Presque Isle Harbor Association

A Four Seasons Residential & Recreational Community

Presque Isle Harbor Association

A Four Seasons Residential & Recreational Community

Presque Isle Harbor Association

A Four Seasons Residential & Recreational Community

Recent News & Upcoming Events

Recent Announcements (June 2025)

  • PIHA Board of Election Ballots were mailed out May 20th.
    • We have had several members contact the Clubhouse regarding mailings received with ballots missing information. Any members who have not received ballot packets or received misprinted ballots need to contact the Clubhouse directly at (989) 595-2411. New ballot packets will be mailed out the same day, or if the option of coming into the Clubhouse for replacement ballots is more convenient please contact us so new ballots can be prepared for pick-up.
    • We are also making our best efforts to resolve issues with items returned by the post office. Please verify your contact information with the clubhouse attendant. Thank you for your patience.
  • Shoreline Architecture will be presenting information on the proposed new pool and exercise facilities addition to the clubhouse during the Annual Meeting on June 21st
  • The PIHA Board voted to revise Rule 7c. Under CAMPGROUND MANAGEMENT from 30 to 180 days for reservations; now stating that campground reservations can be made not more than 180 days prior to arrival

PIHA Newsletter (May 2025)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please plan to attend the Annual Meeting on June 21 at 11am at the Clubhouse to get up to date information on our pool project.  Shoreline Architects will present the proposed replacement of our pool area and improved fitness center.

After the presentation, the Annual Meeting will continue and new board members will be announced at the conclusion of that meeting.

Remember to send your ballots in or drop them off at the clubhouse. You may also hand them in at the start of the Annual Meeting. If you have not  received your ballot(s) yet, please call the clubhouse at 989-595-2411.                                                                                                             

Social Activities Update: 

  • Shoreline Seanachie will restart for the season on May 29th and will continue on Thursday evenings through Labor Day. Live music by local musicians beginning at 6:30pm. Complete with a bonfire! So, bring your lawn chairs and beverages and sing along with this group or bring your own instruments to join them!
  • Remember that PIHA also offers shuffleboard and pickleball at the clubhouse. All kinds of board games are available at the clubhouse and the campground.
  • A complete list of activities can be found on our website (presqueisleharbor.org) or on the clubhouse bulletin board.

National Resources Committee: 

  • On May 17th, they went ‘mushrooming’ with Tom and Sandy Boaks. I think their morel jackpot spot might remain a mystery!
  • The Committee did an Ice Storm clean up on Saturday, May 10th. Most trails should be clear. Thanks to all the other members that cleared their favorite hiking trails on their own.
  • The Natural Resources Committee (NRC) will be organizing Guided Hikes this year on the following dates, June 28th, July 19th, August 23rd,  September 27th and October 18th. All hikes will begin at 2pm and end with a cook-out to enhance fellowship among those that attend.
  • For the June 28th hike, we will promote the PIHA Trail Challenge. More information below.
  • Heather Rawlings, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, has agreed to lead both the September 27th and October 18th Her suggestions are: Ocqueoc Falls, Besser Natural Area, Southern part of Rockport Recreation Area for bats, quarry and sinkholes.
  • The PIHA Trail Challenge is a summer event beginning May 23rd and ending Labor Day, Sept 1st. This challenge is open to everyone for the entire summer but we really want to get the kids involved!! Look at our website (presqueisleharbor.org) for more information on how to find the treasures, report them and get your prize!!

Campground Update:

  • Lee Compton, Campground Manager, is up and running at the campground.
  • Immediate change in reservations: Lee will now be able to schedule your camping reservation for up to 6 months in advance. Payment will be due in full at the time of the reservation, credit cards are accepted.
  • Reminder: Propane refills and Ice will not be available for purchase this season, although both are available at nearby businesses.
  • Reminder: Effective immediately, RV’s will not be moved by campground employees from storage to your campsite.

Clubhouse Update: 

  • The roof has been replaced. Proposals are being evaluated to replace the siding.
  • The pool is closed – look for more info under the Pool Committee Update.
  • PIHA is looking for summer help for beach/clubhouse attendants. Anyone interested can contact the office or come in to get more information.

IT Committee: 

  • Reminder: The Committee is still looking for volunteers with a background in IT, especially anyone with a Network background. Please contact Mike Grochola (mike.grochola@dxc.com)

Pool Committee Update:

  • The PIHA BOD met with Shoreline Architects to review the first drawing of revising our pool area. The Committee and Board have made some suggested changes which the architects are working on.
  • The plans to be presented display a new pool and fitness center which will be located in the present but expanded pool area and will also include a new roof. In addition, the locker rooms/showers will be moved and a family changing room is being added. The new fitness center will be larger than our present fitness room.
  • Another reminder is to attend the Annual Meeting on June 21 at 11am to see the presentation by Shoreline Architects.

Financial Updates:

  • Remember – Dues were due April 1st. Late fees are being assessed.
  • Credit Card Fees: As reported last month, the PIHA BOD approved a dual price solution to keep credit card fees under control. All transactions will have two options for the member to choose when paying for services/items. There will be a posted cash price and a credit card price.  This system will take 2-3 months to implement and will not affect dues invoices until 2026. Watch our website and this newsletter for more information.

Lake Level Special Assessment (SAD):

  • We still don’t have a SAD update. Board members continue to attend the PI County Board of Commissioners meeting to obtain updates and/or information. Letters have been written to Robert Macomber, PI drain Commissioner, which to date we have been unable to get answers.

Other important dates:

  • PIHA Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 6pm
  • Blood Drive Tuesday, June 17th beginning at 10am
  • PIHA Annual Meeting, Saturday, June 21 at 11am
  • Wooden Boat Show, Saturday, June 21 beginning at 9:45am. Presque Isle Harbor.
  • Lighthouse Parade, Saturday, July 5 beginning at 10am sponsored by Friends of Grand Lake Library. A variety of games will be available including a coin dig at 11:30am  which is sponsored by PIHA.
  • Fireworks at the harbor begin at dusk and are sponsored by Presque Isle Fun Raisers through your generous donations. Additional donations may be made at Portage Store, PIHA Clubhouse or via mail at PO Box 104, Presque Isle, Michigan 49777

A Note Regarding Lake Esau Lake Levels (2/7/25)

Dear Members,

EGLE has not yet determined the Easu lake level, which means no obligations exist at this time. Moreover, due to our club’s covenants and land rights, selling the property will not relieve
us of any potential future responsibilities regardless of any determination EGLE makes.

I understand that many of you are concerned about the implications of this uncertainty. It sounds like you’re worried that selling the lot now might solve our problems—but the reality is
that even a sale wouldn’t remove our long-term exposure.

Here’s what we know:

• No Determination Yet: EGLE has not finalized its lake level evaluation. There are no current obligations imposed on our property or any property on Easu.
• Covenant & Ownership Details: Regardless of a sale, PIHA retains access rights and could still be held responsible for any obligations.

I want to acknowledge your concerns because they are entirely valid. It may feel like we’re in a catch-22, and you might be asking, “How can selling help when we’d still be on the hook?” What additional information would help you feel more comfortable with our current stance?

To ensure we address all your questions and work together on this issue, we are:

• Monitoring the Situation: We’re actively tracking updates from EGLE and consulting with legal experts.
• Preparing for a Discussion: We’ll be holding an informational meeting [date/time TBA] where we can openly discuss these concerns and answer any questions you might have.

I appreciate your trust and patience as we navigate this challenge. Your feedback is critical—if you have questions now or concerns you’d like us to address at the meeting, please let us
know.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Robert V. Crook
PIHA Board Member
County Commissioner District 5

PIHA BOD Statement Regarding Special Assessments for Grand Lake and Lake Esau

Several Board members attended the January 16th, 2025, Grand Lake and Lake Esau Public meeting at the Presque Isle Township Hall. The meeting covered the Special Assessment Districts (SADs) that are being determined for both lakes. While this meeting provided very good information as to the process that is being followed, it did create some concerns among residents as ALL parcels within the Presque Isle Harbor Association (PIHA) will be in BOTH Special Assessment Districts due to land and plat records of the PIHA Common Properties.  All properties in PIHA that are not near the waterfront to Grand Lake or Lake Esau are considered “Back Lots” to both lakes.

The PIHA Board encourages everyone to take time and watch the replay of the presentation as it will help you understand the process, how many “parcels” are in each SAD, what costs are incurred in maintaining lake levels, and general discussion as to why the County started to get these districts set-up at this time.

You can use this link to watch the recording, it is 45 minutes long: https://www.presqueislelakelevels.org/post/grand-lake-lake-esau-public-meeting-1-16-25

In the presentation, they discuss the possibility of getting water directly from Lake Huron for the long-term solution for Lake Esau. This idea did cause concern among residents at the meeting, and someone voiced their opinion that PIHA should sell the Lake Esau Park property to remove the PIHA Association from the Lake Esau Special Assessment District. This idea was also posted to Facebook on Presque Isle Uncensored.

The PIHA Restrictive Covenants are very clear in restricting the selling of common property. Any attempt to pursue changing the Restrictive Covenants would be enormously expensive with no guarantee of a positive outcome. We do have Association lots that are directly on Lake Esau, similar to Association lots that are on Grand Lake and Lake Huron. The Board must take all members of PIHA into consideration and not simply “discount” a group from our community.

There are several alternatives that are being investigated for Lake Esau besides drawing water from Lake Huron. These different alternatives have both pro’s and con’s but would be less costly than the Lake Huron option. It was asked and answered in the Township meeting that no other lake in Michigan is currently drawing in water from Lake Huron other than by natural means. However, Lake Esau is a special case as it is very close to a large body of water.

Historically, the SAD process came about as a result of the Edenville Dam failure back in 2020.  When that dam failed, it raised awareness of the vulnerabilities of all of Michigan’s lakes that are level-controlled and prompted recognition that there had been lax oversight of those water bodies.

Be aware that creation of a SAD does not create a new tax that would flow into government coffers. SADs are simply the creation of a mechanism to apportion the necessary costs of managing those lakes’ levels, as required by court order. Only the actual costs of managing those lake levels can be assessed – nothing more. If no expenses are incurred, no assessments.

We suspect that the angst regarding our situation comes from the fact that the cost projections for these SADs are currently unknown. That part is out of our hands, but hopefully the County can provide some better estimates soon. Either way, the costs will have to be incurred to comply with the law.

As of today, the PIHA Board of Directors does not have enough information to discuss this issue and therefore this issue will NOT be on the agenda for the February 11th board meeting.

Again, please watch the above referenced recording to ensure you have all pertinent information. There is a contact link on that website for you to ask questions regarding the process or about your particular situation. Also, share your concerns with our elected officials, both county and state.  As more information becomes available, the PIHA Board will share this information with all members of PIHA.

Board Meeting Day/Time Change

Effective immediately, the regular PIHA Board of Directors meetings have been changed from the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7PM to the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6PM.

Our Board meeting schedule for the balance of this fiscal year will be as follows:

Tuesday, January 14 @ 6PM
Tuesday, February 11 @ 6PM
Tuesday, March 11 @ 6PM
Tuesday, April 8 @ 6PM
Tuesday, May 13 @ 6PM
Tuesday, June 10 @ 6PM

PIHA Welcomes our New Executive Director

Tim Supinger has officially started in his new role as Executive Director of PIHA.

His open office hours will be: Mon-Fri 9AM-11AM.

Tim can also be reached at TSupinger@presqueisleharbor.org

Upcoming Committee Meetings

To view any upcoming PIHA committee meetings, please follow the tab located at the top of the website called “News and Events – Calendar of Events” (or click here) to view any scheduled committee meetings.

Presque Isle Harbor Association

Give us a call or fill out our contact form if you have any questions.

  • Address

    6424 Kauffman Road, Presque Isle, MI 49777

  • Phone

    (989) 595-2411

  • Hours of Operation

    Monday  8:00AM-9:30PM
    Tuesday  8:00AM-9:30PM
    Wednesday  8:00AM-9:30PM
    Thursday  8:00AM-9:30PM
    Friday  8:00AM-9:30PM
    Saturday  8:00AM-9:30PM
    Sunday  8:00AM-9:30PM

    The Clubhouse is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

    Please note that while it is open Christmas Eve Day and New Years Eve Day, hours may be limited depending on weather. Please check our website and Facebook page for updated hours on these days.

Contact Form

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