Greetings to Big Cedar Lake Residents – Happy Summer 2022
Highway 144 Radar/Speed Sign
We’ve been talking about this radar/speed sign for almost a year. We’re excited to report It was installed on July 1st.
The sign is on the West side of Highway 144, opposite the yacht club entrance, and placed to be seen by traffic going South toward The Linden Inn. That section of the highway has the lake just to the East and houses on the West side. The speed limit is 35 mph with many vehicles going 45 or more. It is a safety concern for pedestrians, especially children crossing the road.
The POA partnered with residents in the area to pressure the Town of West Bend to install the radar/speed sign. Statistics collected by these signs show that it slows traffic by 7 to 9 mph. While it may not eliminate the safety hazard, we think it is a significant step toward improving the pedestrian safety in that area. The POA and residents paid roughly 1/3 of the cost with the town paying the balance plus installation.
The sign is pictured below.
Big Cedar Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District – Meeting July 20, 2022
During the PRD July 20, 2022 meeting, a vote was taken by the commissioners to rescind PRD Ordinance 2018-1. The ordinance allowed the PRD to suspend boat launches on weekends in the summer when the public boat launch parking lot is full. The motion to rescind the ordinance passed by a vote of 4 to 1, with 1 abstaining. Jeff Braun, Matthew Haldeman, Troy Zagel (town representative), and Keith Stephan (county representative) all voted to rescind the ordinance. Christina Fiasca voted not to rescind the ordinance. David Baldus abstained and indicated that the vote should be done by the public at the annual meeting in August. Chris Genthe did not vote on the issue as the chairman generally only votes on issues when there is a tie vote.
The ”boat launch” ordinance has created contention between those in favor and those opposed. Some lake residents feel the lake is overcrowded on those busy summer weekends and the launch ordinance was a reasonable approach to manage the problem. There are also some lake residents and members of the public who feel lake overcrowding is not a problem and the public rights to the lake should not be encumbered. It appears that, at this time, the PRD is composed primarily of commissioners who favor unrestricted lake access.
Photo Contest
Our Youth Photo Contest ends on August 15.
Please encourage your children or grandchildren to enter! We have just a few entries so far, and SIX cash prizes to award.
Age limit: 16 and under. Check out the rules, below. Entries go to poaphotos22@gmail.com.
Youth Photography Contest
Sponsored by the Big Cedar Lake Property Owners Association
June 1-August 15 2022
RULES:
1. Entry is open to any contestant who is 16 or under as of Aug. 15, 2022.
2. To register as a contestant, email poaphotos22@gmail.com for a registration form.
3. You’re allowed up to two entries in each category.
4. Email each entry to poaphotos22@gmail.com at any time, but no later than Aug. 15.
5. Include your NAME, the CATEGORY, LOCATION, and a TITLE or DESCRIPTION for your photo.
6. The location can be Big Cedar Lake or Gilbert’s Lake.
7. Your photo must be your own work, and you must agree to let the POA publish it.
8. Entries will be sent to the judges with names removed, to ensure anonymity.
9. We’ll announce winners no later than Labor Day 2022.
CATEGORIES:
1. Natural Beauty. Keep your phone handy for moments when the beauty of our lake jumps out at you. Wildlife, flowers, trees, islands, shoreline, sunsets. The Indian Springs, the outlet dam. Sunlight dancing on the waves, or the power of a squall line rushing across from the western shore.
2. Environmental Protection and Improvement. Who protects and improves our lake’s natural beauty, and how? For example, your photo could feature sedimentation ponds, weed harvesting, Clean Boats/Clean Waters trailer screening, walleye seeding, tree plantings around the lake, or an action photo at the July or August meetings of the PRD. Make sure the description identifies the group whose contribution to the environment is shown (DNR, PRD, POA, CLYC, CLCF, Town of West Bend or Polk, etc.)
PRIZES:
Three prizes will be awarded in each category: First ($60), Second ($25) and Third ($15).
Questions? Email Bruce Reynolds, Contest Director, at poaphot