Crystal Lake Improvement Association Board Meeting Minutes

March 5, 2024

Present: Dave Perron, Mike Robole, Janet McGrath Mullin,  Bob Johnston, Mike Ouverson, Brooke Fox, Paul Hillmer

Absent: Tom Harmening, Ted Lukan

• Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm
• Governance 
  • Prior meeting minutes – unanimously approved.

• • Treasurer’s report –Treasurer’s report unanimously approved. 

$8,840 of membership dues to date toward a budget of $10,000. Previous year was $9,930.  64% responded.

Average of dues was $77. Reminder Email will be sent.  Article in newsletter to encourage/remind all to pay anticipating additional expenses this summer.

115 algae permits were signed/goal met

Anticipate need this season for milfoil treatment due to unusual winter, will consider putting 2024 budget together for April meeting, to cover this possibly cancel or delay fish stocking.

Johnston reported that several people ask each year about whether their dues are tax deductible.  The CLIA is registered as a nonprofit with the state of Minnesota but not with the IRS making the tax deduction for dues unclear.  Researching the matter, Johnston found that attaining 501(c)(3) status with the IRS would be consistent with other area lake associations and advisable based on conversations with an attorney who specializes in nonprofit organizations (Emmett Robertson of Rubric Legal).  A motion was made and unanimously approved to hire attorney Robertson to help the CLIA attain 501(c)(3) status as soon as practical (costs for the assistance were estimated to be approximately $1000).  Johnston agreed to follow up with the attorney and report back at the next meeting. 

• Committee Updates & Ongoing Business
  • Neighborhood updates & member feedback
  • New houses up for sale/pending
    • 1211 Crystal Lake Rd. Sold $1.4 million
    • 765 Crystal Lake Road E $827,000
    • 371 Maple Island Road $850,000

• • New feedback
    • Nothing new to report
  • External Relations:
    • • Caleb will attend Annual Meeting, Dave will request slides
      • Waiting for info on weed harvest. J&N are out of business
      • Possibly see if city would pay for a survey if Bay could be dredged
  • Communications 
    • Calendar Updates:
      • Annual meeting April 23

• • Picnic Sunday, 7/21 4-7pm Crystal Lake Beach

• • • Keep looking for one additional board member
    • Discussed need and plan to update CLIA website

• • • Need Newsletter editor for new year, Paul will discuss with Ted
• Suggested newsletter items:
  • Discuss options for treating weeds individually
  • Encourage members dues payment with added needs for weed treatment, and remind them of other benefits i.e. social, informational etc.
  • Ice out contest winners
• Fish and Aquatics
  • One year left on contract, may delay or cancel to budget needs for weeds

• • Weed and Algae

• Grant applied for
• Social
• • • Date reserved for picnic Sunday July 21, 2024
• New business & topics for future meetings:
• Get all slides in for Annual Meeting by end of the month
• Motion to adjourn 9:00 pm – unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet McGrath Mullin, CLIA Secretary