Dear Round Lake Property Owners and Friends,
We hope you, your family, and friends enjoyed the holidays. As we embark on this new year, we extend our warmest wishes for a Happy New Year filled with joy and prosperity.
As we begin 2025, we want to share our efforts and continued commitment to our members, property owners, our lakes and, specifically to AIS management and water safety. These remain our primary focus.
At our RLPOA annual meeting in August 2024, we candidly discussed the increasing challenges of AIS management, particularly the dwindling availability of state and local grants. This uncertainty necessitates investigating a possible shift in our revenue generation approach to fund our priorities.
Last year, we appealed to our members for additional contributions to support our AIS efforts, due to the lack of state and local funding. We are incredibly grateful for your generous support, which made a significant difference. However, we recognize that this approach may not be sustainable and/or predictable in the long term.
At the meeting, we introduced the concept of forming a lake district as one potential solution to sustainably fund activities such as aquatic invasive species (AIS) management and lake safety. We are currently exploring that concept, to ensure the long-term sustainability of our AIS management program.
Exploring the Formation of a Lake District
There are currently over 250 lake districts in Wisconsin, created under Chapter 33 of the Wisconsin Statutes which addresses management and protection of inland lakes promoting environmental health, recreational use, and community engagement. Lake districts provide a structured and equitable cost sharing way to protect lakes and ensure they remain healthy for years to come.
We want to assure you that the RLPOA is committed to being methodical, thorough, and, most importantly, transparent as we explore this path. The decisions we make together will impact the future of our lakes, and it is vital that we, as property owners, have a clear understanding of what this process involves.
Currently, we are closely monitoring the Callahan/Mud Lake Protective Association efforts to establish the first Lake District in Sawyer County. This initiative is currently navigating the county's regulatory process.
Staying Informed: Your Resources
We encourage you to read our newly created Lake District FAQ section on our website, which addresses many of the questions raised during the meeting and throughout our discussions on the lake district concept. This section is presented in a question-and-answer table format for easy reading. It will be continuously updated as new information becomes available.
You can access the Lake District FAQ document on the RLPOA website here: Lake District FAQ
If you have a question, that isn’t covered in the FAQ, we welcome you to reach out to us at Ask@RoundLakes.org. Your input is invaluable, and we will update the Lake District FAQ page frequently with answers to your questions to ensure everyone remains fully informed.
Next Steps and Keeping an Open Mind
Over the coming months, we will continue our research into the formation of a lake district, focusing on questions such as:
- The process and timeline for forming a lake district.
- Governance and regulatory requirements.
- Cost-sharing structures for property owners.
- Boundary of properties that will benefit from the district
- Ongoing operational and maintenance needs.
We ask that you keep an open mind as we explore this potential path together. The ultimate goal is to protect and enhance the Round Lakes ecosystem and preserve our investments, not just for those who enjoy it today, but for future generations as well.
We will continue to communicate with you regularly as we gather more information. Your engagement is critical as we consider the future of our community and lakes, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any thoughts or concerns.
New Members and Renewing Members
Membership in Round Lake Property Owners Association keeps Round & Little Round Lakes clean and safe. New and renewal membership fee is $45/calendar year.
Please also generously donate to the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) fund, which the all-volunteer Board uses to fund milfoil management activities on Round and Little Round Lakes. While donations range greatly, please donate $100, $250, $500 or more. Special thanks to those that donated in 2024, especially the 45+ property owners who donated $250 or more. Payments can be made online at RoundLakes.org or mailed to RLPOA, PO Box 1070, Hayward, WI 54701.
Thank you for your dedication and continued support of our shared mission to protect, preserve and enhance the beauty and health of Round Lakes for generations to come.
Respectfully,
Daniel Kollodge
RLPOA President