By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
About 30 LPA members attended the Dec. 12 managers coffee, held at the Panorama West clubhouse, to hear updates from John Rutledge, Lake Panorama Association (LPA) general manager, and Royce Shaffer, Lake Panorama National (LPN) director of operations.
RIZ PROJECTS
Rutledge opened the meeting with a review of Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) projects. An agreement has been signed to extend easement agreements for the county basin, which is where dredging spoils currently are pumped.
“This extension represents a win-win for the landowners and RIZ to ensure the county basin will remain available to Lake Panorama beyond the initial term of the easement,” Rutledge said. “We’re pleased to announce the agreement has been signed and look forward to a formal closing on all documents in the coming weeks.”
Expansion of the old CIPCO sediment basin, renamed the 180th Trail Basin, continues. This is the basin that will be used for dredging spoils once the county basin is full.
“This project is progressing but is somewhat slower than originally expected,” Rutledge said.
“All parties are working together cooperatively on the adjusted timeline, which will extend into 2025. Some box culvert work will be done this summer, which will likely result in a road closure and detour on 180th Trail. This should not impact many lake residents but will impact some of our rural neighbors to the north.”
RIZ operates a program for cover crop incentives with local producers in the Lake Panorama watershed. This addresses erosion vulnerability and nutrient runoff during the period between fall harvest and spring planting/emergence.
“This is the third year for this program, and participation has increased each year. This year we have 3,172 acres, representing 16 farms, and an investment by RIZ of $47,580,” Rutledge said.
The RIZ board of trustees met earlier that morning and approved moving forward with the purchase of a new dredge and booster pump. These will be built to order with delivery expected in late 2025 or early 2026. The cost is $5.5 million. This will replace the current equipment, which will be used in 2025 for the 12th year.
The development of a sediment retention pond to serve the west fork of Burchfield Creek is in the permitting phase. Also, a streambank stabilization project has been awarded to the low bidder for the area north of the Burchfield Bridge, on the east side of the channel. The streambank stabilization project will be done in 2025.
Rutledge said RIZ is working with a landowner on land acquisition that would allow dredging in the Horseshoe Cove region of the lake. The soonest any dredging would occur in Horseshoe Cove would be in 2026 or 2027.
LPA BUSINESS
Rutledge reported 2024 testing at Lake Panorama showed there were no zebra mussel veligers/larva present.
“That’s a good confirmation,” he said. “But they are in Saylorville Lake now. We will revisit our invasive species rules in 2025 to see if these need any modifications.”
The lake is about one foot low and is likely to remain there throughout the winter.
“Inspection of the dam cylinders was completed, and we are currently looking into a near-term replacement of the cylinders,” Rutledge said. “The exact schedule has not been established, but the membership will be given months of advance notice, as the lake will need to be lowered several feet when this is completed. The most likely scenario for this is fall 2025.”
Rutledge said the 2024 legislative session was successful for Lake Panorama with the LPA boating governance bill being approved. The focus for LPA for the 2025 session will be to watch potential property tax reform proposals and work to insulate RIZ against any changes that would reduce annual revenues.
The cost for seal-coating roads in 2025 will be higher, again.
“Oil increased by 2% from last year, while rock increased by 30%,” Rutledge said. “This means the cost per mile increased by 16%, which ironically matches up with the 17% increase we made to this line item in the 2025 budget. We went from $235,000 to $275,000. We will plan on doing six miles of roads in 2025, which is two-thirds of what we would like to do annually.”
Iowa DNR vessel registrations are to be updated in 2025. LPA requires updated invasive species forms on the same three-year cycle. Rutledge urged boat owners to include their DNR registration number when submitting paperwork for 2025.
“Every third year involves a lot more communication between members and the LPA office regarding boats, because we need the updated DNR paperwork on file,” he said.
Rutledge said LPA has an ongoing conversation on the topic of wake boats.
“I’m pleased to say a number of wake boat owners have stepped up and are working to increase education about safe and appropriate operation,” he said. “LPA paperwork now asks if a boat is a wake boat. By completing this section, you will help us connect fellow wake boat owners together for collaboration and education regarding best practices.”
The Water Safety committee had recommended a rule change that clarifies no 360-degree spins are allowed on the main channel of the lake. This is most commonly a PWC violation but applies to all vessels unless they are recovering a downed skier or other person who requires retrieval. Rutledge said the LPA board approved this change.
This year’s LPA deer hunting program was the same as the past several years.
“It works well,” Rutledge said. “It controls the population but does not seek to eliminate it. If we didn’t have this program, we would be overrun with deer, and they would suffer from disease and lack of food. We have harvested 101 antlerless deer this year, which is down slightly from our average. This corresponds to the trend we’re seeing statewide due to EHD.”
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is a viral disease that affects white-tailed deer. Rutledge said a large number of deer have died from EHD, and they frequently find their way to the water in their final moments due to being feverish. LPA staff have removed deer from the lake, but it is no longer safe to do this in the winter.
LPA’s policy on deer that die on member yards is to pick them up at the shoulder of the road.
“If you can get the deer to the shoulder of the road, call us and we will dispose of it,” Rutledge said. “This does not include the carcasses of deer harvested from hunting, which is entirely the hunter’s responsibility.”
An outbreak of avian influenza has occurred at Lake Panorama. Rutledge said the Iowa DNR has advised letting nature take its course.
“If you encounter a sick goose or other animal, do not interact with it. As harsh as this might seem, it is the best course of action. Be aware avian influenza is transmissible to other species, so keep yourself and pets away from sick animals,” he said.
Rutledge outlined several fee increases for 2025.
“Please know the board and management took a very close look at this and felt these increases were essential to keeping up with inflation of our costs to operate, maintain infrastructure and provide services,” Rutledge said.
Dues and assessments increased 5%, which brings in an additional $115,353 for 2025. Stickers for watercraft 10 HP and higher increased from $200 to $250, bringing in an extra $86,450.
Water rates increased 5%, going from $160 to $168 for three months. The overage rate went from $7 to $7.35 per 1,000 gallons. The last water rate increase was approved Nov. 26, 2019, and made effective Oct. 1, 2020. This increase will generate an additional $42,000.
Rutledge closed by reminding members to sign up for the weekly Panorama Prompt e-bulletin, which is the official means of LPA communication to the membership.
LPN BUSINESS
Royce Shaffer has been the LPN director of operations since the fall of 2023. He opened his report with an update on the LPN food and beverage situation.
“In November we finalized a separation agreement with our 2024 tenant. After mutual discussions, we concluded that partnership wasn’t a perfect fit for either party. We’ve parted ways amicably, and we wish Nick and Lynn Kuhn all the best in their future endeavors,” he said.
Shaffer said he and the LPN board remain committed to providing a dining option at LPN, as highlighted in last fall’s food and beverage survey where 89% of LPA respondents expressed that having a restaurant at LPN is extremely or very important.
“We continue to draft a new lease with Ted Hawley,” Shaffer says. “Ted’s company manages several food and beverage establishments in Des Moines, Omaha and Sioux City. He also has personal ties to the lake and plans to make it his home in the future. We’re optimistic about this new chapter and looking forward to 2025.”
The 2025 LPN budget has been approved by the LPA board of directors. Projected revenue is $1.9 million. Some price increases were made for 2025. These include a 10% increase for LPN golf passes, which will generate $41,426. An increase in the daily fee golf cart rental at LPN will bring in an extra $48,439. A 3% increase for Panorama West golf passes will bring in $2,123.
Shaffer talked about work in the native areas within the interior of the LPN golf course. The LPA maintenance crew has been clearing and chipping dead and dying trees, including some ash trees that weren’t part of the ash tree removal project in 2021-2022.
“In addition to tree clearing, the team has been mowing and removing underbrush and invasive plants, creating an environment where the remaining trees can thrive,” Shaffer said. “The goal is to bring these areas to a condition where they can be mowed and maintained annually, ensuring a healthier and more visually appealing landscape.”
Shaffer provided an update on the fundraising initiative focused on Priority 1 projects outlined in the LPN Golf Course Master Plan.
“This campaign is a long-term effort with the LPN board setting a goal of raising $500,000 to support these and future improvements,” he said. “We are all aware this is an ambitious target, and it will take several years to get there.”
Fundraising efforts in 2024 made it possible to expand, level and sod the forward tee boxes on holes 5, 6, 7 and 8. Sod was installed on the seventh tee box in 2024. The remaining sod installation for the other three holes will be done in the spring with plans to complete the work between mid-March and mid-April, weather permitting.
Shaffer said the hope is these tee boxes will be ready for play by Memorial Day weekend. The total budget for this project is approximately $75,500 including $5,000 of in-kind work by the LPA to remove railroad ties from three of the tee boxes.
Fundraising efforts are ongoing with some 2025 events planned to support the campaign. These include a golf fundraiser May 3 and the second annual 20 Men Who Can Cook event Oct. 19. Also, a portion of the proceeds from the 2025 Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball will be designated for LPN projects. The Beach Ball date will be announced in early spring.
Shaffer closed by encouraging those who don’t already receive the LPN Resort Weekly email to get signed up. This email is typically sent on Mondays and provides updates on upcoming events and other relevant information. To sign up, visit the LPN website at lakepanoramanational.com, scroll down to the “Get the Latest News” section, and enter your email.
Following their prepared remarks, Rutledge and Shaffer fielded several questions and comments from the audience.
