Potters Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District

Our purpose is to maintain, protect, and improve the quality of our lake and its watershed to benefit the riparian owners and the lake environment.  Our District works with the DNR to establish a protection and rehabilitation program or plan, also known as an Aquatic Plant Management (APM). Activities that support our purpose include lake surveys or studies, management of aquatic plants, aeration, erosion control, dredging, control of dams, and monitoring water quality. DNR permits are needed for some of these operations.

A riparian owner is someone who owns real property that borders the navigable waterway of Potter Lake.

To be eligible to vote at our annual meeting, one must be a U.S. citizen and 18 years of age or older. Their name must appear as an owner of real property, own title or is the official representative authorized to vote on behalf of a trust, foundation, corporation, association or organization that owns real property within our Lake District.

Our District’s annual meeting is scheduled between May 22 and September 8, unless scheduled outside those dates by a majority vote of the previous annual meeting. Items proposed for consideration at the annual meeting include, but are not limited to, the annual budget, election of commissioners, projects over $10,000, and signed petitions by eligible voters.

Our revenue is collected from the riparian owners by an established District Tax Levy and a District Special Weed Tax collected via the riparian owner’s property tax bill. It may come in the form of a mill levy which cannot be higher than 2.5 mills.  At times, the District may require a Special Tax Assessment. All of these taxes are established and voted on at the annual meeting. Borrowing of funds (if approved at the annual meeting), grant programs or fund-raising can also be used to raise money. See attached document for more detail on how our district is financed.

How Our Lake District is Financed - w2023 Tax Bill Examples

A board of five commissioners carries out our Lake District’s day-to-day activities. One is appointed by the county, and one by the town. The remaining three are elected property owners within the district for staggered 3-year terms: Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. One elected commissioner must be a district resident. At all times, the powers of the commissioners are subject to the decisions of the riparian owners at the annual meeting. The commissioners must meet quarterly, and Wisconsin’s open meeting laws apply.

As mentioned, a Lake District is a government unit governed by Wisconsin Statute Chapter 33, and its revenue is collected through district property taxes. The local municipality delegates the Lake District the authority to adopt lake use regulations such as boating rules and Slow, No-wake rules.  On the other hand, a Lake Association files Articles of Incorporation, governed by Wisconsin Statute Chapter 281, and its revenue is collected by membership dues. A lake Association is a club with more flexibility, such as the ability to host social events. Lake Associations can have opinions on what is done on the lake or the land around the lake, but they have no regulatory power over a lake or land use activities.