Harbor Commission — Minutes

HARBOR COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, June 4th, 2026, 4:00 P.M. Held In-Person and Virtually Conference Room W3728 Franklin Walsh St. Zenda, WI. 53195 1. Call to Order: Supervisor Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M. 2. Roll call: Present: Supervisor Maureen Zimmerman, Grace Eckland, Tom Billings, Scott Dillion 3. Approve minutes of previous meeting: May 7th, 2026 - Supervisor Zimmerman asked if everyone had reviewed the May 7th, 2026 meeting minutes. There were no comments, changes, or objections. - Motion by Eckland, second by Dillion, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Comments from the public: None 5. Profit & Loss Statement – May 2026 - Administrator Zimmerman reported that the Town is continuing to collect boat launching fees and has collected all boat stall rentals. He presented the Profit & Loss statement, directing the Commission to focus on total income and total expenses rather than the net ordinary income lines at the bottom. - Eckland noted that the financial picture is progressive and exactly where they would expect to be. Administrator Zimmerman agreed, stating he has no concerns at the moment. He noted that pier maintenance costs will likely increase as the season progresses, moving closer to 50% of the budget, but the Town is in good shape halfway through the season. 6. Life Jacket Loner Program – Lake Geneva Fire Department - Supervisor Zimmerman invited Chief John Peters of the Lake Geneva Fire Department to present the Life Jacket Loner Program. - Chief Peters explained the program aims to provide loaner life jackets at boat launches for prevention. The program would be funded entirely through donations, with no cost to the Town of Linn. The fire department would build and maintain the box and the life jackets. He proposed starting with one box this year and adding a second if successful. The box design would be customized for the Town, unlike the standard DNR box used in Williams Bay. - Eckland raised a concern about human nature, suggesting that without a rental fee or "teeth" in the program, people might take the life jackets home. Chief Peters responded that in his experience running the same program in the city, most people do return them, and he would rather give a life jacket away than have a drowning. He noted that most loaners are for children. Dillion added that recent area fatalities involved individuals not wearing life jackets. - Holly Baseman offered a compromise: using existing security cameras, a sign could be added stating "You're on Camera – Please Return Life Jackets." Chief Peters and Eckland agreed this was an excellent idea. - Motion by Supervisor Zimmerman, seconded by S. Dillion, to approve the Life Jacket Loner Program for the 2026 season in partnership with the City of Lake Geneva Fire Department. Motion carried unanimously. 7. Wake Signage & Boater Education (Agenda Item #10) - Supervisor Zimmerman moved to Agenda Item #10 to allow Holly Baseman, Director of the Geneva Lakes Environmental Association (GLEA), to present the latest version of wake signage. Ms. Baseman distributed the newest version, noting the information is unchanged but the visual presentation is much improved. - Dillion reported that word of the new signage is already having a positive effect. He sent a newsletter to his association stating, "Police yourselves or get policed," and with one exception, all boaters have been surfing in the middle of the lake. He praised the new map design, noting it has more room and makes it easy to understand: "Stay in the middle of the lake." - Supervisor Zimmerman recommended stating GLEA’s guidance clearly: 500 feet from shore and 30 feet of water. Dillion agreed, noting that if you ask for 500 feet, you’ll get 300 feet. - Ms. Baseman confirmed signs are ordered and should be installed within two weeks. She ordered an extra sign to distribute to local boat rental marinas. She also revised the program’s brochure to clarify that any boat casting a larger wake, not just "wake- enhanced" boats, is having an impact. - Motion by S. Dillion, seconded by G. Eckland, to approve and install the new wake signage at both piers. Motion carried unanimously. 8. Launch Activity Report - Administrator Zimmerman presented the launch activity report, comparing budgeted income to actual income. He reported $19,200 in April and $19,800 in May, roughly on par with last year. He noted the Town did not increase launch fees this year. - Eckland observed that the figures are apples-to-apples, though results are heavily impacted by weather and gas prices. She noted that May weather was not totally great. - Administrator Zimmerman showed photographs of damage at the Hillside pier, where a pole was knocked sideways. It appeared someone had backed into it. A beam was also split. Supervisor Zimmerman reported that the Lake Geneva Pier Company assessed the damage and did not believe the structure was unstable. - Billing stated it was likely an inexperienced driver who frequently backs into the corner where the pier was damaged. - Dillion suggested reviewing security camera footage to see if a commercial boat caused the damage. Supervisor Zimmerman confirmed the police department has been asked to review the video, though cameras only record when motion is detected in targeted areas. The incident likely occurred on a Sunday night. Administrator Zimmerman noted the insurance deductible is $5,000, and the Town has not yet received a repair bill. 9. Pier Painting - Supervisor Zimmerman reported that both piers were painted last week while boats were in the slips. The Town hired a new, local painter, Blake Geneva Pier Painting, a young resident of Linn. His quote was $5,000 for both piers – half the cost of other bids ($11,000- $12,000). He provided proof of insurance, used Sherwin Williams stain (which does not chip into the lake like paint), and completed the job in three to four days with two workers. - Eckland asked about paint drying time and risk to boats. Supervisor Zimmerman confirmed the stain dries within 15 minutes, the painter used caution tape, and he covered all boats. One white mark on a boat cover turned out to be bird droppings. - Dillion praised the choice of stain over paint, noting paint chips off and goes into the lake. He confirmed the painter did it right. - Supervisor Zimmerman moved to approve the new E. coli signage program at Linn Pier. The motion was seconded by Eckland and carried unanimously. 10. Reappointment to Harbor Commission of all current members by Town Board. - Supervisor Zimmerman noted the Town Board will handle reappointment of all current members. A vacancy exists on the Commission. - Eckland suggested seeking a candidate from the North Shore to increase their involvement, noting that John Larkin was a great member before moving into the city of Lake Geneva. Supervisor Zimmerman agreed but clarified that any resident of the Town of Linn is eligible, and she would also welcome a representative from a pier company or commercial boating business. - She asked members to provide her names of potential candidates. - The Commission also discussed the need for a non-voting secretary to take and transcribe minutes, a paid position. 11. Complaint by Reeds Construction - Supervisor Zimmerman reported that the Town received a complaint from an administrator at Reeds Construction alleging the Harbor Commission was doing something illegal in how it charges recreational boaters versus commercial businesses. The complaint focused on two issues: 1) launch fees, and 2) limiting commercial barge work to Monday through Thursday. - Supervisor Zimmerman had a two-hour conversation with the complainant. Town Attorney Duquette reviewed all relevant statutes and ordinances and confirmed the Town is not in violation of any law. The attorney’s response letter was shared with the Commission. - Regarding the Monday-Thursday restriction, Supervisor Zimmerman acknowledged that after a major storm, pier owners may need emergency repairs. She indicated the Town can work with commercial companies on a case-by-case basis for special circumstances. Dillion noted that commercial operators pay $950 for a seasonal pass. 12. Adjournment - The next meeting will be Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. (Due to the July 2nd holiday). - Motion by Dillion, second by G. Eckland, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. - Meeting adjourned at 4:50 P.M. Minutes prepared by David Zimmerman