2025 Assessment Explanation

LISECC Community Notice

Why Your Participation Is Essential

Dear LISECC Member,
We understand that special assessments are never ideal. Unfortunately, this one became necessary—and was approved by a vote of participating members at the September Annual General Meeting (AGM).

What Happened

The LISECC Board was forced to initiate legal action to protect community property from the actions of a member and their tenant. You can find full details at www.lisecc.com/legal.

Although LISECC prevailed in court, the legal expenses totaled $102,671.19—an unbudgeted cost that had to be paid from our Reserves. Under RCW 64.90.540, any funds withdrawn from reserves for unbudgeted expenses must be replenished within 24 months. LISECC’s only means of doing so is through a special assessment.

Protecting Our Future

To prevent similar financial strain, our attorney has proposed a bylaw amendment that would safeguard us against unbudgeted legal costs. Specifically, the proposed amendment states that LISE shall be entitled to recover costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees if it prevails on appeal and in the enforcement of a judgment, as determined by the court.

Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to pass it—not due to opposition, but because not enough members have returned their ballots.

According to Bylaw 4.7.2.1., a majority vote of total eligible members must vote in favor for any bylaw amendment to be adopted. Despite two voting rounds, the amendment failed due to low turnout. In both instances, those who did vote overwhelmingly supported the change.

What You Can Do

Your participation can make a difference. With your help, we can finally put this protection in place.

Please take a moment to review and respond to mailings from LISECC. If you have questions, our Board members and General Manager are always happy to speak with you.

Contact Us:

360-758-2699

business@lisecc.com or board@lisecc.com

Thank you for helping us protect and strengthen our community.

Sincerely,

LISECC Board of Directors

Beach Avenue Landslide Repair and Island Drive Pavement Repair Project

Nearly four years after the cataclysmic events brought on by the first weather event termed an “Atmospheric River” by the weather gurus, major repairs to Beach Avenue are scheduled to begin.

Granite Construction will be doing the work. Their plan is to store equipment and some materials on the Aiston Preserve property and work from the south to the north of the destroyed roadway.

There will be a full road closure of Beach Avenue starting approximately from the intersection of Beach Avenue and Cedar Avenue to the south near the intersection of Beach Avenue and Aiston Ceeek Road. The full road closure is currently planned to take place from July 21, 2025 to September 8, 2025 as Granite reconstructs the washed-out section of Beach Avenue.

For those of you living south of Aiston Creek Road, this will be a major disruption. An alternate route around most of the work area is Berry way to Aiston Creek Road – over the bridge and down Aiston Creek Road to Beach Avenue. Please take it slowly and give yourself equal room side to side on the bridge. It’s plenty sturdy, but a little narrow. Take extra care.

In conjunction with the road closure, access to the lower entrance of the Aiston Preserve will also be closed until construction is complete. Visitors are welcome to use the “Inati Trail” access for the upper sections of the Aiston Preserve and will be able to hike down to the waterfront from there.

Whatcom Superior Court WRIA 1 Water Adjudication Summons

Recently, the Washington State Department of Ecology sent a summons to all users of surface or groundwater within the Nooksack Watershed to file a claim verifying their legal right to use water. Upon receipt of this summons, we have heard from many concerned LISECC members seeking clarification on how to respond to the summons.

For the purposes of the adjudication, Lummi Island is identified as being within the Nooksack Watershed. Anyone who has a private well or uses surface water on their properties must enter a claim and document their right to water usage and submit date on how much water they are using. However, if your property is connected to the LISE Water System and that is your only source of water, you do not need to respond to the summons or file a claim.

The responsibility for responding to the summons rests with LISECC, and any necessary actions will be taken on behalf of the entire membership. There is no need for members to take any personal action or submit any responses. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the adjudication, please feel free to contact the board directly using the email address board@lisecc.com.

We appreciate your cooperation and will continue to keep you informed of any developments, as necessary.