e-News
 

A couple of important items:

 

Reminders
 

Lake Drawdown
The valve will be opened no sooner than October 11th and the weather will determine the drawdown rate.  We will endeavor to control at 8 to 12 feet below normal pool.  We will close the valve and refill no later than April 4th, hopefully much sooner.  The weather determines the refill rate as well.
 
Cleanup weekend
September 25-26 with pick-up the 27th. (WM customers only).  See WM Guidelines at the link below..
 
Elections
Four 4-year terms and one 2-year vacancy on Council are up for grabs.  Write-in votes will determine at least one Council position.  The Mayor, election officials, school board members, and potentially a Constable will be on the ballot locally, as well. See https://indianlake.info/Elections-2021 for candidate-provided info.  Updates are being crafted for some.
 
Council meeting 9/22
There was no meeting on the 8th.  We will be meeting on September 22nd.  Contact the Office at office@indianlakepa.us if you wish to get put on the agenda, and to get a Zoom link.

 

A few new items...
 

Boats adrift
With the recent storm Ida a number of boats escaped their bonds and headed adrift towards the spillway.  None made it over, but at least one came close.  If you ever spot a craft adrift, please try to corral it and tie it to a nearby dock, big rock or tree.  We can contact the owner if you get the PA registration number or Indian Lake sticker number and year or color.
 
Wellness/House checks
As the season ends and folks plan to button their places up, remember that the Police have a list of places/names for periodic security/wellness checks.  Contact Jerry at  Police@indianlakepa.us
 
Budget & Taxes
We ever-so-briefly emerged from debt this past spring/summer, only to begin a serious plunge to pay for the new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Tank.  The new WTP debt will be covered by the already in-place water rate increase and thus there should be minimal tax consequence.  As we begin the CY 2022 budget process, it is safe to say there will be no tax increase needed this coming year.  While a modest decrease is a possibility, it may not be prudent in the face of the mounting (but managed) debt.  We will know more, and with certainty, in the next month or 2 as we budget.
 
Ida and Lessons from Wilmore Dam – Dam EAP
Ida's flooding locally triggered an incorrect evacuation warning for the Wilmore Dam, north of Johnstown.  The evacuation warning was issued by the National Weather Service in State College and Cambria County emergency responders, who 'misunderstood' an 'early warning' type notice required by the DEP.  The media then ran with the story before those truly responsible and knowledgeable could recognize the mistake.  This caused quite the stir.
 
Our Somerset County Commissioners have joined with the Cambria County authorities in calling for a critique, or 'lessons-learned' review and we will follow that closely.  There are many similarities to Indian Lake's dam and our own Emergency Action Plan, and we can learn from them. There are a few differences which should reduce the chances as well.

Right or wrong, a response was triggered and that response should be examined for appropriateness and improvement; someday it might be for real.