September 2026 Board Meeting Minutes

SLA - September 2026 Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting Place:  Zoom only

Date:  Saturday September 12th

Time:  9:00 AM

Attendance: Tom Huettner, Paul Mullaney, Linda Lonson, Lynn Erickson, Brede Desheeper, Bill Hagenbuck, Don Evans, guest Karinn Schultz.

Agenda

  1. Call to order 

2) Announcements, General Discussions & Correspondence:

    1. August follow-up:  Tom’s conclusion is that the Constitution and Bylaws allow for one meeting a year.  SLA will not be holding a fall meeting.  We will address expiring board member terms during the spring meeting.  

    2. Expiring board member’s terms.  

      1. 2026:  Quern, Hagenbuck, Huettner (Need to replace Quern).   Tom has stated that he is willing to serve another three-year term. 

      2. 2027: Laska, Mullaney, Lonson

      3. 2028: DeSchepper, Erickson, Evans

    3. Weir: Tom has expressed his concern about people kayaking down the creek and visitors of the lodge taking rocks off the weir to the Sugar Lake Lodge ownership.  The Lodge installed a split rail fence on their property to discourage access to the weir.  Another temporary fence was installed across the creek.  Tom will remind the Sugar Lake Lodge that the DNR may have regulations regarding fences over water.  Tom has suggested that plantings could be installed behind the split rail fence to further discourage access to the weir.   The Lodge is working with the DNR on cattails that on their property as they are invasive and would like them to be removed.  Tom has also suggested that with the permission of the Lodge, a sign could be installed on the Lodge’s property that reminds people not to disturb the weir environment.  The board liked that idea and will attempt to move forward with that effort in the spring of 2027.   

    4. Short Term Rentals – Roger Laska approached ICOLA about STR – Lake Association organization of Itasca County.   It is our understanding that Itasca County is the only county in Minnesota without STR regulations.  Roger was able to get six other people in Itasca County willing to communicate with the County board to request action regarding STR regulations.  

    5. Photo Contest: Vote: Approved a $25 gift certificate for the winner of the photo contest when that winner is determined. 

    6. Lake Improvements: The county is supposed to give the Lake Association’s representative a notice that lakeshore improvements are going to be made.   Notices are also given by the County to neighboring properties (within 500 feet).  The County does not want noticed parties to gain access to the property undergoing improvement as that could be considered as trespassing.   Interested parties may be present at the County board meeting when the improvement is being discussed.  Any lake owner can make a complaint to the environmental services.   Currently, Kate Benes the Environmental Service Director for Itasca County.  

3) Secretary's Report/Prior Meeting Minutes Affirmation: 

Vote: Approved August Minutes - Paula to include on the SLA website.

4) Treasurer's Report  

    1. Current balance is $109,273.82 with $94,000 invested in CDs.

    2. A financial strategy for SLA has been documented.   Finance committee has reviewed.  It will now be circulated to the larger board for review and input prior to our next board meeting. 

Vote: Approved Treasurer’s Report

5) Key Dates (Informational):

  1. Monthly Board Meetings – next one is October 10th at 8:30:  SLL

  2. Fall Clean-up: September 26th Bill and Deb Hagenbuck will lead this effort.

  3. Install/Remove AIS Signs at Public Landings (Approx. Dates): Early May/Oct

6) Committee Reports: (Suggested topics; please make your own agendas)

    1. Communications: Chair: Abby O.; Co-Chair: Paula H.

Receiver of Notice to have control over the info@siseebakwet.com email.  

b) Membership: Chair: Paula H.; Co-Chair: Joan S./Lynne E.

NOTHING NEW

c) Water Quality, Management & Education: Chair: Tom H.

(Temporary); Co-Chair: Roger L.

      1. Lake Level Measurements - Back-up Plan for Dick Stenerson/2027 process - Roger Laska will succeed him going forward. 

      2. Lake Wakeboard Map progress (Brede)

      3. AIS Tools - Update.

      4. Weir Update (See Pics)  Update provided above.

      5. Water Quality – Spiny Flea test was received by Roger Laska.   He took three separate tests.  The test are self diagnosed.  No spiny fleas were detected.  

      6. Recruitment for committee - Martha Otis, Lucy Grina, Gina Jacobson

    1. Social: Chair: Paula H.; Co-Chair: Kelly-Sue R./Lynne E. 

Last Happy hour was on August 28th (Friday) at Kelly Sue & Scott Robinson’s was well attended.  Paula securing 2027 locations.

Meeting Adjourned