoodle
Owners: Brian and Lisa Wegener (Pictured grandsons Rylen and Rees)

Gracie enjoys whipped cream, sprinklers, snow, golf carts, boat rides, her “babies” (stuffed animal toys), spinning in circles with her rope toy, and going for walks. Gracie is an energetic, happy puppy who seems to love everyone.

Cove Cat
Butterball
9 years old
Owner: Tamara Deal

Butterball came from a barnyard near Bagley. A little girl named her, and the name stuck. The previous owners were worried that she would be ran over by farm machinery. As for owners, does anyone ever really own a cat? But, Butterball would definitely claim that she lives with Tamara.

Butterball receives a weekly bath because it has allergies. Yes, it is possible to bathe a cat.

Butterball has a doggy sibling, a standard poodle, and did not appear to be happy when the puppy came to live with them The dog is now 7.5 years old, and when Butterball gets mad at her, she chases her around the house. All 8 pounds of her will attack the 50-pound dog.

Butterball likes to eat, be held and sleep — in that order.


Panora Pets is a non-profit rescue consisting of several volunteers like Tim Randall and George Jones, providing shelter and services for cats in need in the Panora area. Stop in and visit the beautiful kitties and hopefully take one home. Through contributions from the community and beyond, P.E.T.S maintains its dedication to animals in need. 

Posted 7/8/20
By Susan Thompson  |  Lake Panorama Times

It’s not every day you see a sailboat on Lake Panorama. In fact, it usually only happens a couple of times a month, mostly for Sunday night sunsets, or other times when the weather cooperates and the crowds are gone. That’s when Jim and Dee Tometich decide it’s time to sail.

The couple has lived at Lake Panorama since 2006. From their home in Helen’s Cove, they enjoyed seeing a sailboat docked at a home across the cove. About five years ago, Dee decided she wanted to buy the sailboat as a surprise birthday present for Jim. She did a little detective work to learn the owners’ name and get a phone number.

Dick and Lynda Pawlowski were the owners. They purchased their house in Helen’s Cove in 1994, although they owned a Lake Panorama lot for more than 40 years.

“I called Dick and told him if they ever decided to sell it, to please let me know,” says Dee.

At the time, the Pawlowskis had owned the boat more than three years.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my life, but I always wanted to learn to sail. I saw an ad for a Catalina 22 sailboat, which is a popular model for people just learning to sail,” Dick says.

“A gentleman who lived in Johnston used the boat on Saylorville Lake. He had never sailed before buying this boat but had learned and now was ready to sell it,” Dick says. “He had lots of books and videotapes on sailing and gave all those to me.”

Pawlowski used the material he received, plus help from a friend who came from Nebraska a couple of times, to learn to sail on Lake Panorama. He says he enjoyed it, but Lynda preferred their pontoon. So when Dee called, Dick decided it was time to let someone else live their dream of learning to sail.

“Working with Dick, it took us many attempts to get the lift and sailboat over to our dock before Jim would get home from work. But we finally pulled off the surprise,” Dee says.

The boat is a 1978 Catalina 22, which means it is 22 feet long. The mast is 25 feet tall. It has two sails, a main sail and a jib. Because Lake Panorama is so narrow, the Tometichs typically only use one. It has a large lead keel, about 5 feet below the bottom of the boat, which provides stability. Below deck, the cabin has a table for dining, and could sleep two people. The boat capacity is six people. The boat has a 9.9 hp Mercury four stroke motor.

“We love to use the sail as much as possible,” Jim says. “But due to the lake’s position and narrowness, it sometimes is necessary to use the motor.”

“We appreciated Dick giving us a couple of Sailing 101 lessons and helping us get started,” Dee says. “Now we also sail at Lake Dillion in Colorado, where we rent a boat when we visit.”

The Tometichs say they enjoy taking their sailboat out on Lake Panorama, but it can be challenging. Pawlowski agrees.

“But it also makes you a better sailor,” he says. “It’s easier to sail on larger lakes, because you don’t have to worry about it being so narrow,” Pawlowski says.

Despite the narrowness of Lake Panorama, sailboats are not banned. Sailboards are banned, which is something akin to windsurfing.

“This isn’t the most practical lake on which to sail,” says John Rutledge, LPA general manager. “LPA does not prohibit sailboats but discourages widespread use on Lake Panorama. The thought of dozens of sailboats on our narrow lake would be a concern if it became a popular trend.”

The Tometichs have learned what works for them — wait for most boaters to call it a day, then set sail from Helen’s Cove to enjoy the beauty of Lake Panorama.

Posted 7/8/20
By Susan Thompson  |  Lake Panorama Times

Dredging at Lake Panorama has been going on for decades and is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Yet, in recent years, attention also has turned to ways to reduce the flow of both sediment and nutrients into the lake.

One solution for Lake Panorama has been the establishment of upstream wetlands to protect specific areas of the lake. This spring was the first test for the third wetland built at Lake Panorama, which is positioned to help protect Burchfield Cove.

In the late 1990s, Iowa State University researchers began studying the use of small wetlands in drainage areas to slow water runoff from farm fields. They found these strategically placed wetlands could reduce the amount of nitrates moving into streams and rivers by 40 to 70 percent. By 2000, state officials were promoting a new incentive program to encourage landowners to install wetlands.

The Iowa Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a joint effort of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. State and federal technical assistance and cost-share funds are available for landowners who voluntarily establish wetlands for water quality improvement in 37 north-central Iowa counties, including Guthrie County

During a strategic planning session in 2012, the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) trustees decided to see if there were locations where CREP wetlands could be installed to help protect the lake.

In October 2016, the 26-acre Helen’s Cove/Donahey CREP wetland was completed. It includes a six-acre water pool, which hosts microbes that turn nitrogen into gas. The nitrogen removed by the wetland is equivalent to taking about 400 acres of row crops out of production. A special forebay collects sediment, which is cleaned periodically. This isn’t something done in all CREP wetlands, but because of the desire to keep as much sediment as possible from reaching Lake Panorama, special approval was granted to include this feature.

Construction on a similar wetland to protect Hughes Cove began in 2016, with final touches in the spring of 2017. The 23-acre Hughes Cove/Elmquist CREP wetland includes a control structure above a plunge pool, which routes the water back into a creek leading into Hughes Cove.

In 2018, planning began for a third wetland to be built in 2019 on RIZ-owned ground north of the Burchfield Cove bridge. This one, named the Smith wetland, has a higher percentage of deeper water for the wetland basin than the first two.

This 35-acre project consists of a nine-acre pool of water surrounded by cool season grasses and native grasses. It is a deep-water wetland, with a control structure above a plunge pool, which then routes water back into a creek leading into Lake Panorama at Burchfield Cove. The land surrounding the water pool has been seeded with a mix of 13 species of native grasses and 18 species of native wildflowers.

This project was possible because of a grant partnering the Soil & Water Conservation Society, Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University, Lake Panorama RIZ and Lake Panorama Association.

This grant funds projects that integrate in-field management practices with edge-of-field nitrate removal wetlands to provide a combined watershed approach — reducing in-field nutrient losses while providing edge-of-field treatment at small watershed scales.

The grant also targets restored wetlands in locations that receive significant shallow subsurface drainage, which is the primary transport mechanism of nitrates to surface water. This grant project was specifically designed for nitrate removal while also improving habitat for wildlife. The idea is to explore the development of wetlands that fall slightly outside of CREP guidelines.

RIZ has acquired property for a fourth wetland, which is upstream of the Smith Wetland. Preliminary conversations with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has indicated a willingness to partner with RIZ on this fourth wetland.

Also in the planning stages is a streambank stabilization effort along the stream leading into Burchfield Cove. This type of project, in combination with wetlands, play important roles in the ongoing effort to protect Lake Panorama’s water quality.

Posted 7/8/20
By Susan Thompson  |  Lake Panorama Times

Steady progress is being made on major upgrades to the LPA water plant. The project includes three main components — drilling an additional Jordan Well, upgrading to a reverse osmosis treatment strategy, and installing a discharge line to accompany the reverse osmosis process.

 A line to carry discharge water away from the new reverse osmosis (RO) system to the Middle Raccoon River by Highway 44 was installed in early summer, with only some soil restoration remaining.

An addition was constructed on the north side of the current building to house the RO system, which arrived by truck a few weeks ago. Work is underway to install the system, which will improve LPA’s finished water quality.

Mike Gliem, LPA’s water and dam supervisor, says the water will run through the RO tubes twice, using eight the first time and four the second time.

“Then we’ll combine this water with 20 percent raw water for the finished water provided to our customers,” Gliem says.

The Jordan Well has been drilled, and a pumping test completed, with excellent results. It will be another month before a pump is installed in that well, and water line connections completed. The well joins another one-half-mile deep Jordan well that was drilled in 2011.

The current system uses the first Jordan well and two Dakota wells constructed in the 1990s. The Dakota wells, which are in a shallower aquifer, had become less reliable. These wells have been the source of iron and manganese, that resulted in some customers having black and brown water flowing from their taps at times. Eliminating dependence on these temperamental wells was a key reason for this latest project.

Gliem expects to be able to stop using the Dakota wells sometime this fall. If all goes as planned, those two wells will be plugged, capped and covered with fill dirt next spring.

In 2017, a three-month reverse osmosis pilot study was conducted at the water plant. The results showed good finished water quality would be possible using only Jordan water treated by reverse osmosis.

Water hardness can be described as either parts per million or grains per gallon. Gliem says current LPA water has a hardness of 615 parts per million or 36 grains per gallon. The goal is to produce water that is 120 parts per million or 7 grains per gallon. “That goal is typical of what the Des Moines Water Works and other municipalities offer their water customers,” he says. “The pilot plant study showed we will be able to reach that goal.”

Once the RO system is complete and providing water to LPA members, Gliem says those who have water softeners in their homes will want to adjust their settings, and that the lifespan of softeners and other fixtures will be much longer. Those who have inline water filters probably will want to keep those, he says, but filters won’t need to be changed as often.

Large blue water mixing tanks in the water plant will be removed once the new system is online along with other old pieces of equipment and pipe. That area then will be the home for some components of the new system. Gliem expects the new plant to be online by late this year, or early in 2021.

Total cost for the entire project is $4.7 million. Funding for the project is through the State Revolving Loan Fund for drinking water improvements, at a fixed rate of 2-percent interest for 20 years.

To pay off the loan, LPA water bills will increase by $70 per quarter, going from $90 to $160 per quarter. This will begin with the October 1, 2020, bill. A reminder on this will go out in July, with the July 2020 bill being the final invoice at the old rate.

John Rutledge, LPA general manager, says even with this increase, LPA water bills are very comparable with other municipalities.

Options for a future infrastructure assessment have been discussed by the LPA board with no proposal finalized yet.

“The board will revisit this in late 2020 and determine if this is something they want to pursue in 2021 or a future year,” Rutledge said. “But for now, members need to know the cost of this plant is very affordable and will position LPA for decades to come.”

Posted 7/8/20
By Susan Thompson  |  Lake Panorama Times

The Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors voted at a meeting June 22 to proceed with Beach Ball 2020 on Saturday, Aug. 1, using the theme “Let’s Play Outside!”

To ease concerns about COVID-19, both outdoor and indoor spaces will be used at the Lake Panorama National conference center. Several aspects of the event have been modified to help with social distancing.

Funds raised at the 2020 Beach Ball will go toward the Friends’ current priority project to raise $70,000 for new playground equipment at Shady and Boulder beaches.

Direct contacts are being made with table sponsors so they can choose a reserved table inside or outside. Outside tables will be under a series of tents, located on the grass between the conference center and the golf course. A drink bar and a dessert bar will be on a roped-off section of the parking lot. The live auction also will take place outdoors.

Adding this outdoor venue made it possible to include live music for this year’s Beach Ball. Little Joe McCarthy is a Midwest singer and songwriter who grew up in Omaha. At first, McCarthy played as a solo acoustic performer, before spending many years in different bands. More recently, he has come full circle, playing acoustic guitar and singing as a solo performer around the Midwest. McCarthy will perform from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Registration will be open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and take place in the conference center dining room. Attendees can park in both the west and east parking lot, and enter the dining room from either side. There will be two lines for registration. It is hoped that beginning registration an hour early will make social distancing easier.

At registration, each couple or individual will be assigned a number, and all charges through the evening can go against that number. These can include drink tickets, dessert tickets, and purchases of both silent and live auction items. The exception will be the 50/50 raffle, which will require cash only so the appropriate amount of cash will be available when the winning ticket is drawn.

The evening meal will be served 5:30-7 p.m. Tickets are $40 each, with half going directly to the playground fund. A “sweet treat” dessert bar, offering a variety of donated dessert items plus a scoop of vanilla ice cream, will be open 6-7:30 p.m. Tickets for the dessert bar will be $3.

Drink tickets will cost $6, and can be redeemed at either the outside bar or the bar in the banquet room. These tickets will cover domestic canned beer, well drinks and glasses of wine. A portion of each ticket sold will go to Friends.

Announcements will be made toward the end of the evening when people can start checkout. Payment by check or cash will be encouraged. There will be a laptop where credit cards can be used to pay online on the Friends website, with the processing fee of 2.9 percent added on.

So far, about 75 items have been donated for both silent and live auctions, but additional items are being sought. Of particular interest in the live auction will be a 14-feet shuffleboard table with accessories, donated and delivered by Kurt Johnson, valued at $3,500; signed footballs from Iowa and Iowa State; 14K white and yellow gold pendant necklace with a garnet and diamond, donated by Ames Silversmithing, valued at $975; handcrafted cedar kayak, donated by Chris Welp and valued at $2,500; and a case of Busch Light, signed by Carson King, the ISU student who raised $3 million for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, donated by Carrie Hansen and valued at $500.

Beach Ball organizers are considering offering live auction items first as an online auction, beginning July 20. The starting bid at the live auction Aug. 1 would then be the last bid placed online. Online bidders would be encouraged to attend the Beach Ball if they want to continue their pursuit of a particular item. Watch for additional details in the LPA and LPN newsletters, plus the Friends of Lake Panorama Facebook page and website.

Silent auction items will include a variety of gift baskets; two $100 Target gift cards; five $50 Casey’s gift cards; two handmade quilts; an LPN Stay-and-Play package valued at $680; both Iowa and Iowa State engraved cast iron skillets; a Utah Jazz NBA jersey signed by Georges Niang; and a Cake-of-the-Month item that will provide one home-baked cake creation every month for a year, prepared and donated by Tammy Deal.

Those who have items to donate to the auctions, or want to purchase tickets to the event, can call Susan Thompson at 515-240-6536 or email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Anyone who already paid for a table sponsorship or tickets, and now can’t or doesn’t want to attend because of the date change or concerns about COVID-19, can receive a refund on request. Or leave the money with Friends as a donation for the playgrounds.

So far $20,000 has been raised toward the $70,000 goal for the playgrounds. Donations for the playground project are accepted at any time, and can be mailed to P.O. Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Checks should be made payable to Friends of Lake Panorama.

All donations are tax-deductible. Donors of $500 or more will be recognized on signs erected near both playgrounds, and on the donor page of the Friends website. More information about the playgrounds and other donation options is available at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Posted 7/8/20
By Susan Thompson  |  Lake Panorama Times

The 51st annual meeting of the Lake Panorama Association was June 27, seven weeks later than originally planned. Concerns about COVID-19 and the need for social distancing led to the postponement.

John Rutledge, LPA general manager, said normally members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting. But this year, he was happy to see a smaller crowd spread throughout the Lake Panorama National banquet room. As usual, the meeting provided an update on activities during the past year, plus a look ahead to the next 12 months.

Re-elected to the LPA board for another three-year term was Mary Jane Carothers. Newly elected was David Finneseth, replacing Tom Jeschke. Jeschke has been on the LPA board for 12 of the past 14 years, and served as president four years. He was thanked for his service by both Carothers and Rutledge during their reports.

Gary Evans, LPA board treasurer, provided the 2019 financial and audit report for the LPA and its subsidiary, LPN, LLC. For 2019, Evans said the LPN operation showed an operating loss of $245,481, although overall revenue was up $111,06 from 2018.

“Maintaining a profitable subsidiary that specializes in the golf and restaurant industry continues to be a challenge,” Evans said. “The LPN board of managers continues to work with LPN staff to ensure our subsidiary is pursuing improved strategies to maximize performance in future years.”

Turning to the LPA, Evans drew attention to the association’s income statement, which showed actual 2018 and 2019 revenues and expenses, plus the 2020 budget numbers for comparison.

Evans said the 2019 net income was $549,751, which included $235,959 that was the auditors’ adjustment for land sales expense.

“This is an accounting adjustment for tax purposes and does not represent new money coming into the organization,” he said.

Evans said the LPA board decided a 5-percent dues increase should be applied for 2020.

“The board’s budgeting process focuses extensively on cash flow,” he said. “Cash balances are targeted for 20 percent, with the possibility these will be in the 17 to 18 percent range if non-budgeted expenditures are approved as a midyear budget amendment.”

Evans said it’s important to remember the LPA board does not set its annual operating budget with the expectation of selling land. All operating expenses are covered by LPA’s recurring operating revenues.

Carothers, completing her first year as LPA board president, chaired the meeting. In her report to the membership, Carothers said 2020 has brought many challenges and changes to the LPA operations.

For instance, a major leak was identified in the water main running under Burchfield Cove, which required repair prior to the peak summer season. In mid-March, Gov. Reynolds ordered restaurants and bars to close, just as the LPN anticipated ramping up operations for the summer season.

Carothers said LPA and LPN management had to draft contingency plans for the loss of expected revenue for the two operations.

“LPA and LPN had to create and regularly update COVID pandemic operation plans that could reasonably assure the safety of members, customers, visitors and employees at the conference center, golf courses, campgrounds and sports courts,” she said. “Personnel policy updates were in a state of constant flux, which proved to be both time consuming and challenging.”

In addition, plans had to be developed to continue essential operations at LPA such as roads, dam operations and security coverage in the event COVID or a state stay-at-home order created critical staff shortages, Carothers said.

Despite these and other challenges, there also have been positives, she said.

“The new LPA water system is on target for completion late this year or early in 2021, and the water main leak under Burchfield Cove has been repaired,” Carothers said. “The conference center has successfully reopened for business. LPN golf courses continued to operate while many other businesses were forced to close. Now golf league play has resumed, and the sports courts and campgrounds also are back in use.”

In closing, Carothers expressed appreciation to LPA members for their patience and support during the last few months.

“You have been understanding and tolerant when operations had to change,” she said. “Our community is diverse in life experience, and our members hold a wide spectrum of perspectives on how LPA should approach such unprecedented times. Please continue to support your board members and management as we work together to ensure Lake Panorama remains an amazing place to enjoy and live.”

John Rutledge, LPA general manager and LPN, LLC director of operations, began his report with a look at the LPN.

“The LPN, LLC operation continues to be a great benefit to our community. But it also continues to be a challenging business model to perfect,” he said. “I’m proud to say our staff and board continue to work on ways we can improve the guest experience and also pursue the best financial outcome possible.”

Rutledge said the dissolution of the Clover Ridge Timeshares has had a definite impact on LPN operations.

“We have been able to use some of the units while they’re on the market for sale. But there is no doubt the short-term impact of the timeshare dissolution had a negative impact on LPN’s bottom line, with reduced traffic on the golf course and in the Links restaurant,” he said. “The long-term impact remains to be seen, as we work to adapt to this new environment.”

A facility review was completed by an architect from Shive-Hattery.

“Major overhaul of the conference center proved to be beyond our current financial capacity, so we will look at options to improve the building incrementally on a year-to-year basis,” Rutledge said.

Dan Wollner has announced he is in his 40th and final year as LPN golf course superintendent.

“A succession plan has been implemented, which will promote Brandon Waddle to the top spot,” Rutledge said. “Thanks to Dan for his stewardship of our beautiful golf course for four decades.”

Rutledge said COVID-19 has been challenging.

“In our busy season, the combined number of employees on the payroll of LPA and LPN reaches 150 people, many of whom are part time. Adjusting personnel policies has been challenging for both entities,” he said.

LPN did apply for the Payroll Protection Program through the U.S. Small Business Administration, which provided LPN, LLC with a loan of $229,000.

“Based on the most recent updates to this program, LPN will be eligible for 100 percent forgiveness of this loan,” Rutledge said. “This will help us keep 2020’s bottom line from being absolutely wrecked by COVID-19.”

Shifting gears to the LPA, Rutledge outlined two major capital projects that have been under discussion by the LPA board for several years.

One project currently underway involves upgrades to the LPA water plant. LPA secured a 2 percent, 20-year loan from the State Revolving Loan Fund for $4.75 million to cover the project.

“The new Jordan well has been drilled, and test pumping showed excellent results,” Rutledge said. “LPA now will rely on a pair of Jordan wells, which have ample quantities of water and are free of the iron and manganese issues we’ve fought on the Dakota wells.”

A line to carry discharge water away from the new reverse osmosis (RO) system to the Middle Raccoon River by Highway 44 is complete, with only some soil restoration remaining. The RO system has been delivered and construction is underway. Rutledge said transition from the current system to the new system will happen either in late 2020 or early 2021.

Rutledge said LPA’s water today is quite hard.

“When the new system is in place, about 80 percent of the hardness members experience will be eliminated. Those with in-house softeners probably will still use them, but only a fraction of the salt used today will be needed,” he said.

As mentioned at the May 2019 annual meeting, LPA water bills will increase by $70 per quarter, going from $90 to $160 per quarter. This will begin with the Oct. 1, 2020, bill. A reminder on this will go out in July, with the July 2020 bill being the final invoice at the old rate.

The other large project completed within the last year was the replacement of the LPA maintenance facility, which cost $1.78 million. Payoff of this has been structured as a 20-year loan and will require LPA to set-aside between 20 and 25 percent of the association’s annual capital budget amount for payback.

Rutledge said LPA has undertaken a number of long-term projects for which substantial investment was needed.

“In the case of the water plant and the LPA shop, financing was necessary. These projects represent an investment in our future, and replace core assets we depend on every day,” he said.

“Pursuing both the shop and the water plant at the same time was challenging, but prudent. Interest rates for financing were favorable, and the need to proceed with both the shop and water plant had grown to the point where they could not be deferred much longer. Thank you to the membership and the board for supporting these investments in Lake Panorama’s future.”

Rutledge talked about the January Iowa Supreme Court ruling that the waters of Lake Panorama are public. The ruling also noted the land surrounding Lake Panorama is privately controlled and clarified LPA and its membership has no obligation to allow access to the water.

“As we’ve always known, Lake Panorama is a de-facto private lake despite the fact it is one-in-the-same with the Middle Raccoon River. We expect no changes in how LPA operates, but certainly answered a lot of questions based upon social media posts and speculation that Lake Panorama was now open to all,” he said. “We’ve installed a camera at the LPA marina, are working on improved signage, and continue to rely on our close partnership with Coulters Marine for oversight of the boat ramp.”

That Supreme Court ruling caused some concern about wording in Iowa Code 357H, which governs Rural Improvement Zones.

“We worked with State Senator Jake Chapman and State Representative Bubba Sorensen, who represent our district, to secure an amendment to clarify the definition of ‘private lake development,’ which was rather vague,” Rutledge said.

“The concern we had was future bond counsel reviews and our ability to issue new debt. We didn’t want this public/private issue to spill over to the Lake Panorama RIZ. The new language states RIZ applies to a private real estate development adjacent to or abutting a lake,” Rutledge said. “We believe this remains consistent with the spirit of the original law but removes any cloud of doubt regarding RIZ as it relates to the public/private status of the water.”

Rutledge said Senator Tim Kraayenbrink, who owns property at Lake Panorama, and LPA member Brian Johnson, also were instrumental in securing this amendment.

Rutledge also talked about the broken water line under Burchfield Cove that was discovered in late 2019 and replaced in June. The cost of replacing the line plus implementing some necessary water main extensions topped $400,000.

“This was not budgeted, but LPA was able to postpone some other projects to soften the blow of this expense,” Rutledge said. “Plans for replacing the other lake crossings are under review for LPA’s five-year capital budget plan. The cost of these should be less because the water mains connected to those crossings will not require the work associated with the Burchfield project.”

Other items Rutledge highlighted in his remarks included:

The Guthrie County engineer has said Sage Trail will be restored this summer to a condition similar to 2012. This is not hard surface pavement, but is better than a basic gravel road that needs graded frequently. The engineer also is exploring a hot-mix asphalt to add on either side of the Burchfield Bridge.

RIZ hired Dredge America to remove three-quarters of a million yards of silt from the river channel. This was contracted to supplement LPA’s work and make use of silt basin easements that expire within the 2020 decade. Cost is estimated at $4.1 to $4.2 million.

The Smith Wetland north of Burchfield Cove is complete, and the third wetland is installed to help protect Lake Panorama’s water quality. Land for a fourth wetland has been acquired, and the project is in the works. This wetland lies upstream of the Smith wetland.

A new, larger debris skimmer has been ordered by RIZ and will be delivered in July. This is a $400,000 purchase and will replace the skimmer LPA purchased more than 20 years ago. The old unit will remain as a backup.

An excavator with both standard and long-reach capabilities also was purchased by RIZ in 2019, which will be used for silt-basin, wetland, and small cove maintenance, plus riprap of selected areas.

The Lake Panorama 50th anniversary book remains available for purchase through either the LPA or LPN, at a cost of $35.

Posted 7/8/20
By Susan Thompson  |  Lake Panorama Times

This month’s Q&A gives John Rutledge, Lake Panorama Association general manager, the chance to catch us up on several topics.

Q: Earlier this year, there was a construction project at the west end of Jones Cove. Tell us about that work.

A: The repair work at Jones Cove involved adding sheetpile, backfill and realignment of the concrete tubes underneath the dam. The concrete tubes were starting to pull apart and shift/slide down the slope toward the cove. This was likely due to freeze-thaw cycles and water movement through the tubes over the years. The soil material beneath the tubes was no longer structurally sound enough to support the tubes.

Adam Benner already was under contract with RIZ for a suite of other sediment basin repairs, for which he had been chosen as low bidder. This project was added to realign the tubes and improve the foundation that serves as the sediment basin dam and tube bedding.
This was done by driving sheetpile straight down at the edge of the cove. Limestone rock was added behind the sheetpile for backfill. Once the backfill was in place, Benner was able to grade the surface to a level condition and put the same concrete tubes back in place. Once the tubes were reconnected, a drainage tile was built into the dam bank to pull seepage out of the bank and direct it to the lake. The final step was regrading the surface of the silt dam and restoring it with grass seed.
With this work complete, RIZ now will be able to watch the tubes over the next few years and see if there is any continued movement. LPA staff and RIZ engineers will do this by measuring the seam gaps between the tubes. As with all basin projects, ongoing maintenance is key to ensuring these structures remain in good repair.

Q: An unusual loss of water from the LPA water system late last year alerted you to the fact there was a break in a water main under Burchfield Cove. What did the repair work entail, and what are the implications for other under-the-lake mains that exist?

A: LPA experienced a broken water line under Burchfield Cove in late 2019. The timing of this break was fortunate, as it occurred during our slow part of the season. LaGrange Inc. out of Amana, Iowa, was contracted to bore a new water crossing about halfway up Burchfield Cove. The original crossing had been further south. The new crossing will help bring better water pressure to the homes on the east side of the cove. Installation of the new line was finalized in June and is successfully in-service.

The cost of replacing the line plus implementing some necessary water main extensions topped $400,000. This was not budgeted, but LPA was able to postpone some other projects to soften the blow of this expense. There are four other crossings under the lake that bring water to the east side of Lake Panorama from the water plant on the west side. Three of these are primary crossings and one is smaller. The southernmost primary crossing travels from Christmas Tree Point to Tie Road. The middle primary crossing travels north/northeast from Sunset Beach. Finally, there is a smaller crossing at the upper reaches of the Burchfield Cove creek channel. Plans for replacing the other lake crossings are under review for LPA’s five-year capital budget plan. The cost of these should be less because the water mains connected to those crossings will not require the same amount of work as the Burchfield project.

Q: Yet another water-related project is some work planned below the lake dam yet this year. Tell us about that.

A: The LPA dam continues to be inspected regularly, with ongoing maintenance, and repair items being a top priority for the association. One minor maintenance project is planned for this year. The low-flow outlet at the dam has caused some erosion downstream where the water is let out. LPA has hired a contractor Double L Construction and Brock Robson to go down the backside of the dam to dig out and replace the old riprap. Fabric material will be placed over the newly graded area, then covered with 12-inch limestone. This new area should allow water to run directly into the Middle Raccoon River without eroding the bank.
Some long-term improvement to the berm between the primary spillway and the emergency spillway remains under review this year, and will be either a 2021 or 2022 project.

Q: A new person on the LPA staff is taking over management of issues related to the association’s building codes. Give us details.

A: Lane Rumelhart, who joined our staff Dec. 30 as LPA project manager, now is responsible for managing the LPA building codes, interacting with the building codes committee and LPA members. Working six summers for Rumelhart Building Co. in Guthrie Center, which is owned by his grandfather, provided him with experience in reading blueprints and all aspects of construction, so he’s a good fit for these tasks.

Building codes are an important component of what the LPA staff manages annually. For instance, in 2019, 69 land disturbing permits were issued. Seventy-five building permits were issued, including 13 new homes, 15 decks, 17 additions, one boathouse rehab, one permanent dock, two fences, 20 storage sheds, two gazebos, two detached garages and two demolitions. As you can see, there are a lot of different types of projects that fall under the LPA building codes.

Lane is taking the responsibility from Mike Gliem, who has been doing “double-duty” for LPA for several years. Mike’s done a great job, but this transition makes a lot of sense considering Mike will be managing the transition from our old water plant to our new reverse osmosis system.
Besides building codes, Lane’s other duties include management of some projects financed by the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ), assisting with LPA communications, the annual deer hunt program, and campground and beach management.