BOLD
Regular MeetingHortonville, WI · August 27, 2025
Minutes
Black Otter Lake District (BOLD) Annual Meeting
8.19.2024 5:00 PM Village of Hortonville Community Center
Sean Kuske board president took roll call attendance: Judy Williams treasurer, Meg O’Brien
secretary, Dan Nejedlo County board representative, Bob Jewell VOH Village Council
Representative, Jared Dorn, and Aaron Steber (HDPW) Commissioners all present.
Approximately 30 Lake District residents were in attendance.
1. The meeting was called to order by Sean Kuske at 5:15
2. The minutes of last year’s meeting were distributed by Meg O’Brien. A motion was made
by Jeanne Bellile to approve the minutes, Bruce Turner 2nd the motion and all approved.
3. Judy presented the financial report through August 19 and all the bank balances as of
8.19.2024. She also distributed the audit report with the signatures of three lake district
residents, stating that no discrepancies were found. A motion was made by Mark Voight
to approve the financial report, Mike Bellile 2nd, and the motion was approved.
5. Old Business
Sean Kuske reported on this year’s harvesting results. So far 150 volunteer hours have
been spent running the weed harvester, and 450 yards were harvested. Everyone
thanked the volunteers. Sean also reported that during the spring lake cleanup with the
Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance and the Boy Scouts, 257 pounds of garbage were removed
from the lake. Three donated wood duck houses and a purple martin house were
installed. Lake and Pond Solutions continues with the weed study of aquatic plant
management and Emmons and Oliver Resources (EOR), environmental consultants,
was hired to study the Black Otter watershed.
6. A. Pat Conrad from EOR has 25 years of experience with lake management. He made a
presentation including a power point about Black Otter Lake. He talked about the current
state of the lake and how EOR will proceed to determine the best approaches to
managing the lake. He said that the water clarity is good and that the large number of
weeds helps keep algae at bay. Pat showed a map of the watershed area that will be
investigated to see where the nutrient containing run off that is encouraging overgrowth
of weeds is coming from, and what if anything could be done to control it. It was stated
that Black Otter Lake has been an impoundment, meaning a man-made lake created by
damming a river, for about two hundred years. It is possible that elimination of
marshland within the watershed contributed to increased runoff and nutrients into Black
Otter Lake.
In response to resident questions Pat stated that harvesting weeds earlier could help
hold phosphorus in the lake down, and that the curly pond weed that grows in the lake in
May should be controlled. He stated that it will be helpful to find out if the sediment
basins contain high levels of phosphorus. There was discussion of trying to get DNR and
Fisheries staff to visit the lake. Resident pictures of lake issues are helpful to a study like
EOR’s. Pat mentioned that some communities place signs at appropriate places
throughout a watershed, identifying properties that are used by the public as part of their
watershed.
After Pat’s presentation, in response to a resident question it was confirmed by Sean
Kuske that the cost of the EOR study is $77,400, which will be invoiced and paid as the
work is completed.
Additional resident comments:
A resident commented that at one time it was thought that drawing down the lake in
winter would help with sediment build up on the north shore, but it has not. The north
shore area continues to become shallower. There was a resident question about the
Healthy Lakes and Rivers grant as she was hoping she could use it to help with the
cattails on her lakefront, but there was not enough interest in the grant from lake
property owners to pursue it. She also questioned whether there should be a boat
available for lake rescues but was assured that the Hortonville Fire Department is
trained on this now. A resident commented that the boat landing parking lot needs black
top sealing, and the shoreline needs additional rocks to prevent erosion.
7. Bud Luison made a motion to move $34,660 from the lapsing fund for sediment basin
clean out to the fund for culvert repair/replacement. The permits for the sediment basin
clean out are problematic, despite an agreement with the DNR made years ago that they
would be cleaned out. The EOR study should show if cleaning them out is useful. Marck
Schleiss 2nd the motion and all approved.
8. There are properties within the watershed that are not being assessed tax for the Black
Otter Lake District. Including all properties would provide additional funds for projects to
improve the lake. BOLD would provide data to the County from the EOR study showing
which properties run off goes into the lake, property owners would be notified by BOLD,
there would be a hearing, and then the County board would decide on attachment for
property tax purposes. Bruce Turner made a motion to allow the BOLD board to pursue
this possible attachment of additional properties found to be within the Black Otter Lake
Watershed. Mike Vanevenhoven seconded and all approved.
9. The 2024/25 lake district budget was presented. Joanne Mueller made a motion to
approve. There were no questions. Jeanne Bellile seconded and all approved.
10. Sean Kuske requested approval of the 2024/25 BOLD mil rate. It has not increased from
last year. Joanne Mueller made a motion to approve the mil rate. There was no
discussion. Pat Lund-Moe seconded and all approved.
11. There is an open position for a Lake District commissioner because Meg O’Brien’s term
is expired, and she does not wish to do a fourth term. Nominations were requested three
times. There were none. Joanne Mueller made a motion to close nominations. Bud
Luison 2nd. All approved.
Al Habeck made a motion that the lake district president be allowed to appoint a new
member since there were no nominees. Mike Vanevenhoven seconded the motion and
all approved.
Joanne Mueller made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:30. Mike Vanevenhoven
seconded. All approved.
Agenda
Black Otter Lake District
PO Box 177
Hortonville, WI 54944
Name
Address
Address
Dear Property Owners:
You are receiving this letter because you are eligible to attend and vote at the Black Otter Lake District (BOLD)
annual meeting on Wednesday, August 27th at 5:00pm. The meeting will be held at the Hortonville Community
Center located at 531 N Nash St. A free light picnic meal will be served.
If you are a property owner and are not able to attend, you may appoint someone to attend and vote on your
behalf.
The agenda is as follows:
A. Call to Order
B. Minutes of 2024 Annual Meeting
C. Treasurers Report
D. Presentation of Annual Audit
E. New Business
a. Residents Within Watershed Outside Current District
b. EOR Update
F. Review & Consider Approval of Proposed Budget
G. Consider Approval of Corresponding Tax Levy
H. Election of New Commissioners
I. Adjourn
There will be one vacancy on the board of commissioners. This position is for a three-year term. If you are
interested in running for this position, please contact Sean Kuske at boldchairman@gmail.com, with your name,
address, and contact information. If you have questions about the BOLD board and commissioner duties, please
contact any of the present commissioners. Officers of the board will be elected by the board following the annual
meeting.
We look forward to seeing you on August 27th!
Black Otter Lake District
7/19/2025 Estimated Actual Budgeted Proposed
Revenue YTD Year End 2024/2025 2025/2026
Taxes $ 55,244 $ 71,601 $ 71,601 $ 71,601
Carryover/Cash Balance $ 66,123 $ 66,123 $ 66,123 $ 124,295
Grants $ - $ - $ - $ -
Special Assessments $ - $ - $ - $ -
Special Charges $ - $ - $ - $ -
Miscellaneous $ 802 $ - $ - $ -
Total $ 122,169 $ 137,724 $ 137,724 $ 195,896
7/19/2025 Estimated Actual Budgeted Proposed
Operating Expenditures YTD Year End 2024/2025 2025/2026
We Energies $ 557 $ 557 $ 500 $700
Postmaster $ 100 $ 100 $ 1,000 $2,000
Liability Insurance $ 3,198 $ 3,198 $ 3,200 $3,200
Workers Comp $ 511 $ 511 $ 800 $800
Advertisements/Communication $ - $ 500 $1,500
DNR/Harvester Permit $ - $ 400 $0
Lake Maint. & Aeration Supplies $ - $ 1,000 $1,000
Harvester Operating & Maint. $ 2,771 $ 2,771 $ 1,500 $5,000
Consulting/Reports $ 1,912 $ 1,912 $ 500 $0
DASH Program $ - $ - 0
Emergent Planting $ - $ - 0
Education $ - $ 750 $750
Fox West Membership $ 200 $ 200 $ 200 $200
Mow Ditch $ - $ 500 $ 500 $500
Porta Potties $ 1,563 $ 1,563 $ 1,400 $2,000
Miscellaneous $ 683 $ 683 $ 2,000 $2,000
Labor Remittance $ - $ -
Commissioners Compensation $ - $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $5,000
Fuel $ 404 $ 404 $ 500 $700
Truck Registration $ - $ -
Annual Meeting Expense $ - $ 1,000 $ 1,000 $1,500
Volunteer Recognition $ - $ 500 $ 500 $1,000
Total Expenditures $ 11,899 $ 18,899 $ 21,250 $ 27,850
7/19/2025 Estimated Actual Proposed
Capital Expenditures YTD Year End 2024/2025 2025/2026
Harvester Trailer $ - $ -
Harvester Rental $ - $ - $ -
Harvester Repair
Culvert Slip Line $ - $ - $ 105,000
Sediment Basin Cleaning $ - $ -
Long Term Lake Management Plan $ 40,479 $ 40,479 $ 77,400 $ 36,921
Aquatic Plant Management Plan $ 5,000 $ 5,000 $ 8,137
Total Expenditures $ 45,479 $ 45,479 $ 85,537 $ 141,921
Total Non-Lapsable Funds $ 14,320 $ 14,320 $ 14,320 $ 26,125
Total Net $ 50,471 $ 59,026 $ 16,617 $ -
Estimated
Balance at end of
Current Year Tax balance at end of
Non-Lapsable Fund preceding year Estimated Interest
Contribution the Current Year
(2025)
(2026)
Trailer $ 1,457 $ 720 $ 43.55 $ 2,221
Harvester $ 8,097 $ 15,805 $ 478.04 $ 24,380
1 Ton Truck $ 3,036 $ 1,500 $ 90.73 $ 4,627
Conveyor for Harvester $ 1,215 $ 600 $ 36.29 $ 1,851
Culverts On Trail $ 87,681 $ 2,500 $ 50.00 $ 2,550
Sediment Basins $ 3,036 $ 1,500 $ 90.73 $ 4,627
Fish Stocking $ 2,024 $ 1,000 $ 60.49 $ 3,085
Long-term Management Plan $ 3,036 $ 1,500 $ 90.73 $ 4,627
Aerator $ 2,024 $ 1,000 $ 60.49 $ 3,085
Total Reserve $ 111,608 $ 26,125 $ 2,754.66 $ 51,053
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