LLPOA Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes for April 11, 2025
Board Members Present:
Steve Kastning, Stan Wilson, Shelley Williams, Gregg Malmstrom, Darin Tiedt, Karen Bowman-Dillenburg, Randy Roesner, Steve Savage via Zoom, Jim Skulstad
Visitors Comments:
Bob Cluka – Just Observing
LLPRD:
Activities are ramping up now that the ice has gone off the lake. Buoys will be put in soon. The whole crew is back. The Tribe sent an email protesting the chemical treatment and wanting to set up a meeting with the DNR. The Lake District is moving forward with the treatment unless they hear differently from the DNR. Gregg Malmstrom is going to continue going to the Lake District Board meeting. Tom Ittner is also going to be talked with.
MCTA:
The School District filed a dismissal and the Attorney filed for an extension and the attorney needs to respond to the request for dismissal.
Approval of Minutes of Board Meeting of January 10, 2025:
The President requested changes in the visitor comments to clear up some of the statements. Gregg Malmstrom made a motion to approve the March 14, 2025 minutes with changes. Darin Tiedt seconded. Motion carried.
It was requested to clarify who was soliciting for cell towers. Steve Savage made a motion to approve the March 21, 2025 minutes with changes. Jim Skulstad seconded. Motion carried with one abstention.
Approval of Disbursements:
The Disbursement to Vincent Emanuele was for his new safety glasses. The charge for Menards was brought up and about buying things locally. The President said the discussion was made with Dave, and Dave is making the decision to pick up items on his personal time. Dave is also calculating if they buy things in volume if it would be cheaper to buy locally or go to Menards. The Late charge was discussed and it was agreed to pay the credit card billing on line. The Quill bill was questioned. Thomas said it was for office supplies. The Dales Building Service bill was questioned. It was said it was for the Snow Plowing and Shoveling. The Menominee Nation News expense was questioned. Thomas Said it is for the subscription to the Menominee Nation News. Darin Tiedt made a motion to approve the disbursements for March and April 2025. Stan Wilson seconded. Motion carried.
Outside Managers Report:
Dave started back to work last week. He did a lot of work on the purchase of the skid steer. They are assessing what they are going to get started on.
Office Managers Report:
Thomas Strebel said He is half way through the printing of the statements and he will get a listing to Stan as soon as he has them completed. Anything for the mailing approved today will be sent to the printer. The Drop dead deadline is next week Friday.
Committee Reports:
Architectural:
Architectural is quieter than usual. The Committee is looking to updating some the rules in the bylaws to change the bylaws to match wording to the County. They want to clear up the definitions in the bylaws.
Beach Clubs:
Some members of the Council Hills Beach Club met with some of the Beach Club Committee members. They went over their plans and some of the things they did last year inappropriately. The Beach Club members are going to wait to see what Dave gets to. The members are going to reposition some of the posts. It was pointed out there is not appropriate access to the Big Sky Beach Club and people are using an owner’s property to access the Beach Clubs. The President is going to check into it.
Buildings and Grounds:
It was decided that only legal documents and building plans need to be kept in the file cabinets. Lisa Wilson is going to take the lead on cleaning out the file cabinets. The documents will be shredded by a shredding company.
They have sold 29 bricks for the flag project. The President asked for help with the project. They are going to create an event at the President picnic around the flag project.
By-Laws & Legal:
A court case was set on April 22 for the Federal law suit. The committee will find out from the lawyer who needs to attend the court case. It was suggested they create a sub categories per case in legal expenses.
Communication:
The Committee chair commended Thomas because he had caught three scam billings. They are going to get all the office staff together for the website training. The Board discussed setting up the PowerPoint for the Annual meeting. The Template is going to be sent to the Board members.
Camping:
No report.
Finance:
The Budget needs to be formally approved. The fixed assets, maintenance Equipment and Vehicle totals were questioned on the Balance sheet. Lease Hold Improvements were questioned. Finance is going to find out these answers from the Accountant.
It was pointed out that since the variance report shows a surplus in dues collected, maybe the dues should be reduced. The Board discussed the amount. Jim Skulstad made a motion to approve the budget as is. Thomas pointed out the report is accrual accounting and the amount they are looking at is not the amount of the dues received, it is the amount that was billed. Tom was asked to convert the report to cash basis. Gregg Malmstrom seconded. Motion carried with Karen Bowman-Dillenburg opposed. Karen cannot justify another $250,000 in legal taking them up to $500,000 in addition to the money already spent prior in 2024 in legal of $175,000.
The President asked the Board to let him know what they would like him to include in his president letter. There was a discussion about the funds used for the tornado damage.
Forestry and Outlots:
The Committee is working on where they should use the money for the Firewise grant. They also need to figure out who they are going to get to do the work. There was a discussion about the possible areas.
It was asked about getting a grant from the email that was received. The Association does not qualify for this urban grant.
Nominating:
Deadline is set up for next week Friday. Stan Wilson has put his name in for the Board, one was included in the packet handed out, and Denise Gilane is also including her name. It was pointed out that Tim Houselog is also going to be submitting his name and he is working on his bio this weekend. They worked on the wording on how to submit the ballot and proxy. It was suggested they remove the proxy from the bylaws. It was pointed out that they should check to see what the state laws require.
Personnel:
No report.
Property Sales:
The existing property sales procedure was pointed out the President.
Purchasing:
A skid steer was purchased. It was proposed to purchase a zero turn lawn mower. The funding proposal last time was to purchase a skid steer, trailer, and zero turn lawn mower, but the motion was made for just the skid steer and trailer. The Board discussed the lawn mower. Stan Wilson made a motion to approve approximately $7000 to purchase a Bad Boy zero turn mower all within the original budget. Jim Skulstad seconded. It was asked if they looked at having someone else cut the lawns. The Board discussed the proposal. Motion carried with Karen Bowman-Dillenburg opposed. Karen does not think it is right to take $26,000 out of the general budget because it because it is primarily used on Beach Clubs.
Roads and Security:
No report.
Nominating:
The question was asked, can a son of a property owner run for the Board. The Board discussed and if it happened in the past. Per LLPOA Bylaws (Article IV, Sec 6), nominations shall be made from among members of the Association in good standing.
Roads and Security:
The Committee Chair is working the Sheriff on issuing keys for evacuation routes, and any other access point. Thirty-one individuals who will be given a key and the Sheriff will be overseeing it and making sure the keys are accounted for.
Other Business:
The Board discussed changing the issue date of the Smoke Signals. The Board also discussed the property owner discount. Darin Tiedt made a motion to approve the Smoke Signals proposal. Jim Skulstad seconded. It was asked when the discount change will take place. Thomas said that they will put a note with the next issues billing the new discount will start with the next issue. Motion carried with one abstention.
It was asked if they could put something into the new owner packet telling people how to join the MCTA and how to become a resident and vote. It was suggested to include the two Board hand out. Communication committee is going to review the new owner packet.
The President talked about how to deal with the excessive brush. He suggested allowing the compost manager to bill for excessive loads. The Board discussed the proposal. It was suggested they get input from the membership and evaluate the compost site and phase it in.
The President suggested selling colored wood chips (Red, Black, and Natural) at the compost site. The Board discussed the wood chips. The Board approved to try selling chips.
Steve Savage made a motion to go into closed session. Randy Roesner seconded. Motion carried.
Steve Savage made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Darin Tiedt. Motion carried.
Next meeting is Friday, May 9, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Submitted by:
Darin Tiedt, Secretary
Board of Director