Deena Kitchen

Here at the Lake of the Ozarks there is always something going on and Easter weekend is going to be no different. If you are looking for a place to gather with family or friends to enjoy a wonderful Easter brunch you may want to consider one of the places I have listed below.

The Country Club Hotel and Spa
Serving Brunch from 11:00 to 3:00
Angus Prime Rib, Roasted Chicken Breast with Fresh Sage and Orange Zest, Pot Roast with Mushroom Bordelaise, Variety of Fresh Salads, Vegetables, an Awesome Dessert Pyramid, a Children's Station and much more.
Please call for Reservations: 573-964-2222
Visit The Country Club Hotel and Spa to learn more.

The Resort at Port Arrowhead
Serving Brunch from 10:00 to 3:00
Fruits, Pastries, Salads, Portside Quiche, Eggs Benedict, Herb Crusted Leg of Lamb, Prime Rib, Chicken Francesca, Vegetables and Desserts.
In addition to the brunch, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the little ones.

Please call for Reservations: 573-365-2334

Go to The Resort at Port Arrowhead to learn more.

The Lodge of Four Seasons~HK's Steakhouse
Serving Brunch from 10:00 to 4:00
Tomato Basil Soup, Freshly Baked Artisan Bread and Breakfast Pastries, Variety of Salads, Raw Bar; Rocky Point Shrimp, James River Oysters, Stone Crab Claws, Assorted Pates, Terrines, Salami and a Smoked Seafood Display.
Please call for Reservations: 888-265-5500
Check out The Lodge of Four Seasons to learn more.

H. Toad Bar and Grill
Serving Brunch from 10:00 to 2:00
Variety of Salads, Brunch Selection, A Carving Station, Omelet Bar and Dessert Station.
Music will be provided by Donny Larson.
Please call for Reservations: 573-365-5620
Visit H. Toad Bar and Grill to learn more.

I wish all of you a wonderful Easter!
Deena

Last week I wrote about the importance of knowing Ameren's boundary line if you own or are thinking of buying lakefront property here at the Lake of the Ozarks. Many of you have been asking if there is a "use" easement for the property owner between the take line and the water's edge?

There are Ameren (Union Electric) easements for many lakefront properties, in fact, in some areas Ameren only holds easements rights. Typically there are easement rights that are conveyed to property owners in areas where Ameren holds fee title. Those rights are subject to the Federal FERC license, shoreline management policies and guidelines and the ordinances and policies of appropriate state and federal agencies. For instance, the easement may state that landowners have the right to construct improvements, however, they could not do that without a permit from Ameren or other applicable agencies. Boat docks, seawalls/riprap, patios, boat ramps are some of the improvements allowed through UE's permit process.

Applications and forms for improvements can be found at www.amerenue.com.

Owning a lakefront property at the Lake of the Ozarks has many perks: great views, lake access, swimming, fishing and boating right at your back door; but if you are not careful about knowing your property's boundary lines, you could end up the lake without a paddle!

Imagine, after years of living in your lakefront home, discovering that you don't own all of "your" property. As a matter of fact, the dock you put in and the patio you built by the water's edge are encroachments on someone else's property, and that someone else just happens to be Ameren UE. If you are a lakefront property owner at the Lake of the Ozarks you NEED to know Ameren's property boundary lines before making any improvements to your land.

Homeowners whose property falls within the area in which Ameren project boundary extends to an elevation of as high as 674 feet above sea level are affected. The project boundary is set at 662 feet above sea level in most areas in the lower lake. However, there are properties in all of the lakes tributaries (Niangua, Little Niangua, Glaize, Gravois and Osage) where Ameren's project boundary extends to an elevation of, as high as 670 feet above sea level.

If you own lakefront property or are thinking of purchasing lakefront property here are the Top 5 things to know about Ameren Shoreline and what you need permits for at the lake:

1. Where's the Boundary? Ameren's project boundary is an elevation based property line that falls between the 662 to 674 contour depending where you are on the lake. Ameren UE owns everything below this elevation. In most cases, Ameren's property ownership is no different than any other neighbor with one exception. Sometimes people don't realize where the boundary is and build things that should be kept on their own property. The best solution is to have the property surveyed prior to buying the home and make sure the lake side property line is illustrated correctly. Nine out of ten deeds that say the property owner owns to the 660 or shoreline are incorrect in the lake area

2. Get your permit on-line! Ameren now has a new website that includes all Ameren permit guidelines for the lake, as well as, a customer web interface that allows you to apply for most permits on-line. You can access the site at www.amerenmissouri.com/lake or https://portal.lakepermits.com/

3. Where's the water? Lake levels fluctuate as much as six feet between winter and summer. The back of coves, offer fantastic, quiet settings away from the noise and wave action of the main channel. However, make sure you have enough water to navigate your boat to and from the slip. Six feet of water is plenty, but during winter drawdown what is six feet in the summer is zero feet in the winter.

4. My neighbor's over the line! Not all permits were issued in the "New Era" of lake permitting. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued permits for docks up until the early 1980's. Union Electric issued permits on a first-come first-served basis with virtually no guidelines until the mid 1990's and only since 1995 or so that we have had more rigorous location guidelines for docks. Therefore, many docks are permitted over property lines at the lake. If you see a dock that looks like it is over a property line or encroaching on a property you want to buy, don't assume the dock should be moved - it may be authorized that way. Ameren recommends following a "what you see is what you get policy" and following up with a call to Ameren only if a dock is adversely affecting navigation or somehow limiting similar access or enjoyment for other properties.

5. Permits are required for all lakefront facilities! Many lake buyers believe that if they see proof of a dock permit - all is well. This may not be the case if there are multiple facilities. One should make sure all permits are in place for such things as decks, patios, seawalls, walkways, pumps and any other item at or near the shoreline. It's also not enough just to know there is a dock permit. It is important to make sure the dock permit allows what is there. It is not uncommon to find docks on properties that do not match the permit history. Keep in mind that permits stay with the land, not the dock. Reviewing the dock permit for a match and ensuring that all shoreline facilities are permitted correctly can save you a lot of time and money in after-the-fact permit fees. Worse yet if Ameren discovers something that can't be permitted under new guidelines, you may have to remove it.

Spring will soon be upon us and the search for lakefront property will be on the rise again. Owning a lakefront property has its many perks, but there are some important factors that should be considered before one decides to put their life earnings into their dream home.

Here is a list of tips you should keep in mind when purchasing your new lakefront property.

Know your purpose: Are you looking for entertaining and a place to play on the water or are you looking for seclusion? Some parts of a lake are noisier than others. If you do not want to wake up at 6:30 a.m. in the summer to the sound of jet skis and boat motors then you will want to consider the quieter side of the lake.

Personally inspect the property: As tempting as buying online makes it, do not purchase a lakefront property without setting foot on it first. Take the time to visit and look it over for yourself. Obtain a copy of the site plan so you can determine exactly where the property lines are. Also, determine if the water is deep enough for your boat. Here at the Lake of the Ozarks, it is imperative you know where the AmerenUE property line is located. Check with Google Earth or Google Earth Pro for the topology of the lake property and the lake itself.

Check with city and DNR for lake information: You can determine the price of the lakeshore by the lake view, water depth, the watershed runoff and more. Other resources such as, old tax records, surveys, plots and disclosures can be very helpful.

Understand the lake's water level changes: Does the lake fluctuate in water levels? Look for erosion on beach and any water lines on docks, shore, or trees. These can give you an idea how high the lake rises. The changing of the water levels can make a difference in your ability to access the water. Check with your neighbors. They can tell you about how the temperatures and water levels change during the seasons and the nearest boat access if you cannot access the lake from your property.

If the property is remote: know who is responsible for maintaining the road. Many banks require a Road Maintenance Agreement before they will lend on remote property.

Purchase the right size: If you are building, make sure your lot size is large enough to support the size of home you want.

Know what kind of restrictions and covenants exists: If you plan on building a boat house, extending the dock, or putting up a fence you need to know if this is allowable. Knowing your restrictions and covenants can save you from a lot of headaches later.

More details to be aware of...
***Full views, deep water and flat lake lots are more expensive.
***Pricing differs by county and location.
***Are there any flood plain restrictions? If you build or buy in a flood zone insurance will be difficult to get.