La Porte CVB donates $25,000 to Lake Association for milfoil treatment

Jack Arnett, representing the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented a $25,000 check to the La Porte Lake Association at the Nov. 3 City of La Porte Common Council meeting.

"We were able to extract some dollars that visitors leave in our community and put that right back into our community," Arnett said as he announced the donation and handed a ceremonial check to association members.

Jeff Matuszak, who serves on the Lake Association and the city's Sustainability Commission, described the group's work treating milfoil and said the lake supports local businesses and property values. "If we stop treating the lakes, in about three years there'll be no boats on the lake because it'd be unusable," Matuszak said. He estimated next-year treatment costs at "anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000," and said the association depends on donations, memberships and business support.

Council and staff joined the group for a photo with the check. The association encouraged residents to find more information at laportelakeassociation.com and on its Facebook page.

Ending: The council thanked the CVB and association representatives; no council funding action was recorded at the meeting related to the donation.