Lake Improvement District Frequently Asked Questions

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After 3 years of concentrated fundraising the board has decided to pursue this option because fundraising is hard and time consuming.  We'd rather spend our time on conservation activities.  What we are doing in the bay benefits all home owners.  It makes living our bay more enjoyable and desirable.  This increases all of our property values.  If we are unsuccessful in getting resident and city support it is quite likely that the association will run out of funds.  We remember what the bay looked like pre-association and we don't want to lose our progress.  

There is more work to do and improving the lakes ecology takes years.  That's why developing a steady stream of funding is important.  We just need to look at Carmans Bay and St. Albans Bay to know how beneficial this can be.

1. Consistent funding to continue to treat invasive vegetation & pursue water quality initiatives; donations to HBA have decreased by 50%

2. Eligible for more grants

3. Ability to lobby city for common dock contribution

4. Involvement of all residents in our efforts

5. Limited number of volunteers; they want to focus on conservation not fundraising

Poor water quality & invasives reduce enjoyment of the bay & decrease property values.

• Improve the lake’s water quality by:

                    - reducing phosphorus concentrations in the lake,

                    - reducing the amount of sediment entering the lake, and

                   - reducing the amount of nutrients entering the lake from the watershed.

• Preserve and enhance native vegetation.
• Improve aquatic and shoreline habitat.
• Reduce and manage curly leaf pondweed.
• Reduce and manage the Eurasian water milfoil.
• Reduce the density of common carp per acre to healthy levels.
• Prevent new aquatic invasive species from getting established in the lake.
• Develop information and education programs for landowners.
• Conduct studies to understand what is contributing to the stated problem(s).
• Create a healthy lake environment where the native fish species can thrive.

The district will include properties with lakefront on the bay, properties that are located on the lagoons, deeded access, and properties that are not on the lake but have a co-owned deeded access.  These properties control and provide funds for the LID. 

There are 170 lakefront properties, 18 deeded access, 34 lagoon properties and 9 association properties included in the current defined boundary of the LID.

Linked here is the boundary of the proposed LID.  It is color coded based on the type as defined above.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1x7DP3Zr3O4ooVeW-gh1uSzz4xDWOQD0&usp=sharing

In developing the assessment model, we referenced data from both Carmans Bay and St. Albans Bay. Once the board is in place, these assessments may be adjusted over time.

Proposed 2026 Assessments:

• Lakeshore: $150
• Channel/Deeded Access: $100
• Non-Lake Abutting Association: $50
• Marina: $500

Each year, LID residents will assess the bay’s conservation needs, determine projects, and propose a budget, which will be presented at the annual resident meeting for approval. Currently, any project exceeding $5,000 requires specific approval.LID members have full control over their tax rate, including the ability to reduce it to zero. Unlike government-imposed taxes, this assessment is entirely self-regulated.

More detail for 2026 can be found here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cgKFWsRbAEFAzG7mswmVBNJ_4CxfW6P7/edit?gid=1977273763#gid=1977273763

• Ongoing, predictable funding to improve water quality and management of invasive species on our bay.  
• Investment for future generations 
• Property value improvement
• Healthier bay
• Access to education and volunteer opportunities

• The residents vote in a board of directors
• The board creates a list of initiatives for the upcoming year and a budget
• The budget is reviewed and voted on at an annual meeting open to all residents of LID
• Property taxes are collected in May and October and then paid to the city that in turn sends these funds directly to the LID

MN Statute103B.571 clearly defines the rules For the LID. The LID Board of Directors are highly accountable for their actions and ultimately answer to the property owners and the State. Property owners approve the projects over $5K and the annual budget (one year) which incorporates the levy to be paid by the property owners.  The property owners are empowered to terminate the LID.  Property owner elect the Board and therefore the property owners have continuing input and long term cost control powers.  The Board MUST produce an Annual Report and submit to various oversight offices and make available to the property owners. Below is the MN statute that defines the accountability.  In addition, there is also a process defined to terminate the LID air the majority of residents deem it ineffective. 

 Open & Democratic Process

• LID board meetings and annual meetings are open to the public, ensuring full participation.
• Residents can speak on each topic, voice concerns, and influence decisions.
• Anyone wanting changes can run for the LID Board
• Constructive participation is encouraged—those with differing financial or environmental views should engage through governance rather than opposition.

MN Statute

HBLID Board will have a fiduciary responsibility to the LID that is regulated by the State and, therefore, MUST hire a professional company licensed by the State. The State dictates approved herbicides. MN DNR will issue a vegetation management plan for the LID. The MN DNR approves the professional contractor proposed herbicide application plan that incorporates location of treatment, application rates, timing, etc. before one drop hits the water. Property owners can opt out for treatment adjacent to their property.  We'd love to have an open conversation about concerns and bring our professional application company in the make adjustments or answer questions.

You can find more information on our Invasive Weed Frequently Asked Questions page.

All chemicals are registered with the EPA through the pesticide registration process. 

Ideally yes, however, the State‘s actions clearly show little interest in tackling the problem in the 38 years since EWM was discovered in MN waters. Same with local City government. The LMCD eliminated AIS from their 2025 budget. Over the 3 years of HBA we have received just over $5,000 in grants from DNR and LMCD despite annual applications.  So why us? Because letting the invasive species take over our bay limits our property values and our ability to enjoy the bay. 

Without LID approval, the burden of fundraising will continue to fall on dedicated volunteers—many of whom are becoming fatigued by the ongoing effort. Based on last year’s revenue, we will have to make difficult decisions about where to focus our limited resources, likely reducing treatment for invasive vegetation and scaling back water quality and carp management initiatives due to lack of funding.

Will the association dissolve? Without strong support for our efforts, it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain the motivation required for the hundreds of volunteer hours spent on these initiatives. The future of our work depends on the community’s willingness to invest in the bay’s long-term health.  We would love to continue our fun community events. 

We have engaged both St. Albans Bay and Carmen's Bay in discussions.  Here is what we have learned:

St. Albans Bay 

SABLID was created in 2015 to manage invasive aquatic vegetation.  Prior to treatment St Albans Bay had thick mats of milfoil and curly leaf.  Treatment costs have decreased since initial years due to fewer acres having significant Milfoil or CLP.   During the years, the tax levy has varied with some years being without a levy.   The process is transparent and inclusive and has provided the needed funds to keep invasive aquatic vegetation from overrunning the bay.  Check out the presentation from Joan Maher at our April 7th meeting.

Carman Bay 

Prior to the LID the water quality was not great due to heavy matting of milfoil in the 8-10 ft range making boating and swimming difficult. The frustration within the community was palpable.

In 2017 the Carman Bay Local Improvement District (CBLID) was formed with the help of many of the residents on the bay that are now board members.  This initiative significantly reduced treatment costs, resolving our prior struggle with inconsistent maintenance due to funding limitations.  Each year residents vote to continue the work of the LID. (Information provided by Carman's Bay resident)

The assessment which the district residents vote on each year has varied year to year depending on the actual treatment needed.  Since the CBLID inception the assessment per lakeshore property has ranged from $200 to $300 per year.  

Carmans Bay AIS Report December 2024

There are other bays on Lake Minnetonka that are pursuing LIDs these include Crystal Bay and Stubbs Bay.  

The answer to this is US.  WE control the LID as residents.  WE get to vote on the projects and the budget each year at an annual meeting.  WE get to elect the board to make sure the right people are making decisions that impact us. As the HBA board looked at what we wanted to do we targeted $200 per year as a reasonable levy and we set an initial budget which is less than that.  When the LID is approved there will be an annual meeting to approve the levy for 2026.

us. The LID assumes all legal responsibilities for activities undertaken by the LID.  The LID is ultimately managed by the Local Government Unit (LGU).  In the case of Harrisons Bay, this would be the City of Mound and Hennepin County.  We have included in our administrative budget an insurance policy.  St. Albans Bay purchases an insurance policy through the League of Cities.  The new board will need to research and establish a budget for this once the LID is created.

 You can also view it here: View Minnesota Rule 6115.0980 

The first thing we need to do is sign the petition which is asking the city of Mound to create this Lake Improvement District.  Our proposal is reviewed by the DNR and then there will be a public meeting with city council.

We've drafted the proposal (available here) and we need your help to gain a majority of home owners to support our efforts.  It's hard work and we are committed to collect signatures by May 15 and present to city council in June.  I know we all want a lake that is clean, good habit for fish and wildlife and available for our variety of recreation activities.  Please help us.  

PETITION LINK