This is the Official Mount Morris Lakes Management District Website

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We are a Lake District, not a Lake Association. This website provides straight-forward, factual  data and information to District electors and stakeholders about the District's plans and activities. Through this site, District residents are updated as to what is important for them to know as lakeshore property owners, electors, and stakeholders of the District.

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                 IMPORTANT NEWS FOR ALL DISTRICT LAKESHORE OWNERS

News items appear in descending order by date

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REFERENDUMS: LAKE A  & LAKE B SLOW NO WAKE CONVERSION 

BALLOT RETURN EXTENDED TO MARCH 13 

To provide early feedback on the trend of the ballot results for the March 4 Quarterly Commissioners meeting, it was only requested that for those who can do it should return their ballots on February 28 to arrive by Friday March 3.  Otherwise, for those who can't return early, the official due date for the ballot returns are to be postmarked by Monday, March 13.  The reason for the early return request is that there was a Town Board meeting  on Tuesday, March 14, and the District Board wanted to prepare some preliminary feedback (not final) to the Town Board in order to plan the process of regulation in June if the referendums pass.  Early ballot returns are always appreciated.

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DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' MEETING:  SATURDAY, MARCH 4 - 9:00 AM  MOUNTAINVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER:  MT. MORRIS - HWY 152 & CTY ROAD S

MEETING AGENDA - All District Electors are invited to attend Quarterly meetings.  Next Meeting:  May 20, 2023

1. Reading & Review of the December 3, 2022 Board meeting minutes- Joe Slezak

2. Treasurer’s Report – Peggy Thiel

3. Sub-committee reports:

   1. Harvester Payroll and Labor Management Subcommittee update-Peggy, Karen, Kathy Croft

   2. FOMML Endowment Fund Report –Rob  

      1. Garage sale plan update-Tom Kasubaski

   3. Harvesting sub-committee update -Mark Stratton

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS;

1. Dam Projects:  - Toe drain repair, timing and cost estimate update:  Gil Steffanides

2. Web site migration update- Mechanics of friending on Facebook: Karen Tschurwald

3. Referendum results re: making lakes A and B slow/no wake- Joe Slezak

4. Document archiving protocol - Joe Slezak

5. Reschedule of 6/3/23 MMLD meeting

6. Board candidates for 2023 and nominating committee-Rob

7. WE Energies easement request-Rob

 

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Mt. Morris Township/Waushara County news – Paul Jarvis and John Jarvis

2. AIS planning update-Rob

3. Commissioner compensation changes. Should board members be exempt from lake district assessment?

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SPECIAL ASSESSMENT REMINDER

From Peggy Thiel, District Treasurer

The special assessment rate for the Mt. Morris Lakes Management District is determined as follows. The district annual budget that was            approved at the previous annual meeting is divided by the sum of the assessed land and  improvement value of riparian properties in the district as provided by Waushara County. This rate is applied to the total assessed value shown on your real estate property tax bill.

The budget presented at the annual meeting was amended and approved for two items:

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                          1.   A motion was made and approved to  amend the proposed budget for the dam’s toe drain repair

                                 from $10,000 to $20,000.

                          2.   Also approved was harvester labor to include an increase in the assistant operator hours

                                to 30 hours per week for 22 weeks, a dollar impact of $6,570

 

There were other minor changes from last year’s budget but these two are the drivers for the assessment increase. The net increase in the special assessment was $16,727 spread over $39.6mm of assessed value.

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Note that the board is working on several projects that will reduce annual operating expenses and optimize equipment value in coming years. Details will be provided as the plans are  firmed up.

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COMMISSIONER POSITONS OPEN IN 2023

Any member/elector of the District has the right to run for election to a position as a District Commissioner when such position becomes open or expired, or resigned.  If you would like to serves as a Board Commissioner, just submit your written nomination (no special format or papers are required) to the District Secretary 70 days in advance of the annual District meeting.  This year, two positions are  open for re-election to three year terms:  Joe Slezak and Karen Tschurwald.  .  Any three electors may nominate additional candidates by submitting written nomination papers to the district  secretary at  least 70 days prior to the annual meeting.  The names of all nominated candidates shall appear on the written and published notices of the annual meeting, The annual meeting this year is June 24, 2023, so getting your nomination papers submitted is important to appear on these public meeting notices. For additional information on commissioner eligibility, please consult the District By-Laws in the archive section of this website.

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MMLMD LAKE ENDOWMENT FUND  (FOMML) SPRIING SALE EVENT IN MT. MORRIS JUNE 3

 

The FOMML committee is  holding a spring rummage sale event, June 3, 2023, from  8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Mountainview Community Center to raise money for the fund.  If you have or can donate items for the sale, they will be collected on the Saturdays of May 20 and May 27, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Just bring them to the Mt. Morris Town Park Pavillion Public Landing area. Please bring items that are new, gently used, (but not used up), or "sellable".  They will be secured in a drive in shed, and then will be trailered June 2 to the Mt. Morris Mountainview Community Center for preparation, and then put up for the sale on June 3. 

 

The committee will need volunteers on June 2 for setting up the items for sales (bag, tag, label, etc.) from 9:30 am, and will continue  until set up is completed  for the June 3 sale.  Volunteers will also be needed at the sale on June 3 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  To sign-up as a volunteer, please contact Tom Kasubaski at 414-303-2590

 

 The The "Friends of Mt. Morris Lake Endowment Fund" was set up by the District Board. You can donate tax-deductible money to the fund to preserve the future quality of our lakes. The fund is managed by the "Oshkosh Area Community Foundation." Make a contribution online at: https://www.oshkoshareacf.org/fund/friends-of-the-mount-morris-lakes-endowment-fund/ or you can mail in the official contribution form. To read the letter or get more information, go to the Endowment Fund page. This fund is important for future funding of lake projects. The committee has developed a brochure to explain the fund's purpose. Thanks to all who have contributed to the Fund at this time. A list of contributors can be found at this link:  FOMML CONTRIBUTORS. 

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SPRING & SUMMER NIGHT SKY VIEWING ENJOYMENT 

People like to enjoy the night sky! Are your property lights directed downward from the sky to the land? Consider installing side shields so that the light does not spread out from the sides and distract from dark, peaceful, night starry sky viewing.

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LAKE PROPERTY RENTAL REGULATIONS FOR WAUSHARA COUNTY

Owners of homes for rent are responsible for communicating the lake regulations and lake usage guidelines to their rentals at the start of the rental period. It has been found that renters do not generally know these rules, display inappropriate boating behavior, and have been cited by DNR wardens for violations. Don't put your renters in an embarrassing position like this. Communicate the guidelines to them often and clearly. 

 

Read these guidelines in the January notice from Zoning concerning Waushara County rentals:

 

1.  Zoning and the Health Department have established procedures to review rental listings on organizations such as Airbnb and             VRBO to  compare occupancy listing to occupancy allowed.

     -  Waushara County rentals must be licensed by the County Health Dept.

     -  The goal is to bring advertised occupancy in line with those allowed by the property.

2.  Allowed occupancy is based on sewer capability of the property.

     -  Sewered properties according to ATCP 72 (cubic footage per person per bedroom).

     -  Unsewered properties according to SPS 383.40 thru 383.43... (based on the sizing requirements of the septic system)

 

For questions or rental concerns, please contact:

 Waushara Zoning - 920-787-0453 or Waushara Health - 920-787-6590

Visit the Waushara County Watershed Lakes Council website https://wcwlc.org

 

DON'T USE ON-BOARD BOAT DOCKING LIGHTS WHILE CRUISING AT NIGHT 

You can be issued a citation by the DNR for doing this.  All boats have red and green navigation lights, an anchoring white light, and some have bright docking lights. Please do not turn on your docking lights while cruising the lake at night. This is similar to the bright lights of an automobile coming at you, and they are blinding to both other boats on the lake and to people on the shore in their homes. You can be issued a citation for operating docking lights on the open water.  Docking lights are not to be used as boat headlights... they are a short term lighting device to complete your docking procedure at your pier. They are an annoyance to the quiet environment of the water if used all the time. Use them only when you need extra light to dock. Otherwise... someone might report you as a UFO on the lake at night!

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WAKE BOATS & DEEP V INBOARD ENGINE HULL DESIGNS CAN CAUSE UPROOTED WEEDS

Some of these boats have inboard engines with propellers that tend to uproot celery weed. Owners of all boats, not just wake boats and deep V hulls, should use caution when in shallow areas where vegetation can be disturbed by boat propellers.  For more information, please read these links:

  https://www.minnpost.com/environment/2020/03/the-battle-over-wake-surfing-has-made-its-way-to-the-minnesota-legislature/

  https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/news/press-room/wake-impacts/

 

PROPERTY LIGHTS:  PLEASE OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION GUIDELINES

The IDA recommends using lighting that has a color temperature of no more than 3000 Kelvins. Lighting with lower color temperatures has less blue in its spectrum and is referred to as being “warm.” Higher color temperature sources of light are rich in blue light. In addition, people on the lake want to observe the starry night sky without the blinding  light of sodium vapor security lights. Consider using side shields for you security lights to direct the light downward on your property.  Copy and paste this link into your URL for more information:  

Outdoor Lighting Basics - International Dark-Sky Association (darksky.org)

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PROPERTY SECURITY  

To prevent cottage break-ins, go to Resources under NEWS/LETTER for Cottage Security Tips

 

HEALTHY LAKES & RIVERS BOOKLET

Useful background information about what you can do with your property to preserve the lake environment:

 HealthyLakes &Rivershandout (1).pdf  

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