Dues Invoices – You should have received your annual dues invoice shortly after the first of the year. The board wants to thank everyone who pays their dues in a timely manner. MSLIA dues are not discretionary and are payable by all lakefront and unimpeded lake view lots as provided by P.A. 129 under which the MSLIA is incorporated.  We use the funds to further the health and safety of the lake for all, including fish stocking, water quality monitoring, invasive weed control and emergency response in the event of an environmental issue. At the Annual meeting on June 2^nd, 2023 a proposal from the membership was passed to increase the dues for lakefront residents to $150 per year and to increase the dues for the golf course property proportionally to $3,590. Dues for lake associations in good standing and undeveloped lakefront residential lots were not affected. We have also finalized the liens for the top non-payors. For example if you have not paid your dues in 20 years, your principal balance would be $922, yet your penalties would add up to $7,492.36 (10% every 6 months) for a total of $8,469.36.  We have been very successful in recovering dues anytime a property changes hands or is refinanced.

ATTENTION: There is an added line located on your dues this year for donations towards the 2024 Middle Straits Lake Fireworks.

Lake Level Control – Middle Straits water level is maintained by a large pump located west of Newton Road that pumps water from the Huron River into Lower Straits which feeds up stream to Middle Straits Lake. This pump is maintained by Oakland County Water Resources Commission (WRC, formerly the Drain Commission) and its upkeep is paid by lakefront homeowners through a Special Assessment District which appears on your tax bill. This pump is over 50 years old but was fully refurbished over the 2017-2018 winter at a cost of approximately $26,000. This pump is able to push 4,500 gallons per hour, but it only can run when there is available water in the Huron River. Thankfully we have been receiving consistent rain to keep the lake level up.
The lake pump was repaired, but not other updates at this time

Fish Stocking – Fish Stocking for 2023 will consist of shiners and anything else that is acceptable. According to a DNR fish study several years ago, our fishery was healthy. We are also working on getting a new fish survey performed.

Boat Launch – We have been asked if you see a company which appears to be using Bloomer Park Boat launch for commercial use (and not just dropping a boat for our neighbors), please take a picture and send it to Chip Campbell with date and time. He will then forward it to West Bloomfield Parks Department.

Bay Pointe Update – Bay Pointe has been sold. It will remain a golf course for the foreseeable future with a new company managing it.