Presidents Perspective November 2020

Wow – 2020. What a year to forget. No Spring or Fall Membership meetings. No ice cream social over the 4th of July. Bar and restaurant closures or restrictions on service. Nearly total isolation from one another. Health risks everywhere we may want to go. And of course, a crazy election season. The Board of LLPOA has been meeting via Zoom or out of doors as possible. There has been much activity on preparing a response to the Voyager Village (VV) proposal to increase boat slips on Loon/Cadotte. In 2002 the County approved an amendment to the VV Recreational Plan to increase the number of boat slips from 28 to 38. In February of this year, VV advised us that they may want to increase the number of boat slips by 16-24 more. We met with some representatives of VV and Birch Island Lake Association last winter. VV seemed willing to consider come compromise. A survey was done among the LLPOA members and there was strong opposition to this proposed increase. The Board of LLPOA has taken the position that at this time and based upon the current information it opposes the doubling of the number of boat slips. On June 15, 2020 VV advised us that their proposal was to increase the number of boat slips by 32 additional. A request was made to VV by the Board of Directors of LLPOA to provide additional information regarding the role of the DNR in approving marinas; pier planners, and permitting of piers; what alteration of the shoreline may occur in adding 32 new boat slips; what actions it will take to protect the water quality and fish and plant life; whether VV has water quality testing data. No response has been received. Birch Island Lake is facing a proposed increase from 30 to 62. Their association has joined with us to resist these proposals. We made presentations to the Towns of Scott and Jackson. Both have passed resolutions objecting to the VV proposals. We have met with the Burnett County Lakes and River Association. They have taken no official position and their meetings have been canceled due to COVID-19. We have been in touch with Burnett County officials as well as have met with Craig Conroy; the Vice Chair of the Land Use Committee of the county. He represents this area of Burnett County. The two lake associations have retained two law firms to conduct research on the rights of the two associations to object to the VV proposals. One of the firm’s fees are being paid by a Birch Island property owner. The other firm’s fees are being shared equally between the two associations. Those legal opinions should be available after the first of the year. VV has not filed a request with the county to seek approval of their proposals to increase the number of boat slips on six lakes. All property owners are urged to review the county website regularly to learn if VV has filed the request and at which Land Use meeting will that proposal be heard. The Board will remain vigilant in monitoring this issue. It intends to appear at all pubic hearings on this matter. Any comments or suggestions are welcome. Email me; ljp@plklaw.net Larry J. Peterson, President.