Lane Rumelhart, LPA project manager, shares definitions and examples of words and acronyms often used at Lake Panorama.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
It seems every organization, industry and community group has its own terms, jargon, acronyms and jurisdictional components. The Lake Panorama Association (LPA) is no exception. In this month’s Q&A, Lane Rumelhart, LPA project manager, shares definitions and examples of words and acronyms often used at Lake Panorama.
Q. Let’s start with water-related terms and acronyms.
A. The LPA uses a number of water-related terms, both in regard to the LPA’s water treatment and distribution system and Lake Panorama. For instance, Potable Water is water that is safe to drink or use for food preparation, meeting health-based standards. For LPA, this means water that is processed through the association’s water plant and delivered to members through underground water lines.
Boil Advisory is a public notice advising residents to boil tap water before drinking due to potential bacterial contamination.
WET (Water Service Excise Tax) is a tax applied to the sale of metered water in Iowa. This was implemented by the State of Iowa in lieu of sales tax on potable water and is shown on quarterly LPA water invoices.
Microcystin is a toxin produced by blue-green algae that, if ingested, can be harmful to humans and animals. Occasionally, harmful levels of microcystin can be found in water bodies experiencing algal blooms.
Armoring and Rip Rap are methods of shoreline protection. Rip rap is a layer of large rocks used to prevent erosion, while armoring refers more broadly to any hardening method, such as concrete walls or mesh baskets of stone, which are called gabion baskets.
Erosion Control, Silt Fence, SUDAS are techniques and guidelines to prevent soil erosion during construction or land disturbance. A silt fence is a temporary barrier that traps sediment, and SUDAS (Statewide Urban Design and Specifications) provides Iowa’s standards for public works projects.
Dredging removes sediment from water bodies. A dredge basin is a designated deep area for sediment collection, while wetlands are natural or constructed areas that filter water and nutrients, while providing habitat.
Q. Let’s move to another water-related category — boating on Lake Panorama.
A. Nearly 10 pages of the 29-page LPA Rules and Regulations document are related to boating with the main concern being safety. Maximum lengths for boats allowed on Lake Panorama are 24 feet with pontoons allowed at 27 feet. Swim platforms are counted in overall length, while swim steps are not, so it’s important to know the difference.
A swim platform is a large flat surface on the back of a boat for entering and exiting the water. A swim platform extends full-width or nearly full-width across the rear of the boat and is not designed to move or retract while the boat is underway. A swim step is substantially less than full-width and is designed to be retracted while the boat is underway.
Another boating term of interest is wake, which means the waves and turbulence created by a boat moving through water. No Wake Zone is an area where boats must move at idle speed to minimize wakes.
Channel markers are buoys or signs that indicate safe navigation routes. Traffic on Lake Panorama up and down the main channel follows a counter-clockwise rotation, always staying to the right of the centerline buoys.
Mooring buoy is a buoy used to secure a boat instead of anchoring. Iowa Law requires a boat be attended unless attached to a mooring buoy or a dock. Lake Panorama does not have any legal mooring buoys, which means boaters must always have a qualified operator on-board while rafting in various areas of the lake. Not doing so exposes the boat operator to a DNR citation for an unattended vessel.
Q. We mentioned the LPA Rules and Regulations document in the last question. Can you give more information on that and other LPA governing documents?
A. LPA has a set of governing documents that outline Homeowners Association (HOA) rules, construction standards and homeowner responsibilities. These include our covenants, bylaws, and rules and regulations.
Practically speaking, the covenants are set in stone and cannot be altered. The by-laws can be amended by a vote of the LPA membership, but cannot be amended by the LPA board of directors. The rules can be amended by the LPA board of directors.
The LPA Building Codes are included in the rules and regulations document. LPA members who want do something different from what’s included in that document must seek a variance. Requests for a building code variance are filed with the LPA office for review by the LPA Building Codes Committee. If the committee recommends a variance be allowed, the request is presented to the LPA board of directors for consideration.
All of these LPA governing documents are available online at www.lakepanorama.org.
Q. Let’s turn our attention to external resources of interest to Lake Panorama property owners and the LPA.
A. There are two acronyms that get frequent use at Lake Panorama. TIF stands for Tax Increment Financing. TIF is a funding tool where property tax increases from new development are used to pay for infrastructure or economic development projects.
RIZ or Rural Improvement Zones are established under IA Code 357H and function as a rural lake community TIF district. This allows a portion of property taxes to be returned to the RIZ for the purposes of improving erosion control and water quality. There are five Rural Improvement Zones in Iowa — Diamondhead, Holiday, Panorama, Sun Valley and Sundown. Lake Panorama RIZ is the oldest and largest RIZ in Iowa.
There are two agencies we commonly reference in LPA communications. USGS (United States Geological Survey), is a federal agency that provides scientific data on natural resources, including water quality and mapping. LPA uses USGS technology to monitor lake level and flow.
DNR (Iowa Department of Natural Resources) is the state agency overseeing environmental protection, conservation and recreational areas in Iowa.
When it comes to building or ground disturbances at Lake Panorama, there are two additional entities to consider. The state Fire Marshal is the official responsible for fire safety enforcement, including inspections of electrical work to ensure compliance with fire codes.
Before any digging or excavating, Iowa One Call must be contacted to locate underground utilities. Since January 1, 1993, all owners and operators of underground facilities are required by State of Iowa law to participate in Iowa One Call. Requests for locate services can be made by dialing 811 or creating a ticket at iowaonecall.com. Both services are free.
Q. Share some local and state government offices or services with which LPA members might engage this year.
A. There are several Guthrie County entities that have an impact on Lake Panorama on a regular basis. These include the Assessor, who determines property values for tax purposes. Auditor oversees county financials, election and records. Recorder is responsible for maintaining various legal documents and vital records. The recorder also is responsible for licensing and registration of boats, snowmobiles, ATVs and UTVs, and an official provider of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses.
Secondary Roads maintains county roads and bridges. Supervisors are elected officials who serve on the county board of supervisors, and oversee county government and budgets. Treasurer is responsible for property tax collection and distribution, motor vehicle registration and driver’s licenses.
Beacon (GIS): GIS stands for Geographic Information System, which is an online tool used to view property records, zoning maps and tax information. Guthrie County uses The Schneider Corporation as their vendor for GIS management, and Schneider operates this service under the name “Beacon.”
Iowa Code contains state laws, while the Iowa Administrative Code details how agencies implement those laws.
Q. Let’s wrap up with a few general terms for Lake Panorama property owners.
A. Sure. How about the definition of seal coat? It’s a pavement treatment LPA uses that involves an oil layer and crushed stone to extend road life. Embargo is a temporary restriction on road usage. At Lake Panorama, this means a 5-ton weight limit each spring when roads are most vulnerable.
Finally, what should LPA members do when they see a “Road Work Ahead” sign? Most vehicles travel too fast through work areas, which creates a safety hazard for our LPA staff. Please slow down, be patient, avoid distractions and maintain a safe distance.
LPA staff tries to be as clear as possible when communicating with members, but I’m sure we sometimes use acronyms or words that are confusing. Those with a question about a term or acronym are encouraged to call the LPA office at 641-755-2301 or email lpa@lakepanorama.org.