The Harrisons Bay Association is pushing to create a Lake Improvement District (LID) that will give them the power to tax all lakeshore property owners – whether you agree or not.
We need 51% of property owners to sign this petition to stop the LID before it’s too late!
What is a LID?
A Lake Improvement District (LID) is a government controlled taxing mechanism that increases the financial and legal burden on Harrison Bay property owners to manage a “public body of water”.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR):
“In short, LIDs are a special purpose type of government” and are always under the governance of the city or county with jurisdiction (the ‘parent government’).
How a LID Can Cost You Money:
While the LID itself does not have direct taxing power, the county board overseeing it has multiple ways to extract money from property owners within the district. When a LID is established, the county can use any of the following funding methods to collect revenue:
- Property Assessments: A charge added to your property tax bill based on subjective “benefits.”
- Service Charges: Fees placed on local services, even if you don’t use or want them.
- General Obligation Bonds: Long-term debt issued in your name, requiring years of repayment.
- Ad Valorem Tax: A direct tax levied on all properties within the LID based on property value.
- Any Combination of the Above: You could end up paying multiple fees, taxes, and assessments each year.
How a LID creates Liability for the residents and the city
Minnesota law outlines how Lake Improvement Districts (LIDs) are created and governed, see below for state statute:
6115.0980 ADMINISTRATION OF LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS:
The lake improvement district shall assume all legal risks and liabilities, including those for damages or any injury to persons or property, arising from the construction, operation, maintenance, alteration, or abandonment of its programs, plans, or actions.
In the event of termination of the district, or failure of the district to meet its obligations, these responsibilities and liabilities shall fall upon the unit or units of government which established the lake improvement district.
Limited state liabilities. The establishment of a lake improvement district shall not impose any liability upon the state of Minnesota, its officers, employees, agents, or consultants, for any damage or injury to any persons or property resulting from the activities of the lake improvement district.
You can also view it here: View Minnesota Rule 6115.0980
Concerned About Chemical Use in Harrisons Bay?
Herbicides like Diquat, Fluridone, ProcellaCOR, and auxin-mimicking herbicides come with serious health and environmental risks:
🐟 Harmful to aquatic life, especially walleye
🧪 ProcellaCOR is a PFAS “forever chemical” flagged by regulators
🧪 Diquat is banned in Europe! [Direct Link]
❓ Long-term health and environmental effects remain largely unknown
What Happens When Weeds Are Chemically Killed:
- Aquatic plants (including weeds) store nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen in their tissues as they grow.
- When you kill them with herbicides (like Diquat, Fluridone, or ProcellaCOR), they rapidly decompose in place.
- During decomposition, those stored nutrients are released back into the water column — especially phosphorus.
- This can lead to algae blooms, including toxic blue-green algae, which feed off the phosphorus.
- Worsen water clarity
✅ Best Practice:
The Minnesota DNR and other lake experts recommend mechanical removal (pulling weeds or harvesting) when possible — this physically removes the nutrients stored in the plants rather than releasing them into the lake.
👉 Read the full breakdown of herbicides and their effects
🌍 Communities Across the Country Are Saying No to Herbicides
🚫 Lake George, NY: The Lake George Association has taken a clear stance against the use of ProcellaCOR, citing lack of long-term safety data and risks to water quality.
https://lakegeorgeassociation.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/LGA-ProcellaCOR-Position-Paper
📢 Chautauqua Lake, NY: The Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium submitted a formal objection letter to the NYS DEC, opposing herbicide use due to potential ecological harm and procedural concerns.
https://www.cccwaters.org/our-work/action/2021-chautauqua-lake-herbicide-treatment-objection-letter-to-nys-dec/
How You Can Stop This
✅ Sign the Petition Help us reach 51% of property owners to block the LID.
✅ Spread the Word Tell your neighbors about the risks of this unnecessary tax.
✅ Attend City Meetings Attend the City of Mound Council meetings.
Your phone number is only provided to us if we are required to contact you for your signature on paper