All: it has been brought to the board's attention that we are out of compliance in terms of a portion of the rules governing voting at our Annual and Special Meetings. The oversight relates to trusts/corporations of any type.
As per the attached notes taken at Commissioner Training at UWSP Extension Lakes in 2019:
- Any property held in trust (or a roll-up of any sort) must register one designated official representative of the trust or corporation -- owning property in the district -- to vote on behalf of that entity. This means that regardless of the number of owners of the property or trust, it receives ONLY ONE VOTE at the District meetings.
- Our past practice (in error) was that each of the parcel owners in the trust had a vote. They do not.
- Individuals who qualify in one or more categories (owner, official representative of a trust, elector) CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE. This is regardless of the number or type of parcels owned. No certified/registered voter may have more than one vote for any reason.
- HOWEVER -- This one-vote-only limit when Trust + Non-trust properties are owned by any one party happens to be a controversial topic within Chap 33 subscribers and, after consulting both the UWSP and Extension Lakes, the recommendation is that the commissioners should make a ruling by which their specific lake districts will abide. The UWSP/Ext Lakes recommendation is ONE VOTE regardless of type of parcels owned, to align with the State of Wisconsin voting rules for municipalities, sewer and other districts, counties and State.
- Your commissioners will take up this matter and make a decision at the Commissioners' Meeting immediately following the Annual Meeting. This decision will take effect in FY27.
It is NOT that the rules have changed since 2019 when the notes were taken in the training session (UWSP confirms that they have not). It is that we were not applying them fully and that one of the topics happens to be open to interpretation.
NOW, to bring out voting process into compliance -- in the case that your property(ies) are held in a trust of any type or by a corporation -- please take the time to fill out the attached Mary Lake Voter Certificate to designate your official representative and bring it with you to the upcoming Annual Meeting. This representative will be the only person eligible to vote for the property(ies) in the trust/corporation. This Certificate will override and replace any other Certificates already on file for the property(ies).
For those of you who are new to the Lake District or have not yet filled out a Voter Certificate for your property(ies) that are not held in trust, please use the attached notes to determine your eligibility. Make copies of the Certificate if (as in the majority of cases) there is more than one eligible voter for the parcel(s). Voter Certificates will be available at the Annual Meeting if you do not bring one with you. Once the meeting begins, only voters with a Certificate on file will be eligible to vote.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 651.353.0242 or at the email address below. The Voter Certificate is attached, along with the notes as to why Certification is needed.
Regards,
Phyllis Sachs
Secr/Treas
Mary Lake P&R District
651.353.0242