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Harrison Bay group notifies Mound Council of plan to pursue Lake Improvement District
Summary
The Harrison Bay Association told the Mound City Council it will pursue a Lake Improvement District to secure steady funding for invasive-species control and other conservation work, and staff said the citywould review the petition and DNR advisory before any council decision.
Sherry Wallace, president of the Harrison Bay Association, told the Mound City Council on Jan. 28 that the association will pursue creation of a Lake Improvement District for Harrison Bay to fund invasive-species management and water-quality work.
Wallace said the association has managed conservation activities since 2021 largely with local donations, but donations fell 55% last year while control costs rose. “Forming a LID would allow us to have consistent funds for the management of invasives and water quality initiatives,” Wallace said, adding that the associationplans to secure signatures from more than 50% of households in the bay area and submit a petition to the city with a proposed 2026 budget.
The petition process Wallace described is governed by state law and includes a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources advisory review, a public hearing and a local validation step. Wallace said the DNR has met with the association and provided examples from established lake improvement districts on Lake Minnetonka.
City staff and council members asked procedural questions about the cityrole. Jesse (city staff) confirmed the citywould receive the petition and the DNR advisory concurrently, then coordinate a public hearing; the council would later decide whether to accept the district. Council members said the cityis likely to serve primarily as a pass-through for levy funds, and staff noted there are municipal mechanisms for recouping minimal staff time if the city performs clerical or administrative tasks for the district.
Wallace emphasized the associationwill spend the next four months building the petition and local outreach before returning with a formal submission. Council members encouraged the association to consult other local LIDs and the DNR contact Wallace offered, and said staff would advise the council if and when a formal petition arrived.
No formal action or vote was taken by the council at the meeting.
City staff and the Harrison Bay Association provided printed materials and said they will follow up with staff meetings and a possible later work session to explain specifics and staffing implications.
Why it matters: A Lake Improvement District would create a permanent, property-based levy limited to properties within the defined district; proponents say that structure gives predictable funding for recurring conservation efforts while reducing volunteer fundraising burdens.
