By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Voting for one position on the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) board will take place Tuesday, Dec. 10. The polls will be open from noon until 8 p.m. in the lower level of the LPA office, 5006 Panorama Drive.
Voters can request absentee ballots from the Guthrie County Auditor for the “Special Election” and fill in Lake Panorama RIZ. Absentee ballot requests must be received by the auditor’s office by Nov. 25. Voters also can vote absentee at the auditor’s office in the Guthrie County courthouse prior to the election.
Trustee Larry Petersen is running for re-election to a three-year term. Other trustees on the RIZ board are Bill Dahl, Doug Hemphill, JoAnn Johnson and Corey Welberg.
Voting is limited to individuals whose voter registration address is located within the Lake Panorama subdivision. LPA members who do not consider Lake Panorama their primary residence for voting purposes are not eligible to cast a ballot.
This is a government election, not an LPA election. Every eligible voter can cast a ballot. This differs from LPA elections, where each membership is allowed just one vote.
The trustees are responsible for administering the RIZ, which includes the platted portions of the Lake Panorama development. The Lake Panorama RIZ is a local government entity designed to manage erosion control and water quality at Lake Panorama and within its watershed.
RIZ was formed in 1997 by the initiative of the LPA through legislation in Des Moines. The tax increment financing district allows tax growth dollars to stay within the Lake Panorama development for water quality purposes.
A key focus of RIZ is the dredging of sediment from Lake Panorama. This ensures lake depth remains suitable for safe enjoyment by LPA members and their guests.
One current multi-year project is the expansion of the 180th Trail Basin. This basin is where dredging spoils will go once the current basin is full.
Preventative efforts are an expanding priority for RIZ, with two additional wetlands in the planning stages, which would bring the total number of wetlands protecting Lake Panorama to five. RIZ also has implemented a voluntary cover crop incentive for upstream property, within a targeted area of the Panorama watershed.
For more information on Lake Panorama RIZ, visit www.lakepanoramariz.org.