Morrison County approves Fishtrap Lake LID assessment of $150 per property

Morrison County commissioners voted Nov. 18 to approve the Fishtrap Lake Improvement District’s proposed $150 per‑property assessment for 2026, a measure the district said is needed to fund aquatic invasive species management and ensure an operating balance.

Thomas Anderson, chair of the Fishtrap LID, told the board the DNR allowed treatment of 58 acres this year and that curly‑leaf pondweed acreage and treatment depth can materially affect costs. Chris Zeman, the LID treasurer, reviewed the LID’s year‑to‑date financial statement and the board’s recommended budget framework, saying the audience at the LID’s annual meeting had supported a $150 assessment.

"The proposed maintained $150 property owner assessment for '26 was agreed to by the audience at our annual meeting," Zeman said, summarizing the public input the LID had relied on.

The LID presented projected receipts and expenses: with an estimated starting balance of roughly $39,000–$40,000 and anticipated assessment receipts the treasurer said the fund should cover a conservative treatment budget of about $48,000 and leave a reserve for a future AUP audit and unforeseen costs. LID leaders stressed the difficulty of forecasting treatment acreage and costs, noting past years when deeper treatments doubled expenses.

Following questions from commissioners about how the LID consults property owners and how votes at the LID annual meeting are documented, the board took a formal motion and approved the assessment by roll call. County staff will process the assessment as submitted by the LID board; no county budget appropriation was required beyond recording the assessment for collection.

The action authorizes the LID’s proposed levy for 2026 and preserves the district’s ability to seek DNR approvals for treatments next season. The board did not amend the proposed assessment amount at the meeting.