Lake District Results
As many of you know, a great deal of discussion took place throughout the summer last year regarding the creation of a lake district around Lake Wandawega. While the idea of a lake district had been debated for many years, the Lake Wandawega Improvement Association (LWIA), the organization that represents lake interests and is the intermediary with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, took the legal steps necessary to make a lake district possible. Because a lake district is funded by taxing the owners within its boundaries, it requires that a majority of these owners sign a petition in favor of its creation. As an organization that falls within the proposed boundaries of the district, the WCC board sent a letter to inform every owner in the association, created an online survey, and held discussions at all of our meetings throughout the summer with the expectation to gauge the community’s sentiments. After debating the pros and cons, as well as considering the popular support among those who made their opinions apparent, the WCC board ultimately decided to sign the petition in favor of a lake district.
While we do not know all the details regarding the process that will follow, we do know that LWIA has since received approval from the county to create the district and will take the necessary next steps. As the organization that has shouldered the financial responsibilities for lake related management over many years, the WCC board believes that the newly formed lake district will now create more equity amongst all lake stakeholders. We also believe that Lake Wandawega is our community’s greatest asset, and we fully expect that this district will not only increase its protection, but will also enhance its health and beauty for years to come. Thank you to the members of the LWIA board for the work they have done and to all those in the WCC community who contributed to our discussions and helped to shape the decision of this board.
Sincerely,
WCC Board
Proposed Lake District
The Lake Wandawega Improvement Association (LWIA), the voluntary organization that was formed to preserve and protect the lake, is looking to create a lake district for Lake Wandawega. A lake district is "a special purpose unit of government with powers focused on lake management and the provision of services to property located within its established boundaries. A lake district operates on its own, independent of its creating entity, in accordance with its statutory powers...". The lake district collects a tax from its members and uses the money to manage the lake (ie. weed harvesting, chemical treatments, aquatic plant management, etc.).
As a stakeholder, WCC is being asked to sign a petition that will allow LWIA to send their proposal to Walworth County for approval. Only property owners/organizations that are actually on the lake will be part of this new lake district and WCC will be given only one vote on the petition. If 51% or more of the potential lake district members sign this petition, the proposal will move to the next step at the county.
WCC has always financially supported Lake Wandawega management activities, but now we need determine whether or not a lake district is in our organization's best interest. We have emailed all members who have provided us current email addresses and have asked to fill out a brief survey (if you are a member and did not receive the survey, you can email us at wandawegacc@gmail.com). Below are the main points being discussed:
LWIA is pursuing a “riparian only” model where only property owners on Lake Wandawega will be included. LWIA claims that a lake district will not only increase the health and beauty of Lake Wandawega, but it should also increase the property values of homes in the area.
The model states that private owners would be taxed $3 per shoreline foot and organizations like Camp Wandawega, IPOA (the homeowner's association on the south side of the lake), and WCC would be taxed $3.50 per foot.
Under this proposal, WCC would be taxed $9,100 per year. (WCC total assessments amount to about $24,600/yr) The WCC board has budgeted close to this amount once in the last 10 years, but it is generally 25% more than usual.
Based on this proposed tax, the WCC board has no intention of raising assessment costs to members. However, if association costs increase, WCC will either have to decrease maintenance/improvements on property or increase our mill rate. (WCC currently determines assessment costs based on a mill rate of $17.13 per property lot)
This tax would show up on our tax bills, would be collected, and then would be redistributed by Walworth County to the lake district.
LWIA is proposing a budget of $35,000/yr to cover lake management costs (including equipment, labor, maintenance, etc). This is 1.5 times the legal mill rate, and the maximum allowed by law is 2.5 times the mil rate (which would put the maximum budget at approximately $58,000). Based on this number, if the lake district board wanted to increase the budget to the maximum allowed (2.5 mill rate), WCC would owe about $15,000.
Lake districts are eligible for more grants than associations, so LWIA claims that budgetary increases would be mitigated.
If the lake district is approved, LWIA would disband and a new governing body would be created (5 total members: 1 from WCC, 1 from IPOA, 1 riparian owner, and 2 appointees from Walworth County). That means 3 out of 5 members will have direct ties to the lake and would be affected by any budgetary changes.
LWIA believes that a lake district would provide a stronger voice with political clout and would prevent events like the one that happened a few years ago when a group of home owners convinced the town of Sugar Creek to drain water from the lake. (A commercial gravel pit has been proposed off Hwy. H and would potentially affect the Lake Wandawega water table - LWIA believes that a lake district will help thwart these efforts)
WCC members who are also riparian owners will be taxed by the lake district and assessed by WCC. Since WCC will also contribute to the lake district, these owners, in affect, will be contributing a higher percentage than others in the lake district.
LWIA believes that a lake district will make the management of Lake Wandawega more equitable, as it spreads the costs to all riparian owners and will allow for greater impact.
Discussion of a lake district and its pros/cons will continue at our next meeting, Saturday, August 12th. Hope to see you there.
Thank you,
WCC Board
Chemical Treatment of Lake 2024
Lake Wandawega Improvement Association (LWIA) has applied for a DNR Permit to treat Lake Wandawega primarily for Eurasian Water-milfoil (EWM) in the spring of 2024. The treatment typically takes place during the month of May with a liquid form of 2,4-D or a liquid form of florpyrauxifen-benzyl. All lake front residents that are in or immediately adjacent to a treatment area will have a yellow warning sign posted on their frontage stating that there is up to a 21-day irrigation restriction. Note that there is NOT a swimming or fishing restriction following treatment.
Home of the historic Wandawega Country Club
a Lake Wandawega homeowners association
serving the community for over 90 years.