Message from the Board of Directors President (June 2026)

As we officially kick off the core of the Northern Michigan summer season, the warmer weather is finally making a steady appearance in our beautiful area. While much of the flooding experienced in April has receded, there remain minor areas of standing water, but I am incredibly pleased to report that the hard work of our community has paid off. Despite the heavy winter snow and exceptionally wet spring, the PIHA Maintenance team, the Natural Resources Committee, and several dedicated volunteers successfully opened all of our hiking trails for the season. Regarding our surrounding waters, Lake Huron’s water levels have stabilized and are currently sitting almost exactly at their long-term monthly average.

We are close to completely wrapping up the exterior work on the Clubhouse following the lingering damage from the 2021 Hailstorm. Siding, fascia, windows, and exterior trim work are finalized, and the installation of the gutters and downspouts is scheduled to be completed by the end of June. Our primary pending infrastructure focus remains the replacement of the rooftop air handling units over the gym. Due to updated code compliance, these cannot simply be swapped in place; our finalized plan will replace the 4 old rooftop units with an highly efficient ground-level unit. We are actively working with PIE&G to bring the necessary 3-phase power to the Clubhouse to support this system.

At the Campground, we completed the upgrade of the electrical circuits in the Pavilion and transitioned the lighting to bright, energy-efficient LEDs at both the Pavilion and the Bathhouse. The work at North Bay Beach House has been delayed as the Contractor that quoted the work, installation of a mini-split unit for modern heating and cooling, has gone out of Business. We are working with other local Contractors to get the same price point.

On Staffing updates, Heather Doud has joined us as a Grand Lake Attendant.

On the capital improvement front, the Architects have completed the Construction documents (Bid Set) for our highly anticipated Pool Replacement and Expanded Fitness Center Project. We are finalizing the Request for Proposal (RFP) document that will accompany the Bid Set to potential contractors for bidding. Contractors will receive the RFP on Monday June 15th, 2026, and we are asking for all bids to be returned to us by Friday July 17th for evaluation. As a reminder, we have the “Together We Build Donation Program.” This program provides a structured way for members who wish to go above and beyond to contribute additional funding toward enhanced amenities and the long-term success of the project.

Financially, we maintain a persistent focus on collections, building on the progress noted in last month’s message. For this year’s Annual Dues billing, we have successfully collected 78% of the invoiced total. Unfortunately, we still face a higher-than-expected number of delinquent accounts. Expending additional effort and resources on collections—such as printing, mailing, follow-up, and legal fees—ultimately hurts the entire community, as these funds could otherwise be used for needed improvements and expanded services. As a critical reminder, the Special Assessment for the Pool and Fitness Center is due by July 1st, 2026.

On the recreation side, the Natural Resources Committee’s Summer Trail Challenge is officially underway! It features an entirely different twist on what items you need to discover along the paths to qualify for prizes this year. Updated rules and challenge sheets are readily available at the Clubhouse.

If you are looking for a way to give back to our community, we are always actively looking for volunteers to serve on our various PIHA committees. Please reach out directly to the respective Committee Chairs or any Board member—contact info can be found under the “About Us” tab on the PIHA website.

Upcoming Community Events (Next 30–45 Days)
• June 9, 2026: PIHA Board Meeting (Clubhouse) at 6:00 pm
• June 16, 2026: Community Blood Drive (Clubhouse) from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
• June 19, 2026: Wooden Boat Show Participant Lunch & Cruise (Grand Lake Beach House) starting at 11:00 am
• June 20, 2026: 33rd Annual Wooden Boat, Car, & Craft Show (Presque Isle State Harbor) from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• June 25, 2026: Deadline for mail-in Board of Director Election Ballots
• June 27, 2026: Association Annual Meeting & Board Elections (Clubhouse) at 11:00 am
• July 4th, 2026: Parade sponsored by Friends of the Library beginning at 10:30 am at the New Light House grounds. Penny Scramble (Dig) starting at 11am – Sponsored by Presque Isle Harbor Association. Picnic sponsored by Presque Isle Township Parks and Recreation Committee from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The menu will include hot dogs, pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, chips, cookies, and beverages. Fireworks will take place at the Presque Isle Harbor at dusk, organized by the Presque Isle Fun Raisers.
• Every Thursday Evening through Labor Day: The Shoreline Seanachie lakeside gathering at the Grand Lake Beach House starting at 6:00 pm, featuring free live music from local musicians.

Don’t forget that our standard recreational amenities including pickleball, shuffleboard, jumbo Jenga, volleyball, horseshoes, and basketball equipment are fully set up and open for your enjoyment at the Clubhouse. A portable tennis net is now available for our tennis players.

Please continue to monitor the PIHA website and the main Clubhouse bulletin boards for real-time updates as the summer progresses.

The next regular PIHA Board meeting will be on Tuesday June 14th, 2026 starting at 6pm.

See everyone at the Annual Meeting on Saturday June 27th, 2026. Anyone wanting to vote in-person for the 3 open Board seats please bring your ballot to the Clubhouse by 10:45am as voting will close promptly at 11am.

Best regards,

Michael Grochola
President, PIHA Board of Directors