April 2025 newsletter
News from MPOA President Brad Dennison
News from MPOA President Brad Dennison
1. As this is the time of year when piers and lifts are starting to be installed in the lake, it’s important to remember the MPOA rules and regulations:
REGULATIONS FOR DOCKS, LIFTS, SWIM PLATFORMS, RAILWAYS OR ANY OTHER FORM OF IN-WATER EQUIPMENT
Decal notices are being emailed now - note this year we’ve added the option to pay by credit card online. There is a small fee that we are passing through to those who choose to pay by card online but the convenience will be great for us. Please check your estimates to make sure your information is correct and up to date. We need a copy of your new state registration on file if it expired. We also need your signature on the first page of the waiver document, the link is in the decal email you’ll receive.
1. Permits from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources allowing the Wonder Lake Sportsman’s Club to continue their efforts to discourage Double-Crested Cormorants from nesting on Wonder Lake Islands have been renewed. Left unchecked, the “droppings” from nesting / roosting Cormorants can accumulate to the point of killing off underlying vegetation as well as the tree itself.
Third time was a charm! Congratulations to all Ice Fishing Derby Winners! This year’s derby went off without a hitch, once the date was changed to February 16th to accomodate the great weather and thick ice! The lake was a mass of beautiful fishing tents and lots of fishing men and women, all headed for the prize.
Welcome to 2025! We kicked off the new year with our January 8th Board Meeting. We’re going to be very focused this year on organically building the preservation fund to protect our lake. Watch for more to come. Thank you to Dick Hilton who shared our insurance coverage and costs with the board - helping us to better understand the plan we have and the costs associated with our coverage. It was noted that many companies are no longer covering dams across the country, and the cost of insurance has been rising.
1. The Illinois Lake Management Association 40th annual conference will be held March 17–19th, 2025, at the Hilton Northbrook/Chicago. Registration information can be found at: https://www.ilma-lakes.org/conference-registration