A Message from the LLIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Message from the LLIC

Many of our members have expressed their dissatisfaction with the condition of Lake Lackawanna, and have questioned the use of revenue by the LLIC.  We would like to take a moment to address these concerns, and hopefully explain where all the money goes!

The LLIC operates on an extremely limited budget earned almost solely through membership.  There are over 350 homes within our membership area; however, approximately only half of those homes purchase membership.  A very small number pays maintenance only.  A significant number pay nothing, yet enjoy many benefits of lake community living.  Additional rent is collected from the golf course.  Our total revenue collected last year was less than $126,000. 

From this very small budget, LLIC must pay taxes on 300 acres of forested land, 130 acres of lake bottom, and the golf course.  Taxes total over $57,000 per year.

LLIC must also pay for insurance policies on all those properties.  Insurance must be extensive enough to cover all the activities allowed at the lake and surrounding properties.  This includes coverage for swimming, boating, golf course activities, hunting, hiking and all other activities permitted on our forested lands.  Insurance costs approximately $33,000 per year.

Weed treatment is an enormous expense.  Each treatment costs approximately $10,000.  And no treatment is guaranteed to treat the weeds to everyone's satisfaction.  Factors such as rain and temperature will affect weed growth and the effectiveness of treatments, and such factors cannot be controlled by the LLIC.  After taxes and insurance, LLIC is left with approximately $25,000 for weed treatment.  We must make the best use of this money to treat as many weeds as possible.  This sometimes means that weeds must be allowed to mature before they are treated.

Leftover funds are barely enough to cover even the most rudimentary maintenance requirements at the clubhouse, beach and golf course.  

As you can hopefully see, our limited budget is not adequate.  Though we have explored other ways of raising funds, membership must be our main source of income.  Membership, or course, is optional.  Membership cannot be made a requirement without changing the deed to a home.  LLIC, which is made up entirely by volunteers,  has strived in recent years to introduce new activities and services to make Lake Lackawanna membership attractive to more people to generate new membership.  This has worked to some degree, but we still do not have adequate membership to operate effectively. 

If you know of friends or neighbors that do not join, please help us help your lake by speaking with them, and expressing to them how the lake is a benefit to them and their property value.  Lake Lackawanna will be restored and survive for future generations only with the support of the entire community.  Please help us to save your lake.

For More Information Contact:

Lake Lackawanna
PO Box 89, Stanhope, NJ 07874
Tel: 973-691-4955
FAX:  
Internet: llicnews@yahoo.com