Little Muskego Lake District and Conservancy Make Little Progress

A partnership among parties, which helped to purchase land in New Berlin deemed significant to the Little Muskego watershed, continues to be strained with grant funds received from the Holz Foundation at the center of the dispute.

The Little Muskego Lake Conservancy is the 'charitable arm' of the Little Muskego Lake Association, and allowed for the grant funds to be awarded, but district members are upset that the conservancy is not disbursing the funds to the partners in the purchase of the land. Conservancy board members told the district at their regular meeting Thursday night that the money was specifically to be used for the property, and instead of sharing the grant dollars, offered to cover costs on a portion of the work that needs to be done on the property, located just north of Calhoun Park (near Beloit Road).

Howard Schneider explained that the conservancy would install a culvert at the entrance, along with 50 feet of road and a gate, which would consist of two pillars and a cable.  Schneider said the costs were estimated at $5,800, which was approximately what the district would have received if the grant funds were to be redistributed.

However, the district board was unimpressed with the offer.

"It's crystal clear to me that we had an equal partnership with the district, the lake association and the conservancy," said Tom Reck. "We asked to have only one acre to tip weeds, and we have a letter of agreement.  Then when you have one of the partners wanting to keep $30,000, it ceases to be a partnership."

However, Schneider contended that the land would need continued management, and the conservancy was serving as "stewards of that property."

Ron Ford, board member with conservancy who was not present at the meeting but replied to inquiries afterward, explained, "the remaining grant funds will be used on that land to restore the stream banks, repair the bridges, signage, native prairie plantings, the long range management plan, etc."

Fay Amorson seemed willing to bend on the proposal, stating "it still gives us the $6,000 back.  I just want to get this land ready for the weeds."

The board agreed to table the discussion Thursday night to review their options further, but Ford said, "We are not going to keep revisiting this matter with the LMLD."